'Book of Mormon Time Travelers' Quarterly Activity

Our Stake Primary Presidency asked all of the primaries in our stake to have a Book of Mormon/Testimony Activity as our first quarterly activity. So, for awhile now, this has been my main focus...what to do...what to do. Sometime last month, as I was searching and searching for ideas I saw an idea that caught my eye and got my brain working. So I went to work, and I think I am finally finished.
 I think it's going to be alot of fun and will strengthen the children's knowledge and testimonies of the Book of Mormon.
The stories that we will be using are:
Lehi Prophesying and Going into the Wilderness
Nephi Getting the Brass Plates
The Tree of Life
The Liahona
Ammon Defending King Lamoni's Flocks
Samuel the Lamonite
& Moroni Hiding the Gold Plates in Hill Cumorah

We will be time traveling to these Book of Mormon Stories, where men from the ward, will be acting them out. Our activity was supposed to be this weeken, but we found out that almost everyone would not be able to come, so we have moved it to the end of March. This will give me a little more time to think about it, and change anything that needs to be changed. I'll keep you updated on any new ideas or changes that I have made. I think this is going to be alot of fun! Please et me know if you have any questions!
Click Here to view the Script for 'Book of Mormon Time Travelers'

Even though I created this as a Primary Activity, it could easily be used for Young Men/Young Women.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

As I was preparing for my Sharing Time tomorrow, I wondered if it would be better if I showed the children a clip from the "Lamb of God". So, I went online to figure out what part to show them and how long it is. Then I started searching for other clips and came across this one. What a wonderful video. I have never viewed the Mormon Messages on YouTube, but I think I will start visiting them often. I just wanted to share this video with you, especially those of you that will be doing Sharing Time tomorrow. I am so grateful for this wonderful Gospel. I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful what he did for me. I hope I can share this with the children tomorrow, and let them know how much their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them.

Thank you for all your support and you wonderful comments, I get so excited when I see that I have a new comment! You are all wonderful women and our Heavenly Father is so grateful for all that you do for his children in Primary. Thank you!!

Another idea for 3rd week of Feb. Sharing Time: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all Mankind May be Saved.

So, it's my turn to do Sharing Time this Sunday. I woke up this morning and began preparing what I had already planned. For some reason, I began looking at other ideas that I had saved. Of course, I decided to do something different. For the Sr. Primary I was going to play the 'Who Am I' game that I posted in my previous post, but I read over an idea that I saved from LDS.org and decided to use that idea. I changed it a little, but I think they'll enjoy it and learn from it. The Jr. Primary I also changed up a little bit. So, here is yet another idea for this Sunday's theme: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved.

Click Here to read this Sharing Time idea.

Balloon Pop Sharing Time Idea

This past Sunday the 1st Counselor in our Primary had a really fun Sharing Time. I thought I would share what she did.

She began by reading the 'Parable of the Bicycle' (She had an actual book with this story, but I don't remember what the name was, but it is the same story as The Parable of the Bicycle.) After the story she talked about the Atonement with the children. After they talked she had a really fun game to play.

Before Primary she wrote questions (for Jr. Primary) on pieces of paper; (examples of questions below). The children took turns popping balloons, either by sitting on them or using a tack to pop it. Then she would read the question to them and they would answer them. The kids had alot of fun, even if they weren't the ones popping the balloon, they all enjoyed watching the person pop it. The Sharing Time went really well!

For Senior Primary she changed it a little. Instead of questions on the pieces of paper, she had a Scripture references written. The children would take turns popping the balloons, and then would look up the scripture that was written on the piece of paper. They then would have to decide what the scripture meant and match it to the phrase that described their scripture. (On the board, she had written phrases that explained what the scripture meant). Some examples of scriptures you could use:

John 3:16, Moses 1:39, D&C 19:16-17

Tell/read them the story of Jesus Praying in Gethsemane and the Crucifixion and explain what the Atonement is, and then have questions/scriptures in the balloon.
i.e. What was the name of the Garden that Jesus prayed in?
Who appeared to Jesus in Gethsemane? Luke 22:43-44
Why did Jesus have to die for us?
What must I do so that I can be saved?

Singing Time Idea:

I remember when I was in Primary we played a game similar to this. But instead of Sharing Time, it was used for Singing Time. The teacher would ask a child a question that had to do with one of the songs they were learning. If answered correctly they got to pop a balloon, and inside of the balloon was a song.

I remember sitting there, as a sunbeam, wanting to pop a balloon so bad. I finally got my chance, my question was 'Who is the President of our Church?' My answer: George Washington! I thought I had done so good, until everyone started laughing, and of course I was so embarassed and started crying, haha. But I still got to pop a balloon!

