Nursery Lesson 13: I Am Thankful For Birds and Insects
Notes: The nursery is for children ages 18 months to age three. The teacher uses the same manual as the Sunbeam class, which is for three and four year olds. The children in the nursery are young, and the lessons require some adaptation for them. I try to teach the entire lesson, but in a shortened form so that it takes only ten to fifteen minutes. I teach some sections in other parts of the nursery day, such as music time, the moments before snack, or while we wait for parents. These are only guidelines and you should always give priority to the manual, the direction of your leaders, and the promptings of the spirit. Each group of children is unique and teachers must consider the needs of their own classes rather than someone else's structure. Whenever I use additional materials beyond what is offered in the manual, I use only official church publications, as directed by the Primary.
This series of lessons are my favorites. They explore the days of creation and are so much fun for little ones. You will discover they require very little adaptation, and lend themselves well to a theme that can be carried out all day. Have fun with these! Keep the purpose firmly in mind, however. It can be easy to get sidetracked and forget the reason for the lesson.
This lesson can be found in its original form at LDS.org
Attention Activity: Most little ones aren't very good at guessing. If your class is very young, show them a picture and ask what it is. If you have a few children who are advanced, you can use the activity as it is. However, once the children are seated, you may not want them flying around, since it is difficult enough to get toddlers seated once. Instead, when you call them from playtime, ask them to fly to the lesson area as if they were birds. Then tell the birds to land on their carpet squares and rest. Now you can introduce a picture of a bird to settle them back down. Talk about the bird in detail until they are calm and focused. Then have your prayer.
Heavenly Father asked Jesus to create birds: You have already worked into this section if you used the pictures. Continue to show pictures and cutouts of birds. Don't forget to tell them who created the birds and show the Bible as the place that tells us this. We want our little ones to become interested in the scriptures. If you choose to read a piece of the referenced section, you might choose just one verse referring to birds. (You will have to explain the words, but you can just read the verse and then give a short summary.)
Story of Elijah and the Ravens: Children will like this story. You don't need to tell it in great detail, but do show them the Bible and tell them the story is in it. This sharing time lesson includes pictures of stories about Elijah and includes a picture of Elijah and a picture of a raven, which you can use to make a flannel board story. This article from the Friend includes a short retelling of the story. You will need to simplify the words, but it does outline the basic facts. Be sure to show the children the picture mentioned in the lesson and allow for discussion.
Acting out the story: The children will enjoy this if you guide them through it. Make sure you have a plan for calming them down again after you do so.
The crickets and the seagulls: Children listen better and understand better when they have a picture. Hold the picture as you tell this story and point to items as you talk. Be sure to tell the children this happened long ago. This is an exciting story, so use lots of expression as you tell it.
Heavenly Father asked Jesus to make insects and creeping things: Children love bugs, so they will enjoy this section. Most little children aren't good at riddles, so you may prefer to show pictures of the insects discussed and use the facts from the riddles to help you discuss the insects. Let the children do the sounds and actions described in each riddle. You will probably want to combine the information in the next section with the riddles, rather than doing them separately. This keeps the conversation coordinated and you aren't duplicating information. The children will be getting wiggly by now, so you won't have much time. Three insects should be plenty. Check the finger plays at the end to find activities for each one. (They are in the section on ideas for younger children.)
Enrichment
The game described in the first activity can be fun. You will need a plan to make sure each child gets only one turn, perhaps putting them in a row. Or just give them each a butterfly, made during craft time, and let them do it together. Little ones often aren't good at waiting their turns. They can put the butterfly on themselves instead of someone else. Vary it by saying, "It landed on your head." "It landed on your arm" This helps teach body parts. At the end, say it landed on the teacher and then gather them up, promising to give them back when parents arrive. You might also let the children fly their butterflies to you and let you hang them up as decorations until parents arrive. Consider doing this later in the day, not during the lesson, which is pretty long already. It can be fun to do while you wait for parents.
If you want to do the second activity, save it for another gathering time, such as when you play games.
