Come Follow Me: John 1 (January 21-27)

I have some really fun and as always FREE lesson helps for you today that go along with the next Come Follow Me Lesson (John 1 for January 21-27).  Oh my goodness there is so much in this chapter.  I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do this week so if it looks like a jumbled mess that's because my brain was going a hundred different ways :)  I wanted to to focus on 3 things this week: Jesus created all things, growing our testimonies of the Savior, and sharing the gospel.  Again I pulled ideas from all 3 manuals in case you are wondering how I came up with these topics (individual & family, primary, and Sunday school).  If you have any trouble downloading or have questions about the activities please let me know!  Also I wanted to thank all of you that have taken the time to stop by, those that have left comments, and those that have shared my site.  I've seen so much growth in the past month and I know its because of all of you so thank you thank you :)

Jesus Created all things (John 1:3):

1. For the little ones: Nature Scavenger hunt you can use this page and check off items as you see them.  Another fun thing I've done in the past was to give each of my kids a paper bag and let them gather different items from outside.  We brought them in and made a collage with their collections.

2. Older kids (or younger kids on teams): Play this quick ABC Creation game.  Instructions are on the page.

3. Make play-dough creations.  Have everyone think of one of their favorite creation and make it out of play-dough.  If you aren't a big fan of play-dough you can always draw or paint a picture instead.

I can grow my testimony of the Savior:  I really loved the into to the lesson in the individual and family manual.  I plan to read that as I use the flower visual below.

Before the lesson Print the flower pot, and flower-cardstock works best.  Cut out the flower, leaves and stem.  Use scissors or preferably and exacto knife and cut across the top line of the flower pot.  You are going to slide your flower into the pot-the flower and a little bit of stem will be showing but it should sit as low as it can without the stem being longer then the flowerpot page.
As you read the paragraph and get to the part where is say " " You will begin to pull your flower up revealing each leaf with the coordinating words.  After discuss how your testimony is like a flower and as you do these things (maybe list some other thing you can do as well) your testimony will grow just like this flower.

roll a flower game-this can be just for fun to go with the flower theme or you can have them share something they know about Jesus or a way they can strengthen their testimonies each time they add a piece to their flower.
If you have never played a "roll the ______" game here's a quick how to.   There are 2 options
Option 1: The first is very printer friendly.  Just print the page with the dice.  You can do one for each player or just share the main page and use your own blank paper.  The first player will roll a dice.  If they get a 2 they will draw a flower pot.  Then then their turn is over.  If they already have rolled the number they do nothing and it moves to the next person.  Continue taking turns until someone has finished their flower.
Option 2: Use the pieces in the download to build a flower.  You will need to print off the dice page (for reference but do not need the bottom part of the page.)  You only need one.  Print off the pages with the flower pieces.  There are enough for 4 players.  If you need more print additional copies. I would recommend cardstock.  Cut the pieces apart.  Each player should have 6 petals, a flower pot, stem, leaf, and center circle.  Play like above but use the pieces to build your flower instead of drawing.  Its fun but does require more ink and prep work.

Extra idea: I found some small flower pots and seeds at the dollar store.  You can have them paint a pot and plant their "testimony seed."

Testimony page: I love the testimony of John in this chapter as well as the apostles as they realized that Jesus is the Christ.  After you read through these testimonies take some time to write your own testimony of the Savior.  There is space to write or draw :)

Share the gospel:  I love the phrase "Come and See." I have included the quote from the Sunday School Manual from Elder Anderson. Point out the chain reaction as one person realized that Jesus was the Christ they rushed to tell someone they cared about and in turn that person gained a testimony and told another. 
This video (Good things to share-find it at the end of the lesson) is great especially for kids that are a little older.  It shows how easily we share things we love with other and that the gospel can be the same way. 
Talk about some ways you can share the gospel now-even if you are small :)  Make these cute "I can be a missionary now" badge or necklace.  Cut and have them color.  For the badge take or pin to their shirt.  For a necklace hole punch and add string or yarn.  For a little extra fun string some fruit loops or beads on their necklace.

Additional idea: Read John 1:4-10 with a flashlight.  Talk about how Jesus is a light in our life and the world.  How can we be a light to the world?

I think that's everything for this week :)  Hopefully you find something that will work for your family or primary class. 

Download Free Lesson Helps Here

Mother's day Flowers and Gift Tag

 Here's a cute Mother's Day Craft that is easy enough for toddler to help or perfect for older kids to create by themselves.  This is perfect for any mom or grandma. We made this last week during activity days and they girls had so much fun.  In the center of theirs they wrote something they love about their mom.  

 You need:
Scrapbook paper, paper straws, tape (we used washi tape), glue, scissors, mason jar (pint size), hole punch, circle punch optional (2") and some ribbon or jute to tie the tag.

Print out your Flower template (here) . Trace on the back of your scrapbook paper and cut it out.  We used the large flower but I included a few different sizes just in case.

Download Flowers here

 
Use a punch or cut out a circle for the center.  Write something you love about your mom on the circle and glue it on.