This is such a fun and easy game to play, and the children really enjoy it!

Valentine's Day Singing Time

So, my sister is out of town and asked me to cover Singing Time for her tomorrow. Since it's Valentine's I want to play a little game with the kids, make it fun for them. But since we haven't really learned alot of new songs, we really can't play any review type games, but then I remembered a game that the former Singing Time leader used to play. I think she found the idea on Sugardoodle. I also found another idea that I may play, I found this game on Sugardoodle. So, I'm going to finish teaching them the song and then we're going to play one of these games, and hopefully it will still help them to learn the song.

Hot and Cold Game
You need:
An object that the children can hide; tomorrow I am using a cut-out heart.
Choose one child to leave the room, and another child to hide the heart/object somewhere in the room. Have the children start singing as the one child enters the room. The closer they get to the heart the louder they sing, the farther they get from the heart the quieter they sing. The child must find the heart before the song is over. Once the heart is found choose 2 new children (one to find and one to hide the heart).

Hot Potato Game
posted on http://www.sugardoodle.net/ by Alisha Trane
You need:
An object to pass around: potato, beanbag, wrapped present,etc.
A 'Stop' sign
Have the children begin singing. As they sing they must pass the object around to each person. When the music stops (Alisha would hold up a stop sign) the person holding the object must say what the next word is.
She also had them split into teams, if they knew what word was next, they got a point. If they didn't know, the other team got a chance to steal the point by saying what the next word was.

I think I am going to do this with Sr. Primary. But instead of passing around a potato I am going to have some valentine lollipops wrapped in a box. I am going to wrap it 3 or 4 times. Each time the song stops, they will have to tell me what word is next, if they answer right they will get to unwrap one layer of paper. If they don't answer correctly we will keep on going. If they get the box unwrapped, they will get their lollipops.

Valentine's Heart Attack Activity

When I was in Young Women, I remember going and 'Heart Attacking ward members houses (usually sick members that didn't get to come to church every week). We loved it, and I know the ward members did also. We always got red, pink, and white poster board and cut out big hearts. We wrote little messages on them and then taped them to skewers, this way we could stick the hearts in the ground in their front yards (I grew up in Texas, so we never had to worry about snow).

While I was the Activity Day Leader we decided to Heart Attack the Bishop, but instead of heart attacking his house, we heart attacked his office door at the church. He really loved it. We also left him a little basket with treats. The girls really enjoyed this. (I don't know where I got the idea from, I know someone posted an idea like this on Sugardoodle.)

I should have posted this earlier, sorry!!

4th Week Sharing Time Ideas for February: Jesus Christ was Resurrected, and I will be too!

For this Sharing Time you will need:
-GAK Pictures:
  227: Jesus Praying in Gethsemane
  230: The Crucifixion
  232: Jesus’ Tomb
  233: Mary and the Resurrected Lord
  234: Jesus Shows His Wounds
  236: The Ascension of Jesus
-Type/write “Jesus was resurrected, and I will be too.” Cut into strips, so that each word is on its own strip of paper. You only need 6 strips of paper, so you will need to have 'and I' and 'be too' one one piece. These strips of paper will be taped to the back of each GAK picture.(This 'finish the phrase’ puzzle may work better for older kids.)
-Type or write these scripture references on pieces of paper: (without the GAK reference):
Acts 1:9–11(GAK 236); Matthew 23:36-46(GAK227); John 19:38-42 (GAK 232); Luke 24:36-40(GAK 234); John 20:11-17(GAK 233); Luke 23:33-46(GAK230)
-Print out a picture of the Resurrected Lord (GAK 233) and cut into puzzle pieces (You will only need 6 pieces.) (This may be better for the younger children.)

Before Primary tape one word-strip/puzzle piece to each picture. Then post the pictures around the room. On a chalkboard write six blank spaces.
“_____ _____ ____, ____ ____ ____.” This is where they will post their word-strips.
Or Post the outlined puzzle on the board.
Tell the children that you have a puzzle for them. They need to finish the puzzle to find out what they will be learning today.

If you’re using the ‘finish the phrase’ puzzle:
Tell the Children that you have a list of scriptures they will be reading. Split the primary into 6 groups and give each group a scripture. Have each group read their scripture (If you use this for Jr. Primary, have a teacher read the scripture for them). Then call each group one at a time to go and find the picture that goes with their scripture. Ask them what the picture is. Then discuss it a little. Have them take the word-strip off and try to figure out where it goes. (You may have to wait until a few have their word-strips.)
After they have matched all the pictures and guessed the phrase “Jesus was Resurrected, and I will be too” talk to them about the Resurrection.

