Free Come Follow Me Activities for Esther

This week we are covering one of my favorite stories, Esther. I think it's one of my favorites because my children love to watch the Liken movie, Esther and the King and so its one I am very familiar with. Her story and bravery are truly remarkable. This week as I studied my love for this book grew even more. Here are a few thoughts I had this week while reading and studying these chapters. First, I want to be more like Mordecai! The more I learned about him the more I saw his deep love for Esther, he took her in as his own and continued to love and care for her in anyway he could.   Another thought, in their deepest trial their response was to fast.  Fasting is not just a sign of faith but a sign of hope. The last one is I learned this week is that God is not mentioned anywhere in this book but I there is evidence of Him and His involvemnt is everywhere. He really is in the details of our lives. As you look for Him in your life you will always find him and begin to recognize Him more clearly. 

I am so excited to share these activities with you! We actually have three topics this week, service, bravery, and fasting all centered around the book of Esther.   The instructions are in the download below. Let me know if you have any questions and I hope there is something that works for your family or primary class this week. Have a wonderful week!

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Come Follow Me: John 13-17 (June 3-9)

This week for Come Follow Me we are covering John 13-17.  This went really well with two of my primary lessons from last year so I am reusing a lot of those activities.  They are kind of my favorite so I'm excited about that.  I'd love to know what activities work for your family and what you would like to see more of.  I'll try super hard to work those things in these lessons.  Oh and if you happen to have any pictures or something that worked for you pop in and share on my facebook page or tag me on instagram (and while you're at it someone give me a lesson on how to use instagram haha).  Anyway I'd LOVE to see you and your family :)  You are all the greatest and thanks for stopping by!

Love One Another Tic Tac Toe: Print out your tic tac toe board, the page of x's and o's, and question cards.  I recommend cardstock for durability. Divide the class into two teams.  One side will be the x's and the other the o's.  The teams will take turns picking and answering a question.  If they get it correct they will place their X or O on the board.  First to get 3 in a row wins.  There are enough cards and some blank ones that it can be played a few times.

Coloring pages: I have three options for you. I have some extra ideas for these two pages.  The first can be colored and cut into puzzle pieces.  Hide around the room.  Let your kids find them and work together to put the pieces together.  You can also make one for each person so they can have their now puzzle.  The second page is a fill in the blank coloring page.  Help your kids answer the question "I can show love by..." and write their answers in the hearts.  The third page is just a regular coloring page :)

Sing or watch this video of the song "Love One Another."

This would be a great activity to start the week!  Letter Hunt: I hope this activity will help the children see that Jesus served others throughout his life. 

Prep-print and cut out letters. I also suggest that you bring pictures that go with each example if available.

 There are a few ways you can do this:

1. Treasure hunt and follow clues around your home or church. On the back write the clues to each spot-one reverence suggestion would be to have the clue on a separate piece of paper that way they are not leaving to find the next clue before you are ready for them to go. And Hide your clues before class- try to mix up the order of the letters.
*I did not include clues because I’m terrible at coming up with them haha .  You will need one to start and I suggest before the last clue is given say something to let them know there is only one left. Some sample clues: This is where you go if you get thirsty, Lights out its time for bed, The final clue can be found if you need a little shade. You can get a lot more creative with these…did I mention that clue writing is not a talent of mine 😊

(example of how to start your lesson)
While on earth Jesus provided the perfect example of how we should live. As we follow him we become more like him. Read John 13:15 (mini printable included). Today we are going to follow the clues and discover what he is asking us to do. At this point give the first clue. Quietly walk to the first spot and let them look for the letter. Once found read the example on the front. Ask your family/class if they can tell you the story-show the picture if you brought one. Once done read the next clue. Don’t forget to take the letter with you. Continue until all the letters have been found. Take the letters back to class and work together to put them in order to spell “service”.

This would be a great time to tell the story of Jesus Washing the disciples feet or watch this video (about the first 50 seconds-we'll cover the Last Supper next week). You can pick up again at minute 3:30 to hear him teach the 12 to love one another and additional parts of these chapters.

Story Cards-in last years primary manual there was a story about Joseph Fielding Smith serving his mom.  I included the story and some cute story cards.  Print the cards and cut apart.

Service Go Fish or matching game: Each picture corresponds with a question or scenario.  In both games when the full set of matches are found ask the question that goes with the card.  For the match game print 2 of each page on cardstock.  Take turns finding a match.  Go fish will take a little more time to play but it will be something fun and new.  You will need to print 4 of each page on cardstock.  The instruction are in the download in case you need a refresher.  *If you are short on time OR have young kids print 2 instead of 4 sets for the go fish game.  I played this with my class last year and they loved it!  I look forward to pulling out this week and playing with my kids.

