Month: March 2013

Sunbeam Lesson #45 "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ" (Easter Lesson)

***Note: Please read the post called “10 Lesson Helps” found under “Primary Lesson Listings” before reviewing any of my Sunbeam lesson plan ideas.

“Elder M. Russell Ballard said, ‘Clearly, those of us who have been entrusted with precious children have been given a sacred, noble stewardship, for we are the ones God has appointed to encircle today’s children with love and the fire of faith and an understanding of who they are.’ The Savior’s example sets a pattern for us as we teach, care for and influence children.” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 108

Materials needed: Gospel Art Kit pictures (see below), glove or mitten, a twig with new buds or blossoms (if possible), blanket, a bag of microwavable popcorn.

Have children gather on a blanket on the floor sitting in a semi circle. Put 5 pictures on the floor in front of them (1-16 “The Nativity”; 1-17 “Boy Jesus Teaching at the Temple”; 1-59 The Crucifixion”; 1-73 “Burial of Jesus”; 1-74 “Jesus Shows His Wounds”). What is the name of the same person who is in every picture? Point to Christ in each picture and say, “Jesus.” Go back and describe the event in each picture. Name the other people in the picture and what Jesus is doing with them and their relationship to Him. Tell how this is a story of Jesus’ life, from His birth to death.

First, He was born. Then, He grew up and learned about the gospel and taught many people. Then, He was crucified and suffered for us because He loves us. After that, He died and many people were sad. But then, His spirit came back from heaven to be with His body. He was alive again. We call that “resurrected.” Can you say “resurrected” with me? He was the first person to be resurrected. Because He died and lived again, we will too. When we die, we will be resurrected too. We will never die again. That makes me very happy.

I’m going to mix up these pictures. Let’s see if you can put them in order. What happened first in Jesus’ life? (Call up children and have them put them in order). After you have done this a few times, ask, Which picture shows Jesus when He was resurrected? He has marks on his hands to remind us where He got hurt when He was crucified. I have a song I’d like to sing about that. (Stand and sing):

“Did Jesus Really Live Again” 3rd verse only

And there where nail prints in His hands (point to palms of hands)

And a spear wound in His side (point to side)

Did Jesus really live again (extend hands in front with elbows bent and palms up)

After He had died?

Oh yes, and so shall I (nod, and then point to self)

(Children’s Songbook, p. 64)

Repeat the song, inserting each child’s name at the end (“Oh yes, and so shall Gregory”).

Sit back down. Have you known anyone who has died? Explain that when people die, their spirit is still alive. Someday they will be resurrected, which means their body and spirit will come together again like Jesus’ did. While we are living, our spirit is inside our body, and it makes our body alive. It’s like my hand when I put it in a glove or mitten. (Demonstrate). When they come together, the glove can move around. But when I take the glove off, it is like when our body dies and our spirit leaves. The body (glove) can’t move anymore. When we are resurrected, our spirit comes back into our body (put hand back inside glove) and it comes alive. It will never die again. I am thankful to Jesus for resurrecting and giving that gift to all of us.

Pass the glove to each child and let them put it on and make it move.

Jesus died and resurrected in the Springtime. Spring reminds us of living again. The flowers push up from the ground and blossom on trees. Baby animals are born (show picture 1-23). The trees grow leaves. I have a twig that shows buds (or blossoms) that are starting to grow. Pass around the twig and talk about how it has new life on it to remind us that Jesus gives everything new life (or show picture 1-22). These blossoms look a little like popcorn. We sing a song about that:

Sing “Popcorn Popping” (Children’s Songbook, p. 242).

Take the children to the kitchen and pop a bag of microwaveable popcorn. Take it outside and eat it while you look for signs of Spring.

Book Review: Geo Librarian
Review found at:

REVIEW: *****5 STARS “I LOVED IT”
First off I will admit that I am not a parent.  But I am a teacher and the principles that Julie Nelson highlights in this book apply just as much to me as to any parent.  The importance of focusing on the positive rather than the negative, giving warnings, offering doctrine to help children make better choices, and nourishing and encouraging them rather than trying to force them are all very important when working with people, not just with children.  I loved the way she used the scriptures (the LDS scriptures include the King James version of the Bible, The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price) and stories from the scriptures to highlight the points she was trying to make.  She also uses quotes from former and current leaders of the church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormon/LDS church) to highlight especially important points.
The chapter on developing and exercising faith in both the child and the Lord’s growth process I found especially comforting.  When it comes to children, results are not always immediate, it can take months or years to see the fruit of one’s labors, but one must never give up and continue to exercise patience, long-suffering, and diligence. The author points out that when a child is born there is a great deal of potential there, but the parent doesn’t know yet what that potential might be or the best way to bring it to fruition, the parent and child must learn and grow together.
For those who are parents or who work with children on a regular basis this book provides many principles and reminders about what is most important to remember and practice.  I can highly recommend this book to those who are frustrated or confused or exhausted.  The book is not only inspiring but a powerful reminder of just how much our Heavenly Father loves us and our children.

