The Ten Commandments (Team Activity)

Here's a fun family activity.  I actually did it this morning in seminary and proved to be a huge success so I thought I'd pass it on.

The goal is to remember the 10 commandments in order (fairly quickly) and is based off an article I read here.

So here it is:

1. Divide into 2-3 teams providing each with a sheet of paper and pen. 
2. Have teams number their paper from 1 to 10 three times (for three sets of questions). 
3. Tell them this is a race and the fastest team will get a prize (I used seminary bucks which will be used at the end of the year for an auction but pieces of candy will work nicely too). 
4. You will ask each question separately meaning the fastest group for each question gets a prize.  You can swap the first two questions for whatever you'd like (i.e. sports teams, car models, universities, book names)
• Question 1: Name 10 movie stars (living or dead)
• Question 2: Name 10 music groups, bands, or musicians
• Question 3: Name the 10 commandments (they don't even have to be in order or verbatim)

Results: If your class is like mine, no one will get all 10 commandments correct which is a point in and of itself (does it say something about us as Christians or society as a whole that we can easily answer the other questions but not the 10 commandments...only 10!?). 

Next, I console them with the fact that most folks can't even guess half correctly.  I also offer other interesting and down right hilarious poll results from the above article (i.e. some people think the right to bear arms is one of the 10:))

Give everyone a copy of this handout
Print Instructions: click link above --
press download button at bottom of screen--
click "open" as PDF doc---
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 Recite the mnemonics aloud together several times to get it into the brain.  You may want to use these use these flashcards.

Next, go over the explanation of  each mnemonic (which is written to the side of each) as well as its accompanying commandment.

Now have people pair up and practice or teach each other (it's easier to remember it if you teach it).  Suggest that they should learn the mnemonic phrase first before learning the accompanying commandment (encourage it by offering candy/prizes to those who can recite all 10...most of my class learned them quickly).

Grand Prize: Offer a significant prize (like a large bag of candy) to the first person who can recite all ten commandments verbatim and in order.

Praise and Kudos:  Now you are one of a very small minority who literally has God's law written on your heart.

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as

the apple of thine eye.  Bind them upon thy fingers,

write them upon the table of thine heart.

                                                                                                   Proverbs 7:2-3