"super server" cards: Print and let your  kids color and pass out as they serve (or leave anonymously).  Let them know as they serve others they are like a super hero to the person they help.  There is a boy and a girl option with 4 cards per sheet.  These are black and white and made to be colored.  Print one page per child.  My 5 year old helped me color these samples on the computer-I think she did pretty good!

I love this video clip .  It from the Church's Light the World initiative.  Its a pretty amazing way to show the Saviors examples of service next to ways we can serve like him.

I also love this video clip called Dayton's Legs.  Another great video about service.

Holy Ghost Match Game:  I will admit I have camping activities swirling through my head and as a result we are playing a camping themed game to learn more about the Holy Ghost.  Its a fun matching game using camping supplies to learn ways the Holy Ghost helps us. Lets fill our backpack with these tools so we can recognize the Holy Ghosts presences in our life.   Print the 3 pages on cardstock or back with construction paper.    Mix the cards up and play like a regular match game EXCEPT if you pick an animal card your turn is over. You don't want to take any animals home in your bag! Pull the animal card out and the next player tries to find a match.  Once a match of camping supplies is found think of a way it relates to the Holy Ghost.  See if you can find all 6 matches before all of the animals are found!  How fun would it be to finish the night with smores!

(UPDATE: I've added an extra page to include a flashlight and some more animals if you want to use them.  It came as a request and she plans to use it to teach that the Holy Ghost can be like a light to guide us)

As always if you have any questions or trouble with the download please let me know.

Download your free lesson helps here!

I can Follow Jesus Christ by Serving Others Lesson Helps (Primary 2 Lesson 39)

Here are some free primary lesson helps for lesson 39 I can follow Jesus Christ by serving others.  I hope you find something helpful for you class this week :)  Any of these activities would also be a great FHE lesson on service.

Attention Activity Letter Hunt: I normally follow the lesson pretty closely but this time I had an idea that will take a little more time but I hope will help the children see that Jesus served others throughout his life. Before class you will need to print and cut out letters. I also suggest that you bring pictures that go with each example if available.

 There are a few ways you can do this:

1. Treasure hunt and follow clues around the church. On the back write the clues to each spot-one reverence suggestion would be to have the clue on a separate piece of paper that way they are not leaving to find the next clue before you are ready for them to go. And Hide your clues before class- try to mix up the order of the letters.
*I did not include clues because I’m terrible at coming up with them haha and also every class and church is different. You will need one to start and I suggest before the last clue is given say something to let them know there is only one left. Some sample clues: This is where you go if you get thirsty, You are ready to pay your tithing look where you would find the envelopes, The final clue can be found if you need a little shade. You can get a lot more creative with these…did I mention that clue writing is not a talent of mine 😊

2. Hide the letters around the room and let them search for them.
3. Tape each letter to the wall in your classroom and go from letter to letter as a group.

(example of how to start your lesson…For ease I’m going to use the treasure hunt for this example but you can easily adjust based on the way you choose to do this activity)
While on earth Jesus provided the perfect example of how we should live. As we follow him we become more like him. Read John 13:15. Today we are going to follow the clues and discover what he is asking us to do. At this point give the first clue. Quietly walk to the first spot and let them look for the letter. Once found read the example on the front. Ask your class if they can tell you the story-show the picture if you brought one. Once done read the next clue. Don’t forget to take the letter with you. Continue until all the letters have been found. Take the letters back to class and work together to put them in order to spell “service”.

Then move on the the scripture story in the lesson.

Here are a few more Lesson Helps

Story Cards

Art Activity  : I included a few different ways to do this.
Pick 3 people to serve this week.  Write 1 person per box and write or draw a picture how the can serve that person.

Or a simplified option-draw and write one way you can serve today.

Enrichment Activity #2: 2 options for this as well.
Decorate the service hearts.  Encourage the children to do the acts of service and leave the heart for the person to find.

2nd option are these cute "super server" cards that the kids can color and pass out as they serve (or leave anonymously).  Let them know as they serve others they are like a super hero to the person they help.  There is a boy and a girl option with 4 cards per sheet.  These are black and white and made to be colored.  Print one page per child.  My 5 year old helped me color these samples on the computer-I think she did pretty good!

Enrichment Activity #6 Service Go Fish or matching game. (These cards also work for the suggested activity-charades and the "Activity section" in the lesson)  Each picture corresponds with a question or scenario.  In both games when the full set of matches are found ask the question that goes with the card.  For the match game print 2 of each page on cardstock.  Take turn find a match.  Go fish will take a little more time to play but it will be something fun and new.  You will need to print 4 of each page on cardstock.  The instruction are in the download in case you need a refresher.
Update: I tried go fish today and for the amount of time you will have we switched to a a set of 2 instead of 4.  Also it was a big hit. 

Coloring page because sometimes you just need an easy activity.

I also love this video clip .  It from the Church's Light the World initiative.  Its a pretty amazing way to show the Saviors examples of service next to ways we can serve like him.

Download the Lesson Helps here

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