Younger Primary Lesson Plan: Exodus 35–40;Leviticus 1;4;16;19

Happy Opening (2 minutes): “Holy Place Blanket!”

Main idea smile-starter: Bring a small clean blanket or scarf.

1. Lay it on the floor and say, “This is our holy place spot.”
2. Invite the children to tiptoe onto it and sit criss-cross.
3. 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.”

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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.”

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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!”)

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Wiggle and Learn Activities (12–15 minutes total)

1) Object Lesson: “Willing Heart Box”

Materials: small box/bag; paper hearts.

1. Give each child a paper heart.
2. Ask them to whisper one way they can help (share, clean up, be kind).
3. 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!”

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2) Hands-On Craft/Build: “Tabernacle Builders”

Materials: blocks/cups; a small cloth (for “tent”).

1. Build a simple “tabernacle” shape together (stack blocks, drape cloth).
2. Place the small box inside (pretend “special thing inside”).
3. 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.”

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3) Game (movement): “Holy Place / Not Holy Place”

Materials: none; use room corners.

1. Point to the blanket and say, “Holy place!”
2. Point to another spot and say, “Not a holy place!”
3. 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.”

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4) Role-Play: “Broken Heart, Soft Heart”

Materials: a paper heart (folded) and a soft cloth.

1. Crumple the paper heart gently: “Sometimes we make mistakes.”
2. Smooth it out: “Jesus can help us change.”
3. 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)

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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:

1. “What do you see Jesus doing?”
2. “How does Jesus help us when we make mistakes?”
3. “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)

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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.”

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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.”)

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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.”

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Teacher Survival Tips

1. Keep turns tiny: In building and games, let each child do one quick action (one block, one heart, one step).
2. Use the blanket as a reset: Anytime wiggles explode, whisper: “Tiptoe to the holy place blanket.”
3. Repeat the Big Idea often: “Willing heart!” (Exodus 35:5) and “Holy places help me feel close to Jesus.”