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Full Lesson Flow
Teaching Outline
Work through the lesson in order, with each section building on the last.
Happy Opening (2 minutes): “Holy Place Blanket!”
Main idea smile-starter: Bring a small clean blanket or scarf.
- Lay it on the floor and say, “This is our holy place spot.”
- Invite the children to tiptoe onto it and sit criss-cross.
- Ask: “How do we act in a holy place?” (quiet voice, kind hands)
Say: “Today we’ll learn that the Lord helped His people build a holy place called the tabernacle, and Jesus can help us be holy too.”
Simple Scripture Story (6 minutes): “Building the Tabernacle”
Props: paper “tools” (paper hammer), a small box (pretend “ark”), a small cup (pretend “water basin”), and a picture of Jesus (any simple picture you already have).
Tell the story simply:
- “After the children of Israel left Egypt, the Lord asked them to build a special holy place in the wilderness, a tabernacle.” (Exodus 35–40, bundle context)
- “The people brought gifts to help. They gave with a willing heart.” (Exodus 35:5, bundle quote below)
Read this short scripture line (one sentence) with warmth:
“Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it.” (Exodus 35:5)
Let kids act it out:
- Pretend to “bring” a gift (hands cupped) and place it by the blanket. Ask: “Can you bring a gift with a happy heart?”
Connect to Jesus:
- “The tabernacle helped them think about Heavenly Father and Jesus.”
Big Idea (repeat often)
Big Idea: I can help the Lord with a willing heart, and I can feel close to Jesus in holy places.
(Repeat: “Willing heart!” and “Holy places!”)
Wiggle and Learn Activities (12–15 minutes total)
1) Object Lesson: “Willing Heart Box”
Materials: small box/bag; paper hearts.
- Give each child a paper heart.
- Ask them to whisper one way they can help (share, clean up, be kind).
- Each child drops their heart into the box.
What to say: “The Lord loves when we help with a willing heart.” (Exodus 35:5) Connects forward: “Now let’s build our own ‘tabernacle’ together!”
2) Hands-On Craft/Build: “Tabernacle Builders”
Materials: blocks/cups; a small cloth (for “tent”).
- Build a simple “tabernacle” shape together (stack blocks, drape cloth).
- Place the small box inside (pretend “special thing inside”).
- Let each child add one block and say, “I can help!”
What to say: “They worked together to make a holy place.” (Exodus 35–40, bundle context) Connects forward: “When we’re in holy places, we can feel the Lord close.”
3) Game (movement): “Holy Place / Not Holy Place”
Materials: none; use room corners.
- Point to the blanket and say, “Holy place!”
- Point to another spot and say, “Not a holy place!”
- Call out choices and have kids walk to the right spot:
- “Temple” (holy place)
- “Church” (holy place)
- “When I pray” (holy place feeling)
- “When I hit” (not holy)
- “When I share” (holy)
What to say: “We can choose ways to be holy.” (Leviticus 19, bundle context about commandments helping us increase in holiness) Connects forward: “A big reason the tabernacle mattered was to help them remember Jesus.”
4) Role-Play: “Broken Heart, Soft Heart”
Materials: a paper heart (folded) and a soft cloth.
- Crumple the paper heart gently: “Sometimes we make mistakes.”
- Smooth it out: “Jesus can help us change.”
- Put hand on heart and practice: “I’m sorry. Please help me.”
Read what Jesus asks us to offer (from the bundle):
“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” (3 Nephi 9:20)
What to say: “We don’t give animals now. We give Jesus our sorry heart and our trying heart.” (3 Nephi 9:19–20, bundle context)
Picture Time (3 minutes)
Gospel Art Book picture: Jesus Praying in Gethsemane (Gospel Art Book, no. 56) or The Crucifixion (no. 57) (both listed in the bundle).
Ask:
- “What do you see Jesus doing?”
- “How does Jesus help us when we make mistakes?”
- “How can we show a willing heart to Jesus today?”
Tie to the bundle teaching:
- “The sacrifices in Leviticus were to help people remember forgiveness through Jesus Christ.” (Leviticus 1:1–4, bundle context)
Song and Actions (3 minutes)
Song: “Holy Places” (listed in the bundle) Actions:
- Point up: “Heavenly Father”
- Hands on heart: “I feel peaceful”
- Tiptoe: “holy places”
- Hug self: “Jesus loves me”
Say: “When we go to holy places and choose good, we feel closer to Jesus.”
Jesus Loves Me Moment (2 minutes)
Gather back on the blanket. Say: “The Lord helped His people build the tabernacle, a holy place. We can help the Lord with a willing heart, and Jesus helps us be holy.”
Invite sharing (one sentence each):
- “I can be like Jesus when I ______.”
- “I can help with a willing heart by ______.”
(If temple questions come up: “This is sacred and personal, please speak with your bishop or refer to the temple recommend questions.”)
Take-Home Hug (10 seconds)
This week: “Give one ‘willing heart’ help at home, pick up toys, share, or say a prayer, and then hug your family.”
Teacher Survival Tips
- Keep turns tiny: In building and games, let each child do one quick action (one block, one heart, one step).
- Use the blanket as a reset: Anytime wiggles explode, whisper: “Tiptoe to the holy place blanket.”
- Repeat the Big Idea often: “Willing heart!” (Exodus 35:5) and “Holy places help me feel close to Jesus.”