After you have studied the lesson and are ready to plan your presentation, you can start planning how to present the material to your students. For many lessons, there will be multiple ways you could go. Select what will help your class the most.

It never pays to try presenting something you do not fully understand. If what you say does not mean anything to you, it will not mean anything to your students either. Teaching will be much more enjoyable for you and much more effective for your students if you present things that apply to you and them.

Your Teacher’s Guide has been designed to be as helpful as possible to you during class. But be sure your students know your authority is the Bible and not “just a book.” Remember young people today are bombarded with books and authorities. Your source of knowledge must be the Bible and must be backed by a strong belief of your own.

Key Verse

One step in preparing your presentation is to decide how the Key Verse relates to the point that is to be made by the lesson. How can you present it to your class so it will pertain to them?

Ponder the Key Verse. Write it down and memorize it so that you constantly remember it as you prepare your presentation. Your goal should be to help your students resolve to take some action. You want them to decide to pray and be saved, or to commit their lives more completely to Christ.

Outline

The second step in preparation is to outline what you are going to do. First, you must have an introduction or opener that immediately gets the students’ attention. Here are some suggestions which could be adapted to almost any lesson:

• Rearrange your room. The students will wonder what special thing is going to happen.

• Set out some objects you are planning to use in the lesson. These should catch the attention of your students as they enter your class area.

• Start with a story.

• Have a question or problem written on the blackboard.

• Find some current news clippings that pertain to your lesson.

• Give out a work sheet—true/false questions, thought provokers, Scripture references, etc.

• Use a video or presentation visual which is pertinent to the lesson.

After you have “grabbed” the students’ attention with your introduction, you must develop your points. Don’t promise more in your introduction than you can deliver in your session. Think of these questions as you plan what you will do in the body of your class time:

• Is the method of presentation I plan to use the one that will best accomplish my purpose?

• Is the method suitable for the age of the students in my class?

• Will what I have planned work considering the number in my class and the size of the classroom?

• Will my students be actively involved?

• How long has it been since I have used this method (if ever)? Anything done again and again can get dull.

After you have presented your material to your class, you will want to finish with a conclusion or wrap?up. One of the best ways to do this is to help your students respond. You can encourage this by:

• A discussion of your lesson and presentation.

• Applications of the lesson to daily life.

• Ask them to write their thoughts, their ideas of a daily application, etc.

• Let them draw a picture illustrating the story.

Physical Preparation

After you have decided what you are going to do in your class, begin getting the necessary materials together. Don’t wait until Sunday morning! If you are unprepared, you can’t teach at your best and your students will know it.

Make arrangements ahead of time for any audiovisual equipment, costumes or props you may need.

Pray

“Without me ye can do nothing.” All the preparation in the world is not enough. We need the Spirit of God to help us say the right things, and then to water the seeds that are planted. Pray that you will be led in what to do. And pray for your students.

Teach

Remember to teach your students. Do not recite lessons. Keep your students’ needs in your mind. Do the very best job you can each week—you never know, it might be your last! If you procrastinate on improving your presentation, you will never get it done. Every week strive to make this one the best yet!