a happy momma: Primary Happenings

Last fall the bishopric member over Primary came to one of our Presidency meetings. He suggested that we consider a way to get kids to write down their feelings after their lessons in Primary to help them learn the pattern used in the Duty to God and Personal Progress programs, but ultimately to develop a habit that would bless their lives long term.

My first reaction was: 'Theoretically, it's a great idea, but logistically with 100 children, how would we ever manage that in a Primary setting?' I know it was something really we needed to do because ideas for managing it and ways to implement the whole program came quickly into place.

We found a talk by Elder Scott that talked about recording spiritual promptings and the subsequent blessings that we based our project on. Then the idea was given to us to house the kids' journals in bags labeled by class name and hang them in the hall for a child to pick up at the beginning of Primary, also in the bag would be pencils and glue sticks (so teachers could have copies ready to glue in, especially for younger children who cannot write yet). We planned a teacher development to train teachers how to use the journals and to explain the purpose behind them, we wrote lesson plans for the teachers to give to introduce the journals to the children and planned a Primary activity where the kids could make their own journal. Ideas for journal prompts and graphic-organizer activities also came.

For me, at least, it has been a great experience because I've truly felt like an instrument in the Lord's hands accomplishing what He wants for this little flock of children. Here are a few more details and pictures.

The Primary Activity:

We had 3 stations:

1) Journal making--with lots of wonderful choices (designed and put together by my fabulous secretary!)

Inside the front covers they glued a page with quotes and journal prompts on it:

“We often leave the most precious personal direction of the Spirit unheard because we do not record and respond to the first promptings that come to us when the Lord chooses to direct us.”

aElder Richard G. Scottb

“When you're trying to learn from the Lord and you feel an impression from the Spirit, it's important to make a note so it will not be forgotten.”

aElder Gene R. Cookb

Don't know what to write?

Here's some ideas to get you started:

bHow can I be like the person in this scripture?

aHow can I apply this principle to me?

bHow does this scripture/teaching make me feel?

aWhat will I do differently after this lesson?

bWhat does this scripture teach me I need to do?

aHow can I improve my life after this lesson?

bI will choose the right by:

a_______ acted on faith. Here is how I will act on faith:

bI will invite the Spirit into my life more by:

aThe song _______ makes me feel good. It prompts me to:

bThe Holy Ghost is teaching me:

This went on the inside of the back cover:

In 2012:

The Prophet is: Thomas S. Monson

There are 136 operating temples.

There are 14,131,467 members of the church.

There are 52,225 full time missionaries.

My Bishop is: Bishop David Paulson.

My Primary teacher is:___________________

I am _____ years old and in the _______ class.

I like Primary because:

My favorite scripture hero is:

My favorite Primary song is:

I am happiest when:

2) Stories/Games Station to strengthen the children's resolution to choose the right. (Put on by two wonderful sisters who took the assignment and lightened our load by doing all of the prep work for that!)

3) Build Your Shield of Faith Activity

A child stood in the center and was given a CTR ring (shield) to try to ward off fiery darts of Satan (nerf darts and paper wads). After being terribly unsuccessful, the child could answer some choose-the-right questions to upgrade to a larger shield. Each time the child was able to ward off more of the fiery darts, but in order be completely protected, the child needed a shield to cover them completely.

CTR Ring as a shield

Small shield

Medium shield

Large shield

Full coverage!! (She's in there---you just can't see her!)

We truly hope the kids experienced something that made an impact on them and increased their desire to choose the right all the time.

Then we served pizza and drinks. It was a fun activity and I think the kids really enjoyed it.

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One of the ideas we ran into had suggestions for drawings to put in a scripture journal. They reminded me of graphic organizers I used as a teacher. Graphic organizers are ways to record information visually; they make recall easier and help children make connections to what they are learning. I was so excited about this concept that I developed a few for teachers to use with their lessons. Here are a few of them with sample information:

This one is a commitment chart. It can be used for any lesson where you want a child to make a commitment. (The sample is for this lesson.)

This is a cause and effect chart. It can be used to illustrate a commandment with a promise. I used this in my sharing time on Sunday in conjunction with President Monson's story from October 2011 conference about praying to keep his $5 bill safe in his laundered pants. He promised that if we build a relationship with Heavenly Father, we will be entitled to inspiration and guidance. Jr. Primary drew pictures; Sr. Primary wrote text (and could add pictures if desired). Many did such cute jobs.

A Venn Diagram can be used to illustrate similarities and differences. This one focuses on the similarities; noting differences. But you could do one to focus on the differences--for example: me with Laman and Lemuel. Both are/were born of goodly parents, both have/had access to the scriptures but hopefully I am choosing to look to God where they chose to look to themselves. They have seen an angel, I have felt the Holy Ghost etc. (Find the lesson for this diagram here.)