As Christian parents, we want kids to love God’s Word. And, God’s Word is fascinating.
Eight- to twelve-year-olds have brains that are primed for memorization. They are also starting to make connections between all the facts they’ve memorized, and to test those connections by applying logic. This middle school tendency to question connections and even facts can sound a lot like arguing!
Paul instructs us, in 2 Timothy 2:15, ESV:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
We want that for our kids! We want to help them become workers who are not ashamed–who handle the Word of Truth rightly. And, our kids can become excellent Bible Investigators before they even become teens.
The middle grade years (8-12 year old) are the perfect time to apply what we know about the Christian classical developmental stages of learning to the way we teach the Bible, so learning about God’s Word is fun, and nearly effortless for our kids!
Can Bible puzzles help kids become Bible investigators?
Eight- to 12-year-olds have a lot going on with their brain development. Which is great! We can give them fun activities that use that brain development to help them learn about the Bible even better.
For middle graders, we want to supply activities that:
- Provide great facts and verses to memorize.
- Help kids making connections in Scripture.
- Teach how to use logic skills to study God’s Word rightly.
- Use fun language and funny thoughts that appeal to our children’s innate sense of joy.
Using things that are fun for kids—like puzzles—while helping them memorize Bible verses is just a smart way to teach.
Puzzles are fun. They involve using:
- critical thinking skills
- memorized facts—like vocabulary
- making logical connections.
Kids love puzzles because they are competing against themselves for a clear win. That’s because puzzles have a right answer, and it takes brain power to reach that answer.
Puzzle-based Bible study helps kids:
- Learn the meaning of theological words, so they understand the verses they’re reading.
- Increase their theological vocabulary.
- Memorize verses almost by accident.
- Retain information about God, his Creation, and his plan for our salvation.
- Learn more about who they were created to be in Christ.
With puzzle-based Bible study, kids can become Bible Investigators in a fun way that doesn’t feel like work. It’s a challenge they will look forward to!
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Puzzle-Based Independent Bible Study for Kids!
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2, ESV
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- Observe: They pay attention to what they’re reading.
- Interpret: They figure out what the Bible means in that section.
- Apply: They decide how the truth of God’s Word impacts their life today.
There are a great many truths in life to be found—some interesting, some boring, and some that really matter. You can be the kind of investigator who spends time puzzling out important truth so that you can know all the knowable knowledge that God has given us. That’s right. God, the Creator of the Universe, gave you a great big letter from him to explore and study so that you can discover the truths that really matter to your life!”
Bible Investigators: Creation, (The Good Book Company, 2024), page 7
The Bible Investigators: Creation Bible study for kids, written by Danika Cooley and published by The Good Book Company, is 272-pages of learning, puzzles, and fun activities designed to help your kids become amazing independent Bible investigators–observing, interpreting, and applying God’s Word as they learn what the Bible teaches on a particular subject.
Bible Puzzles for Kids
Middle grade kids, aged 8-12, love puzzles. After all, their brains are just built for figuring things out and memorizing facts. Puzzles are a wonderful way to help kids develop logic skills and retain important information. And, the book is written in a fun, conversational tone your children are sure to love!
What types of puzzles and activities will you find in Bible Investigators?
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- Word Searches
- Crosswords
- Rebus Puzzles
- Dot-to-Dots
- Logic Puzzles
- Missing Letter Puzzles
- Cryptograms
- Word Sudoku
- Mazes
- How-to-Draw Pages
- Matching Pairs
- Word Scrambles
- Journal Pages
Every child is sure to find activities they’ll love!
Elementary-aged kids need hands-on middle grade resources that engage them and equip them to process important truths.
Bible Investigators is the perfect resource to teach your kids about an important biblical doctrine, while helping them apply God’s Word to their lives today.
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