Exploring links

I LOVE this activity. It is one I remember from my ill-fated flirtation with professional teaching and is great for examining and also remembering a number of different concepts. This was with reference to the miracles of the Centurion's Servant and the Widow of Nain. I divided the class into pairs and gave them 3 minutes to make a colourful poster featuring a key word. (Just felt-tips and A4 - nothing fancy). The words were Compassion, Service, Faith, Mission and Bless. (Exactly the same words work brilliantly for the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis btw.) We then collected the posters into the middle of the table and I arranged them into alphabetical order, telling the students what I was doing. The students were then able (one at a time but as inspired and in no particular order) to move the posters somehow and explaing why they were doing it. They start grouping words, or placing some words as a foundation for others, or using one word to link others.

It doesn't matter if they do daft ones too like colour groups or other random stuff (hey, I started off with alphabetical!). It's all good as long as they explain what they are doing.

The kids came up with some great suggestions including one that formed the basic shape of a tree sprouting from faith. They found that compassion and service were virtually inseparable. We considered how the relationship between compassion and service was like that between faith and works, the outward manifestation of an inward conviction.

The best time I ever ran this activity was for a family night based around D&C 88:119. My children probably even now remember all the 'houses' we should have.