As a frequent host for a senior high overnight, I am always looking for ideas for interactive Biblically-based games for that age group. Sometimes games are just that, games. But games also have the ability (and dare I say, responsibility) to teach -- making spiritual education/development creative and fun.

Evaluating this submission for educational purposes, there is some success with additional opportunity. Since “senior high youth are curious, creative, and…motivated to succeed” (Nurturing Faith through the Stages of Life, Augsburg Fortress, 1998) this game plays to that curious and motivated spirit. It uses Verbal, Visual, and Logical intelligences (as defined by Jane Vella) with the team dynamic adding a bit of Interpersonal intelligence. It is definitely cognitive, as students read the list of Bible verses, solve for the common or “key word” and relate it to an establishment/destination in the town. Considering the 12 Vella principles, there is room for improvement if this game is to be used as a teaching tool. While the principles of “Teamwork” and “Clear Roles” are present, the other principles are either missing or under-defined. For example, “safety” could be an issue; “sound relationship” strives to keep the fun without trivialization (and the key word search, rather than theological meaning of the verse, does trivialize it); “immediacy” demands that the teaching tool deals with what is really useful to the lives of the participants and this does not; etc.

To adapt this fun hunt into a more effective teaching tool, one might add a discussion and/or prayer and/or worship following the conclusion of the game—or better yet, at select points throughout the game. The opportunity to “grapple with tough issue and questions the Bible raises” may heighten the personal engagement and move to another Vella principle “Action with Reflection”. To use additional intelligences for learning, one could add musical or dramatic elements, or mediation and reflective elements.

As solely a game, I liked the concept, the portability for wider use, and the “out-in-today’s-community” application to Biblical texts. As a teaching tool, it came up lacking—for the reasons listed above. That is not to say that I won’t make some element adjustments and try it at my next senior high overnight.