If you use the Puzzle:
Have the children take turns picking one of the pictures. Ask them if they know what is happening in that picture, and talk a little bit about what it is. Then have them take the puzzle piece from the back, and find where it goes on the puzzle. (After you cut the puzzle, outline each piece on a piece of paper, or on the chalkboard, so it’s easier for them to know where the piece goes.)
After they have put the puzzle together, discuss the Resurrection.

Some ideas to use to explain Resurrection to the children are:

Share a story with them that explains Resurrection. I found some on LDS.org
“To Live Again Forever” December 1989
"My Old Friend, Shepherd,” April 1999
“Peter’s Easter Message,” April 1993

I also saw a cute idea on www.lds.org using the glove idea, but it was a little different.
Sunday Box: You are Eternal
September 2006
Explain to the children, that if Jesus had not died and been resurrected, then none of us would have been resurrected or would have eternal life. But He did, and because of that we will be resurrected, and will be able to live with our family again.

Here’s Another really cute idea that talks about Resurrection, that I found on lds.org
Sharing Time: He Lives!
April 2007
2. Display three shoe boxes, and ask the children to raise their hands if they like to try on new shoes. Explain that you want them to imagine trying on some other people's shoes, but more important you want them to imagine what it would be like to actually be that person. One by one, take out a pair of shoes from each box. (You can also display pictures or drawings of shoes.) Show a pair of boots to represent the soldiers who guarded Jesus's tomb. Use detail to tell the story in such a way that the children can imagine being there when Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb. Next, use a pair of sandals to tell the story of Mary Magdalene. Ask the children how it might have felt to have been at the garden tomb when the resurrected Savior appeared. Last, show a pair of shoes that children in your area commonly wear. Ask how it feels to be a member of the Church and to have the knowledge that you will be resurrected because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Bear testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected.

Picking Sharing Time/Singing Time Helpers

I have a hard time picking children to help me with Sharing Time. If I tell them I'm going to pick the most reverent one, then most of the time they are all reverent. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by not choosing them, so we decided to do this.

When I first got called into Primary they had flowers on popsicle sticks and had them in the flower pot. This year we decided to change it up a little bit. So, I went searching on Sugardoodle and found this idea. I found these cute little boy and girl heads at Mormon Share.

Download the girl/boy head clipart and copy them into Microsoft Word (or whatever you use.) Shrink them or enlarge them to the size that you want. Print them out and cut them, and them laminate them. Place a piece of tape on the back of each head and then write the names of the children onto the piece of tape (This makes it easy when you someone has moved, you can just take the tape off instead of making more 'heads'). We write one Jr. Primary name and one Sr. Primary name, so there are 2 names on one 'head'. Hot glue the little laminated girls/boys to the popsicle sticks. Get a jar, flower pot, etc. and fill it with beans and place the popsicle sticks into your pot.

My sister also gave me the idea to take each child's picture and shrink it down and then put their picture onto popsicle sticks.

Anytime I need a helper I just go to the flower pot and pick a popsicle stick and read the name on the back.

Package Swap: Activity Days Idea

A few years ago we had the opportunity to live in beautiful Hawaii. And while living there I was called as the Activity Day Leader. I loved it! I thought that calling was so fun.

Anway, one of the activities we did was a package swap. At the time I belonged to the Activity Day Yahoo! Group. So, I posted a message on there and asked if anyone would be interested in doing a pen pal/package swap activity.

Well, I got lots of replies. I didn't want to be mean, and turn anyone away, so I came up with a way to include everyone, I think there was probably 12 groups total. We had a group from England; Australia; Utah; Arizona; Texas; Brazil... Yeah, there was alot, and that was probably my mistake. But I was hoping it would work.

So, I went to work getting my first 2 packages ready. I typed up an Information Sheet (It was alot like a spotlight sheet, asking the girls a bunch of questions about themselves.) We also included an information sheet about different Hawaii Facts. We went to the market there and found some bracelets for cheap, and post cards. I made a DVD for each group with sights from Hawaii. I also video taped the girls, some of the girls took Hula lessons, so I went and taped them at their class. We took pictures, and I had them write their testimony.Oh, and one of the ladies thought it would be fun to include a world map in there, and have everyone put a little sticker where they were from and draw a line to where they were sending it.

The Activity Day girls and I were so excited, but I'm sad to say it was never finished. We sent out our packages, but they never made it around to everyone, eventually someone received them, but never got it sent out.

