Teaching Adults Creatively

Teacher’s manuals are "tools" for the teacher. Activities, questions, ideas and facts are all presented to stimulate the thinking of those who are teaching, as well as to provide accurate information and background for the lesson each Sunday. Teachers in the adult department are too often dependent upon ONLY their teacher’s manuals for preparation of their lessons. Therefore, there is often little variety, never any surprises and seldom enough class involvement in adult Sunday school classes.

Teachers, use you imagination as you plan your lessons! Put yourself in your student’s place. What might help you understand the meaning of a particular lesson? How would you like to be involved in the learning process (by discussion, by research, by a quiz or as part of a drama group, etc.)? What might make the lesson relevant to the stage of life in which you currently find yourself? What supplementary aids (newspaper article, taped messages, maps, charts, objects, video clips, etc.) might make the lesson more interesting? Start your lesson preparation early so that you will have ample time to include and prepare supplementary teaching aids. Be creative in your presentation and use of your time. Then just watch your Sunday school class come to life and the empty seats become filled.

(This article appeared in the "Summer, 1997" issue of "The Herald.")