 

Book Review: EmmyMOM: taking life one day at a time

See review at http://www.emmymom2.com/2013/03/parenting-with-spiritual-power-book.html

If you buy a new TV, it comes with an instruction manual. If you buy a new car, it comes with an instruction manual.  Heck, even the new toaster we recently bought came with an instruction manual.  All of the things in our lives come with instructional manuals— everything but one of the most complicated “things” that we have—our children.
I think all of us at times have wished for an instruction manual for our kids; what if I told you there was one?
I was given a copy of the book “Parenting with Spiritual Power” by Julie K. Nelson to review.

In the introduction it warns us about getting caught up in the changing philosophies, parenting styles and whatever is popular at the time and also introduces us to the parenting manual given by our Heavenly Father, the scriptures.
The book is broken into chapters, with each chapter looking at a certain person or scripture story from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon and the principles and parenting powers we can learn.  Chapter 1 talks of Adam and Eve and the lessons we can learn about the Power of Agency. It discusses the idea of offering our children choices and giving them ideas of what they can do and not just a list of things they should not do.  Other scripture stories throughout the book help convey such things as the power of good cheer, the power of correcting with love, the power of perspective, the power of forgiveness, etc.
She briefly talks about the scripture story and then helps show the principles it conveys and concludes with a brief summary at the end of every chapter.
At the very end of the book she also includes 21 discussion questions that are perfect for self reflection, for talking with your spouse, or even would be so perfect as part of a book club or parenting group.
The book is a very quick yet powerful read.  It presents good solid parenting advice backed by scripture references and stories.  For anyone who wants to parent with more faith and with more of a Christ-like approach, I definitely recommend this.

Sunbeam Lesson #12 "I Am Thankful for Animals"

***Note: Please read the post called “10 Lesson Helps” found under “Primary Lesson Listings” before reviewing any of my Sunbeam lesson plan ideas.

“In addition to using a variety of methods from lesson to lesson, you should teach each lesson with variety. Children with their natural curiosity, respond especially well to a variety of learning activities–usually between five and seven per lesson…Choose methods that support and reinforce the main purpose of the lesson. They should be true to fact and life and emphasize truth, goodness, and beauty. Do not choose methods merely to amuse or take up time [gimmicks].” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 89).

Materials to bring: food items (see activity below), pictures 1-29 and 1-30, dress up costumes, a long sock for each child, pictures of animals, stuffed animals.

Review the song, “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, p. 281).

There was once a man who was very wise. His name was Noah. He was like the wise man in this song, but instead of building a house, he built a boat called an “ark.” Let’s sing the song this way:

Noah built a very strong ark (repeat)

And the rains came tumbling down…etc.

…and the ark on the water was safe.

Tell the story of Noah and the ark from Genesis 6: 5-8:19. Show picture 1-29, Building the Ark and 1-30, Noah and the Ark with Animals.

How was Noah and his family blessed for obeying Jesus? He was very wise. We can be wise, too, when we obey Jesus and Heavenly Father.

Point to animals in the second picture and ask the children what are the names of each animal.

“Noah and the Ark” (sing to “The Farmer and the Dell”)                                                   Noah and the Ark

Noah and the Ark

Heigh-ho! The derry-o

Noah and the Ark.

 (Show pictures of animals and sing about each one)

Noah feeds the (bears)

Noah feeds the (bears)

Heigh-ho! The derry-o

Noah feeds the (bears)

Continue with monkeys, giraffes, dogs, etc.

Let’s all pretend to be an elephant on Noah’s ark. What does an elephant look like? (as you discuss, you can draw one on the board). I’ve brought a sock to put on one of our arms. Let’s pretend it is the elephant’s long trunk.

Swing the arm covered in a sock back and forth while saying,
Elly the Elephant goes this way and that

She’s so very big and so very fat

She sways her trunk from side to side

She takes the children on a fun ride.

