5 Ways to Use Bingo in Your Latter-day Saint Primary Class
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Bingo is such a fun game to play in LDS Primary classes but don't be limited by the traditional way to play. There are so many fun things you can do with it! Use this game the week of someone's birthday as a mini celebration or to keep the attention of your class. Whenever you plan on using it next, try one of these 5 fun ways.
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A couple of tips for using my Bingo boards: They are all made coloring book style for an extra activity as well as to make them easy to copy. If you plan on using them throughout the year, have the children color their own boards. Laminating the boards allows you to use them several times with washable markers to mark off each square. If you think you will only use them a couple of times, skip the laminating and bring chips to cover the boards. In the photo above, I grabbed the tokens from our Sequence game.
Class Reward System
Use Bingo every week in your classroom as a rewards system. For example, in my class we give out homework. If they come with their homework done, each person gets to pick one calling card and mark it off on our class Bingo board. When we reach a Bingo, we bring in a class treat- anything from candy to popcorn to mini slinkies. Since they have filled out a survey at the beginning of the year, I know their interests. Once we get one Bingo, we go for a blackout. The blackout reward is a class party. For us, that means an extra special class the next Sunday. Everyone is allowed to bring in treats, I bring some games, and maybe a movie. However, there is always still learning going on- just in a much more fun way than normal.
What do you want to encourage your class to do? Bring their scriptures every week, sing along in Sharing Time, or sit in their chairs? Using Bingo is a fun way to get everyone on the same page. You can even do individual Bingo boards so each child is earning a reward instead of the class as a whole.
Encourage Participation
Pull out Bingo boards when there is a Sunday coming up that you know is going to be harder to maintain the children's focus (i.e. Summer break is about to start) or when you need to review some important concepts. Instead of simply asking your class questions, play Bingo as you go. Use a table, chairs, or the floor as a flat surface so the chips don't fly everywhere and it's easy to mark each one off. Draw one calling card out then ask a question from the manual. If the child or team answers it correctly, everyone gets to mark it off their boards. If it's wrong, the calling card goes back in the bag. I have found that this really helps everyone focus as they all want to get a Bingo! When they do get one, have the explain what each square means in their Bingo. Then go for a different formation, black out, or start again. You can bring in a treat for each Bingo (one starburst, or a sticker) or simply play for the fun of it.
Make the game extra tricky by requiring different Bingo formations like a big square (all the outside pieces), a small square (inside spaces), an x (two diagonals), or any other fun design you can think of.
Match that Story
Instead of using the Bingo boards, focus on the calling cards. For younger classes, you will want to make two copies of the calling cards and use them as a matching game. You can do this one of two ways: 1) Mix up all the cards, placing them upside down to play like a traditional matching game. They can flip over two cards after they answer a question, repeat a phrase, or do something else suggested in the LDS Primary manuals. 2) Put one set of cards on the board then hide all the other cards around the room or in Easter eggs. As the children find the cards, they say one thing about that card and find it's match on the board.
For older classes, you will only need one set of calling cards but with the words cut off. Put the words on the board instead and hide the pictures around the room or in Easter eggs (or vice versa). As they find the cards, they have to match it up to the correct words. Some of the people will be harder to figure out if you haven't played your Bingo version before so be prepared to give clues to help them figure it out. Use my Bible Bingo boards for a great year end review! Again, ask questions before they make a match.
Bingo Match
Head to the copy store and have them print one copy of the Bingo board in a larger size (you will want the main squares to be as big as the calling cards if not slightly bigger). Print the calling cards out on different colored paper and match them to different questions or activities that you plan on doing in class. Depending on how much time you will have, you may want to pick one Bingo they will definitely get with a few distraction cards. Put the big Bingo up on the board and all the calling cards in a punching board (see a punching board example). Give each child a turn punching through the tissue paper to get a calling card. They must answer a question or do the activity before they can add the card on top of the square on the bigger Bingo board. The colored cards will make it easy to see where they will getting a Bingo.
Ready, Aim, Fire!
