Month: November 2013

Lesson #41 Heavenly Father and Jesus Gave Us the Scriptures

“By observing the progress of those you teach, you can sensitively make adjustments in the lesson plan presentation. For example, you can repeat or reemphasize ideas, stop for a discussion, share a story, or bear testimony. You can also know when to reach out to an individual. To be attentive and able to focus on learners, you must prepare well so you will not be overly dependent on notes or the lesson manual” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 73).

Materials needed: Gospel Art Kit pictures (the same as from last week), a bag with all 4 books of the scriptures inside, a tablet or ipad, letters to each child from their parents (call ahead to ask for these; if you see the parents in sacrament meeting, remind them if they forgot to do this). 

Last week we learned the names of special meetings we go to each Sunday. Do you remember the name of the meeting where we sit in the chapel with our families and the most important thing we do is remember Jesus while we take the sacrament? (sacrament meeting)

Do you remember the name of the meeting with the other Primary children (either before or after class time) and sing songs together and listen to talks? (Sharing Time).

Do you remember the name of our meeting right now in this classroom? (Sunbeam class).

Which one was the most important? Why? Did you remember to think of Jesus during the sacrament today and be reverent to show your love for him?

We are going to learn some new names today. I have something special in my bag.  Each Sunbeam child can come up, one at a time, and feel what’s inside and guess what it is.

Hold up the scriptures for all to see. These are called the “scriptures.” Can you same that name with me?  There are 4 names of books in the scriptures.  New Testament, Old Testament, (Bible) Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. (Hold up each book and have the children repeat the names after you). These are the words the Heavenly Father and Jesus said and the prophets wrote them down. We can read what Heavenly Father said in the scriptures.  They are the word of God.

If your parents want to tell you something but they were not with you…maybe they were on a trip, or working…then they could call on the phone you or write you a letter. I asked your parents to write a letter to you and since they aren’t in our Sunbeam class right now, I will read each one. It is like they are talking to you even though they aren’t here. (Read each letter. If you didn’t get a letter from a parent, just pretend to read a general message to that child so they don’t feel left out).

The scriptures are kind of like a letter from Heavenly Father and Jesus to us. They love us and the scriptures are a way for us to hear what they want to say since they live in heaven and we can’t see them.

If you don’t bring scriptures to church, you can check them out from the library. (Take the class to the library and get a book for each child. Show them how to check it out). Challenge them to bring a book of scriptures (Book of Mormon at the least) each week to class.

Back in class: Have children practice turning the pages on the scriptures. Show them how to do it carefully and respectfully. Learn where to find the front cover, back, the title and how to treat it. Look at pictures inside if there are any.

I’m going to read some  things that Jesus told us to do. Read the following scriptures and tell the main point of each. (3 Ne. 18:21 “Pray in your families”) (D&C 59:6 “Love thy neighbor”).

Sing “Book of Mormon Stories” while they circle around their chairs with gospel art kit pictures of Jesus’ life (same from last week’s lesson). Have children tell what they see when the song stops.

Watch some video stories of Jesus on the lds.org site under “Resources”  “Video, Audio and Images” “Bible Videos”  Suggested ones:

Jesus Declares the Parable of the Lost Sheep

Jesus Heals a Lame Man on the Sabbath

Review: Hold up each book of scriptures and ask if the children remember their names. There are 4 names of books in the scriptures.  New Testament, Old Testament, (Bible) Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. (Hold up each book and have the children repeat the names after you). These contain the stories of Jesus and the prophets.

Testify of how the scriptures have helped you in your life and how you know they are true.

Lesson #40 "The Sacrament Helps Me Think About Jesus"

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

“Teach ideas in a simple, clear way. Use summaries and visual materials to reinforce ideas. Encourage questions and responses to the lessons, but have the child take turns with other children. Use a variety of teaching methods such as stories, songs, discussions, dramatizations, finger plays, and simple games. Alternate between quiet and lively activities” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 111).

Materials needed: Pictures 1-70, 1-8, 1-55, 1-18, 1-13, 3-56, 1-74, 1-73, 1-44, 1-59; the coloring page (print from the link below) and crayons.

What is his/her name? (point to a child) Point and ask the same question for each child. Tell the children that each of us has a name. We give people and things names like a “chair” (point to the chair) a “table” etc.

What is the name of the class we are in? If they have trouble answering, tell them it is the “Sunbeam class.” What is the name of the other (either before or after Sunbeam class) meeting we go to in Primary where we learn songs and hear children give talks? (if they don’t know, tell them it is “Sharing Time.”)

So what is it called when we go to the room with all the children and sing songs together and listen to the talks?

What is it called we come to our classroom with our Sunbeam friends and have a lesson with (teacher’s name)?

What is it called when we go into the big room and sit with our families and take the bread and water? The name of that is “Sacrament Meeting.” Why it is named sacrament meeting? (Because we take the sacrament). We call it Sacrament Meeting because the sacrament is the most important thing we do in that meeting. Sacrament Meeting is the most important meeting of all. It is more important than Sharing Time and Sunbeam class time because that is where we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us and take the bread and water to remember him.

The sacrament is what Jesus asked us to take to remember him. Show the Last Supper (1-70) and talk about what is happening. Show picture 1-8 and ask what is happening in this picture. Make a connection for the children between these two events.

