Starting as 7th grade religious school teacher – ideas?

Hi all, I’m starting in a few weeks as a sunday school teacher at my Reform congregation working with 7th graders. I have experience teaching – my career is as a high school teacher – but I’m new to that profession too.

I was looking over the curriculum and it’s pretty dry. We’re learning Nevi’im and the stories within and I just want to make things interesting and not just rote learning. You know, hands on activities, games, etc.

Any ideas or tips on how to approach this? We get 2.5 hours for class and the last 30 mins is specifically dedicated to Hebrew which I feel good about teaching.

Todah!