Primary 2013

The 2013 theme for Primary is I Am a Child of God.  Here is what our Primary is doing to strength the children this year.

It was our ward's turn to do the bulletin board.  All of the pictures are off of  lds.org and printed poster sized at Costco.  They go with the song My Heavenly Father Loves Me.
I still need to get a picture of the side wall.

We resurrected the Time Machine to kick off this year's theme.  We had many visitors:  Nephi, Ammon, Joseph Smith, Noah, Esther and then two modern day visitors: the bishop, myself for Jr. Primary and Sister Hooley for Sr. Primary.  Each was asked by our news reporter "Who are you?"  Their text followed the same theme  "I am Ammon., a great missionary. I cut off some Lamanite's arms and converted many other Lamanites to the church. But most importantly, I am a child of God."

I love this picture because it shows how engaged all of the children are!

  

It was really good.  The kids were very attentive and seemed to grasp that no matter how many things each person accomplished, the most important thing about them was that they were a child of God.  

Earlier in the year, we had each child write a statement for themselves.  One child a week will be asked by the reporter "Who are you?"  Then they get to read their card.  They will receive a 4x6 photo to take home to remind them that the most important thing about themselves is that they are a child of God.  One of my counselors pointed out that even the first Sunday (after the time machine) a little 4 year old boy knew "But most importantly I am a child of God" without having to be told.  We hope by the end of the year, it will be so well rehearsed that they remember and apply that doctrine for a long time.   Below are sample cards each child will get after they are interviewed.

 

The Sharing Time outline suggested that we have children express ways each week they know Heavenly Father loves them then put a cotton ball (or similar item in a jar).  Instead, we decided to do a quilt.  During sharing time, over the course of the year, each child and teacher will have an opportunity to share how they feel Heavenly Father's love and add a square to the quilt.  They will see it get bigger and bigger each month.  We loved the idea of a quilt to represent warmth and Heavenly Father's love.  Near the end of the year, we will have Activity Day girls tie it and then we'll donate to Primary Children's Medical Center to bless the life of another.  (I have a wonderful Presidency, can you tell?)

(Thank you to Noreen for the pictures and for Ammon's great costume--her husband is the one with the abs!)