Younger Primary Lesson Plan: Numbers 11–14;20–24;27

Happy Opening (2 minutes): “Thank-You Backpack!”

Main idea smile-starter: Pull out a small backpack (or bag). Inside are a few simple “blessings” items: a small piece of bread/cracker, a picture of a family, a bandage, and a small heart cutout. Ask: “What good things has Heavenly Father given us?”

Hold up the bread/cracker and say: “Sometimes people forget blessings and start to complain. Today we’ll learn we can be thankful, and we can look to Jesus to help us.”

Simple Scripture Story (5 minutes): “Moses and the Brass Serpent”

Props: a paper snake (or a string), and a simple paper “pole” (a rolled paper tube). Tell the story simply: The children of Israel were in the wilderness. They needed to trust the Lord and remember His help.

Explain that in one story, people were bitten by snakes, and the Lord provided a way to be healed if they would look.

Read (or paraphrase very simply, then quote the key verse):

“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:9)

Ask: “What did they have to do?” (Look.) Ask: “What happened when they looked?” (They lived / were healed.)

Connect to opening: “Just like our backpack blessings, the Lord helps us. We can remember, be thankful, and look to Jesus.”

Big Idea (repeat often)

Big Idea: Heavenly Father helps me. I can be thankful and look to Jesus Christ.

(Repeat together with hand motions: point up for Heavenly Father, hug self for “helps me,” hand on heart for “thankful,” make “binoculars” hands for “look to Jesus.”)

Wiggle and Learn Activities (12–15 minutes total)

1) Object Lesson: “Look and Live!” (Numbers 21:9)

Materials: paper pole, paper snake, a few small paper “ouch” circles. What to do:

1. Put an “ouch” circle on your arm and say, “Oh no, an ouch!”
2. Invite children to turn their heads and look at the snake on the pole.
3. When they look, remove the “ouch” and say, “Heavenly Father helped them when they looked!”

What to say (Big Idea): “Heavenly Father helps me. I can look to Jesus.” Connection: “Now that we practiced looking, let’s practice remembering blessings instead of complaining.”

2) Game + Movement: “Blessing Hunt March”

Materials: the backpack items (or pictures) hidden around the room. What to do:

1. Have children march quietly in a circle (tiny steps).
2. When you say “STOP,” they freeze. Point to one child to find one hidden blessing item.
3. Each time an item is found, everyone says: “Thank you, Heavenly Father!”

What to say (Big Idea): “We remember blessings. We can be thankful!” Connection: “Now let’s make something we can take home to help us remember.”

3) Hands-On Craft: “My ‘Look to Jesus’ Heart”

Materials: paper hearts, crayons, stickers (optional). What to do:

1. Give each child a paper heart.
2. Help them draw one simple thing they can do to “look to Jesus” (like pray, be kind, listen at church).
3. Write (or you write for them) a few words on the heart: “I can look to Jesus.”

What to say (Big Idea): “Heavenly Father helps me. I can look to Jesus Christ.” Connection: “Let’s sing a song to help our hearts remember.”

4) Music & Movement: “Freeze-and-Thank-You”

Materials: none. What to do:

1. Sing a line of the song (below).
2. When you pause, children freeze and say one blessing: “Family!” “Food!” “Scriptures!” “Jesus!”

What to say (Big Idea): “We can be thankful for what God has given us.” Connection: “Now we’re ready for a picture that shows our scripture story.”

Picture Time (3 minutes): Gospel Art Book

Picture: Moses and the Brass Serpent (Gospel Art Book). Ask:

1. “What do you see the people doing?”
2. “Where is the serpent?”
3. “What can we do when we need help?” (Look to Jesus; pray; remember blessings.)

Gently repeat: “Heavenly Father helps me. I can be thankful and look to Jesus Christ.”

Song and Actions (3 minutes)

Song: “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook) Simple actions:

• “I feel…” → hands on heart
• “Savior’s love” → hug self
• “He will bless me” → hands open like receiving a gift
• “I can follow Him” → walk in place

Jesus Loves Me Moment (2 minutes)

Hold up the paper heart craft and the backpack. Say: “In our scripture story, the Lord helped His people. When they looked, they were healed (Numbers 21:9). Heavenly Father helps you too.”

Invite children to finish one sentence (help them with options):

• “I know Jesus loves me because ______.”
• “I can be like Jesus when I ______.”

Take-Home Hug

This week: “Tell someone at home one blessing each day and say, ‘Thank you, Heavenly Father.’ Then give them a hug.”

Teacher Survival Tips

1. Keep turns fast: For hunts and games, let every child do a tiny job (hold the pole, find one item, say one blessing).
2. Use the Big Idea as a reset: If they get wiggly, do the hand motions and repeat: “Heavenly Father helps me. I can be thankful and look to Jesus Christ.”
3. Shorten on the fly: If attention drops, skip to the song, music often brings the room back together quickly.