Sunbeam Lesson #21 "I Have Feelings"

Lesson #21   “I Have Feelings”

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

“Our testimonies are often strengthened because of experiences we have. Perhaps you have had an experience that has strengthened your testimony that Heavenly Father answers prayers. Or you may have been blessed for obeying a certain commandment. When you share such experiences, you are a living witness of gospel truths, and the Spirit can bear witness to others that what you say is true. In addition to sharing your own experiences, you should encourage learners to share their experiences as they feel comfortable doing so” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 45.

Materials needed: Gospel Art Kit pictures, mirror, a ball, paper plates with expressions drawn on, a hand puppet, playdough or a Father’s Day craft (see below).

Take note of what the Sunbeam children did during Sharing Time and on the way to class where they showed an emotion. In class, begin, by telling them what you noticed. If they were sad, discuss why. Happy? Excited?

Show pictures of different children in situations from the Gospel Art Kit such as Children Quarreling (1-48) and Children Playing With Blocks (1-49).  How do these people feel?  How can you tell?

We can feel different ways.  If you are happy, you have a smile on your face and you feel good inside.  If you are sad, you have a frown and you feel bad inside.  Look in the mirror and see what face you are making.

Jesus was happy many times when He lived on the earth. When He was with children, He was happy. He loves children, like you, very much. When Jesus died, many people were sad. Can you see the faces of the people in this picture? (1-73). What are they feeling? Why?

I am grateful that Jesus died for us so that we can all live again. We can live together with our families in heaven because Jesus resurrected and gave that gift to us. That makes me very happy! How does that make you feel?

Sing: “Smiles” (Children’s Songbook, p. 267)

I have a some paper plate faces that show different feelings.  Can you guess what they are? When we see a face, let’s make the same expression with our faces too.

I have a puppet who would like to tell some stories.

Puppet: You and your friend are playing with toys and they won’t share.  they grab a toy from your hands. What should you do if you feel angry?  (Stand up when you hear a good choice, sit down when I say a bad choice)

Hit your friend

Throw a toy

Use your words and say, “Let’s take turns.”

Two children, a brother and sister, are sweeping the kitchen. The brother is sweeping with the broom and the sister is holding the dust pan. The brother sweeps too hard and hits his sister with the broom on accident. The sister says, “You stupid! What should the brother do after his sister called him a bad name? (Stand up when you hear a good choice, sit down when I say a bad choice)

Yell and scream

Call his sister a bad name

Hit his sister

Say, “Don’t call me a bad name.  I don’t like that.”

(Make up more scenarios and possible reactions if desired)

We can also go to an adult and tell them if we need help.  We can ask a teacher, our parents or neighbors if we are in trouble and are sad or afraid.  If we are scared or feel  sad, we can also pray to Heavenly Father. 

Tell a personal story about when you felt scared, worried, alone or sad and how prayer helped you. Keep it a simple and age-appropriate story that is reassuring to the young children. Ask if they have prayed when they were sad or worried or scared. How did they feel after?

Sing: “If You’re Happy” (Children’s Songbook, p. 266)

Sing additional verses with other emotions: (mad.. stomp your feet/sad… make a frown/tired…go to sleep/hurt…cry boo hoo)

Gather children on the floor: Roll a ball back and forth. Each child that catches the ball answers the questions, “What makes you happy?”

Testimony.  Even though we may feel sad or afraid or angry sometimes, we want to be happy.  Heavenly Father and Jesus want  us to be happy.  Jesus died for us so we can live with him again and be happy forever.

Alternative endings: You can get out Play Dough and have the children share it. Sharing makes everyone happy.

Or, if this Sunday falls on Father’s Day, talk about what makes their dad happy. What can they do for their dad? Make a craft or a special card to give to their dad.