Tape the straw to the back of your flower.  It actually worked best if you put the tape at the top of your straw.

 Cut out your tag (at the bottom of this post) , hole punch the top, and tie to your jar.  I added a strip of paper around the jar.

The flowers are a little large and heavy so they twist around a little.  If it bugs you, you can always add some candy or something to the jar to stabilize them.

They turned out so cute and I'm sure any mom or grandma would love them.

To Print the tag:

Click on the picture.  Right click to save to your computer.

Insert the image in a word document.  Size and print.  

Happy Mother's Day!

Letter F is for Flower printable learning pack

We've been having so much fun working on our F is for Flower theme.  We've posted some of our completed activities here.  Today I'm sharing our Letter F learning pack.  It is so much fun.  I've added some new activities and my little girl has been loving them.  You can download the Letter F Learning pack here.

Print some of it or print all of it! 

Here's whats included and some instructions...next time I'll include instructions in the actual packet for convenience.

Page 1 and 2- Letter poster and Coloring Page.  Great way to introduce the Letter F and theme.

Page 3-matching game.  Print 2 or cardstock

Page 4-Capital and lower case letter find.  We used dot markers but crayons work great too.  Once you find the letters count them up!

Page 5-Color by number.  Great way to practice number and color recognition.

Page 6-Patterns.  works for abab or aabb patterns or make up your own.  Print one or 2 on cardstock.

pages 7-8 F Create your own fishing game.  Print on cardstock.  Cut out fish and the pictures.  Tape or glue pictures to the back of the fish.  add a paper clip to each fish (I've also used magnets and bobby pins).  Make a fishing pole with a dowel, string, and button magnet. Have fun fishing.  When a fish is caught say the word and emphasize the f sound.

I use these fish a lot so keep them for upcoming activities.

If you already have fish you can print just page 9...it only has the letter f pictures. ( if you are printing the fish you do not need this page)

(watermark not on download)

Pages 10-14 Color matching game.  Print on cardstock.  cut out flowers and cut slit across the top of each flower pot.  Slide the color of the flower to the matching color of pot.  (the white flower with yellow polka dots goes in the yellow pot).

Pages 15-21 Color Freeze dance.  Page 15 or 16  is perfect if you want to save some ink and print on colored paper or color yourself...that's what I did.  16-21 have the flowers already colored and ready to print for convince.  I suggest cardstock for durability.

Cut out and place on the floor.  Start some music and dance around.  When the music stops jump on the closest flower and shout out the color.  Keep going until they are done.

Page 22- cut, color and glue.  (watermark not on download)

23-24-shape hunt.  Cut out flower and hide around the room.  Once they are gathered name the shape and cross it off their finder page.  I put our finder page in a sheet protector so we could play several times.  Use a white board marker and it erases easily.

I plan to use the finder page for future packets so its also a good one to save.

Download the Letter F Learning pack here.

A few more activities

Letter F Book Download here. Cut along the black line and staple together.

Tracer & Coloring page Download here

Adorable graphics from Creative Clips,   Creating for the Classroom, &

If you have any trouble with the links or any questions please let me know!

Flower Color Scavenger Hunt

We are still working away on our F is for Flower unit and having so much fun.  Our big activity packet will be posted tomorrow!!!  There are so many fun and new activities in this one and I can't wait to share it with you.  

Today I have a fun activity that your little one will love.  Its our flower scavenger hunt.  Its a great way to practice colors.  Print a copy (at the bottom of this post), hunt for flowers, and check the box when you find the right color of flower. There are two spots for each color. The bottom two are an added bonus-find a tulip and a pot.  

We took ours to a local nursery and my little one had a great time hunting for flower.

Download your copy here and have fun!

Stamping with flowers-preschool craft

This was such a fun project from beginning to end.  The end result turned out really pretty as well.  My 3 year old thought the extra flowers needed to stay on her picture.

Start by picking some flowers.  Around here there are not a lot of flowers yet but lucky for us (and unfortunate for my husband) the orchard behind us provides our yard with a lot of dandelions early spring.   We ran out and picked a few before they were all sprayed.  We even found some little purple ones.  I'm sure this would work with any type of flower you can find.

I loved watching her run through the yard picking as many as her little hands would allow.  She doesn't realize these are weeds to her they are as pretty as any flower. She melts my heart.

 Next squeeze a little paint on a plate.  Dip your flower in and start stamping away.  Stamp gently.

 The different flowers made some pretty fun designs.

F is for Flower Letter Craft

I love letter crafts.  Its a fun way to start our new letter and introduce our theme. We've been working on the letter F and flower theme.  Its been a lot of fun.  I'll be sharing more of our crafts, activities, and even a really fun printable learning pack next week.

For this craft I free handed it (I guess cut it).  You'll need a large letter F, flower petals and center, leaves, and a pot.   I had everything cut a head of time.

  

 Let your little one glue it together.  I gave a little guidance but for the most part let her put things where she wanted.

 Its a fun way to learn and practice the letters.  We are putting finished letter crafts in a binder to create an ABC book.