Month: October 2013

Lesson #37 "I Can Be Honest"

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

“Occasionally you might send home reports on the lessons or activities in which [the children] have participated to help reinforce what the child has learned. You could also let parents know when their child has been particularly helpful or when their child is assigned to pray or give a talk. You can invite parents to share their experiences or their testimonies as part of a lesson.” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 109).

Materials needed: a button (or penny) for each child, an empty can with a lid (like a #10 can with plastic lid) with a treat inside, a headband for each child (if possible, have the words “I can be honest” across the band).

Play the button game. Instruct each child to close their hands together as if they hiding a button (or penny). One child comes up to the front of the classroom, turns his or her back to the class and closes their eyes while you put a button in one of the student’s hands. The child up front then turns around and asks each child, “Do you have the button?” (or penny). Each answers yes or no, whatever is the case, and opens up their hands as proof. When they get to the child who answers “yes,” that child comes up to the front. Repeat until all have had a chance to hold the button and ask the questions. While playing the game, praise the children for telling the truth (“yes, you had the button!” or “no, you didn’t have the button, that’s right!”).

After: Compliment each child on being honest when they answered if they have the button hiding in their hands or not.

What does being “honest” mean?  (not tell a lie, tell the truth, not steal, play fairly) How do you feel when you are honest?  How do you feel when someone lies or doesn’t play nicely with you?

I am going to say some things and you tell me if they are honest or not. Put your thumbs up if it is true; put your thumbs down if it is not true.

I am wearing a dress

I am wearing cowboy boots

I am a mother

I am a father

We are at school

We are at church

There is a horse in the room, etc.

Show the can and tell the children that something is inside. Tell them that there is a dog inside (or some other improbable thing). Ask them if they believe you. Why or why not? Let see if I was telling the truth or not. Open up the lid and show what is inside. Oh, I told a lie! That is not good. We should always tell the truth. I’m going to try again and tell the truth. This time tell them what is really inside, then open up the lid and ask them if it is true. Pass out a treat to each child.

Show picture of the 2,000 stripling warriors.  Tell the story of their obedience, honestly and bravery.

Make a headband: “ I am honest” and put one on each child’s head.

Beat a “drum” (the lid on the large can) and have kids march around the room like warriors. Each time the drum stops, a child answers how they can be honest:

Your mommy said not to eat a cookie but you sneak one when she is not looking

You take a toy from your friend’s house and put it in your pocket

You find some money that doesn’t belong to you

Your mom asks if you did your job but you didn’t

Your mom asks if you have brushed your teeth and you haven’t

You dropped a plate on the floor by accident and it broke.

You friend wants to watch a show on t.v. and you want to watch a different one.

Before the children go home, give them each a button (or penny) to put in their shoe. Tell their parents that the button is to remind them to always tell the truth.

 

Lesson #38 "I Can Be Reverent"

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

“Encourage children to share with their family  what they are learning. In family home evenings, they can share songs, scriptures, games, and principles they learn in Primary class.” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 109).

Materials needed: Gospel Art Pictures (listed below), a large sheet of paper for each child, markers and crayons.

We are going to play a game. It’s called Opposites. We are going to do things that are different from each other. Opposite means we do things that are different from each other. Do actions together with children to the following.

Stand up. Sit Down.

March quickly. March slowly.

Roll your hand up. Roll them down.

Turn the light off. Turn it on.

Clap your hands loudly.   Clap your hands softly.

Frown. Smile.

Wiggle your fingers up  high. Wiggle your fingers down low.

These are opposites. There is a song that talks about opposites. Let’s sing it.

“Do As I’m Doing” Children’s Songbook, p. 276

Repeat verses with new actions

When you are in church, you do things differently than when you are outside. The church is Heavenly Father’s special place for us to come and think about His Son Jesus and feel His love. 

When we are outside, we can run fast.  When we are inside the church, we walk ___________ (let children fill in the blank). Yes, that is opposite!

When we are outside, we can yell and talk loudly.  When we are inside the church,  we talk ________(let children fill in the blank). Yes, that is opposite!

When we are outside, we can run around. When we are inside the church, we sit _____________(let children fill in the blank). Yes, that is opposite!

Look at these two pictures (1-38 and 1-8). 

What do you see the children doing?  Where are they? They are doing opposite things. Which children are being reverent?

When we sit quietly and think about Jesus, we are being reverent.

Have the same discussion for pictures 1-48 and 1-41.

Listen while I sing this song and tell me how it makes you feel: “Reverently, Quietly” (or play from Primary CD Children’s Songbook, p. 36).

How did that song make you feel? Songs about Jesus help us feel reverent. We feel love and happiness for him and we are grateful for all He has done for us.  

What does our bodies look like when we are reverent?  (Discuss and have the children practice putting their hands in their laps, or folding their arms, keeping their feet and bodies quiet–praise them for their efforts).

Let me sing it again and you sing the words, “Reverently, Quietly” when I sing them. Remember how our bodies should look while we are singing.

If we learn how to be reverent in church, one day we will be able to go to the temple. The temple is God’s house and is the most beautiful, reverent, happy place on earth. (show picture 1-54). This is one of Heavenly Father’s temples. Inside temples, everyone whispers to keep it quiet inside so everyone can think about Jesus. (Use a “whisper” voice as you talk about your feelings if you have been inside a temple and the temple nearby where they live. During the brief discussion, have the children practice their “whisper” voice too).

