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4 Ways to Find Great Illustrations

September 27, 2016 by Clint Calvert Leave a Comment

illustrationsWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Using great illustrations vitally captures the attention and imagination of a class. In the face of ever-decreasing attention spans, the use of great illustrations may mean the difference between a learner grasping the point of the lesson or mentally checking out for the duration of the class.

WHAT DO I DO? Here are four ways to find great illustrations:

  1. Listen to National Public Radio. NPR features many programs with fascinating concepts. NPR hosts websites with links to podcasts, pictures, and transcripts in support of their programming. Many “drive-way moments” when I continued listening after parking have become materials that were repurposed as great illustrations.
  2. Utilize Google News Alerts. Gmail account users can create news alerts which will notify them any time a specific phrase appears in the Google News aggregator. This is especially useful if your class is studying topics relating to current events.
  3. Read, Rip, Fling, and File. When reading magazines, tear out or copy articles you need to use later. When you read electronically, copy and paste the contents into a new document and then save in a portable document format. Fling these materials into a pile physically or electronically. File these materials topically or by keywords for later use as great illustrations.
  4. Use Examples from Movies or Sports. If you can credibly re-create a touching scene from a movie or re-enact an amazing sports feat, you will grab your listener’s attention. Unless prohibited by copyright, showing a clip of the scene will engage your learners.

Related posts:

Revolutionary Sunday School Teachers Engage Learners

Are You Willing to Pray for Your Sunday School to Be Smaller This Year?

Simple Outline for Bible Study

Avoiding Small Group Leadership Mistakes, Part 2

Filed Under: 100 Small Changes, Bible Study, Teaching Tagged With: illustrations, lesson, teaching

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