Three simple ways to use the extra minutes after a Sunday school lesson, with no extra supplies or preparation.
You’ve finished the Bible story, everyone’s done with their activities, and you look at the clock. There are still 10 minutes before parents arrive. Now what?
You don’t need another lesson or a bunch of extra supplies. Here are three easy ways to make good use of those last few minutes while giving everyone another chance to remember what they’ve learned.
1. See How Much of the Story They Remember
Start with a simple challenge: Can the class retell the Bible story together?
Have someone share one thing they remember, then let someone else add what happened next. Keep going and see how much of the story they can piece together.
If they get stuck, give them a little help. Who was there? What happened next? What did someone say or do?
You might be surprised how much they remember, especially when they start helping each other fill in the missing pieces.
2. Turn the Questions Over to Them
Here’s a fun change: Instead of asking all the questions yourself, let the class come up with a few.
They can ask about the people in the story, what happened, or something they remember from the lesson. Then let everyone try to answer.
If there’s some disagreement, open the Bible and check the story together. That’s part of the learning, too.
3. Mix Up the Story
Pick three to five important things that happened in the Bible story, but tell them in the wrong order.
Now see if the class can put everything back where it belongs.
Want to make it a little more active? Have a few volunteers stand at the front, with each person representing one event. Let everyone else help arrange them in the right order.
It’s a quick way to review the lesson, and you don’t have to prepare anything ahead of time.
Don’t Worry About Filling Every Minute
Finishing early doesn’t mean you need to squeeze in another full activity. Sometimes a few questions, a little laughter, and another look at the Bible story are plenty.
The next time you find yourself with 10 minutes to spare, you’ll have a few easy ideas ready to go.