Class time is short so what teachers include in the lesson plan needs to count. When thinking about using craft activities, we must determine if they’re mere busywork or if they will actually help students learn. We should stop and consider their value in light of the short time we have.
3 Tips for Getting Craft Activities Beyond Busywork
1) Get students thinking as they work on the craft.
Mindless activity does little to increase learning. If students’ minds go elsewhere, so might their behavior as well. Whether through guided conversation as they work and/or crafts that are more engaging, make sure students aren’t lulled into passivity.
2) Give students freedom to express themselves.
Mechanical activity keeps students from learning as much as they could. A predetermined process and/or end result stifles initiative and creativity. When possible, allow students to make choices.
3) Take students to higher levels through purposeful planning of the craft.
Meaningless activity fails to enhance or reinforce learning. When the purpose for an activity isn’t clear, students’ learning tends to be hit or miss. We must make sure the craft fits the lesson but also determine the best timing for its use.
In the Crafts as a Bible Learning Activity Download, teachers will acquire tips on how to choose and use crafts for their lesson.
(You can order this individual training document or get it as part of the Bible Learning Activities For Children Training Download which contains a page for 8 different learning activities.)