An elephant is a wild animal. What are other wild animals that live in a jungle or desert? Have any of you seen them in a zoo? Some animals are tame, and that means they can live in our house and be a pet. Do any of you have a pet? What kind? What is their name? How do you take care of it?

Play “Animal Animal, Who Are You?”  (whisper an animal in their ear and they act it out for others to guess or they can draw out an animal cracker and pretend to be that animal). Before they act it out, all the children chant and clap, “Animal, animal, who are you?”

Display items: egg, cheese or an empty carton of milk or yogurt, a wool sweater, a can of meat like tunafish. Have the children identify each item and then tell them they each come from an animal. Heavenly Father blessed animals to give us food and clothing.  Draw (show a picture or say the name of) an animal and have the children match the food or clothing product to the animal. Ask the children to comment on what they like about eating these foods. Remind them how we are healthy when we eat good foods that obey the Word of Wisdom. If desired, you can pass out portions of the food (cheese or tunafish on crackers) to eat.

Put on costumes to be Noah and family.  Make a “boat” with the chairs.  Each child will take a stuffed animal to put on the ark (if available). Tell the story as they act it out. Repeat and take turns being different characters.

Tape pictures of animals around the walls. Sing the first part of “Noah and the Ark.” Children walk around until the song ends and then stand in front of one of the pictures.  Say a child’s name and they tell what animal it is.  Repeat.

If the weather is good, have the children line up outside on one end of the yard. Tell them you will say a name of an animal and they have to act like that animal to get to the other side of the yard. Have them go back and forth pretending to be different animals.

Extension Ideas. These are based on what materials and resources available to you.  I’ve given several to choose from:

1. Make an animal collage.  Bring in pictures cut out from magazines and let the children choose which ones they want to glue on their paper. Write animals names on it. If you have child-sized scissors, it would be a good fine-motor exercise to allow them to practice cutting pages from the magazine.

2. Animal shapes. Bring in playdough and let the children make animals. Teach them how to make the basic shapes of rolling out a “snake” or a “ball” or a “pancake” and how to put these together to make a body of an animal.

3. Animal Puzzles. Take larger pictures of animals (from a magazine or calendar, for example) and cut them in half. Mix them up and let the children put the puzzle pieces together.

End with testimony: When Noah and his family obeyed God, they and the animals were saved from the flood. We can be saved too when we obey the prophet and Heavenly Father. The Word of Wisdom is a commandment that blesses us to be healthy. Heavenly Father made animals to make our earth beautiful and to bless us so we can take care of them and they can give us good food in return.

 

 

Book Review: Christine Anderson at countingblessingsnotsheep.com

I had an opportunity to review the book: Parenting With Spiritual Power by Julie
Nelson.

I like to read but my time is very precious right now with 3 busy boys. In order for me to take the time, the book needs to be something  applicable and catch my interest.  Parenting With Spiritual Power hits home as an immediate concern of mine.

The teaser for the book is “Children don’t come to our homes with a parenting manual or do they?” We may feel lost in our understanding of how to help our children but we do have a manual…the scriptures…In Parenting With Spiritual Power, Julie Nelson
encourages us to crack open the manual and examine the lives and parenting
principles of scriptural mothers and fathers.

From the moment I first started reading I was captivated.  My undergraduate degree is Family Studies and I have studied parenting techniques and strategies in my subsequent degrees.  I loved how the author immediately made comparisons to the scriptures as a source of parenting. Certainly there is “truth in all things” so to have a book highlight how the scriptures are applicable was validating and encouraging.

This book also came at a much needed time in my life.  I have been a little discouraged these few months. My boys have their challenges and limitations as I have shared recently. I wondered what else as a mother I could do for my boys? The many appointments, therapy sessions, etc. It’s difficult at times. I wondered how God could see fit to trust me with these boys. What more could I do?

Can you tell I’m an overachiever? I’m getting my PhD just to officially be called Dr Mom and feel like I am educated to be their mother. Then I came to this part of the book….The author shares Elder Bednar’s experiences in family home evening. I admire this family greatly. To find out that this family’s Family Home evening wasn’t perfect with rambunctious boys. Their children may not remember a specific lesson.  I read these words in the book. ” What they would say they remember is that as a family we were
consistent.” That is what we have strived to do in our home…be consistent.
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart
from it. That training finds its roots in the home.”
One of the many passages that held my heart.