So, my idea to you is to do a package swap, but to not include so many people, haha. I think the most you would want is 3 groups total. Just have fun with it. You can put anything in the box that you want. I think the reason we did this is because in their Faith in God booklet it gives an example of an activity to learn about different cultures. And what better way than getting information from the people themselves.

We had so much fun getting the packages ready, and the groups that received the packages really enjoyed them.

Easy, No Sew Scripture Clothes

I always saw Sharing Time ideas where the kids dressed up like people in the scriptures and acted out scripture stories. And I always thought to myself: well, I can't do that, because I don't have any clothes for them to wear, and I don't want to make any. Then one day I was talking to my Mom, and she told me that she made some, and that they weren't hard to do at all. So after talking to her I came up with these. They're super easy, you can use fabric that is on sale so it's very inexpensive, and you don't have to sew anything! So let's begin.

The clothes that I have shown are larger sizes for adults and Sr. primary children. I tried one on my son and it was very big, so for Jr. Primary you'll get a smaller piece of fabric.

Get a long piece of fabric, this one is probably 2 Yards. (Don't pay attention to the hole in the middle, that's the next step.)

Now, fold the piece of fabric in half (length-wise). At the top/middle cut a 'V' or a 'U' shape. It doesn't have to be very big. It's always good to have the opening too small than too big.

And there you go. When I bought my fabric it was wide enough and long enough for me to cut long strips from the sides and bottoms to make belts, head bands, and a headdress (or whatever you call it). So, go get some cheap fabric and make some Scripture Clothing, it's nice to have around for when you need it, and the kids really enjoyed dressing up.

I used these for a sharing time, I had them act out different stories and the other kids had to guess who they were.

2nd & 3rd Week Sharing Time Ideas for February: Through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved.

This is such an important topic, and the children really need to know about it. So, the other day I was talking with my Mother-in-law, and she gave me a really great idea.

I remember being young and never really understanding what the Atonement was. I always heard people talking about it, but I guess I didn't listen when they explained it. So, I really want to help the children understand what the Atonement is, and why Jesus did this for us. I hope these ideas can help some of you get started.

Idea #1

What you will need for this Sharing Time:

Print out a large picture of a girl or boy laminated (http://www.mormonshare.com/ has some cute pictures of girls and boys)

Peanut Butter or Chocolate

GAK Pictures:

101: Adam and Eve

227: Jesus Praying in Gethsemane

230: The Crucifixion

For the game:

Print-out pictures of apples (I found one on Microsoft Word), cut, with different scenarios on the back (examples given below)

A board game (Make your own, or you can do a life-size board game. Cut out square pieces of paper and lay them in a path around the Primary Room. At the end of the path have a picture of Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ)

A picture of a tree or a potted tree (Real or fake)

Show the children GAK picture 101: Adam & Eve.

Ask them if they know who this is? Then tell them the story of Adam & Eve, reading to the part where it says "but, remember that I forbid it." (Show the children your little girl/boy or have one of the children come up and help you. Keep reading and you'll find out what we will use this for. :) ) This is Sally. See how clean she is. Well, Sally is going to help me out today.

(Here is a picture of my 'Sally' girl. I got it from a Primary Clipart CD I have)

Then continue the story about Adam and Eve, telling the children that Heavenly Father had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but they did. Since they chose to eat of the fruit, Heavenly Father told them they had to leave the Garden of Eden. They no longer got to live with Heavenly Father because they had disobeyed and were no longer pure and clean. This is what we call The Fall.

(Put some peanut butter or chocolate on Sally, use something to show the kids she is no longer clean. If you use one of the Primary Children cut out some brown or black circles and safety pin them on the child.)

Tell the children that when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit they were no longer clean, just like 'Sally'. And because they were no longer clean, they could not be in the presence of Heavenly Father. So Heavenly Father told them that they must leave the Garden of Eden.

Sometimes we do things that are wrong, maybe we lie to our parents (add another glob of ‘sin’), or say mean things to our brothers or sisters (add another glog). And when we sin/do bad things, then we are no longer clean and pure. None of us are perfect, we all make mistakes, but we have to be clean and pure in order to be saved/live with our Heavenly Father.

So, poor Sally, because she has all of these spots on her, she isn’t clean. Does that mean she can’t be saved/live with Heavenly Father?

Then explain to the children that that is why Jesus came and suffered for our sins. Show them GAK Picture 227 & 230 and tell the children about the Atonement. Explain to them that because of what Jesus did for us we are able to repent and be made clean again. And since we are clean (wipe off Sally), we are able to be saved/live with our Heavenly Father again. Tell them that not everyone will be saved though, there are things that we must do. You could have them read with you, the 3rd Article of Faith, and then explain that at the end it tells you what you need to do to be saved. You also need to remember to Repent, have Faith in Jesus Christ, be baptized, etc. etc.