Honey is messy. I'd suggest skipping it. The allergy warning is very important, and don't give it to any children under a year old who might be in the room.
The finger plays and songs are fun to do during singing time and while waiting for parents.
Additional activities for little children
All of these are fun. Use them during play time or singing time. You might also mix them into the lesson if you have time and if the children need more movement.
By Terrie Lynn Bittner
This series of lessons are my favorites. They explore the days of creation and are so much fun for little ones. You will discover they require very little adaptation, and lend themselves well to a theme that can be carried out all day. Have fun with these! Keep the purpose firmly in mind, however. It can be easy to get sidetracked and forget the reason for the lesson.
This lesson can be found in its original form at LDS.org
Attention Activity: Most little ones aren't very good at guessing. If your class is very young, show them a picture and ask what it is. If you have a few children who are advanced, you can use the activity as it is. However, once the children are seated, you may not want them flying around, since it is difficult enough to get toddlers seated once. Instead, when you call them from playtime, ask them to fly to the lesson area as if they were birds. Then tell the birds to land on their carpet squares and rest. Now you can introduce a picture of a bird to settle them back down. Talk about the bird in detail until they are calm and focused. Then have your prayer.
Heavenly Father asked Jesus to create birds: You have already worked into this section if you used the pictures. Continue to show pictures and cutouts of birds. Don't forget to tell them who created the birds and show the Bible as the place that tells us this. We want our little ones to become interested in the scriptures. If you choose to read a piece of the referenced section, you might choose just one verse referring to birds. (You will have to explain the words, but you can just read the verse and then give a short summary.)
Story of Elijah and the Ravens: Children will like this story. You don't need to tell it in great detail, but do show them the Bible and tell them the story is in it. This sharing time lesson includes pictures of stories about Elijah and includes a picture of Elijah and a picture of a raven, which you can use to make a flannel board story. This article from the Friend includes a short retelling of the story. You will need to simplify the words, but it does outline the basic facts. Be sure to show the children the picture mentioned in the lesson and allow for discussion.
Acting out the story: The children will enjoy this if you guide them through it. Make sure you have a plan for calming them down again after you do so.
The crickets and the seagulls: Children listen better and understand better when they have a picture. Hold the picture as you tell this story and point to items as you talk. Be sure to tell the children this happened long ago. This is an exciting story, so use lots of expression as you tell it.
Heavenly Father asked Jesus to make insects and creeping things: Children love bugs, so they will enjoy this section. Most little children aren't good at riddles, so you may prefer to show pictures of the insects discussed and use the facts from the riddles to help you discuss the insects. Let the children do the sounds and actions described in each riddle. You will probably want to combine the information in the next section with the riddles, rather than doing them separately. This keeps the conversation coordinated and you aren't duplicating information. The children will be getting wiggly by now, so you won't have much time. Three insects should be plenty. Check the finger plays at the end to find activities for each one. (They are in the section on ideas for younger children.)
Enrichment
The game described in the first activity can be fun. You will need a plan to make sure each child gets only one turn, perhaps putting them in a row. Or just give them each a butterfly, made during craft time, and let them do it together. Little ones often aren't good at waiting their turns. They can put the butterfly on themselves instead of someone else. Vary it by saying, "It landed on your head." "It landed on your arm" This helps teach body parts. At the end, say it landed on the teacher and then gather them up, promising to give them back when parents arrive. You might also let the children fly their butterflies to you and let you hang them up as decorations until parents arrive. Consider doing this later in the day, not during the lesson, which is pretty long already. It can be fun to do while you wait for parents.
If you want to do the second activity, save it for another gathering time, such as when you play games.
Honey is messy. I'd suggest skipping it. The allergy warning is very important, and don't give it to any children under a year old who might be in the room.
The finger plays and songs are fun to do during singing time and while waiting for parents.
Additional activities for little children
All of these are fun. Use them during play time or singing time. You might also mix them into the lesson if you have time and if the children need more movement.
By Terrie Lynn Bittner