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

“In a learning atmosphere, we (1) edify each other through our participation, (2) love and help each other, and (3) desire to search for truth together…We edify each other when we listen carefully to each other’s comments, participate in discussions and other learning activities, ask thoughtful questions, pray together, offer personal experiences and insights, and bear testimony” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 77).

Materials needed: glass jar with a little dirt, a stick and an insect (could be one you caught from outdoors), chalk and a chalkboard (or whiteboard and dry erase markers), objects that function within a home (i.e. rolling pin, sponge, hair comb or brush, eating utensil, remote control), Gospel Art pictures: 1-25, 1-23, and 1-45, 1-9, 1-53, 1-15, 1-6, 1-48. 1-7, 10,  booklet with pictures for each child (see below), glue stick.

Show jar with dirt and stick with a insect inside.

What animal or insect could live in here?  Discuss the insect, what it does, what it looks like, what it needs to live.

Show picture 1-25. What animal it this? What other animals live in water? Draw what the children name. Discuss what these animals do, what they look like, what they need to live.

Show picture 1-23. What animal is this? Where is is living? What other animals live in trees? Draw what the children name. Discuss what these animals do, what they look like, what they need to live.

Draw a deer on a mountain. What animal is this? What other animals live on mountains? Draw what the children name. Discuss what these animals do, what they look like, what they need to live.

Draw a lion in a jungle. What animal is this? What other animals live in the jungle? Draw what the children name. Discuss what these animals do, what they look like, what they need to live.

Animals live in many different places.  People live in many kinds of homes, too. Draw different kinds of homes (apartments, single family homes, houseboat, igloos, R.V.s). Which kind of house do you live in?

No matter where we live, our home is a place where we can live with our family and love each other. In our homes we can pray, eat together, have family home evenings, play games, work and talk to each other.

I have some things in a bag. I want you to pick one out and tell me how you use it in your home.

Walk in a circle, singing different verses and doing the actions to “Fun to Do” (Children’s p. 253).

“Washing the Dishes is fun to do….”

“Brushing our hair is fun to do… etc”

Show the Gospel Art pictures of different families doing activities in their homes. Ask the children what the people are doing together and which room in the house it looks like they are in. Be sure to relate the people and activities to the children, asking, “Where do you read your scriptures, eat your lunch…? etc.”) after each picture.

Teach this action verse: (Repeat as necessary. Explain that “barge” means a large boat)

“Homes”

My home could be a castle large, (spread arms out)

A tent or boat or on a barge, (point arms into a peak over head, paddle with hands)

But of all these places I’d rather live (point to self)

in my own home with love to give. (hug self)

When Jesus came to earth to live, he lived in a home with his parents, Mary and Joseph. Jesus learned from his parents that he needed to help clean up and take care of his house. How do we take care of our house?

What should you do if you are playing outside and get mud on your shoes?

What if you play with toys and leave them out on your floor?

What should you do after dinner when the dirty dishes are on the table?

What should you do with your dirty clothes when you change into your pajamas?

The most special home on earth is Heavenly Father’s home. It has a special name. Do you know the name of His house? (temple). Inside, it is very, very clean because we want to show respect and honor for Him. Show the picture 1-54 and talk about temples briefly and the temple that is nearest you. If you have been inside a temple, share your feelings and testimony about the sacredness of the place.

Bring out booklets for each child of the action verse “Homes” they learned. Have the words printed already for each page, but let the children glue on the correct pictures you have printed from the internet and take it home to share with their family

Cover: “Homes”

Page 1: My home could be a castle large, (picture of castle)

Page 2: A tent (picture of tent)

Page 3 or boat or on a barge, (picture of a boat or barge)

Page 4 But of all these places I’d rather live (picture of a child)

Page 5 in my own home with love to give. (picture of a home with a heart in the middle of it)