Sunbeam lesson #20 "I Am Thankful I Can Smell and Taste"

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

“What skills do I need to develop? The teacher reads that she should observe class members during lessons. She tells herself, “This is a skill that I need to develop, but it will take some practice.” She writes this plan in her journal. As she considers her plan, she realizes that she already has a least one strength that she can build one: she diligently prepares lessons. Because she is always familiar with the lesson material, she will be able to observe class members rather than focus too much on the lesson manual or her notes” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 25

Materials needed: snack items that have a smell such as an orange, popcorn, pickles, or cinnamon toast; empty small jars (like baby food or film containers, or use Ziploc baggies instead) with cotton balls saturated with strongly smelling liquids such as ammonia, vinegar, perfumes, essential oils, lemon, and gasoline); sugar and salt in similar baggies or in unidentifiable shakers; Art Kit picture 1-35; paper plates with eyes already glued on and printed off paper noses and mouths; glue sticks.

Heavenly Father made our bodies to do many things.  When I point to something on my body, tell me what it does (nose, eyes, ears, fingers, tongue).

Bring out the food items you’ve brought for snack. We can use our tongues and noses to smell and taste these. Hold them under the students’ noses to smell. Tell them to close their eyes so they can think about the smell.  What does it smell like?

Give each child a piece of the snack and ask them to eat it slowly. If we give our tongues enough time, we can tell if it tastes sour, sweet, salty, or something else. Ask them how their snack tastes.

Let’s see how smart your tongues are! I have two things here: salt and sugar. Our eyes can’t tell the difference. They look the same. Salt and sugar can trick our eyes, but I bet they can’t trick our tongues! I’m going to put a little on your tongues and you tell me which one it is. The salt will taste salty and the sugar will taste sweet.

Here is a picture of the Children of Israel gathering manna (show picture 1-35). Remember this story? We talked about it when we wanted to learn about the Sabbath Day. What is another word for the “Sabbath Day”? (Sunday). Do we  work on Sunday? Can anyone remember the story and tell it to us (if no one does, or it they need help, you can tell it). The manna that the Children Israel picked every day except Sunday was very sweet. It tasted like honey, or the sugar we just tasted. They liked it very much.

Our noses can smell different things and it is very smart too. We smell all day. Have you ever smelled something that was burning? What did it smell like? Heavenly Father gave us noses and mouths to enjoying eating and smelling. They also warn us if there is something dangerous, like something burning or not to eat something dangerous. Some things are not good to taste or smell.  They are poison.  Do not taste anything unless you ask your mommy first, especially medicine and things she cleans the house with. (pass around strong smells in cotton balls). What smelled dangerous? What was your favorite?

Let’s see if you can remember all the parts of our bodies that Heavenly Father made for us:

“Monkey See, Monkey Do.”

Monkey see, monkey do,

I clap my hands now you can too (all clap)

Monkey see, monkey do,

I clap touch my nose now you can too (all touch noses)

Monkey see, monkey do,

I clap stomp my feet now you can too (all stomp)

Repeat with other actions.

Show the paper plate “face.” I see some eyes on this face, but what is missing? Point to your nose. Point to your mouth. Where does your tongue live? (in your mouth). We need to add a nose and a mouth! Let’s see…where should I put the nose (hold up the paper nose and put it in wrong places, and then have the children guide you to the middle of the face with their feedback. Do the same with the mouth). Give them each a plate and one nose and mouth. Once they have put them in their proper places, glue them on. Write around the edge: “I am thankful I can smell and taste.”

Have the children hold up their finished “faces.” Let’s pretend these are real faces and they can sing. We need mouths and tongues to sing. What song should we sing? (have the children pick their favorite Primary songs and sing each one, holding up their paper plate faces.

If you have “Mr. Potato Head” and face parts, this would be a good time to let the Sunbeam children play with putting on different facial features. Talk about the expressions and functions of each.

Bear testimony that our bodies are wonderful gift from Heavenly Father.  We need to take care of them so they can grow big and strong.  We need to eat healthy foods, exercise, get to bed early, wash our bodies to be clean and always give thanks in our prayers to Heavenly Father for our beautiful bodies.

