All hands on deck! Some kids learn by reading, some by watching, most by doing. It's time to put those little hands to work! Have them bring in their almost new but never played with toys. Talk about how blessed we are, and how much we have... an overabundance really! Now gather the toys and donate them to an organization that takes in abused children for foster placement. Explain that sometimes children don't stay with their parents. So when they move to somewhere else, it's nice to have something fun, that is all theirs, that they can take with them. Pray over the toys. Make cards of encouragement for the kids to attach to the toys... and go make a difference!!!

Teach children about missionaries! The best way to make sure children know that Jesus is being taught all over the world is to connect with a missionary. If your church supports one (or more) use them. If not, there are many organizations who organize missionaries... World Gospel Mission is one. Talk about the missionary. Ask your missionary to write a letter to your kids telling what they are doing and how they share Jesus where they are. Use maps and pictures, if you can. Make mission work come alive.

Some of the best lessons are from real life. I was really sick with pancreatitis. I used my bloodwork results to show how sick you can get when your bloodwork is off. That turned into a conversation about how "sick" we are without the "bloodwork" of Jesus. Got the adults on that one too!

When teaching a lesson on Elijah and the prophets of Baal - I proceeded to run circles around the table in the room, yelling and hollering for Baal to "hear me". Yet stopped everything and quietly prayed to God as Elijah would have. Years later - a young man saw me, stopped in his tracks, and said "You're the crazy Sunday School teacher." When I asked what he meant, he recalled the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. I just smiled and said, you remembered the story. Guess I did my job. When a lesson comes alive - they will remember!!!!

Sometimes a lesson presents itself. I was reading a story about someone selling their "ticket to heaven" on ebay, because they didn't want it. Turned into a great lesson on not being able to buy your way into heaven.

Reinforcement of the lesson is a must with children (and works great with adults too!). I used to make Bible story related word searches, crossword puzzles, mazes, etc. by hand. (Yep, that was a long time ago) Now you can make the same things online through Discovery Puzzlemaker. Really helps to bring the message home later when they do the puzzles. Give it a try!!!

Visual aids are a must when working with kids... works great for adults too! The lesson was basically telling the children that it's what on the inside that matters (?The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.? 1 Samuel 16:7) Holding up a local pizza shop box, the entire congregation was ready for a snack - until I opened the empty box. Taught the lesson in a hurry!

When teaching the Bible story of the lost sheep, I dressed in blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and straw hat. When talking about my sheep, I whipped out a picture accordion with 36 double sided sleeves including pictures of my sheep... and started to name them and tell stories about some (just like you would with your children/grandchildren). The invitation to the party was a huge "card" inviting everyone in the congregation. Make the story come alive!!!! Make them remember!!!

Visual aids are always helpful when teaching children. You can use pictures, artwork, handouts, but my favorite is to dress the part. You may feel silly, but the kids will eat it up!!!!