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?

"A Book A Day" Book Review 5/1/13

Have you ever wished that your kids came with an instruction manual? I know that I have. This book has helped me to see that the kids themselves didn’t come with an instruction manual, but I do have a manual that I have been given to help me to be a better parent to our kids. Julie K Nelson’s book talks about the power of parenting examples in the scriptures. She gives examples of good parenting in the Book of Mormon and in the Bible, including our greatest example, the Savior Himself.

I don’t always love to read non-fiction books, usually they take me way longer to read than fiction books and I get tired of them before I’ve finished. Not so with this book. I loved the way that Julie teaches how to find the Spiritual Power in the scriptures. She uses a mix of scripture references, stories from the scriptures and personal stories. I was able to read this book quite quickly, I was way interested in it. I plan to use it as a reference later on for Family Home Evenings. And the best benefit that I got from reading it was that I will never look at scriptures in the same way. I have had a couple of amazing experiences with the scriptures since I finished this book. Thanks tons to Julie K Nelson for helping to revitalize my scripture reading and find more answers than I ever have before!

by Cathy Jeppsen

http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/

Mormonmommyblogs Book Review 4/30/13

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am surrounded by stellar examples of righteous parents. Our church is very family focused, and since we’re going to be an eternal family, it’s important to build good relationships.

Parenting with Spiritual Power is a new book by Julie K. Nelson that uses examples from the Bible and Book of Mormon to teach eternal parenting principles.

This book has shed new light on some of my favorite gospel stories, and has paired them with parenting tips. It’s also good to see that even the most righteous parents have children who have gone astray… even with all the tools and knowledge that Heavenly Father has given us, our kids are going to make their own choices.

I’ve also learned a thing or two that has helped me in my Primary calling.

I’ve really enjoyed this book, and have already recommended it to a few friends. If you have children, or if you work with children, Parenting with Spiritual Power will help you implement gospel principles into their lives. If you don’t have kids, that’s okay too, because YOU are a child of God, and this book will help you to understand how much God loves you.

All in all, it’s a great book, you’ll definitely learn something, and I highly recommend it.

by Caroline Bingham

http://www.mormonmommyblogs.com/2013/04/righteous-parenting.html

Sunbeam Lesson #16 "I Have a Body"

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

“The Lord taught that those who have desires to assist in His work must ‘be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity’ (D&C 12:8). Only those who are motivated by love will have a positive, powerful influence on those they teach. Pray to be filled with Christlike love toward every person you teach, especially those who sometimes behave inappropriately.” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 85).

Materials needed: picture 1-37 (Daniel Refusing the King’s Meat and Wine), pictures of foods from a magazine or book, pictures of foods cut into half,  magazines with pictures of food (such as in advertisements) for each child, child-sized scissors, paper plates, glue sticks, a healthy food item like an orange.

On your way to class, stop by the bathroom sink and have each child wash their hands with soap and water. Discuss why we use soap and water and how to properly clean their hands.

Show the picture 1-37 and tell the story of Daniel in King’s court.  Briefly discuss how we also eat good foods and follow the commandment about being healthy called “The Word of Wisdom.”  Have the children repeat that phrase a few time.

Our bodies are very special and we want to take good care of them.

Show healthy foods from the pictures. What is your favorite food? Let each child discuss.

Sit the children in a circle on the floor.

I’ve brought a healthy food that I love to eat. What is it? (an orange). Discuss where the food came from, what parts we eat or don’t eat and how it makes our bodies strong (it’s full of vitamin C that is good for us). We will sing the favorite food song and when I roll the orange to you, catch it, and tell us your favorite healthy food.

(Sing to the tune “The Muffin Man”)

“Oh tell me what’s your favorite food

your favorite food, your favorite food,

Oh tell me what’s your favorite food,

A healthy food today.”

When you are done with this activity, open up the orange and share a section with each child.  Have them show you their clean hands they washed earlier. Tell them they should always wash before eating food. What does the orange taste like? How does your body feel inside when you are eating something healthy?

While they are still on the floor, place the food picture halved pieces in front of them. See if they can guess what they are. Give the other half to the children, one by one, and have the match the food puzzle pieces.

Heavenly Father wants us to keep our bodies healthy and strong by eating food foods and also by exercising.  How can you exercise? 

If you have good weather, go outside and show all the wonderful things their bodies can do. Line up the children on one end of the yard and have them get to the other side by:

running fast

walking slow

jumping like a kangaroo

flapping their arms and flying like a bird

hopping like a frog

 

If you have bad weather, do the Path Game:

Make a path game by laying down the pictures of foods on the floor from one end of the room to the other (clear chairs away if needed). Put a piece of paper next to each food starting with “1” and on up to the last picture. On the backside of the numbered papers, write an exercise to do (jump up and down 10 times, hop on one foot 3 times, do a somersault, twirling for 3 seconds, kick one leg in the air, etc.). Have each child draw a number (written on papers in a sack, or spin a spinner or roll a die from a game) and walk that many steps to a picture. Name the food. On the other side, do the exercise it tells you to do. Keep going until they get to the end of the path. Continue with each child. Repeat if appropriate.

