Week plan for APRIL 1–14
Matthew 16–17; Mark 8–9; Luke 9
Young children
Because of General Conference, I plan to teach the Monday and Tuesday material as normal, and then interject the rest of the week with my Conference plans (activities for the days before, during, and after.) I will continue teaching the Wednesday through Sunday material on April 10–14 following General Conference.
Memorize during the week: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)
Song of Week: Faith (CS 96)
Give your children a seed to hold up during the line "faith is like a little seed."
Behind a dark paper/cloth, hide pictures of a sun, a child praying, a seed growing, and a heart. Reveal each picture during the corresponding part of the song.
Sing with these actions.
Watch and sing along with this music video.
Monday
Doctrine: I can gain a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Matthew 16:13–17
Scripture story
Watch: Peter Testifies of Christ, Illustrated New Testament Stories
Coloring page
Activities
Do this cute I “Bee”lieve activity (scroll down to find it) to help your children recognize aspects of their testimony.
Role play asking and answering "Who is Jesus?" with dressed up stuffed animals, action figures, etc. Use various scenarios, like at a picnic, a birthday party, or the park.
Watch this I Believe in Christ music video and tell your children to pay attention to how it makes them feel. Afterwords, ask them to describe their feelings. Explain that the Holy Ghost gave them those feelings and was helping them to gain a testimony of Jesus. (Idea from the Amazing Mitzi)
Tuesday
Doctrine: I can gain a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Matthew 16:13–17
Scripture story
Watch: Thou Art the Christ, Bible Video
Coloring page
Activities
Sit under a tree outside to read D.J.'s Testimony and Testimony Plants. Solidify the imagery by bringing along an apple to eat and a watering can for watering the grass.
Make this picture strip bookmark about Jesus Christ.
Dictate for each child or let them write their own testimony of Jesus Christ on this printable (scroll down to find it.) Or illustrate on these Whom Say Ye That I Am poster and testimony cards (scroll down to find them.)
Wednesday
Doctrine: Jesus Christ gives prophets and apostles priesthood keys to lead His Church. Matthew 16:15–19
Scripture story
Appearing in Glory: The Transfiguration, Illustrated New Testament Stories
Coloring page
Activities
Drink some Powerade and pretend to have super powers to lift heavy objects, to heal someone, etc. Then ask your kids if power really comes from Powerade (no). True power is the power of God, called the priesthood power. Write out the word "priesthood" and help them find familiar letters (for younger children) or have a mini spelling bee for the word.
Ask your children to draw something that is powerful. This may be a superhero, cartoon character, storybook hero,wind, waterfall, etc. Then show your children a picture of the earth and ask: “What is powerful enough to create the earth? Who has the power? Is this power on earth?" Explain that the power that was used by Jesus Christ to create the earth is more powerful than any other things we may think of. This power is on the earth today—it is called the priesthood. (Idea from Missy Felsted's Priesthood FHE Lesson)
Watch this Living Scriptures video and talk about how Jesus gave the priesthood power to the 12 apostles that he called.
Thursday
Doctrine: Jesus Christ gives prophets and apostles priesthood keys to lead His Church. Matthew 16:15–19
Scripture story
Watch: The Transfigurations, Sunday School Lessons for Kids
Coloring page
See the second activity below with two pages to color in its link.
Activities
Give all your keys to your children and let them try to figure out what they each unlock. Then write on two pieces of paper these two phrases: "The priesthood keys unlock the power of God" and "The priesthood keys open the gates of heaven." Have your children illustrate as you discuss what they mean.
Print these Priesthood keys on card stock for your children to color, cut, and string together. On the same linked page is a prophet puppet you can glue to a paper bag to hold the keys. Tell your children that our prophet holds ALL the keys of the priesthood, which is the power and authority of God.
Watch this World Report video about the Rome Italy Temple Visitor's Center receiving the statue of Christ and the original twelve apostles. Then, starting at the bottom of this article, scroll up slowly, asking your children to point out when they see a statue holding keys. Whose statue is it? Read the scripture under the heading of Peter (Petrus). Help your children make their own play dough statue of President Nelson holding keys while watching the video Priesthood Keys: The Restoration of Priesthood Keys.
Friday
Doctrine: Jesus Christ gives prophets and apostles priesthood keys to lead His Church. Matthew 16:15–19
Scripture story
Act out climbing to the top of a high mountain and Jesus giving Peter, James, and John the priesthood keys. Use this chapter as a guide.
Coloring page
Activities
Match colored keys to colored locks to discover pictures of priesthood ordinances and blessings in this Priesthood Keys and Locks game by News with Naylors. Here is an alternative for slightly older children: "Priesthood Keys" activity (and then match the keys to Gospel Art pictures, or use this version with pictures already attached).
Watch this video about prophets, produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bake and mold into shape some yummy peanut butter fudge keys. While you eat them together, read The Right Key.
Saturday
Doctrine: My faith can work miracles. Matthew 17:19–20
Scripture story
The Boy with an Evil Spirit, Illustrated New Testament Stories
Coloring page
Activities
"Plant" the seed of faith as demonstrated by the Running Mormon blog. If you do not have gardening supplies, here are visual aids to use instead.
Do this action verse together (on page three): Faith Is like a Seed.
Set up a large pretend road on the floor using masking tape, tracks, or whatever you have on hand. Now using blocks, pillows, etc., create big mountains or roadblocks along the road. As your children drive a toy car along the road, ask them how they are going to move that mountain. As they answer, “with faith,” move the mountain for them. (Idea from Chicken Scratch n Sniff) Drive through the road once again, this time with words such as "fear," "doubt," and "worry" taped onto the roadblocks. Explain that the mountains we have to move are usually things that seem hard for us to do. What are some things that can feel like mountains to us? (Idea adapted from the Primary manual)
Sunday
It's Palm Sunday! Check out my plans here.
