Sharing Time Lessons
I had the opportunity to be instructed today in Junior Primary. It was wonderful to have so many great teachers.
A couple weeks ago, our Bishop informed us that we would be teaching sharing time some time in November. I was given the assignment to prepare a lesson for the Junior Primary. Since that day, it has been on my mind. I have been trying to figure out how I could teach this group of small children that range in understanding. I have been worried about presenting something that they would understand, be interested in, and be able to apply in their lives. My assigned topic was Testimonies.
Last night, I was so pre-occupied about what I was going to teach that I dreamt about it. I woke up several times in the night rehearsing over and over again the ideas that I had been pondering. Nothing really came together for me. In fact, it was not until last night that I really had a strong idea of how I would teach.
Anyway, this morning I found myself standing before this small group and teaching about Billy Bob the Bear who collects bow ties to help him remember the things he has learned and now knows. We talked about when Billy Bob shares what he knows. The children were very engaged and anxious to share their answers and knowledge. They amaze me.
On the white board, I had drawn a large image of Billy Bob. I then placed several bow ties on his person. After we established what a testimony was and when we share it, I called upon children to come up and get a bow tie from Billy Bob. Each bow tie represented a topic we might testify about in testimony meeting.
As each tie was removed, I replaced it with an image of the topic the tie represented and then we talked about it. We talked about families and how we can testify that they love us and we love them. When asked how they know their families love them, they were quick to answer that they know their families love them because they show them. They were able to give several examples of this without any prompting. We talked about the scriptures and we know they are true. We talked about the Holy Ghost and how the helps us know what is true. It was also pointed out to me by the Star age children that when we share our testimonies, the Holy Ghost helps others know that what we are saying is true. We talked about the temples, the commandments, and that we have a living prophet on the earth. I was truly enjoying the lessons they were teaching me.
The lesson that has impressed me the most was the lesson of Christ. When the bow tie representing Jesus and Heavenly Father was removed, I place an image of Jesus on the board. The first question, was what they know about Jesus. I was bombarded with answers about him being our brother, he died for us, and more. I then asked how they knew? Who of them has seen Jesus before? To my amazement, every hand flew up. There was no hesitation. Even those who were not engaged completely in the lesson let me know that they had seen Jesus.
What I thought was interesting was the surprise and audible shock that came from the adults in the room. It was as if they were saying, "no you haven't." The only children who picked up on the subtle hints were those who had recently been baptized. Suddenly, they were the ones to start back peddling. They tried to justify their responses by saying they had seen pictures of Jesus and then looked to their teachers and leaders for approval as if to say, "See, I do understand." Yet, the small children doubted not.
They have seen Jesus Christ. They know Him. What a powerful testimony they bore to me as their hand flew into the air to tell me that they knew Him. And as previously explained, the Holy Ghost then told me that it was true.
I am grateful to have received such a witness. I am grateful that they had no fear or worries about what other would think if they stood in holy places. They were standing as witnesses of Jesus Christ, in this there is no shame.
I hope that I can stand as tall as they stood in front of me today. I hope and pray that others will see my hand raise as quickly as well. I know He lives. I know He is my brother. I know I have seen Him before and will see Him again, in the flesh. I hope you can say the same. In His name, Amen.
A couple weeks ago, our Bishop informed us that we would be teaching sharing time some time in November. I was given the assignment to prepare a lesson for the Junior Primary. Since that day, it has been on my mind. I have been trying to figure out how I could teach this group of small children that range in understanding. I have been worried about presenting something that they would understand, be interested in, and be able to apply in their lives. My assigned topic was Testimonies.
Last night, I was so pre-occupied about what I was going to teach that I dreamt about it. I woke up several times in the night rehearsing over and over again the ideas that I had been pondering. Nothing really came together for me. In fact, it was not until last night that I really had a strong idea of how I would teach.
Anyway, this morning I found myself standing before this small group and teaching about Billy Bob the Bear who collects bow ties to help him remember the things he has learned and now knows. We talked about when Billy Bob shares what he knows. The children were very engaged and anxious to share their answers and knowledge. They amaze me.
On the white board, I had drawn a large image of Billy Bob. I then placed several bow ties on his person. After we established what a testimony was and when we share it, I called upon children to come up and get a bow tie from Billy Bob. Each bow tie represented a topic we might testify about in testimony meeting.
As each tie was removed, I replaced it with an image of the topic the tie represented and then we talked about it. We talked about families and how we can testify that they love us and we love them. When asked how they know their families love them, they were quick to answer that they know their families love them because they show them. They were able to give several examples of this without any prompting. We talked about the scriptures and we know they are true. We talked about the Holy Ghost and how the helps us know what is true. It was also pointed out to me by the Star age children that when we share our testimonies, the Holy Ghost helps others know that what we are saying is true. We talked about the temples, the commandments, and that we have a living prophet on the earth. I was truly enjoying the lessons they were teaching me.
The lesson that has impressed me the most was the lesson of Christ. When the bow tie representing Jesus and Heavenly Father was removed, I place an image of Jesus on the board. The first question, was what they know about Jesus. I was bombarded with answers about him being our brother, he died for us, and more. I then asked how they knew? Who of them has seen Jesus before? To my amazement, every hand flew up. There was no hesitation. Even those who were not engaged completely in the lesson let me know that they had seen Jesus.
What I thought was interesting was the surprise and audible shock that came from the adults in the room. It was as if they were saying, "no you haven't." The only children who picked up on the subtle hints were those who had recently been baptized. Suddenly, they were the ones to start back peddling. They tried to justify their responses by saying they had seen pictures of Jesus and then looked to their teachers and leaders for approval as if to say, "See, I do understand." Yet, the small children doubted not.
They have seen Jesus Christ. They know Him. What a powerful testimony they bore to me as their hand flew into the air to tell me that they knew Him. And as previously explained, the Holy Ghost then told me that it was true.
I am grateful to have received such a witness. I am grateful that they had no fear or worries about what other would think if they stood in holy places. They were standing as witnesses of Jesus Christ, in this there is no shame.
I hope that I can stand as tall as they stood in front of me today. I hope and pray that others will see my hand raise as quickly as well. I know He lives. I know He is my brother. I know I have seen Him before and will see Him again, in the flesh. I hope you can say the same. In His name, Amen.
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