God Created Animals

Opening Song: The World Is So Big, Children’s songbook #235 (follow link to hear)

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Lesson: Daddy (Adapted from Primary 1: Lesson 12)

Show picture of the creation with animals.(GAPK #100) Ask the children to point out and name the animals they recognize. Ask who created the animals. Explain that Heavenly Father and Jesus created them on the 6^th day of creation.

Read Genesis 1:24-25: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

If you have a globe you can point out where different animals live. Or you can print off a picture of the world to talk about it. Talk about the different sea creatures and land creatures, which ones live in deserts and which ones live in rain forests, etc.

Heavenly Father gave us stewardship over the animals. Explain that stewardship means that we are to care for the animals. Talk about how we treat animals, especially any pets you have in particular. Now might be a good time to reinforce caring for your pets when it comes to feeding them, taking them on walks, playing with them or keeping their cages clean.

Show some milk and eggs and ask which animals produce them. Talk about the fact that Heavenly Father created animals for food. If you hunt, you can show pictures of you on a hunting trip and talk about how we only hunt to eat (unless you feel differently…).

Activities:

• Gather stuffed animals you have around the house and have the children name the animals and make their respective sounds. Encourage them to pretend to be different animals, make sure to join them on the floor and become your own.

• Sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm"
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• Make animals out of play doh
  

• Print “Book of Mormon Animals” from the August 2008 Friend (pages 34 & 35) for coloring.

Closing Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me, (Children’s songbook #228)

Closing Prayer: Child

Treat Ideas:

Animal Crackers and Goldfish!

Animal Toast

1 loaf sliced bread of choice
6 oz. frozen concentrated orange juice, thawed, undiluted
Cinnamon
(Animal shaped cookie cutters)

Cut animal shapes with cutters from the bread slices. Dip each cut out into concentrated orange juice; place on cookie sheet. Place in preheated oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Polar Bear Paw Prints

Material Needed: Pear Halves, Sliced bananas, vanilla yogurt, shredded coconut, Small paper plate

Place pear half cut side up on plate, have children use fingers/spoon to cover pear with vanilla yogurt. Place 3 round slices of bananas at top of pear (to resemble a paw print). Again cover banana with yogurt. Sprinkle shredded coconut around paw print on the plate and there is your Polar Bear Paw Print. Yum-yum!!

Following the Footsteps of Jesus

Family Home Evening Lesson
“Follow the Footsteps of Jesus”

Opening Song: "I'm trying to be like Jesus" (Childrens Song Book #78)

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

Following the footsteps of Jesus:

Print out some footprints on paper. Stick them on the floor in a line. Next to each set of footprints lay a picture from the Gospel art Picture Kit. (You can find them here if you don't have them at home: Baby Jesus, Boyhood of Jesus, Baptism of Jesus, Jesus Healing, Jesus Praying, Jesus on the Cross, Jesus in Heaven ) You will make about 8 steps. In order, lay a picture of Jesus as a baby, As a child with Joseph, getting baptised, healing the sick, Praying,On the Cross, and Asending into heaven.

Have each child walk on the footsteps. At each stage say " As Jesus was born, so were you", "Jesus was a child, as you are too" "Jesus was baptised and you will be too when you are 8", "Jesus helped the sick and you will too in your life", "Jesus Prays just like you", "Jesus died and one day you will too", "Jesus went to heaven to be with heavenly father and one day you will too".

At the end of the footsteps I had a plate of treats to be their reward in heaven for making it through the footsteps of life.


Closing Song: “I'll walk with you" (Childrens SongBook #140)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat:
Brownies/chocolates to be waiting at the end of the step walk

Peanut Butter Foosteps found at Fun Recipes

I Have a Testimony

Family Home Evening Lesson
“I Have a Testimony”
(Adapted from “Sharing Time: I have a Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Dec. 1991 Friend)

Opening Song: “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Song Book # 77)

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

I Have a Testimony:

Read 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.

Tell the story about how Jenny gained a testimony from “Sharing Time: I have a Testimony of Jesus Christ,” Dec. 1991 Friend

Talk about how building your testimony is like building a building. It is built "brick by brick". "One brick could stand for having a testimony of the importance of attending church; another brick, a testimony of the Book of Mormon; and yet another brick, a testimony of prayer."

Get some blocks out and build a testimony tower using the worksheet at the end of the “Sharing Time” lesson. Fill in the worksheet together and show them how a testimony can be built “brick by brick”.

Make the “I Can Gain a Testimony at Church” cards. Print them out on card stock and color them. Punch Holes where indicated and tie them with string so you can flip them over and talk about each card. (Sharing Time: When I Go to Church,” Oct. 1991 Friend)

When you have talked about what the words of this song are saying you can sing it together as a family.

Sing: “When I go to Church” (Children’s Song Book # 157)

Practice bearing your testimonies. Give each member of your family the chance to bear their own testimony and help them if it is needed.

Talk about the upcoming Fast and Testimony meeting and let them know that if they feel the spirit that they are welcome to get up and bear their testimony for the ward.

Closing Song: “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Song Book # 109)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat: Make Rice Crispy Treats and cut them into squares beforehand. As you are serving them place each one down on a platter and mention one thing that was said in one of the testimonies. Make sure to include at least one point from each family member’s testimony. Then talk about how we as a family can help to strengthen each other through our testimonies.

Marriage and Eternal Families

Marriage and Eternal Families

Opening Song: "Families Can Be Together Forever" (Children’s Songbook #188)

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:11

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

Lesson: Mommy (adapted from Sharing Time: My Family, The Friend February 2004)

Show The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Explain that the prophet and apostles wrote this so we would know what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to know about families. Read the first two lines of paragraph s even, “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.” Help the children understand that “ordained of God” means Heavenly Father designed marriage and family not just as an earthly union, but one that will endure forever.