A few of my favorite quotes from the book.
“Raising a child is like growing a seed; both need faith in realizing their potential. A parent must cultivate an ‘eye of faith’ in raising their child. Additionally, we need to practice patience, long suffering, and diligence to wait upon the child to grow to fruition.”
Ahhh patience…you’d think I would have learned more about patience through all my
years of infertility and trying to find our family through adoption…..

“Parents must constantly nourish themselves with the good word of God and His love before they can reach out effectively to their families and lead by example.”

Lessons from Christ with Judas and Mary: “Focus on the positive we see in our children. Teach doctrine when guiding and correcting children. Our efforts should emphasize their character rather than just their actions.”

Thank you Julie Nelson for a beautiful book that is a tender mercy for me right now!

I hope you will be able to read this book!

Book Review: Bookgiveaways.blogspot.com

Shauna Chambers’ review at www.bookgiveaways.blogspot.com

“I wish children came with an instruction manual!” How many times have we heard this
lament by a frustrated or overwhelmed parent? Perhaps we have said these words
(or thought them) ourselves. There are “how to” manuals for practically anything: installing a new faucet, building a remote control car, baking an apple pie, refinishing an antique chair, or assembling a bicycle. Is there a formula or a perfect manual for raising children? Yes! The scriptures.

In Parenting with Spiritual Power, Julie Nelson encourages you to crack open the manual and examine the lives and parenting principles of scriptural mothers and fathers. Discover powerful examples from figures like Adam and Eve, Moses, and the Brother of Jared along with suggestions for personal application in this essential book.

There are many wonderful examples shared in this fantastic book! I really enjoyed discussing each chapter with my hubby as we read it together. I also love the conclusion and discussion questions at the end of the book. Parenting with Spiritual Power is very uplifting and full of encouragement.

Being a mom of three precious boys I’m so thankful Heavenly Father provided the scriptures as a spiritual road map to help us with raising children. Julie K. Nelson thank you for this beautifully written book that my whole family loves! What an incredible idea to examine the lives of parents in the scriptures and the parenting principles we can learn from them.

http://bookgiveaways.blogspot.com/2013/03/parenting-with-spiritual-power-book.html?showComment=1363822146625#c4818098698193018054

Ninja Turtle Underwear: Haute Couture for Toddlers

Music sheet

I once took my toddler to a classical concert wearing nothing other than Ninja Turtle underpants.

Well, let me back up.

My husband and I were living in Chicago, Illinois and had two young children at the time: a son, who was five and a daughter, who was about two years old. We often took advantage of attending cultural events that were so abundant in that area. Our stroller was very familiar with toting children around museums, parks and arts shows, and to Broadway theater, symphonies and concerts. We didn’t want to let kids slow us down!

One December, my husband and I made special plans to introduce our two young children to the ageless beauty of Handel’s “Messiah.” Taking a five-year-old and toddler to such an classy event might seem overly ambitious to other (sane) parents, but we thought nothing of it. We were cultured people, after all, passing down our love of classical music in its highest forms to our posterity.

I dressed my children in their Sunday best, putting my daughter in a particularly frilly pink dress with matching hair bow, white tights and buckled shoes. I hadn’t finished her laundry that day and she didn’t have any clean underwear (you know how many pairs of underwear you go through in the potty training stage?). So, being the resourceful mother that I am, I put her in her older brother’s underwear (Ninja Turtle, of course), rationalizing that no one would see them under her tights and fancy dress.

It took about 45 minutes to drive to the building where the concert was held.  My husband pulled into the parking lot and parked the car; I got out and opened the back door to unlatch my children and take out my daughter from the car seat. Just as I lifted her out, she threw up all over herself. She is very prone to carsickness and unfortunately, that drive just happened to spill the beans, so to speak.

I want to remind you also, that winters in Chicago are brutal. So we were standing in a blizzard in a parking lot with a toddler dressed in pinkish throw up. Do you just turn around and drive home? That might have seen like a viable option to other (sane) parents. But we weighed our options through chattering teeth:

1. Drive home for another 3/4 of an hour with the ripe smell of vomit and a crying daughter.

2. Go inside and try to clean her up and then drive back home.

We’re not dumb, so we went for #2 which meant we’d have a clean daughter, but would all miss out on the once-a-year, much-anticipated “Messiah” concert and waste our tickets. Why not just stay, I suggested (option #3). We might not have been dumb, but parents are desperate sometimes, and we desperately wanted to see and hear the concert. So I undressed her…whereupon I realized in stark dismay that she had on her loosely-fitting brother’s underwear. Doh! I quickly covered her up in her coat and called it good. Haute couture for concert-going two-year-olds.