This version is a lot of fun but you will have to adapt it according to your classroom's energy level. Be sure to get permission before doing this one as well as it involves using a Nerf bow and arrow or something similar. Place all the calling cards spaced throughout the entire board. You don't want any too close to each other. Have a child go to the opposite end of the room and shoot one of the cards. What the Nerf arrow hits, is the one they can mark off on their board. You can attach a question or activity to each calling card or do this as part of a class party. If you are having trouble figuring out which card is hit, line the arrow tip with chalk or a white board marker so it will leave a spot on the calling on the card without ruining the board. You can take each calling card down as it is shot to make it easier for future children or make it more difficult by keeping them up.
Pssttt... These Bingo boards are also great for Family Night!
My Latter-day Saint Bingo Boards
Click on the picture to learn more about each one.
Get ready to add some fun to your next lesson or family night!
In my Book of Mormon Bingo you’ll find 30 black and white boards for you to color and make uniquely yours as well as 30 boards already colored in. That means there are a total of 60 unique boards so you can play Bingo even with your large group!
Fun ways you can use Book of Mormon Bingo
Mark off a board as you read the scriptures as a family. When you read about a person, object, etc. cross it off on your family’s board. When you get a Bingo, have a fun family outing (use one my Family Date Night Kits for something easy and memorable)!
Play it for a youth activity! Discuss each Calling Card as you announce it. When they get a Bingo, they must tell you about each space in their Bingo before claiming their reward.
Play it Ultimate Spoons styles. Once someone gets a Bingo, they run to get the first spoon.
Use it as a rewards system. Each day they work on their goal, they get to draw a Calling Card. Go for a Bingo or a whole blackout!
See how we kicked it up a notch and made it more fun for teens.
And more (ideas included in your download).
Find characters such as Ammon and Captain Moroni, objects like the liahona, and scenes like a Nephite village.
How will you use my Book of Mormon Bingo?
This is a digital download.
Add some fun to your Family Nights, New Testament lessons at home, or Latter-day Saint church lessons with these fun New Testament Bingo cards! Great for
Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families
Latter-day Saint Primary Lessons
Family Home Evening
Reward Systems
And more!
Find designs such as Mary, the wise man who built his house upon a rock, and the empty tomb. Each board is 5 x 5.
Calling Cards are included and can double as a matching game!
Two styles included: Color your own or colored for you. Each version has 10 unique boards so if you have a larger group you can play with all 20 boards!
This is a digital download.
Add some fun to your Family Nights or Latter-day Saint church lessons with these fun Bible Bingo cards! Great for
Latter-day Saint Primary Lessons
Family Home Evening
Reward Systems
And more!
10 different boards in two sizes with Latter-day Saint themed graphics that relate back to the Old and New Testament. Find designs such as David with his sling shot, Jonah and the Whale, and the 10 Commandments. Each board is 5x5. There is no free space in this version (but you could easily cross out the middle square if you so choose).
Calling Cards included and can double as a matching game!
Made in coloring book style so you can customize them yourself and for easy printing.
This is a digital download.
Add some fun to your Family Home Evenings or Latter-day Saint church lessons with these fun Choose the Right Bingo cards! Great for
Latter-day Saint Primary Lessons
FHE
Reward Systems
And more!
10 different boards in two sizes with Latter-day Saint themed graphics that relate back to righteous choices and church history. Find designs such as the Nauvoo temple, a family helping each other, and more. Each board is 5x5 and has one free space in the middle- the Choose the Right shield.
When someone gets a Bingo, have them explain how each piece on their Bingo relates back to choosing the right.
Calling Cards included and can double as a matching game!
Made in coloring book style so you can customize them yourself and to make your printing easy and cheap.
This is a digital download.
Add some fun to your Family Home Evenings or church lessons with my fun Latter-day Saint Color Your Own Bingo cards! Great for
Last minute lessons
FHE
Reward Systems
And more!
10 different boards with Latter-day Saint themed graphics. Find designs such as Abinadi from the Book of Mormon, a family helping each other, and the CTR shield. Each board is 5x5 and has one free space in the middle. Calling cards included. Made in coloring book style so you can color them yourself and to make them easy to print.
This is a digital download.