Let’s practice walking down the hall with our reverent bodies. It will help us to feel reverent if we look at the pictures on the wall. (If you have gospel art hanging on the church walls, stop and talk about a few of them. Discuss how these help us think of Christ and to be reverent while we are in church).

If we walk very quietly and think about Jesus, we will go outside and run afterward. (Go outside if possible. Be sure when it is time to come back in that you transition them by having them stop at the door, discuss how they need to be “opposite” now: quiet feel, closed mouths, quiet hands, before going inside).

Inside: Have each child stand on a large piece of paper and trace around their feet. Let them color their two feet and write this poem on each:

These are my two feet, they walk so sweet.

When I pray they’re quiet, I like to try it!

How are we reverent when we get ready for a prayer? Listen to this song and tell me what our bodies are supposed to do. “We Bow our Heads” (Children’s Songbook, p. 25).

Ask a child to say the closing prayer. Praise all those who are reverent during the prayer. Challenge them to be reverent by thinking about Jesus when they say their prayers at home.  Tell them to put their two little feet paper on the floor near their bed to remember to kneel quietly each night to say their personal prayers.

 

 

 

Lesson #35 "I Can Be Kind to Animals"

 

Materials needed: Gospel art pictures 1-30, 1-28, an outline of a cat cut from various colors of construction paper, pictures of pets and zoo animals.

I’m going to made a sound and pretend like I am an animal. Can you guess what I am?(make various animal noises). Very good! You know a lot about animals. Did you know that Heavenly Father made all animals? Show the creation picture and talk about the creation and how God made animals. Let each child come up and identify one of the animals in the picture.

Now let’s see how good you are at being one of the animals God made on the earth (whisper an animal in each child’s ear and have them act and sound it for the others to guess).

Tell story and show picture of Noah’s ark. Because the animals were good, Heavenly Father saved them with Noah and the ark. Heavenly Father has commanded us to take care of animals and be kind to them.

Do you have any pets?  Show pictures of pets. What are they like? How do you take care of them? If you have a pet, this would be a good time to share your love for animals and how you cared for it.

I brought a pretend pet made out of paper. Can you tell what pet it is? (cat).  She is orange.  She changes colors if you jump and clap when I say “that”

“Scat the Cat”

I’m Scat the Cat

I’m sassy and fat

If you don’t like my color

I can change like (Jump and clap) that!.

(When they clap, drop the front cat silhouette down to reveal the next color and have the children name the color before starting again).

Let’s pretend we are going on a train ride in a zoo to see all of Heavenly Father’s animals.  (line up chairs and use animals pictures).  We will sing our zoo train song and see what animals the keepers are feeding:

(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

The keeper in the zoo, the keeper in the zoo,

Heigh-ho the derry-o, the keeper in the zoo.

The keeper feeds the bears, etc.

The keeper feeds the goats, etc.

Give each child one of the “Scat the Cat” paper outlines. Ask each child to finish this sentence: “I can be kind to animals by…” and write it out what each says on their cat. Let them draw facial features and take it home.

Bear your testimony on the love God has for animals and that we are so blessed to have them. Share your feelings about animals and all of God’s creations.

Lesson #34 "I Can Love Others"

“Pray ever day for help in your preparation. Ask Heavenly Father to help you be aware of things that will make your lesson vivid, memorable, and inspiring to those you teach” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 23.

Materials needed: Gospel Art Kit pictures: children in situations where they are showing love such as doing dishes, giving mom a flower, playing with friends, etc., and the Good Samaritan picture, a scarf for a blindfold, a snack, dress ups.

Play musical chairs while singing, “Love One Another” (or play it on the Children’s Songbook CD). When the song ends, they sit on a chair with a picture on it. They say what the picture is and how it shows you love someone (hug, smile, sharing, kiss, etc.) Repeat if desired.

When we love one another, we talk nicely and use good manners. We say “please” and “thank you.”  I have a treat to share with you. Each person asks for it  by saying, “Please can I have a treat.” And after I give it to them, they have to say, “Thank you” and I say “You’re Welcome.”

Let’s go outside and play “Can you please?”  (like the game “Mother May I,” but if I say “Can you please take two steps” They have to say “thank you” and then do it.  If I just say, “Take two steps,” they can’t go).

Back inside: Show the picture of the Good Samaritan and tell the story. Ask when the story is over how the Samaritan showed love to the hurt man.  Put on dress ups and have them act it out.

What if someone looks different than you?  Can you be their friend?  What if they are in a wheelchair or they don’t have legs that work?  What if they have different colored skin or speak a different language? Do you know any children that are like this? How are you their friend? (Do you invite them over to play with you? Do you smile at them even if you can’t talk with them? Do you help them if they need help?). What would it be like if you had legs that didn’t work or eyes that couldn’t see? Let’s imagine what it might feel like to be blind. Blindfold one child and ask them to try to find their way back to their chair. Repeat with other children. When finished, ask them how they felt and remind them that blind people can never use their eyes to see.

Share a personal example (perhaps when you were in a foreign country and couldn’t speak the language and someone helped you or when you were able to help some one with a disability and how it made you feel).

We show Heavenly Father and Jesus that we love them when we are kind to all children. I want to share my love by telling each of you how you are special. (Share something different about each child what you admire about them).

 

Parents Magazine: How to prepare your child for preschool

This was posted on Parents.com on 10/4/13. It uses information and quotes I supplied for the article.

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/preparing/prepare-your-child/