Make the “Healthy Plate.” Have the children look through the magazines and find pictures of healthy foods they like. Have them cut them out (or do it for them if they have difficulty with this) and glue the foods on their paper plate. Write the word down next to the food picture.

Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father gave us only one body and it is very special. We need to obey His commandments to be happy and healthy by taking care of our bodies.

 

 

A Swift Kick In the Butt

shopping_cart_1

Anyone who knows me is probably aware of what a huge fan I am of the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes.” In my opinion, when it left syndication, our society lost one of its shrewdest social commentators, satirists, and philosophizers on familial relationships. Not to mention it was the funniest thing ever printed (with the exception of perhaps “The Far Side”).

In one strip, Calvin, the 6-year-old boy/entrepreneur, has turned over a cardboard box on the sidewalk and is sitting behind it. On it he has written:  A swift kick in the butt: $1.00. Calvin’s friend Hobbes asks him how business is going. Calvin’s discouraged reply: “Terrible. I can’t understand it. Everybody I know needs what I’m selling.”

Those sagacious words passed through my mind as literally thousands of people streamed past me with shopping carts full of kids and Costco merchandise at my book signings. In my 3-hour signing segments over the past month, I had a lot of time to watch wonderful families in all shapes and sizes. You should try it sometime…with or without a signing. Just sit there and watch people interact as they hurriedly shop for all the glorious groceries we can’t live without…like chips and mango salsa, take-and-bake pizza, and a giant box of 110 frozen cream puffs.

Here are some things I learned:

When your son pulls you over to a table where there is a book for sale about parenting and tells you that you should buy it, take that as a swift kick in the butt and ask him why (and then listen very closely).

When you respond to your phone more often than your child needing your attention, take that as a swift kick in the butt and focus on what is real.

When a man comes up to the author at her book signing table and accuses, “CHURCH OF THE DEVIL! WORSHIPPER OF SATAN!!! (and worse things that I won’t mention here) and “FALSE PRIESTHOOD!!!!” someone needs a swift kick in the butt but I won’t mention who that is here either.

When you stop and talk to a friend for 2 hours while your kids wait patiently with nothing to do, take that as a swift kick in the butt and give them 2 hours of your undivided time later.

I got a swift kick to knock me down to reality after I heard the following:

“I bought your book last week and started to read it but fell asleep.”

“Does your book have a chapter about How To Not Lose Your Kid in Costco? I’d buy it if it did.”

“Does your book have anything in there about teaching your children about sex? My daughter has 4 sons and just had a baby girl. The boys looked over her privates and said, ‘Too bad. It hasn’t grown in yet.'”

I needed a swift kick in the butt to remind me of the hypocrisy of my signing books on the subject of parenting on the same night of my daughter’s 17th birthday which prevented me from being there for her.

After watching a deluge of families with bright, beautiful, friendly kids enjoying being together, even during mundane chores like shopping, I needed a swift kick in the rear to appreciate how many moms and dads are doing an amazing job at parenting.

Most of all, I got a swift kick, or gentle reminder, that life isn’t really all that complicated.  We just make it so. The things that matter most are usually right in front of us with feet dangling out the shopping cart and a face smeared with a sample of triple-layer chocolate cake.

 

Sunbeam Lesson #14 "Adam and Eve Were Created in Heavenly Father's Image"

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

“If you teach little children, you know that it can be a challenge to teach them the gospel. But little children want and need to hear gospel truths. They will respond to your efforts to present warm, varied, and enthusiastic gospel lessons” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 7.

Materials needed: Primary Visual Aids cutouts (sun, moon, stars, animals, plants and flowers), picture 1-33 of Adam and Eve; colorful chalk and eraser or whiteboard, colorful dry erase markers and eraser.

Put all the cut out pictures on the floor or table face down in front of the students.

What are some of the things that Jesus created for the earth? (get answers from each child).

Have each child come forward and turn over a picture and tell what it is. After naming it, have everyone say together, “Jesus created ____________” Everything on the earth was made for us to use and enjoy. Everything is a part of Heavenly Father’s plan.

Sing “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, p. 228)

Whenever I hear the song of a bird (hand cupped to ear)

Or look at the blue, blue sky, (hand raised above eyes)

Whenever I feel the rain on my face (fingers tapping on face)

Or the wind as it rushes by (motion hands across in front of body)

Whenever I touch a velvet rose (finger touch)

Or walk by a lilac tree, (walk in place)

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world (arms in a big circle)

Heavenly Father created for me. (hug self)

Repeat the song and then ask them to do all the actions while they sing it.

What is missing on the earth? We have the moon, sun, stars, animals, insects and trees and flowers. What else is an important part of Heavenly Father’s plan? Show picture 1-33. Explain that after all the other things were created, Adam and Eve were created to live on earth and take care of everything. They were the first man and woman. They had bodies like Heavenly Father’s body.

