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I need your prayers and suggestions for my Sunday School class (7th and 8th grade). They are very hyper. I have tried to get them involved in the lesson and to make it more interesting, but that only seems to make them more hyper! I don't know what to do anymore!

Seventh and Eighth grade students are a wonderful age to teach. As they can begin to truly comprehend the teachings found within the Holy Bible.

Hyperactivity can certainly be a challenge with this age group and the need is to find how to present the material in an interesting manner TO THEM. Often a change in the presentation is all that is needed.

Instead of simply lecturing, try to show a movie about the material interspersed with Orthodox teachings and thoughts. Search for plays to teach about the topic. If there are not plays, have the students write one based on their weekly reading to prepare for the lesson. Encourage them to present these plays to the younger youth.

Also, for a lesson, you might consider a quiz  given out the week before and a reward when the entire class answers the quiz. Another thought is a Bible Bowl with questions related to the topic. Often just a change in lesson patterns is all that is needed.

Have you thought about once per month allowing the class to choose the topic for the lesson? Then in a month or two allow one of the youth themselves to present the topic, a book report for example. I am sure they give similar tasks at school, why not in our classrooms?

Incorporate Coptic Art and Architecture (pictures and slides) in the classrooms when appropriate with the lesson plans. Heritage is very interesting to this age group.

Perhaps they could be encouraged to write an article  for the Mighty Arrows Magazine (for instance a feast for the month of March). Another idea, worthwhile and motivating to the youth would be a mid week  after class activity of participating in the Holy Bible Contest the diocese has for the youth.

Often servants oversimplify their lessons thinking that  hyperactive youth do not comprehend the content, when the actual truth is that  the lesson is too familiar and the content below their level which in turn bring about boredom and increase hyperactivness.

Most importantly, continue steadfast in your prayers and study for your class. Call and visit them and with love, your students will continue to increase in wisdom and knowledge.