 

 

 

"Love Me, Love My Beehive" Wall Street Journal article 6/4/13

Check out this column on the Wall Street Journal with my husband and me. If you click on our photo, I’m in a live interview on the WSJ “Lunch Break” program as well.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324063304578523151798382178.html

Sunbeam Lesson #19 "I Am Thankful for My Eyes"

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

“When children are criticized or spoken to in a negative way, they often feel inadequate or rejected. They may try to gain attention by disturbing other children or otherwise misbehaving. On the other hand, positive comments will help them understand that you expect the best from them. Recognize the good things they do, and ignore minor problems. As you do so, they will begin to feel that they are accepted, loved, and understood” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 80.

Materials needed: “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” book by Eric Carle, any hand puppet, a sock puppet for each child (glue googly eyes on and decorate if you’d like) Art kit picture 1-43, a dog leash, a scarf.

Read “Brown Bear.” After reviewing the book, ask, ” What can your eyes see?”

Heavenly Father gave us two eyes.  What do our eyes do?

I have a puppet that has two little eyes. Can you see them? She is going to come around and touch your two little eyes and count, “One, two.”

Use the puppet to sing “Two Little Eyes” from Children’s Songbook, p. 268:

Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink.

Two little eyes that see.

Head and shoulders and knees and toes

and many more things make me.

Tra la la la la lala

Two little eyes that see

Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink

And many more thing make me.

Repeat the song a few times. I’ve got a puppet for each of you (hand them out). Can you put it on and find the two little eyes? Let’s have our puppets sing the song again.

Take their puppets outside to play “Eye Spy.” Discuss how we use our eyes to see so many things.  How grateful we are that Heavenly Father gave us our eyes!  After, take turns playing hide and seek outside.

Back inside, be sure to take back the sock puppets so they aren’t a distraction. Tell them they will get them when it’s time to go home. Sometimes, there are people whose eyes don’t work. They are blind. Tell story of Jesus with blind man, using the picture 1-43.

Do you know any blind people? Do any of them have a guide dog?  We’re going to pretend to be blind and have a guide dog (tie a scarf around a child’s eyes and have another child get down on their hands and knees). Hook a dog leash (or clip on something—like a heavy-duty paper clip—tied to a string) to the child’s shirt collar and have the “dog” lead the “blind” child around the classroom. Take turns. Talk about the trust the blind person has that the dog will keep them safe. Talk about how the dog must love his master to serve him so well.

Review how to walk down the hall quietly. Remind them to put on their “quiet shoes” and use their “indoor voices.” Tell them that we are going to use our eyes to see beautiful things from the life of Jesus. Walk them down the hall and stop in front of any hanging pictures framed on the walls. Ask the children what they see? Who is in the picture? What are they going? What colors do they see? Are there any animals? Etc.

Back in class: Bear testimony of the gift of sight from Heavenly Father.  We can thank him in our prayers for all the beautiful things we see each day. Challenge them to say how grateful they are that they can see when they say their prayers this week.

 

 

Sunbeam Lesson #18 "I Am Thankful for My Ears"

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

“Provide opportunities to play with others. Use activities that encourage sharing, taking turns, and cooperating. Develop a close relationship with the child, and frequently give the child opportunities to talk about his or her family…Teach the gospel in simple, concrete ways. Teach that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and are kind and loving. Share simple expressions of testimony. Help the child recognize the beauty of God’s creations.” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 111.

Materials needed: Gospel Art Kit pictures “The First Vision” 1-4, “Child with a Hearing Aid” 1-41, and 1-23 (Birds), 1-25 (Fish), 1-14 (Daniel in Lion’s Den), 1-26 (Frog), The Primary 1 Nursery Musical Activities CD, sound items in a sack (i.e. bell, whistle, rattle, wind-up toy, etc.), microwaveable popcorn.

After the opening prayer, whisper directions to children such as stand up and turn around, fold their arms, smile, frown, sit back down. In your normal voice, ask them if they could hear you even though you were talking very softly. Why? What part of their bodies helped them hear your voice?

Our ears are a very important part of our bodies. Heavenly Father made them so we could hear. We have two, one on each side of our head.

Sing “Thanks to Our Father” Children’s Songbook, p. 20. Do the actions on 2nd verse:

Thanks to our Father we will bring,

For he gives us everything.

