NOTE: I've created these lessons as bonus material to help you and your family get more out of your books. I hope they give you some new ideas and new ways to discuss the books and important gospel topics.
Family Home Evening Lesson Plan
Suggested Age: Younger children
Primary song: I Think When I Read That Sweet Story (This is the song I know best of the three, but any of these would work great.)
or Jesus Loved the Little Children
or Had I Been a Child
Fun Song: We Are Different Suggested actions:
1. I know you [point to others], and you know me [point to self]. (continue with other "you" and "me" repetitions)
We are as diff’rent as the sun [point up] and the sea [move hand in a wave motion].
I know you, and you know me,
And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. [arms out to the side]
2. I help you, and you help me.
We learn from problems [point to head], and we’re starting to see. [create glasses around the eyes with fingers]
I help you, and you help me,
And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. [arms out to the side]
3. I love you, and you love me.
We reach together for the best we can be. [Give each other hugs, or flex arm muscles]
I love you, and you love me,
And that's the way it's supposed to be.
Scripture: 3 Nephi 17: 21
If your child has an attention span of more than one verse, you could read 3 Nephi 17: 11-12, 21-24 (or 11-24 if you're feeling optimistic ;) )
Lesson Suggestions:
Primary song: I Think When I Read That Sweet Story (This is the song I know best of the three, but any of these would work great.)
or Jesus Loved the Little Children
or Had I Been a Child
Fun Song: We Are Different Suggested actions:
1. I know you [point to others], and you know me [point to self]. (continue with other "you" and "me" repetitions)
We are as diff’rent as the sun [point up] and the sea [move hand in a wave motion].
I know you, and you know me,
And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. [arms out to the side]
2. I help you, and you help me.
We learn from problems [point to head], and we’re starting to see. [create glasses around the eyes with fingers]
I help you, and you help me,
And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. [arms out to the side]
3. I love you, and you love me.
We reach together for the best we can be. [Give each other hugs, or flex arm muscles]
I love you, and you love me,
And that's the way it's supposed to be.
Scripture: 3 Nephi 17: 21
If your child has an attention span of more than one verse, you could read 3 Nephi 17: 11-12, 21-24 (or 11-24 if you're feeling optimistic ;) )
Lesson Suggestions:
- Read Blessing the Nephite Children.
- On a map or a globe, show where Jesus grew up (Isreal). Then point out where Jesus visited the Nephites (obviously you'll have to keep this vague-- somewhere in the Americas. The point is that he visited the other side of the world). Then find where you live on the map. Point out that Jesus loved the children in Isreal, in the Americas, and he loves your children where they live now. Jesus loves every child in the world!
- You could gather some pictures of children from all over the world, including photos of your child. Re-read pages 9-10 in Blessing the Nephite Children ("There were many children in the crowd. Happy, sad, short, tall, sick, or healthy, Jesus loved them all!" Ask your child if they are happy or sad, short or tall, sick or healthy. Have them tell more about themselves. Each of you say some good attribute about yourself (and each other, if you'd like). Notice how everyone is different--you could point out differences even in your family. Even though we are all different, Jesus loves us all!
- Help your child think of another child, perhaps a friend or neighbor, that they could show love to, especially if the other child may be having a hard time. Decide on an act of service to do together. Ideas: draw a picture or card for them, invite them to play another day, take them a baked treat (which can also double up as FHE treat!), mention them in prayers. Jesus served those he loved. We can do the same as we try to be like Jesus!
- Hugging game: Stand in a circle. One person starts by hugging the person next door and saying, "I love ________ (fill in quality or attribute) and Jesus loves that too." Take it in turns to hug the next person and say the phrase with something new. Once the circle is completed, run around into new positions. Examples: "I love your cheerful smile, and Jesus loves that too!" "I love how kind you are to the baby, and Jesus loves that too!" "I love that you give the best hugs, and Jesus loves that too!"
- Attribute game: One person stands in the middle, the rest sit on chairs. The person in the middle shouts an attribute (girl/boy, child/adult, brown hair, blue eyes, missing a tooth, wearing green, gives good hugs, good helper, has been baptized, did something nice today -- really, there are a lot of options.) Everyone matching this attribute stands up and tries to switch chairs before the person in the middle steals their place. Remember to point out that Jesus loves everyone, no matter what our different attributes are.