May 2009 Sharing Time

Week 2: Jesus Christ was baptized.


References: Matthew 3:13-17; 1 Nephi 11:27

In this sharing time, children will pretend to be reporters covering the baptism of the Savior. The standard questions journalists ask are: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How (Known as the four w’s and an h.) Post word strips for each of these and put them around the room. On the back of each card will be scriptures, directions and so on for the children to use. Each group should work with an adult.


Singing Time: When Jesus Christ was Baptized


Sharing Time: Divide the children into groups. The Sunbeams and CTR-Five groups will work together to create the “photos” for the news story. They will color pictures and glue them to construction paper, which will frame them.

On the Friend Magazine website, there are coloring pages. Use the two that are found  under “Baptism.” Give the Sunbeams copies of a modern child being baptized, and give the coloring page of Jesus’ baptism to the CTR-5 children. Let each child color his own picture. When they are finished coloring, their teachers can help them come up with captions for the pictures. Each child should have one fact about the picture to put under his picture, such as, “I can be baptized when I’m eight,” or “Jesus was baptized by his cousin.”

Alternately, they could illustrate the story of Jesus’ baptism as found in the Friend, August 1991 Jesus’ Baptism

Each of the other classes will be asked to retrieve a word poster from the room (the w and h cards.) Combine or divide classes if necessary to make sure there is one group for each card. The children, with their teacher or leader, should look up the scripture references and read whatever information is on their card. Then they should write, as a group, a paragraph to answer the question. Ask the teachers to help the children give more than one sentence answers—they should be as complete as possible. You may want to assign the cards so younger children get easier cards.

Before they begin, show them a picture of Jesus being baptized and tell them they are going to pretend they are journalists (explain what that is) living in the time of Jesus. They were sent by their boss to research and write about a miraculous event that has happened in Jerusalem. All they have to go by is this picture. It’s up to them to find out the rest. Be certain the children understand this is pretend—the picture is a painting, not a photograph. There were no cameras then, and there weren’t newspapers either.

Information for each card:

Who?: Who got baptized? Who baptized Him? How was the person doing the baptism related to the person who got baptized? Why was that person allowed to do the baptism? Scripture: Matthew, chapter 3 in the New Testament of the Bible

What?: What did Jesus do? What does that word mean? What happened at Jesus’ baptism? Scriptures: John 1:9-11

When? How old was Jesus when he was baptized? Why did Jesus get baptized at this time? What was He about to do? (He was about to serve His mission. Have the children outline some things He would do on His mission. How do they think the baptism helped him?

Where? Where was Jesus baptized? (River Jordan) Give the children a map and have them find the river. Let them write a description of where it was.
Why? Why was Jesus baptized even though he was perfect? Why do we get baptized?


How? How was Jesus baptized? Explain what that means.

After the children have written their paragraphs, invite each group to share what they wrote.


Singing Time: Songs about baptism and about Jesus


Sharing Time:

Junior Primary: “The Baptism of Jesus Christ,” Friend, Aug 1999, 15 has pictures for a flannel board story. Give each child a copy to color and invite them to take it home and tell the story to their families. Help them practice in class.

Senior Primary: Have the children look up the story of Jesus’ baptism in each of the four gospels and compare them.