Display a picture of the temple.(or use #501 or #502 from Gospel Art Picture Kit) Explain that we get married in the temple for eternity. Emphasize the importance of marriage being between MAN and WOMAN and that they become Daddies and Mommies.

Show pictures from your wedding day and explain that you were married in the temple (or talk about your family goal to be sealed in the temple if you haven’t been yet). Or display #609 from GAPK. Tell your children of your desires for them to one day get married in the temple. Bear testimony of Jesus and his sacrifice making eternal life and temple marriage possible.

Activities:

• Finger puppets from Behold your Little Ones: Nursery Manua l: Print this worksheet have children color page, then cut out and tape finger puppets of family. (The fact that they became finger puppets was what made this magic) Then recite the following activity verse and invite the children to join you:

This is Mother. (hold up hand; point to thumb)
This is Father. (point to index finger)
This is Brother tall. (point to middle finger)
This is Sister. (point to ring finger)
This is Baby. (point to little finger)
Oh, how we love them all. (hold both hands to chest)

• Build a temple with blocks. Pretend that stuffed animals are going to go get married there. (This one was a big hit)
• Play the Families are Forever (to the tune of the Farmer in the Dell):Can be adapted to family size (The kids liked this one too)

In a circle or line sing:

(Daddy stands in the middle with picture of temple) Fam'lies are forever, Fam'lies are forever, hi-ho the temple-o, Fam'lies are forever

(Daddy takes Mommy’s hand) The husband takes a wife, the husband takes a wife, hi-ho the marry-o the husband takes a wife.

(Parents take child’s hand) Then they have a child, then they have a child, hi- ho A fam’ly-o, then they have a child.

(Parents take next child’s hand) And baby makes four, and baby makes four, hi-ho A fam'ly-o, and baby makes four.

Closing Song: "A Happy Family" (Children’s songbook #198a)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat Ideas:

• Gingerbread man and woman. Make gingerbread or sugar cookie men and women, have children pair them up. Then frost white for wearing white in the temple. If you don't have time for cookies, use cookie cutters to make men and women out of toast. Have children pair them up. Then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Marshmallow temples. Just make a temple with your marshmallows. Big marshmallows might work better:

Parable of The Sower and the Seed

Family Home Evening Lesson
Sower and the Seed

Opening Song: "All Things Bright and Beautiful" Children's Song Book # 231
Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-8

Lesson: Mommy
There was a man who planted some seeds. Some seeds fell on the hard ground and the birds ate them up. Some seeds fell on stony ground and could not grow. Some seeds fell in the thorns which choked them. Some fell in the hot sun and were burnt. Most importantly some fell on good ground and grew and bought forth fruit. It is important that we are good and be like the seed that fell in the nice ground. That we grow up big and strong and do good things. (You could have some seeds and act out each stage - A paper sun, some stones, some soft dirt)
Image of Sower

Activity:
Plant some seeds in fertile ground/hard ground to compare
A seed and fruit matching activty
Sower Coloring Sheet from DLTK
I'm a little seed Poem
Little Seed Song

Closing Song: "Little Seeds Lie Fast Asleep" Children's Song Book # 243

Closing Prayer: Child

Treat Ideas:
Any Whole Grain treats - whole wheat waffles, bread, cookies
Multi Grain Bread
Sunflower Seeds/ Trail Mix with seeds in it

Following the Liahona

Family Home Evening Lesson
Following the Liahona

Opening Song: Nephi's Courage Children's Songbook #120

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: 1 Nephi 16:10,16, 26-29

Lesson: Mommy

Lehi woke one morning as it was time to depart into the wilderness. Outside his tent door was a Liahona. See images here.
It was a round ball of curious workmanship made of fine brass. Within the ball were two spindles and one pointed the way they should go like a compass (show compass if you have one) The ball worked according to their faith and diligence. So if Nephi and his family were GOOD the liahona worked.
The Holy Ghost is like our personal compass. We can pray and ask to know where we should go and what we should do.

Activity:
Using Styrofoam balls and gold paint create your own liahona
Excellent Lesson Ideas from Lillies Lane
Make clues to tell children where to go around the house - finding something special
Talk about how the Holy Ghost is our personal liahona to lead us
Liahona Images
Set up a play tent and pretend to find your way in the wilderness

Closing Song:Dare to do Right Children's Song Book #158

Treat:
Gold foil wrapped Lindt chocolate ball truffles (or similar)
Apricot Balls Recipe nuts can be omited
Trail Mix (wilderness food)
Back a little bag of food to carry while acting out being in the wilderness

The Ten Commandments

Family Home Evening Lesson
The Ten Commandments

Opening Song: "Keep the Commandments" Children's Song Book #146

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: Exodus 20:3-17

Lesson: Daddy

The Ten Commandments were given to Moses for the people of Israel to live by. The commandments are still important for us to live by today. Jesus said people should live the commandments and the prophet President Monson wants us to do the same today.
The Ten Commandments tell us that we should:
Worship God only
No taking Lord's name in vain
Keep the Sabbath day holy (list how to do this)
Honor thy mother and father
Shalt not kill
Shalt not steal
Shalt not lie

We need to try hard to keep God's commandments. They are important to live to be a good person.

Activity:

Excellent Moses Activites at Danielles Place (scroll down)
Make a "mountain" to act out the story of Moses receiving the commandments
Play Simon Says
Mark out roads with masking tape and make little road signs. Have children "follow the laws/rules"

Closing Song: "Choose the Right Way" Children's Song Book #160

Closing Prayer: Child

Treat Ideas:

Flat bread and/or food from Biblical times
Make Commandment tablets by using frosting/edible pens (black colour) to write on crackers