Then the real trouble happened. During the concert, our toddler wiggled out of our arms, escaped through our legs and ripped off her coat. You saw that coming, didn’t you? Picture this: a little girl running up and down the aisle wearing nothing but Ninja Turtle underwear that fell down to her ankles as we sat in horror while the choir sang, “Unto Us a Child is Born.”

I think we finally retrieved her under the cold stare of strangers. I don’t really remember. Parents have selective memory loss after traumatic events like childbirth and “Messiah” concerts with children running naked. It’s why we’re dumb, desperate, and yes, completely insane.

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

PARENTING WITH SPIRITUAL POWER by Julie K. Nelson is an interesting spiritual
book. Told from the Latter Day Saints perspective. While, I am not a Latter Day
Saint (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) but a Baptist, I found this title very informative,useful and educational. A parenting book based on moral principles. A wonderful idea and much needed in today’s world. I think it is well worth the time to read. Well written. Received for an honest review from the author.
RATING: 4/5

Dinner Table Rewards

Magic Wand

If I could offer you a “Magic Wand”  to wave over your children that would offer these results, would you take it and use it?

* Less likely to have eating disorders
* Lower risk of smoking, drinking and using marijuana
* Lower incidence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts
* Better grades
* Less likely to have sexually active friends

The “Magic Wand”?

Family Dinners.

Surprised?

Studies confirm that adolescents whose families provide meal frequency as well as a positive mealtime atmosphere are more likely to have healthy eating patterns and less likely to have eating disorders (see “Benefits of the Dinner Table Ritual” New York Times, May 3, 2005).

  • A  2004 study of 4,746 children 11-18 years old found that frequent family meals were associated with a lower risk of smoking, drinking and using marijuana; with a lower incidence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts; and with better grades.
  • A  survey of 12- to 17-year-olds found that teenagers who reported eating two or fewer dinners a week with family members were more than one and a half times as likely to smoke, drink or use illegal substances than were teenagers who had five to seven family dinners.
  • “We also noticed that the more often teens had dinner with their parents, the less likely they were to have sexually active friends, less likely girls were to have boyfriends two years older, and the less teens spent with  boyfriends or girlfriends.”
  • A study found that adolescent girls who reported having more frequent family meals and a positive atmosphere during those meals were less likely to have eating disorders.

Impressive results.

I’ve yet to find research that strongly indicates the when families habitually “graze” in the kitchen, or go foraging nightly for fast food, they have the same results as families who eat together on a regular basis. In fact, it’s often the opposite and regularly eating fast food increases the chances of childhood obesity among other risk factors. Too many families have given up on the tradition of preparing, eating, and cleaning up meals together.

No time, they say.

I absolutely understand that many families have very busy lives and finding time (not to mention, energy) for food preparation is difficult. The purpose of this parenting article is not to debate that or to address how to work a daily home-cooked meal into an overwhelmingly busy schedule. I just want remind ourselves that our short-ranged behaviors and priorities can have serious consequences in the long run. Those who are determined to make improvements will do so.

Small changes can have monumental results. Consider these:

Do you find that you rarely sit down together to eat? Perhaps make it possible to eat once or twice a week together.

Do you find that dinnertime is impossible to bring everyone together? Perhaps plan for breakfasts to offer the benefits of the “dinner table” ritual instead.

Do you find that you only eat together once or twice a week? Perhaps you can increase it to three or four.

Yes, it’s preferable that the meals are home cooked and that vegetables, whole grains and fruits prevail over other non-essential foods. But I’m more concerned with the quality of interaction at that time of day than the food itself if I have to make a choice. Making pancakes and sausage can be a great option, especially for picky eaters and parents who are intimidated by making “gourmet” meals like Chicken Salad Sandwiches (which I am making tonight; only 10 minute prep!). You can add the healthy stuff later as your confidence grows.

Those research study outcomes happened when the kids knew they were needed at home and welcomed at the table. Children will not want to sit down if their chair becomes an instrument of interrogation and torture as they are continually criticized while passing the salt. Parents who do family meals right create a warm, friendly environment as they look each other in the eye across the table, ask questions, listen and laugh together.  That means…

Turn off the TV.

Turn off the cell phones and other electronic devices.

Turn on your parenting power to influence your kids for a lifetime of good. It’s magic.

