The Bible Skills and Games Workshop is almost always on the list of workshops that our Writing Team uses when it writes a lesson set on a new story. In fact, the Team's Game Workshop lessons should be considered exemplary --not only because they are creative and well-written by experienced Christian teachers, but because they are heavily discussed during our peer-review of every lesson with an eye toward improvement and real-world experience.

Simply put, the Writing Team works hard
to make its games teach.

One of the Writing Team's Game Workshop goals is for every game to have a teaching purpose and not merely be included for entertainment purposes. In fact, we strive for educational games that ARE entertaining.

In a good Game Workshop lesson plan, the MAIN GAME carries the MAIN POINT of the lesson. It's not there to reward kids for being good during the "boring" part of the lesson, or to alleviate fidgets. We believe the game itself should help do the teaching. And thus, which game you play and how you play it matters.

The Writing Team often uses a lesson writing technique that we sometimes call "game-i-fying."

"Game-i-fying" means that in the Game Workshop, we look for game-y ways to read the scripture (reverently, of course), and even look at ways we can make the reflection and closing prayer feel like they were "played" in some way shape or form.

Game-i-fying is a focusing technique. It brings your eyes to attention, your body ready for action, and your mind ready to respond. And it's an attractive way to teach kids. 

We strive for this consistency in the other workshops of the Rotation Model too. For example, in the Art Workshop you might use art or artistic materials to help read and discuss the scripture reading, and create or show art materials to reflect on its meaning and life application. In the Drama Workshop you might do a dramatic reading of the scripture, or do the prayer using a drama technique. If you're using computers, you might use the computer in your closing prayer. Striving for this consistency of use throughout each workshop is challenging and an exciting way to brainstorm new ways of teaching.

Neil, Lead Writer for the Writing Team.