Younger Primary Lesson Plan: Exodus 19–20;24;31–34

Happy Opening (2 minutes): “Treasure Box!”

Main smile idea: Heavenly Father treasures us, and His commandments help us be happy.

Materials: A small box or bag labeled “TREASURE,” a paper heart (or a shiny rock/coin).

What to do (simple):

1. Show the “TREASURE” box and let one child open it.
2. Inside is a heart. Say: “You are Heavenly Father’s treasure!”

What to say (big idea words): “Heavenly Father loves me, and His commandments help me be happy.”

(Connects to today’s story about God giving commandments and helping His people come back to Him.)

---

Simple Scripture Story (6–8 minutes): “Moses, the Mountain, and God’s Loving Rules”

Props/actions: A chair/table as “Mount Sinai,” paper “stone tablets” (two sheets), a small toy calf (or a simple paper drawing).

Tell the story simply:

1. Moses goes up the mountain. Have children tiptoe in place while you say: Moses went up the mountain to learn from the Lord.
2. God gives commandments. Hold up the paper “tablets.” Explain: God gave His people important rules (commandments) to help them.
3. The people make a mistake. Show the little calf picture/toy. Explain gently: Some people chose to worship a statue instead of God.
4. God is still loving and helps them. Teach that the Lord is merciful and helps His people come back.

Scripture lines (quote when it matters):

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

And when the people turned away, the Lord taught Moses what He is like:

“The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” (Exodus 34:6)

Participation questions:

• “What do rules help us do, stay safe or get hurt?”
• “Who do we worship, God or a statue?”
• “If we make a mistake, does Heavenly Father still love us?” (Yes.)

---

Big Idea (repeat often)

Big Idea: Heavenly Father loves me, and His commandments help me be happy.

(Repeat this after each activity in the same simple sentence.)

---

Wiggle and Learn Activities (12–15 minutes total)

1) Object Lesson: “Happy or Ouch Choices” (3–4 minutes)

Materials: Two cups/papers labeled “HAPPY” and “OUCH,” a few simple picture slips (or words you say) like: “pray,” “help Mom,” “hit,” “take a toy.”

What to do:

1. Show a choice. Children point to “HAPPY” or “OUCH.”
2. Briefly affirm: “Commandments help us choose happy!”

What to say: “Heavenly Father loves me, and His commandments help me be happy.”

Connects forward: Now we’ll move our bodies to practice staying on God’s way.

---

2) Physical Activity: “Stay on the Path!” (4 minutes)

Materials: Tape line on the floor (or a scarf/rope) as a “path.”

What to do:

1. Children take turns walking carefully on the path.
2. You softly say: “Sometimes we feel tempted to step off.”
3. If someone steps off, kindly say: “Come back on the path!”

What to say (use the bundle’s phrase): The Israelites “turned aside quickly out of the way.” (Exodus 32:8) Then add: “We can choose to stay on God’s way.”

Connects forward: Next we’ll do a quick game to remember one commandment about families.

---

3) Game/Role-Play: “Honor Helpers!” (4 minutes)

Materials: None (optional: a pretend phone, a small towel, a toy).

What to do:

1. Teach the phrase together (say it like a chant).
2. One child acts out a helpful thing (pick up toys, gentle voice, help with a sibling).
3. Others guess: “Honoring parents!”

Quote the commandment:

“Honour thy father and thy mother:” (Exodus 20:12)

What to say: “When we honor our parents, we are following a commandment. Heavenly Father loves me, and His commandments help me be happy.”

Connects forward: Now we’ll make something to take home and remember our Big Idea.

---

4) Hands-On Craft: “My Commandment Heart” (4 minutes)

Materials: Paper hearts, crayons, stickers.

What to do:

1. Each child colors a heart.
2. Help them draw ONE happy choice on it (pray, be kind, go to church, help parents).
3. Say: “This is my ‘happy commandment heart!’”

What to say: “Heavenly Father loves me, and His commandments help me be happy.”

---

Picture Time (2–3 minutes)

Gospel Art Book picture: Moses Holding the Ten Commandments (use the picture your ward/Primary has available).

Ask:

1. “What is Moses holding?”
2. “Why did God give commandments?”
3. “How do commandments help us feel happy and safe?”

Re-teach Big Idea together.

---

Song and Actions (2–3 minutes)

Song: “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47)

Simple actions:

• On “Keep the commandments”, march in place.
• On “In this there is safety”, hug yourself like you feel safe.
• On “In this there is peace”, hands on heart, take a quiet breath.

Tie back: “Commandments help us be happy and safe.”

---

Jesus Loves Me Moment (1–2 minutes)

Hold up the “TREASURE” heart again.

Say: “The Lord is loving. The scripture says He is ‘merciful and gracious’ (Exodus 34:6). When we keep commandments, we show love to God. If we make a mistake, He will help us come back.”

Invite children to finish a sentence (let a few share):

• “I can be like Jesus when I ______.”
• “I can keep a commandment by ______.”

---

Take-Home Hug (tiny weekly action)

This week: Choose one way to honor your parents each day (Exodus 20:12), a hug, listening the first time, or helping pick up.

---

Teacher Survival Tips (for wiggly Sunbeams/CTR kids)

1. Keep turns lightning-fast: During “Stay on the Path,” let each child take 5–10 seconds, then rotate.
2. Repeat the Big Idea often: Say it after every activity, kids learn by repetition.
3. Gentle redirection: If someone gets silly, give them a “helper job” (hold the heart, point to HAPPY/OUCH, hold the path rope).