Sunbeam Lesson#11 "I Am Thankful For Fish"

***Note: Please read the post called “10 Lesson Helps” found under “Primary Lesson Listings” before reviewing any of my Sunbeam lesson plan ideas.

“How will those you teach know that you are listening? You can demonstrate that you are listening by displaying an expression of interest. You can look at the speaker rather than at your lesson materials or other things in the room. You can encourage the speaker to complete his or her thoughts without interruption. You can avoid jumping into conversation prematurely  with advice or judgments. When you understand what is being said, you can make comments that show your understanding” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 66).

Materials needed: pictures 1-26 and 1-27, goldfish crackers, newspaper fisherman hats, fishing pole with magnet, colored fish with paper clips and a song, question or activity printed on one side.

Pass out  goldfish crackers for the Sunbeam children to snack on while telling Story of Jonah from Jonah 1-3. Be sure to teach that Jonah was sad when he disobeyed Heavenly Father and was happy when he finally obeyed. The big fish obeyed Heavenly Father and swam over to Jonah in the sea to open its big mouth to swallow him and save him from drowning and to spit him out onto the land after 3 days. Heavenly Father used a big fish teach Jonah that lesson and to bless Jonah and the people on his mission.

Teach the action verse:”Slippery Fish”

Slip-pery fish, slip-pery fish, swimming through the wa-ter (make actions for each animal)

Gulp, gulp, gulp. Oh no!  He was eaten by a…

Octo-pus, Octo-pus, swimming through the wa-ter.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.  Oh no! He was eaten by a ….(great white shark…humungous whale)

Now the whale is full!

Where do fish live?  Have you ever seen a real fish? What did it look like?

Show picture of a frog (1-26) and turtle (1-27) and discuss these animals. They live in the water, too, along with the fish.  What other animals live in the water?  Ask how a fish, frog and turtle move and have the children act them out. Play a Freeze game where you say, “Fish” or “Frog” or “Turtle” or “Freeze” and the children have to do that action.

Teach the action verse: (repeat as children desire)

“There was a little turtle”

There was a little turtle, he lived in a box (hands cupped together)

He swam in the water (swim motions), he climbed on the rocks (climbing motions)

He snapped at the mosquito (clap outstretched hands together)

He snapped at the flea, (clap outstretched hands together)

He snapped at the minnow, (clap outstretched hands together)

He snapped at me.  (clap hands together close to face)

He caught the mosquito (cup hands together)

He caught the flea (cup hands together)

He caught the minnow (cup hands together)

But he didn’t catch me! (shake finger).

Sit children back in chairs. Tell the following in your own words: When the people came to listen to Jesus talk, they had to walk for a long time to see him.  They ran out of food and didn’t have any more.  So Jesus made a miracle and took a little bit of bread and  a few fish and blessed them.  His blessing made the fish and bread to feed lots of people and it didn’t run out. They weren’t hungry anymore and they listened longer to his talk.

Why were the people hungry who came to listen to Jesus?

What special miracle did Jesus do to feed them?

What happened after they ate the fish and bread?

Jesus created the earth and all the animals. That is why he can do miracles with fish and bread.

Line up chairs in one or two rows to make seats in a “boat.”  Give each child a newspaper sailor hat.  Sing “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat” and pretend to be rowing. Row and sing fast and slow for variations.

With each child in seats, they can go fishing.  Put fish cut outs on floor and take turns with fishing pole. When they catch a fish, read the instructions. It can either say the name of a Primary song that you all sing together, a review question from the lesson, or an activity for that child to do (jump in place 10 times; smile at everyone in our class, etc.)

Set chairs back in a semi circle. Do the action verse: “Five Little Fishes” (put up five fingers on your hand).

Five little fishes swimming in the sea, swimming and saying, “You can’t catch me!”
Along comes the shark going snap, snap, snap.  Four little fishes comes swimming back. (Repeat until all fish-fingers are gone).

Remind the children that Jesus Christ created the earth and all the animals, including fish, turtles and frogs. When Christ lived on the earth, he used fish many times to teach the people about His power and to bless them. Bear testimony of your love for each child and for your Savior and Heavenly Father.

Extension activity: If you are able to go outside, you can play “Sharks and Minnows.” The children (“minnows”) line up on one side of the field while the “shark” stands in the middle. When you say, “Go,” the children must run across to the other side. The “shark” tags as many “minnows” as s/he can and they turn into shark. Keep going until all children are caught.