What was the first man’s name? What was the first woman’s name?

Feel your arm. What does it feel like? Did Adam and Eve have arms like ours?

Feel your face. What does it feel like? Did Adam and Eve have a face like ours?

Repeat with a few other body parts.

Sing “I Wiggle” Children’s Songbook, p. 271.

Repeat the song with other body parts.

Adam and Eve had children after they left the Garden of Eden. Having children and families was very important and I am very grateful they did so we could come to earth.  You and I were born to a mom and dad so we could be happy and obedient to God’s commandments. 

I am going to draw a picture and you tell me which of God’s creations it is. Repeat until they have had plenty of examples. When you draw a person, be sure to emphasize that Adam and Eve were the last and best of God’s creations. They were His children. We are all His children.

Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, p. 2).

Let children draw pictures of things on earth that they love.

 

Lesson #15 "The Sabbath Day is a Day of Worship"

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

“A skilled teacher doesn’t think, ‘What shall I do in class today?’ but asks, ‘What will my students do in class today?’; not, ‘What will I teach today?’ but rather, ‘How will I help my students discover what they need to know?’” Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 61.

Materials needed: a soft ball or toy, picture 1-35

Show picture of Israelites (1-35) and tell the story of collecting manna and how they kept the Sabbath Day Holy. Collecting manna was like going to the store to get food. We don’t do that on Sunday. Sunday is a special day and it has a special name called “The Sabbath Day.” Can you say, “Sabbath Day”? (Repeat until all can say it). It means it is Heavenly Father’s day that we keep holy.

Sit in a circle and toss a soft ball or toy to each child. When they catch it, they tell something they can do on Sunday. Give them ideas if they need.

Let’s sing a song about the days of the week. We’ll walk in a circle and act these out while we sing.

(sing to the Tune “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”)

“This is the way we eat our breakfast…so early in Monday morning.” Repeat with other actions. Each time, end with the next day of the week. On Sunday say, “This is the way we go to church…so early Sunday morning” (walk slowly with arms folded).

We also show Heavenly Father and Jesus that we love them by getting clean and putting on our nicest clothes when we come to church. Comment about each child and what they are wearing. Point out things like, “Jonathon has on a very  nice vest. It is very clean and has blue and green on it. I think he saves it for his Sunday best.” or “Maria has on special Sunday shoes and white tights. She is wearing a pretty blue dress with pleats at the bottom. Her hair is clean and combed into a ponytail and has a yellow bow in it.” After you have said something nice about each child, tell them how much Heavenly Father is pleased that they got ready in their best clean clothing and clean bodies to come to His house.

Sing “Mary Wore Her Red Dress” (personalizing it to each child)

“Mary wore her red dress, red dress, red dress,                                                          Mary wore her red dress to church today.”

Repeat each verse with each child’s name and clothing.

Each child takes off one shoe and puts it in the middle of the floor. Pick up each shoe and pretend it can talk. Say things like:

“Hi. I’m Timothy’s shoe. I live in his closet with his other shoes. He has tennis shoes and snow boots and sandals for the summer. I sit there and wait for every Sunday when he picks me to wear to church.”

“Hi. I’m Angel’s shoes. I am very beautiful. Can you see how I am black with flowers on the top? She never wears me to go outside to play because I am very special. She wants to keep me clean. I only go on her feet on Sundays.”

“I belong to Daniel. He likes me very much. Do you know how I can tell? He takes very good care of me. He doesn’t splash in the mud or water but walks very slowly and carefully when he wears me. He only puts me on when it’s Sunday. I am his “Reverent Shoes.” He thinks about Jesus and walks very slowly when I am on his feet. I remind him to use his inside walking feet and not to run.”

After highlighting each shoe, put them all back and have each child come up and pick a shoe out of the pile. Have them give it to the owner it matches.

We are in Heavenly Father’s house.  We keep it clean.  We don’t put trash on floor or run in the halls.  We walk reverently and take care of everything because it is a special place.  Let’s practice walking quietly down the halls with our quiet shoes and check to see if the floors are all clean.  If we see any litter, be sure to pick it up and throw it in the trash.

Back in class: How did you feel when you were walking reverently and showing respect for Heavenly Father and Jesus? Bear your testimony about the Sabbath Day and how we can feel when we keep it holy. It is a day when we can worship God and feel close to Him to feel His love for us.

The most important thing we do on the Sabbath is come to church to take the sacrament.  It is the most special thing we do. Explain purpose of sacrament. How do we sit while we are in sacrament meeting. Why do we sit quietly? (wait for answers). We sit quietly to show our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus and feel their Spirit.

Make up a story about a girl who is trying to be reverent, but her sister keeps bugging her. Can she think about Jesus when her sister is bothering her?

What would you do? 

Tell different scenarios about having someone ask them to do something wrong on the Sabbath.  After each one, ask What would you do? Toss the ball to the person who will answer the question.