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

“Have clearly in mind what should happen in the lives of those you teach as a result of this lesson. Ask yourself, ‘Will the lesson bring these results?’…You may be prompted by the Spirit to make changes right up to the last minute. You may even be prompted to make changes in the very moment you are teaching. Be open to all these promptings, and recognize that it is your careful preparation that allows you to receive the ongoing guidance of the Spirit.” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 99)

Materials needed: a cellphone, pictures of different families praying, costumes from around the world, a small ball.

Who likes to talk on a phone?  Who do you talk to?  What do you talk about? Let’s pretend you are talking to your grandma.  What would you tell her? (use a cell phone and pretend to talk to each child) How do you know you are talking to your grandma when you can’t see her? 

Our Heavenly Father loves us to talk to him.  But we can’t see Him.  How do we talk to him? Show pictures of different families praying.  What are they doing? When can we pray? When we pray, we are talking to Heavenly Father.

What should we say to Heavenly Father when we pray before eating? Before bedtime?

We can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere. Tell a story about when you had a prayer answered. Make sure it is simple and age appropriate.

What do we do with our bodies when we pray? Talk about each body part and what it looks like in a reverent posture.

Sing the prayer song “We Bow our Heads” (Children’s Songbook, p. 25)

Children all over the world say prayers to Heavenly Father because he is God, the Father of us all. I have some pieces of clothing from children that are from far away places and speak different languages and wear different clothing. Let each child come up and pick out an item from a sack. Dress up the children in the clothing. These are all children of Heavenly Father like you.

I’m going to sing a song about children in different countries who pray to Heavenly Father (“Children All Over the World,” Children’s Songbook, p. 16)

Sing just this part of the song:

“All over the world at the end of day

Heavenly Father’s children kneel down to pray,

Each saying thank you  in their own special way,

Saying thank you, thank you, in their own special way.”

Tell the children that you will sing it again, and want them to count how many times you say the words “Thank you.” Then, tell them the next time you sing it, you want them to sing the words “thank you.” Sing it a few times as you hold hands in a circle.

Take off the dress up clothing and sit down in a circle. Roll a ball and have each child tell what they can be thankful for.

While sitting in circle, ask the children when they can pray (morning and night, before meals, when they are scared or need help, etc.) Tell them you brought a snack and want to practice saying a “thank you” prayer before eating it. Have each child say a simple prayer of gratitude for primary and the snacks you are about to eat.

Challenge the children to pray every day in their homes. Tell them you will ask them next week if they remembered to talk to Heavenly Father in their prayer.