CHOICES: Primary Lesson Helps, Old Testament Lesson 13 Activity – Jacob and Esau, Primary 6 manual

TO MAKE Print and cut out the Jacob and Esau thumb puppets for each youth. Tape tab ends to fit finger.

THOUGHT TREAT: CTR Cookies. Write with frosting CTR on a cookie for each youth. Tell them that as they choose the right each day they deserve a thumbs-up, which means good job. Let’s try each day to make thumbs-up choices.

ACTIVITY: Jacob and Esau thumb puppets GAME

Using the puppets, tell the STORY* and talk about Jacob, who obeyed the commandments, making thumbs-up choices, and Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, making thumbs-down choices (Genesis 25:30–34).

*STORY.

In this part of the story, Esau came home from the fields very hungry. Jacob was cooking some stew.

Esau asked Jacob for some of the stew. Jacob said he would give him food if Esau gave him his birthright—the special rights and inheritance that belonged to the firstborn son.

Esau agreed. He said, in effect, “I’m so hungry that my birthright doesn’t matter to me right now.”

Jacob then gave Esau bread and stew. Esau ate, drank, got up, and left.

For children: Esau gave up something very important because he cared more about satisfying his hunger right away. The story teaches us to think carefully before making important choices and not to trade something valuable for a temporary desire.

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     To Play Game: Jacob chose the right, so place a Jacob (thumbs-up) puppet on the right hand and an Esau (thumbs-down) puppet on the left hand of each youth.  Read the following actions as children vote thumbs-up for right actions and thumbs-down for wrong choices.

*ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

👍 or 👎 Activity

Read each sentence to the children. Ask them to show:

• 👍 Thumbs up = This is a good choice that shows values that last forever.

• 👎 Thumbs down = This is not a good choice.

1. Going to a movie on the Sabbath ➘ 

2. Saying a prayer before eating ➚

3. Cheating on a test ➘ 

4. Reading the scriptures every day ➚

5. Being kind to a student who doesn’t have many friends ➚

6. Complaining when your parents ask you to have Family Home Evening ➘ 

7. Cleaning up your mess ➚

8. Doing your chores happily ➚

9. Smoking ➘ 

10. Listening quietly and respectfully in Primary ➚

Ask the children: “What do these good choices have in common?”

MORE Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down Choices:

Listening to your little brother or sister ➚

Working hard to get your homework done each day ➚

Going to a friend’s house after school without permission ➘ 

Forgetting to call your parents when you get to your friend’s house ➘

Making a get-well card for a sick neighbor ➚

Smiling ➚

Sweeping the garage without being asked ➚

Spending tithing money ➘

Watching a bad movie ➘

Listening to uplifting music ➚

Saying please and thank you ➚

Staying up too late ➘

Eating junk food often ➘

Repenting ➚

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SCRIPTURE CARD: Help children Search and Ponder this scripture card by filling in the blanks. PRINT this 5 x 7 scripture card from the pdf included with the above activity. You can punch the two holes on the left and tie a ribbon to attach cards or use two metal rings to connect cards.

Genesis 25:30-34
“Esau said, … I am at the point to die and what profit shall this birthright do me? Jacob said, Swear to me this day: and he sware unto him: and [Esau] sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”