- Using coloring pages along with your lesson is an easy way to keep the children focused during the lesson. This technique is especially helpful for younger children. Select and print out coloring pages with pictures that correspond with the lesson topic. If your classroom has a table, have the children gather around the table. Otherwise, have the children turn their chairs sideways and kneel beside them. Pass out a coloring page to each child with a handful of crayons. While they are coloring their pages talk about the pictures they are coloring and discuss the lesson. Have each child show their completed picture and name something that they learned about it.
- Help your class memorize the Articles of Faith by using this game. Print out the words to each Article of Faith in a large font. Cut out the words individually or by phrases and glue them to a piece of colored construction paper. Keep the words to each Article in a separate plastic bag. Begin with the first Article of Faith and move to the next only when the children have mastered it. Place the words face down on a table top and mix them up. Let the children take turns picking a word or phrase and placing it in the correct spot. If they get it wrong, the word goes back onto the table, face-down. Do this until the Article of Faith is built in the correct order.
Once your children have memorized all the Articles of Faith, mix all the word pieces together. Have the children sit in a circle on the floor. Pass out seven words to each child and spread out the remaining words face down in the middle of the circle. Have the children play "Go Fish" with the word cards. Each children will have a turn to ask for a word they need. If the other child doesn't have it, they will say "Go Fish" and the child will draw from the pile. Play until all Articles of Faith are correctly assembled. - Use this activity to encourage the children to bring scriptures to class with them each week. Decorate quart sized glass jar with pictures of Jesus and Book of Mormon stories. Purchase a bag of gumballs. Each week at the beginning of class, sing the song "Scripture Power." Each child who brought their scriptures that day gets to place a gumball in the jar. For those children who don't have a set of scriptures, encourage them to borrow a set from the library and bring to class. The children who read their scriptures at least once during the week can add a second gumball. Once the jar is full, bring treats to the class to reward the children. While you are enjoying the treats, ask each child to tell what their favorite scripture or scripture story is.
- To teach the children about repentance and good behavior, bring a small glass jar to class. Fill the jar half of the way full of water. Tell a story about a family's experiences during the week. Add events such as losing tempers, not sharing and telling lies. For each bad thing that a family member does, add a drop of food coloring to the water. The children will be able to see that the water is not clear or clean anymore. Then begin talking about how the family members did things such as said a prayer, read their scriptures, did their chores, shared a toy, repented, etc. Each time a family member did something good, add a bit of bleach to the water. The water will return to a clear state. The children will be able to see how doing good allows them to have the Spirit, be happy and clean.
- Incorporate stories into your lessons. Children oftentimes love stories and listen intently to them. Borrow pictures from the library to hang on the chalkboard while you are teaching the children about stories from the scriptures. For lessons on topics such as service, repentance, choosing the right and prayer, share stories from your own life that illustrate the topic. Ask the children to share stories about themselves in relation to the lesson topic.
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