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

“When you received a calling to teach, you may have said to yourself, ‘But I have not been trained to teach. I have no ability to present a lesson or lead a class discussion. There are so many who could do better than I.’ Perhaps others do have more teaching experience or natural ability than you. However, you are the one who has been called. The Lord will make you an instrument in His hands if you are humble, faithful, and diligent” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 20).

Call each child’s parent the week before and ask them to each bring a family photo.

Materials needed: pictures 1-16, 1-5, 1-53, 1-7, 1-6, 1-15, six popsicle sticks with paper heads of a mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma and grandpa on each, a dress up item for a mom, dad, grandpa and grandma, a print out of a tree (leafless) for each child, green paper leaves, gluestick and a marker.

Show picture 1-23. What is this a picture of? Who is in the nest? Who is feeding the baby birds? Who built the nest?  Who will teach the baby birds to fly when they get older?

Every baby needs a parent to take care of them. When we are born, we have a mother and a father. Sometimes we have a brother(s) or a sister(s) in our family too.

Show the following pictures and ask similar questions such as:

Who is the mom? Who is the dad? What are they doing together? Are they happy in their family? Are there brothers or sister? Is your family like this one?

Picture 1-5.

1-53

1-7 (Mention on this one that some families have their grandparents living with them or closeby. Do you live close to your grandparents?)

1-6

1-15 (Mention on this one that some families don’t have both the mom and dad living in the same home. Some only have one child. This is a family, too.)

Each of you brought a picture of what your family looks like. Call each child up to the front of the class to show their family photo. If a child forgot to bring one, have him or her come up and tell about their family members and what they like to do together.  Count how many members are in each family. Be sure to emphasize after each child shares that his or her family is good and important.

Sing the following song to the tune “Where is Thumbkin?”

Begin by putting both hands behind back.

Where is daddy? (Bring one fist around to the front with the thumb up)

Where is daddy? (Bring the other fist around to the front with the thumb up)

Here I am (use a deep voice and wiggle the thumb)

Here I am (use a deep voice and wiggle the thumb)

How are you today sir?

Very well I thank you.

Run away (Put one hand back behind back)

Run away (Put one hand back behind back)

Repeat this sequence for each finger and family member:

Mommy=pointer

Sister=middle finger

Brother=ring finger

Baby=pinkie

Show picture 1-16. This is another family, like yours. Who is this a picture of? Who is Jesus’ mother? Who is Jesus’ father (mention that Heavenly Father was Jesus’ father but Joseph was Mary’s husband and a good man who took care of Jesus like a father)

How do you think Mary and Joseph felt about Jesus being in their family?

Sing “I Am A Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, p. 2)

How do you know your family loves you? Ask each child what their mom, dad, brother or sister does to show their love for them.  Have two children come up and pretend to be family members. For example, one could put on a tie to be the dad and the other could be a child. Tell one of them something to say and have the other one respond how a loving family member would.

Examples:

“I need some help picking up these toys. Who will help me?”

“I love you very much.”

“I am sorry for hurting you.”

(Have the child sit on a chair and have the other person be a grandparent) Grandparent says, “There’s no place to sit down and watch t.v. I guess I’ll have to stand.”

“Mom, thanks for cooking this dinner. It’s really good.”

Sing “A Happy Family” (Children’s Songbook, p. 198) Hold up the popsicle stick puppet heads for each family member. Repeat the song and have the children come up to the front and hold up a stick puppet as they are mentioned in the song.

I love mother, she loves me

We love daddy, yes sirree,

He loves us and so you see,

We are a happy family.

Additional verses: I love sister, she loves me, We love brother yes siree, He loves us and so you see, We are a happy family. I love grandpa…etc.

Hold up the picture of the leafless tree. Ask them what is missing on the tree. Discuss how the tree needs leaves and that our family is like a tree. We are the leaves.  Write down  the name of each child’s family member and have them glue it on their tree.  Write on the top: I belong to a family.