Last Halloween, Tate became OBSESSED with this book. I remember him asking me over and over to read it until the point where I had it memorized (not that hard to do with a board book, but you get the point). After a while I could no longer muster the energy to use any expression. I was sure he would eventually get bored but I swear we could have read this book all day if I was able. 

We have had it up on his bookshelf for a while and now that Halloween is right around the corner I couldn’t resist using it as a lesson. It really is such a cute book. Maybe it’s not cute enough to read it twenty times in a row, but it is definitely lesson-worthy! 

To transition into learning time, the boys started out by coloring little pumpkins with different expressions found here. We stopped and sang the songs we always sing and then I read the book. During the second read, I had the boys find the pumpkin that matched the face/expression of the pumpkin in the book. 

After we read the story I taped larger print outs of the same pumpkins throughout the room. Then I asked the boys where certain pumpkins were (“Where is the sad pumpkin?”) and they would run over to wherever that pumpkin was. When they got to the right pumpkin I asked them to make the same expression as the pumpkin. We played this enough times for them to go to each pumpkin two times. 

Then we played Memory with pumpkin printables found here. Chase wasn’t a huge fan (he’s six months younger than Tate and isn’t quite to that stage yet!) but I played with Tate later in the afternoon and he loved it. Every time he found a match he had to make the expression of whatever match he found.

We ended with a little pumpkin mosaic craft. This was a little challenging for their age levels so we had to adapt it a bit. We tore the paper into strips and then the boys tore them into smaller pieces. We also found that it was faster to put glue in large sections and have them place the pieces in those sections rather than gluing each individual piece. Does that make sense? 

I forget how much of a difference a month or two can make at this age and need to focus on choosing activities that can be adapted for both Tate and Chase, given their age difference. Luckily, the boys are too young to realize my little failures and are just excited to play together. 

It would have been fun to end the lesson with pumpkin carving but when I thought about trying to carve a pumpkin and deal with all the gooey guts without my husband there to help I decided a paper craft would be the better choice. Props to all you moms who are brave enough to do this with little kids all on your own and don’t mind slimy orange stuff getting all over your kitchen/children/floor/etc. I salute you!

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Building the Ship

If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Preparation

Song: Nephi’s Courage, p. 120, chorus

“I will go; I will do (punch air upward with fist for “go” and “do”)

the thing the Lord commands. (ASL for “commands”)

I know (point to head) the Lord provides a way; (hold both hands out, parallel with palms facing each other, then push out in front of you like you are making a path)

He wants me to obey.” (salute)

Repeat, but fold arms for last “obey”

Activity Verse:

1.    God told Nephi to build a ship. (sign “boat”)

2.  Nephi didn’t have tools, so the Lord told him where to find metal to   make some. (hand above eyes like you are looking for something)

3.  Laman and Lemuel did not believe that the Lord told Nephi to build a ship. They did not want to help. (grumpy face, arms folded)

4.  Nephi told his brothers that they should repent, obey God, and follow His commandments. (kneel down, fold arms and bow head)

5.  Laman and Lemuel did repent and helped Nephi work on the ship. (pretend to build)

6.  When the ship was finished, it was a good ship. The people thanked God for helping them. (thumbs up and a smile)

- Adapted from here

Art/Craft:

There are lots of options for this lesson, but you will only be using one or two!

1. Coloring pages: There are free activity books here that go along with a variety of scripture stories. You just need to create a free account. For this chapter, I downloaded the “Journey to the Promised Land” book. You could also use this coloring page.
UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page:

2. Print these figures in black and white and have your child color them. (Your child can use them for the activity verse instead of doing the actions.)

3. Using popsicle sticks, play-doh, legos, blocks or play tools (hammer, screw driver, etc.) have your child pretend to build a ship.

4. I didn’t include this in the lesson plan, but I think it would be fun. Maybe on the last day as a culminating activity? Make a paper boat. I found a couple resources here and here.

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. My outline is very brief, so this explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.) Since this song was already taught during this lesson, review by listening to it and see what your child can remember.

2. Read the story from the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End by singing the song.

3.  Have your child color one of the coloring pages or the printable figures AND/OR have them quietly pretend to build a boat (see art/craft section) while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

           

4. Do the activity verse with your child (if your child colored the printable figures, don’t forget to use those!). End by singing the song.

5. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. End by reading your favorite verse from the story.

6. Do the activity verse with your child. See if they can remember the actions by themselves (if you are using printable figures, see how much of the story they can retell by themselves). Read your favorite verse and then have your child read part or all of it by repeating after you. Share your testimony. End by singing the song.

Fox in Socks

Yesterday, Karli taught a lesson for Fox in Socks and she made it through all the crazy tongue-twisters like a boss.

After she read the book, she had the boys play a game where they stood on a marker and tried to throw socks into a box. Naturally, this was a hit. 

Then the boys sat back down and Karli gave each of them a baggie full of little socks, all in different patterns and colors. The boys had to find the matches - seriously too cute. 

For craft, they colored a fox face, mouth and two socks and made a "Fox in Socks" paper bag puppet. 

Ignore their facial expressions - they really did like them. 

This lesson really knocked their socks off. Hardy har har.

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Lehi’s Dream

If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Preparation

Song: The Iron Rod, Hymn Book p. 274, chorus

Hold to the rod, the iron rod; (pretend to hold on to a rod with one hand and then with the other – do this two times; video here)

‘Tis strong (hold up arm and flex muscle), and bright (open hand quickly), and true (nod head).

The iron rod (sign “iron rod” like the first line, video here) is the word of God (sign “book”);

‘Twill safely guide us through. (put hands together and weave left and right, like a snake)

Activities:

1. Activity Verse: Father Lehi, By Elizabeth Gile

Father Lehi had a dream

(Place palms together, put by cheek, and close eyes.)

and saw the tree of life.

(Stretch arms out to sides for tree branches.)

He beckoned to his family—

(With arms out in front, palms up, wave hands toward you.)

his daughters, sons, and wife.

(Pretend to hug family members.)

He wanted them to follow him

(With one arm out in front, palm up, wave hand toward you.)

and stand right where he stood.

(Put feet together and stand tall.)

He wanted them to be with him

(Point to yourself.)

and have all that is good.

(Stretch arms out to sides, palms up.)

2. Rebus Story, “Lehi’s Dream” 

Art/Craft: There are free activity books here that go along with a variety of scripture stories. You just need to create a free account. For this chapter, I downloaded the “The Tree of Life” book and used a few coloring pages from it.

UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page:

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. My outline is very brief, so this explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.) Introduce the song by listening to it a couple times and humming to the tune.

2. Read through the story from the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End by listening to/singing the song.

3.  Have your child color one of the coloring pages quietly while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. (Find the passages you feel are most important and highlight them beforehand. Use the scriptural references found under the pictures in the manual as a guide.) Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

           

4. Choose and complete one of the activities. End by singing the song.

5. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. End by reading your favorite verse from the story.

6. Choose and complete one of the activities (you can repeat the same activity chosen for step 4). Read your favorite verse and then have your child read part or all of it by repeating after you. Share your testimony. End by singing the song.