MR. D'S NOTES ON TEACHING
Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.
COPYRIGHT 2001

Chapter 15

OBJECT LESSON

An object lesson is using some object or group of objects to illustrate a point. The object lesson might well be viewed as a visual yet it is more than just a visual. It is drawing a truth from something you are showing or doing.

ADVANTAGES

1. The interest is very high.

2. The interest extends to all age groups even though the method is usually relegated to smaller children.

3. The retention is very good due to the high interest as well as the identification of the truth with the object.

4. They are fairly easy to use in a class.

DISADVANTAGES

1. The time is usually short so must be used as a part of a class. Usually as an introduction or an illustration or conclusion.

2. Thinking of them is very hard for many people. There are however several books on the market that have ideas. Keep your mind open to possible object lessons in your everyday life.

The method of doing an object lesson.

1. The method is wide open to the ideas of the teacher.

2. You have to have the idea and find the object that you want to use.

3. Practice, practice, and practice some more.

4. You want it to flow as smoothly as possible.

5. You want the lesson to be as clear as possible.

In Bible camp a man came to speak. He was dressed in a nice suit and tie. He was teaching on the fact that some of us have an inside and an outside to our appearance. He started taking his clothes off. Underneath he had a clown’s outfit on. What an illustration. Someone might be just right outside but really be a clown or a goof off inside.

6. Keep the punch line to the very end and build the suspense if you can.

Example one:

The "do you have faith in what I say?" I am going to show you something that no human eye has ever seen and put it where no human eye will ever see it again. Do you believe that I can do it? Admit that no I can't is one answer to show the importance of knowing what you are placing faith in, or you could open a peanut and eat it.

Example two:

How do you illustrate 2.5 billion lost souls in the world to grade schoolers? You would have to eat 274 large bags of M & M's (plain) per day for 50 years to eat 2.5 billion M & M's.

The object lesson is great for kid gatherings, but I have seen them in worship services (with the children up front) where the adults were just as glued to the presentation as the kids.