Learning By Organizing...through Scripture Notebooks
A great project to get started for the students is their own
Scripture notebook in which they begin to organize Scripture they study based on topics that they put in alphabetical
order for ease in locating key verses on a particular subject. Each student needs a 3-ring binder, lined paper, and a few
different colored pens.
Begin by discussing why organization is
good, allowing the students to come up with ideas and an explanation of the importance. Applying the proverbial "sock
drawer" helps them grasp the concepts of categorizing (thinking about specific characteristics of objects
to be organized), locating (can find things quickly), neatness (looks nice when things are clean and orderly),
and non-repetition (each object has a specific place; alphabetizing topics keeps subjects from being duplicated, even though
certain Scriptures might be duplicated based on their reference to various subjects.)
Direct them to a certain passage of Scripture--we used Colossians 3:12-17--and write each reference on
the board. Then have the students take turns reading one verse at a time and deciding on a topic that the verse relates to
and creating a new page with the topic on the title line and the reference and verse written on its own line. As they come
across verses on similar topics, instruct them to use a different colored pen for ease in differentiating each verse.
Example: Col. 3:12 (Heart); 3:13 (Forgive); 3:14 (Love); 3:15 (Peace); 3:16 (Word); 3:17 (Actions)
As follow up, have the students organize their own selection of Scripture, sharing their information
to help others build up their notebooks. You can also have them write out key verses you are studying with each
new lesson, or do a concordance study to look at one specific topic. By categorizing verses in order to organize
them, the students are focusing on the meaning of the text and not simply reading the Scriptures without applying them. You
can have them personalize the notebooks with scrapbooking techniques, stamping, or pictures...whatever they like!
