AGES 4-7 ACTIVITY. FEEL GOOD – KEEP COMMANDMENTS flip-flag. Children can know in their heart that they feel good inside . . . when they keep God’s commandments. They simply flip the flag to remind them that choosing the right makes them happy; notice the smile on the heart and commandments.
Use for COME FOLLOW ME Primary and Home, family home evening, Bible study, Sunday School
Little LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Keep the Commandmednts feel-good flip-flag
OBJECTIVE: Help children understand that Heavenly Father gave us commandments to help us make right choices. Circles flip on the stick back and forth as fingers move the stick so flag reads: “I feel good inside” on one side and “When I keep the commandments” on the other side. Flag’s motion helps children think of action – it takes thought and work – action to keep the commandments; we don’t just think about them, we need to act on them to “DO.”
ACTIVITY: Feel Good Flip-flag
Create a round flip-flag to flip back and forth to show two images. Heart reads, “I Feel Good Inside,” and smile reads, “When I Keep the Commandments.”
TO MAKE Print or copy, color, and cut out the activity on cardstock. Glue circles in places indicated. Place the circles back-to-back and glue a wooden craft stick in center, between the two circles.
THOUGHT TREAT:
Idea #1: Frosted Round Cookie with a heart-shaped candy.
Idea #2: Smile Ginger-Snaps – Tell children that the smile reminds them that Choosing the Right makes them feel happy.
To Make: Make dough and roll out and cut round or drop by rounded tablespoons fun onto oiled cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake 350 9 minutes. Then press smile and eye shapes into soft cookie and sprinkle sugar on top. – Makes 14 cookies
Recipe: 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup vegetable oil or butter, 1/2 cup molasses, 1 egg, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. cloves 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. ginger, sugar (topping)
LESSON IDEAS (for the above activity):
Present Lesson 3 – Primary 3 Manual – CTR-B: The Commandments Help Us Choose the Right. Review the discussion (that follows) in the manual for which the above activity illustrates.
DISCUSSION: When We Choose the Right, We Feel Good
Tell the children that choosing the right can give them a good feeling. Review these situations by asking more questions. For example, the following questions and discussions could come from the first two situations.
1. How do you think you would feel if you went home as your mother asked instead of going to play with your friend? You might have fun playing with your friend. But even while you were playing, you might have an unhappy feeling about having broken your promise to your mother. Even if it is hard to choose the right and to do what Jesus Christ has asked you to do, if you do it anyway, you will feel good inside. You will feel good about yourself for the choice you make.
2. How do you think you would feel if you bought a new ball by using some of your tithing money? Would you feel good when you were playing with the ball? You might have fun playing with your friends, but you would not feel good about yourself because you did not choose to pay your tithing as Heavenly Father commanded. Review the other situations in the same way.
Emphasize the good feeling the children have inside when they obey a commandment of the Lord—especially when it seems hard to do. Explain that that good feeling is the Holy Ghost telling them that Heavenly Father is pleased with their actions.
Remind the children of the feeling they have when they make a wrong choice. It is usually an empty, unhappy feeling. This feeling could also be the Holy Ghost telling us to repent and make the right choice.