Eyes and ears and hands and feet,

Clothes to wear and food to eat.

Repeat song a few times. When they know it well enough, instead of singing certain words (“eyes” or “ears”) just point to them and see if they children can fill in the words.

What are some things we can hear? (get answers)

I’m going to choose a few Sunbeam children to come up and look at a picture of an animal. Only that child can see it. They will make the sound of the animal. The rest can guess and if you are right, I’ll show you the picture and we can all act out that animal. (Use pictures of frog, fish, lions and birds. Repeat if you have more children or add more animal sounds).

Some children have ears that don’t work very well. Do you know someone who is deaf or wears a hearing aid in their ears? Show picture “Child with a Hearing Aid” 1-41. Sometimes we know older people, like our grandma or grandpa who need to wear hearing aids because their ears are getting old and not working very well. When someone if deaf, they can use sign language since they can’t hear what we are saying.

I’m going to use my hands to tell you some things and see if you can understand without even hearing my voice.

Put your finger over your lips for the “whisper” sign

Raise your hands up and stand to motion for everyone to stand up

Make a “turning” motion with your raised index finger and turn in a circle

Clap your hands

Draw your index fingers upward on the corners of your mouth to make a “smile”, then do the same thing for a frown

Fold your arms

Motion to sit back down

How did you do in following my hand signals? Did you understand what to do even though you couldn’t hear? We can use our hands to talk to people who can’t hear very well. We can be their friends.

I have a sack with things inside that make different sounds. I’m going to reach in the sack and make a sound that you can’t see, but can hear. If you guess it right, I’ll take it out and you can see what it looks like.

In church, there are many things we need to listen to. We listen to the music, we listen to the teachers, we listen to the Holy Ghost who gives us a quiet, happy feeling inside.

Show picture 1-4. Joseph Smith listened to Heavenly Father and Jesus in the sacred grove. Heavenly Father said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Can you say that with me? (repeat a few times). That mean that Heavenly Father wanted Joseph to listen carefully. We should listen and follow what Jesus says in the scriptures and to our prophet and our parents when they tell us to do what is right.

Play the selection from Primary 1 Nursery Musical Activities CD “Musical Awareness” (4:24 track 2) and follow the listening activities.

Take the children to the kitchen and tell them they are going to use all their senses, including hearing. As you put the microwaveable popcorn in, identify each of the 5 senses. Take the popped popcorn outside to eat. While they eat it, have them lay down on the grass and listen to the crunch of the popcorn in their mouths. Then have them identify any other sounds they hear while they are laying down listening.

Back inside the classroom, let the children play with the sound items if you have extra time.

Bear your testimony of our special bodies and all we can do. Our ears help us hear so many beautiful things. Mention some of the things they heard today. We should listen always to our prophet, the scriptures and the Holy Ghost. We don’t hear his voice in our ears, but in a quiet, happy feeling.

Sunbeam Lesson #17 "I Am Thankful For My Hands"

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

“Children are loving and want to be loved and accepted themselves. Look for opportunities to reinforce the kind and loving behavior that comes naturally to children. Because children want to please you and enjoy helping others, give them opportunities to serve. Ask them to carry your books, hold pictures, or answer questions. Encourage them to help each other. Show your love for them. Build their confidence by expressing your appreciation for their efforts whenever possible. Listen attentively to what they say.” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 109

Materials needed: Primary pictures (see the numbers in the lesson), sack with different textured items (ie. comb, cotton ball, rock, pinecone, silk scarf, etc), play dough, paper and crayons, ball.

I’m going to tell you a story about our two hands. They have to be friends if they want to have fun together. (act out the story with hands as suggested)

“Once upon a time there were two little hands and they were the best of friends.

They would clap together, snap their fingers, pat each other and shake and hold hands.

But one day they got mad at each other and ran away (put hands behind back).