Do this “Activity Verse” (sing to the tune of “Come With Me to Primary,” Children’s Songbook, p. 255).

I’m glad I come to church each week (hands peaked)

I love to listen (hand over ear)

And to pray (fold arms, bow head)

I learn of Jesus up above (point up)

The sacrament shows us His love (hug self)

Repeat a few times and encourage the children to just do the hand actions at first and then try to sing it with you.

What does the bread remind us of? The water?

When we wait for the bread and water, what should we be doing? Put your thumbs up if what I say is a good thing and thumbs down if it is a bad thing:

Playing with toys?

Talking to our brother or sister?

Thinking about Jesus?

Thinking about a t.v. show?

Listening carefully to the sacrament prayers?

Standing up on the bench or crawling on the floor?

Playing games on your mom’s cellphone?

Looking at pictures of Jesus?

(If the chapel is vacant during this time): Let’s take a walk quietly down the hall and see where the holders of the Aaronic Priesthood prepare the sacrament in the chapel. Then let’s sit on a bench and practice what our bodies look like during the sacrament.

(Back in class): If we are thinking about Jesus, we can think about the things he did when he lived on earth. Here are some pictures (show the pictures one at a time and ask the children what Jesus is doing in each of them).

Put the chairs in a circle and place one of the pictures on each chair. Have the children stand in a circle inside the chairs and walk in a circle. I’m going to sing the song we learned and when the song ends, stop in front of one of the chairs, next to a picture and we’ll talk about each one. Have each child tell what Jesus is doing and remind them they can think of this story during the sacrament.

Give them the coloring page (print from link below) and remind them to think of Jesus’ love for them and all he did when they are taking the sacrament.

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2012/05/fr12may39-sacrament-coloring-page.pdf?lang=eng

 

Lesson #39 Music Makes Me Happy

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

“Little children enjoy poems and songs with simple actions… often referred to as activity verses. You can use activity verses to help children learn gospel principles. You can also use them to help children feel welcome at the beginning of class, get ready to pray, or prepare to participate in a lesson. It is helpful to have several activity verses ready to use whenever you see a need to change the pace of a lesson or include the children in an activity” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 159).

Materials needed: Pictures 1-68, 1-69, a thin blanket (like fleece), snack for each child, a CD player and CDs of the Children’s Songbook and Primary 1,a pole with a string tied on the end and a magnet on the end of the string, paper fish with a paper clip on each and names of favorite songs ( “Once There Was a Snowman,” “Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “Popcorn Popping, etc.) written on them.

Put a blanket on the floor and invite the children to sit down. Pass out snacks and sing activity songs while they eat such as:

“Five Green and Speckled Frogs”

“The Wheels on the Bus”

(If you have access to any of these in a picture book, use them as well)

I’m so happy when I sing. I saw that while you were singing, you had a smile on your face. How do those songs make you feel? Music makes me happy.

Sing various verses to:”If You’re Happy and You Know It” (Children’s Songbook, p. 266).

Invite children to sit back in their chairs. We sing songs in sacrament meeting to help us feel reverent when we take the sacrament. It helps us think of Jesus.  Have you ever noticed the lady (or man) who leads the music when we all sing in sacrament meeting? How would you like to pretend to be the chorister and lead the music? Have the children stand up and wave their arm while you all singing a reverence song they have learned in Primary.

The people in the scriptures loved music too. It helped them feel good inside. Show 1-68 David playing a harp for King Saul to make him feel better. Talk about how Saul was feeling sad and worried inside and that David’s beautiful singing and playing the harp helped him feel peaceful again.

Here is another picture (1-69). The Jaredites went across the ocean in barges, and it was a little scary inside. It was dark except for a light at the two ends of the boat, and there were very big waves that tossed them around. They sometimes went down deep under the surface of the water where there were sharks, fish and whales. But Heavenly Father protected them and they sang songs to be happy.

Are you ever frightened by the dark or by something that worries you? Maybe when you go to bed at night, you may feel a little scared. You can sing in the dark when you are scared and need to feel happy again. You can sing anytime, anywhere if you want to feel better. The Holy Ghost can help you feel happy when you sing a song and you are afraid and alone.

Pretend to be on a barge. Set up seats in rows for the children and turn off the light. Turn on a well-known Primary song on the CD for the children to sing to (we chose “I Am a Child of God”). While they are singing, flap the blanket up and down around the outside of the “barge” to simulate “waves.”

Did the waves bother you? How did you feel when you sang that song? You can sing that song whenever you need to feel peaceful inside. Share a time when music calmed you when you were scared/worried/sad.

Do the musical expression from the Primary 1 CD: Section 2 “Musical Awareness.”

Have the children sit back in their chairs. Tell them you are going to see how well they remembered the people we talked about in the scriptures that liked music. Show the David and Jaredite pictures and ask the children about each. What are the names? What are they doing? Why are they singing? Prompt the children if they need help remembering.

We are going to pretend to be the Jaredites again. Instead of being on a boat, we are going to go fishing in the ocean. 

Play with fishing pole and fish with songs on them. As each child “catches” a fish with the magnet on the pole, you read the name of the song written on it and all sing it.

Express your testimony of music in your life.