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

“Planning a lesson takes time and attention. Soon after you finish one lesson, begin preparing for the next. You will probably be most aware of those you teach and their needs and interests immediately after you have been with them. You will also be most aware of their responses to your teaching” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 98).

Materials needed: pictures 1-5 and 1-3, healthy snacks, a “fishing pole” and fish made from a rod with a string and a magnet at the end and paper fish with a paper clip and different instructions written on each one.

Remind the children that last week we talked about how important it was to say our prayers everyday. Ask them if they remember why we pray to Heavenly Father. Ask them when we usually pray. Ask each child if they said their prayers (and when if they did). Praise them for their efforts and encourage them to continue every day.

Tell this story in your own words:

There was once a little girl named Claire. When her mommy asked her to do something, she never obeyed. This is what her mommy heard:

Claire, it’s time to wake up. “No!”

Claire, it’s time to brush your teeth. “No! I don’t want to.”

Claire, it’s time to get dressed. “No, I want to stay in my pajamas.”

Claire, you need to get ready for school. “I don’t want to go to school.”

Every day, Claire’s mommy was very sad that Claire always said, “No” and didn’t obey. Did her mommy ask her to do hard things? (no) Did Claire’s mommy love her? (yes). Then why do you think Claire didn’t want to obey her mom? (discuss various answers). Do you think Claire was a happy little girl? Do you think if she obeyed she would be happy instead? How do you feel when you obey your mom and dad? When they ask us to do something, we should say “Yes” so we can all be happy.

Show picture 1-5. Do you see the picture of this baby?  Who is taking care of it?  What do they do for the baby?  Moms and dads love their babies and help them to be healthy and happy.  When the baby grows up, it will be a little boy or girl like you.  Our moms and dads always want to take care of us so we should do what they tell us to do.  What were some of the things Claire’s mom asked her to do?  What does your mom and dad ask you to do?  Do you obey them?

Sing “Quickly I’ll Obey” (Children’s Songbook, p. 197). Tell the children to jump up and down when we say the word “quickly.”

Once there were 5 little monkeys who didn’t obey their mother. She tucked them into bed and turned off the lights for them to go to sleep, but they didn’t mind her.  Instead, they jumped on the bed and made lots of noise. 

Sing the fingerplay song, “Five Little Monkeys”

What happened to the disobedient monkeys?

We should always obey our parents and also our Heavenly Father.  He gave us commandments and we will be happy if we obey the commandments.  Some of the commandments are to pray, to go to church, to take the sacrament reverently, and to tell the truth.

Another commandment is to eat healthy foods. This is a picture of a boy named Daniel who lived a long time ago.  (Show picture 1-37 and tell the story of Daniel in the King’s Court). I know that obeying the commandment of eating healthy food will make me happy and keep my body feeling good. I’ve brought some healthy snacks for us to eat, just like Daniel and his friends did.

Let’s play a game about how well you can listen and obey. We’ll go pretend fishing and we have to do whatever the fish says. (Let the children “catch” the “fish” by putting the paper fish on the floor and having the magnet attach to a paper clip. Then read what is written on the fish they caught–like “do 5 jumping jacks,” or “sing the ABC song,” or “do a somersault.”)

Bear testimony that Heavenly Father loves us and we should obey the commandments and obey our parents to be happy.