Let’s ask them to be friends again. ‘Please hands, will you be friends? We’ll sing you a song:

Come on hands, get together, come on hands get together (bring hands slowly around to the front), come on hands, get together’

But the hands said, ‘NO!’ (quickly hide hands behind back again)

Let’s ask them to be friends again. ‘Please, pretty please hands, will you be friends? We’ll sing you a song:

Come on hands, get together, come on hands get together (bring hands slowly around    to the front), come on hands, get together’

But the hands said, ‘NO!’ (quickly hide hands behind back again)

Let’s ask them to be friends again. ‘Please, pretty, pretty please hands, will you be friends? We’ll sing you a song:

Come on hands, get together, come on hands get together (bring hands slowly around  to the front), come on hands, get together’

But the hands said, ‘NO!’ (quickly hide hands behind back again)

Let’s ask them to be friends again. ‘Please, pretty, pretty, pretty please hands, will you be friends? We’ll sing you a song:

Come on hands, get together, come on hands get together (bring hands slowly around to the front), come on hands, get together’

And the hands said, ‘Yes!’

Hooray! They could clap again, and pat each other again and snap their fingers and shake and hold hands.”

Aren’t we glad our two little hands are friends! What did they do together to have fun?

I told this story with my two hands. Our hands can do many things, like tell stories.  What else can our hands do?  (help us eat, write, clap, hold things, throw a ball, etc.) Let’s sit in a circle and roll a ball to each other.  See how our hands can roll and catch a ball.  When you catch it, we will say your name.

We can also sing a song with our hands. Sing “Roll Your Hands” (Children’s Songbook, p. 274). If children remain interested, add new verses such as “Clap your hands” and “Wiggle your fingers.”

Go back to seats

How can our hands help us get ready for church?  (Have each child come up and act out something and others guess: brushing teeth, combing hair, washing face, getting dressed, eating, etc.)

When we are at church, our two hands need to be reverent.  What do they do? Show me. Say each child’s name and something good they are doing with their hands.

Have each child come up and act out something our hands do during church and others guess: holding scriptures, taking the sacrament, folding arms pray, raising hand to answer a question shaking hands with someone, waiving “hi”, etc.

Show and discuss pictures of people using their hands to help others:

1-11 Baptizing

1-6 Reading the scriptures

1-67 Raising hands in class to answer questions

1-72 Praying

1-45 Washing dishes

1-41 Writing

1-38 Throwing ball with friends

1-39 Giving a baby blessing

1-8 Passing and taking the sacrament

1-5 Gently touching the baby

1-50 Tying shoe

1-48 Building blocks with friends

1-7 Eating cookies with family

Jesus used his hands to help people when he was living on the earth. (show picture of Christ healing the sick—1-43). Tell about how Christ used his hands to lay them on the sick to heal them.  When we need a blessing, a man who has the priesthood will lay his hands gently on our heads to give us a blessing. Show and discuss picture 1-12

Here are other pictures from the scriptures. They tell a story and the hands are doing something special or important. Look at each one and raise your hand if you want to tell us what the hands are doing in these pictures:

1-37 (Daniel refuses the King’s food)

1-35 (Israelites collect mannna)

1-29 (Noah preaches)

1-17 (Boy Jesus teachers in temple)

1-52 (Boy David kills Goliath)

1-74 (Christ shows his resurrected body with wounds in hands)

1-68 (Boy David plays the harp for King Saul)

Our hands are part of our body that Heavenly Father made. They are very smart and can do many things.  Did you know your hands can feel and know what something is even if you can’t see it?  I have a sack with some things inside that you can’t see.  I’ll call your name to come up and you will reach inside, feel it, and tell us what your hands think it is.

We can count with our fingers because we are so smart.  How many fingers do we have? (Count to 10 on hands).

Sing: “1,2,3,4,5, I caught a fish alive”

1,2,3,4,5, I caught a fish alive (put one finger out for each number)

6,7,8,9,10, I let him go again

Why did you let him go?

Because he bit my finger so.

Which one did he bite?

The little one on the right.

Let’s think of 5 things (one for each finger) that we are thankful for that our hands can do (discuss)

Trace the outline of each child’s hand on a piece of paper. Write “I am thankful for my hands” on it and a on each finger, write the thing we said we were thankful for. Let the children color.

Give out playdough for the kids to play with to help our hands be creative and strong. What can your hands make?