Monthly Theme: The 10 Commandments teach me how to love God and His children.
Monthly Scripture: "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments" D&C 42:29
Week 1 We are blessed when we keep the commandments.
* HERE is a lovely video for Senior Primary. I think some of the words are a little advanced for Junior Primary (like sexual relations), but use your judgement and go by the spirit!!
* Are the commandments in the Bible or Book of Mormon? Tricky!! Both!!
HERE is a small crossword puzzle that children can do in groups or take home to do with families.
* HERE is an excellent finger play to do with younger children about the 10 commandments!! After clicking the link, scroll down to find it.
* Commandment Catch! What are commandments? How do we get commandments? Should we keep the commandments or do we have to? Or both? Why is it important to keep the commandments?
Invite 2 primary friends to the front of the room and have a bean bag. Have them answer a question, toss, then take a step back. The other child will answer the next question, toss, then take a step back. They can also do a couple tosses between questions to see how far back they can go. And no worries if you drop it or don't catch it, the game isn't Commandment Condemnation End of the World Judgement Day if you Drop. At least this Sunday. Maybe next Sunday. But for today, we're good.... relax!
Plan plenty of questions or you can even have them read small quotes or scriptures!
* 1 Nephi 3:7, “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
Have the children act out the story of Nephi getting the brass plates. Sometimes the things we are commanded to do are hard, but The Lord will always help us!!!
Week 2 I should respect and worship God.
* HERE is a must read to prepare for the week. Really thought provoking talk and food for the soul.
* Worship is an act of expressing reverence and respect for Heavenly Father. HERE is what True to The Faith says about worship.
* Psalms 95:6-7, "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."
After discussing with the primary children what it means to worship and show respect, pass out some popcorn sheep!! Invite the children to form small groups of 3 or 4.
Take 2 minutes to share in their groups things they have been blessed with this week, try to name a blessing for each piece of popcorn!!! It doesn't just have to be this last week either, there are some things that we are deeply grateful for and can share with group members. Gratitude and worship go hand in hand.
Take another 2 minutes to talk about ways to improve our attitudes when we are grumpy. Sundays can often be long days, sometimes talks are boring.... how do we improve our thoughts to make church a place of worship? For each thought, have a piece of popcorn!
Take a final 2 minutes to share how they will show respect this week for Heavenly Father and Jesus. What can we do?? How can we love our Shepherd with all our hearts this week?
Bring in some pictures of different places: church, home living room, school, grocery store, the movie theater, car, park, temple, Disneyland. Whatsoever place!!!
Invite a child to come up front and choose a place. What can we do to worship God in that place? You may have some quiet time while children think! Let them be creative! At the park, someone might fall down and you can go help them up. When you help others you are showing love for God's children and that is worship! When you are at Disneyland and waiting in a long line, you can think of a primary song and sing it in your head. Aren't you grateful to Heavenly Father to have the chance to go on such a fun vacation!!! We are blessed and when our hearts are full of this knowledge and love, it leads us to worship and respect God!
Week 3 I should honor my parents.
* Not everyone has a traditional happy happy joy family. And that's OK. We come to earth and are expected to just do the best we can! Sometimes our parents are wonderful examples, sometimes they are not. No matter what, we have loving Heavenly parents who will NEVER FAIL US!!!!
With that said, for today's lesson you "youngsters" can focus on your mom or dad, or a grandma or grandpa, or an aunt or uncle, maybe even a teacher!! When someone shows us love, they are acting as angels for Heavenly Father and we can show them honor!
Make a piece of artwork or letter for a parent, or someone else that is special, and let them know why you love them. Be specific!! "You are nice." Yes, but when? "You are nice when you cook me special pancakes and read my favorite book." Teachers can help you write!! Make it your best work!! Make sure to have plenty of paper and coloring supplies!!
Take 5 minutes at the end to have a few primary friends share about the people they love.
“If we truly honor [our parents], we will seek to emulate their best characteristics and to fulfill their highest aspirations for us. No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 348.)
* Mark 7:10.... just because sometimes you need to whip out a scripture when your kids complain about chores.Make a piece of artwork or letter for a parent, or someone else that is special, and let them know why you love them. Be specific!! "You are nice." Yes, but when? "You are nice when you cook me special pancakes and read my favorite book." Teachers can help you write!! Make it your best work!! Make sure to have plenty of paper and coloring supplies!!
Take 5 minutes at the end to have a few primary friends share about the people they love.
“If we truly honor [our parents], we will seek to emulate their best characteristics and to fulfill their highest aspirations for us. No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 348.)
* "Young people, if you honor your parents, you will love them, respect them, confide in them, be considerate of them, express appreciation for them, and demonstrate all of these things by following their counsel in righteousness and by obeying the commandments of God." Elder Oaks April 1991 Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother
MY PARENTS ARE A TREASURE!!! Have 6 different stations and divide into groups. At each station children can collect a paper jewel for their envelope that has written on it "My parents are a treasure!" The stations are as follows, you'll need a teacher to lead the discussion and help write for younger kids or they can draw their answer on the paper jewel:
1. I love my parents: When is a time that you have really loved your parents?
2. I respect my parents: What is something your parent does that you admire?
3. I can confide in my parents: What is something you'd like to tell your parents?
4. I can be considerate of my parents: What is something you can do for your parents this week?
5. I can express appreciation for my parents: What is something you'd like to thank your parents for?
6. I can be righteous and obey: Why do you choose to follow the commandments of Heavenly Father and be obedient?
You have about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per station.
Week 4 I should respect others.
* " I love the people of this church, of all ages, of all races, and of many nations. I love the children. They are very much the same the world over. Regardless of the color of their skin and of the circumstances in which they live, they carry with them a beauty that comes of innocence and of the fact that it was not long ago that they lived with their Father in Heaven. How lovely you are, wherever you are, you precious children...We live in a world of diversity. We can and must be respectful..." President Hinkley April 1995 This is the Work of The Master
Grab a bunch of old church magazines. Let children cut out pictures of all the different types of friends that are our brothers and sisters. Their is so much difference in the world, even in our own primary room!!! Differences are beautiful!! And in the end the most important knowledge is that we are all God's children and we should respect and love each other.
Bring in paper, glue sticks and let the children make their beautiful collages!! Encourage them to cover the entire paper!!! If you have a large primary ask for magazine donations from families the week before!!
* There is beauty and goodness in different religions!! Do you know some converts or interesting facts about other religions?? Print out some pictures or bring in some objects from another faith. Share your positive experience with the children.
For example, I have Greek icons that hang in my home. I don't worship or pray to them, but I love them as art. They remind me of my very faithful Yiaya (greek for grandmother). She is Greek Orthodox and I've been to church with her many times. I love how they light candles and the beautiful stained glass windows remind me of a few temples I've been too. In Greek Orthodoxy they believe in eternal marriages too!
We can always find the good in other religions!! Pass out THIS article from The Friend and have children read it together in partners or small groups of three. We can always show respect for others!!
* Test time!! Pass out papers and pencils (you can number the papers for smaller children). HERE is the quiz on respect!! After the quiz, invite children to come up front to announce the right answer and read the quote mentioned in the quiz.
When we are good communicators we show respect in our words!! And we can also do so in the things we do!! Bring in your cell phone if you have time and invite the children to call a person in the ward who serves a lot and leave a message of respect and gratitude. You can practice with them before hand what they might say on the message!! (Make sure you have a list of people and their numbers you could call before hand!)
