Scripture Mastery Game

My class needed a little kick-start to re-kindle their enthusiasm for Scripture Mastery.
This game sparked that enthusiasm:

Preparation:
I chose all the Scripture Mastery selections that have only 1 verse ( I left out 1 Nephi 3:7 and 2 Nephi 2:25 because most of them know those two scriptures)
Using the Scripture Mastery cards, I wrote the key word/phrases for each scripture on a word strip.
Place the word strip inside a balloon, blow it up, and tie it.
Before class, I scattered the balloons all over the Cultural Hall (my students meet across the hall and did not see this prior to class)

Activity:
Each student was instructed to get a partner and depart for the Cultural Hall
Once there, each partnership could choose 1 balloon.
When I said "GO" they were to pop the balloon using these guidelines:

• No touching the balloon with Hands or Feet
• Both partners must be touching the balloon
• Once the balloon pops, they were to open the strip of paper and read the  key word or phrase 

Once they have the key word or phrase, they were to return to the classroom and determine which scripture reference it matched.

Each person was to write the scripture in their journal and then, with their partner, develop techniques to practice and memorize the scripture.

It was amazing to see how quickly they memorized a scripture and could pass it off to me.

When they passed it off, they marked our classroom Scripture Mastery Chart and got a treat from the Scripture Memorization jar.

Results: 

• Everyone memorized at least 1 scripture today.
• For 2 students, it was the first time they memorized a Scripture Mastery verse.
• About half of the students memorized another scripture once they had gained confidence by memorizing one.
• And the real BONUS? 3-4 students memorized three scriptures.

Of course, the true BONUS is that these scriptures become part of them and as Elder Richard G Scott teaches, to memorize a scripture is to gain a new friend. These are the best friends a person can have, especially a teenager who is faced with so much temptation.

As a follow up, I will call on each partnership at the beginning of class over the next days and ask them to give tips on how they memorized the scripture and any techniques they find helpful

Having them teach is a very effective way to reinforce the scriptures they are learning.

You may adapt this and put the same scripture clue in each balloon.

Happy Teaching!