Next, show them the tree that you brought with the apples/fruit on them. Tell them that you are going to play a game.

Have the children take turns coming up and picking an apple from the tree. Read what it says on the back and move their piece the number of times it says on the apple. The goal of the game is to make it back to our Heavenly Father (To the end.) After you read each bad one, you could ask them what they should do.

-If you do a life-size board game start by choosing a child to come up and pick an apple. Then have them move the number of spaces that was written on the apple. Choose the next child to come up and pick an apple. Have the new child replace the other child on the board, that way everyone gets a chance to be the ‘game piece.’

To prepare for the game:

Print and cut out the apples (or other fruit). On the back of each fruit write a scenario that will help the children understand what they need to do in order to return to Heavenly Father. Make a board game (or you could have them play a life-size board game) and have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the end.

Some examples that could be on the apples:

Today during Math we had a test. I didn’t

study, so I decided to cheat off of my friend.

I felt bad, but what else could I have done?

Move back 2 spaces.

There is a boy at school that always is mean

to you. One day, you see that he has fallen

and hurt his knee. You decide to stop and

help him home.

Move ahead 3 spaces.

You earned $5.00 for mowing the lawn.

On Sunday, your Mom tells you that you

need to remember to pay your tithing.

You really want this toy that you saw

Costs $5.00, but you know that we are

supposed to pay tithing, so you do.

Move ahead 3 spaces.

You break your Mother’s favorite

vase. You want to hide it so she can’t

see it, but you decide to tell her what

happened and tell her sorry for what you

did.

Move ahead 2 spaces.

Idea #2

For this Sharing Time you will need:

The 3rd Article of Faith typed up. Have each word on its own seperate piece of paper.

GAK Pictures 227: Jesus Praying in Gethsemane

Picture 230: The Crucifixion

Picture 305: Enos Praying

Picture 321: Conversion of Alma the Younger

Type up or write the 3rd Article of Faith, having each word on its own strip of paper. Have the word ‘Atonement’ in a different color. Give a piece to each child or tape them to a chalkboard/bulletin board. Have the children put the words in the correct order. Then read the 3rd Article of Faith together.

Post GAK Pictures 227 & 230 where the children can see them.

Ask them:

What is the Atonement? Explain to the children what it is.

Why did Jesus have to do this?

What must we do so that we can be saved/have Eternal Life? Show them the end of the 3rd Article of Faith.

Because of Jesus’ Atonement we are able to repent and be made clean again. (I liked the idea in the Primary Outline, but I changed it up a little) Tell the children that there are many stories in the scriptures of people who were blessed because of the Atonement. Choose a few of these stories and find pictures that go with them, either in the GAK or from the Lesson manuals. Play a 'Who am I?' game.

How to play:

Choose your stories that you would like to share with the children. Write 4 or 5 clues for each story.

Examples:

For Alma the Younger you could have clues like:

- I did not obey my Father. My four friends and I went around trying to destroy the Church by teaching the people to do wrong.

- An angel appeared to us, we were so afraid that we fell to the earth. I lost my ability to talk or to move.

Have them read one clue at a time until someone knows the answer. Have the child show the children the picture and then tell them the story. Then have the next child read their clues one by one, until that person is guessed, and so on, and so on.

Idea #3

This idea is like Idea #1. You could have them say the 3rd Article of Faith with you. Then show them GAK picture 227 & 230 and tell them the story of each picture. Ask them if they know what Atonement means. Explain to the children what The Atonement is, and why Jesus had to do this. Explain to them that not everyone will be saved. Tell them what they need to do in order to be saved.

Then you can play a game using the idea from Idea #1, (without the apples and the tree.) You could have a game board (made on a poster board or a life-size game). Write questions about the Atonement and different scenarios. Instead of having 'Move ahead 2 spaces' you could bring a dice or make one, and have them roll it, but in order to move that number of spaces they have to answer the question right or get a good scenario.

**I almost forgot. The first counselor in our ward teaches the 2nd week in February, and at the beginning of her Sharing time she was going to read 'The Parable of the Bicycle' to the children. It is a really cute story, and you could use that to explain the Atonement to the younger children. Here's a link to the talk that it is found in. It is found under the 'Give Him all that we Have' part of the talk.

Parable of the Bicycle (Link to Stephen E. Robinson's Talk)

Have a wonderful week and a great Sharing Time!