Character studies are fascinating ways to approach the Bible.  They allow discovery of Biblical truths through the experiences of eyewitnesses.  Introducing the personal dimension of the people involved in the Biblical drama enriches most Bible stories.

      With a little bit of creativity, these puzzles can put "Zing" into any teaching environment.  Here are twelve strategies to use these puzzles to spice up any lesson plan.

      Strategy #1  Introduce a lesson by giving students puzzles when they arrive in the classroom.  This keeps the "early birds" occupied as their fellow students come to class.  Puzzles begin a classroom experience on a positive note.  This introductory exercise invokes a state of "learning readiness" and piques the participants' curiosity.

      Strategy #2  Use a puzzle as a "take home" paper to reinforce the lesson.  Send extra copies for other family members.  This strategy will encourage family discussion and extend the learning experience beyond the time constraints of the organized learning environment.

      Strategy #3  Avoid wasted time in the classroom by giving a puzzle to advanced learners who finish activities early.  Boredom is a crime!  An astute teacher will always have a challenging activity ready to challenge every learner in her classroom.  Word Search puzzles are great tools to avoid wasting valuable time.

      Strategy #4  Projecting a puzzle on a large surface creates positive energy in the classroom, and encourages group participation.  Copy the puzzle onto a clear transparency for use on an overhead projector.  Project the puzzle onto a large piece of paper, poster board, or chalk board.  Spend some group time finding the words and discussing their meaning.  The student can look for the words at their own desks then come to the front to circle them on the transparency.

      Strategy #5  Word search races are an easy way to add some fun and excitement to using word search puzzles.  They also allow you to limit the time spent on the project to fit into a well planned lesson plan.  Hand out a copy of the same puzzle to each student.  Then give a brief amount of time (five minutes or so) to see who can find the most words during the contest.

      Strategy #6  Relay races.  Divide the room into two teams, Pass out two puzzles, one to each team of the same word search puzzle for each team.  Have teams get in a straight line.  Give a copy of the puzzle and one ink pen to the first person in the line of each team.  After the first person finds a word in the puzzle and circles it, she passes the puzzle to the next person on her team.  Each team member finds a word, circles it, and passes it down the line.  The first team to get the puzzle to the end of the line wins.

      Strategy #7  Lightening word search is a fast paced game which will bring a competitive spirit out of players.  Make a copy of the puzzle for each player, but do not copy the word list.  Call out the words one at a time.  The first player who finds the word yells GOT IT.  Only she, gets to circle the word.

      Continue playing until you call all the words.  The player who circles the most words wins the contest.

      Strategy #8  Wheel-of-fortune word search will really challenge your groups' skill.  Divide the classroom into two teams.  Make a copy of the puzzle for each team, but do not copy the word list.  Write the first letter of the words on the board. The first team that can find enough words in the grid, and fill enough of the spaces to identify the Bible Character, wins the game.

      Strategy #9  Introduce a unit studies by putting a puzzle in your Newsletters.  They make great fillers and add visual appeal to your publications.

      Strategy #10 Use the puzzles as listening sheets for the students during your lecture time.  Students learn more by doing than listening. There is a synergistic effect when students are busy with their hands and listen to someone simultaneously.  The kinesthetic activity enhances the auditory stimuli.

      Strategy #11  Puzzles make great stationary for correspondence.  Copy a puzzle on half a sheet, "greeting card style" and write a personal note on the other side.

      Strategy #12  Scrambled brains challenges the most astute puzzle fanatic.  Copy the puzzle, but do not copy the word list.  Instead, scramble the word list.  Provide the scripture references for clues and allow your students to discover the thrill of biblical research.