Before You Teach
Teacher Quick Brief
A prep snapshot before the full lesson flow.
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Before You Teach
Teacher Quick Brief
A prep snapshot before the full lesson flow.
Teacher Quick Brief
What This Week Is About
This week teaches that we can trust the Lord and listen to His words. Hezekiah trusted the Lord when he felt scared. Josiah listened to the scriptures and helped people turn back to God.
Main Points To Teach
- We can trust Heavenly Father and Jesus when we feel afraid.
- The scriptures help us know what God wants us to do.
- We can show love for the Lord by choosing to follow Him.
What Is Happening In The Scripture Story
First, King Hezekiah trusted the Lord when enemies came and said scary things. He prayed, and the Lord helped Jerusalem. Later, King Josiah found the book of the law in the temple, listened to it, and wanted to follow the Lord with all his heart.
Why It Matters For Younger Primary
Little children do best with one clear message: “I can trust the Lord and follow His words.” Keep the story simple, happy, and active. Help them feel safe, loved, and excited about scriptures.
Full Lesson Flow
Teaching Outline
Work through the lesson in order, with each section building on the last.
Happy Opening
Sit in a circle and hold up a set of scriptures or a picture of Jesus. Ask with a smile, “What helps you feel safe and happy?” Let a few children answer. Then sing one verse of “Search, Ponder, and Pray” very simply, or just sing the words “search, ponder, and pray” together.
Say: “Today we will learn about two kings. One king trusted the Lord when he felt scared. One king found the scriptures and wanted to follow the Lord. Our big idea is: I can trust the Lord and follow His words.”
Simple Scripture Story
Use two simple props: a paper crown and a set of scriptures.
Tell the story like this: “This is King Hezekiah.” Put on the crown. “Some enemies came and said, ‘Do not trust the Lord.’ That was scary. But Hezekiah trusted the Lord and prayed.” Open your hands like a prayer and invite the children to do it too.
Read a short scripture phrase:
“He trusted in the Lord God of Israel” (2 Kings 18:5).
Then say: “Hezekiah trusted the Lord, and the Lord helped him.”
Now hold up the scriptures. “Later, another king named Josiah heard the words of God from a book found in the temple.” Let the children pretend to find a hidden book and open it.
Read:
“And he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant” (2 Kings 23:2).
Then say: “Josiah listened to the scriptures and wanted to follow the Lord.”
Ask: “What do you think we can do when we feel scared?” “What can we do with the scriptures?” Keep repeating: I can trust the Lord and follow His words.
Big Idea
I can trust the Lord and follow His words.
Say it together 3 times with actions:
- “I can”, point to self
- “trust the Lord”, fold arms or hug self
- “follow His words”, pretend to open scriptures
Wiggle and Learn Activities
1. Hide-and-Find Scripture Book
What to do:
- Hide the scriptures or a paper “scripture book” somewhere easy in the room.
- Let the children find it together.
- When they find it, cheer and open it.
Materials: Scriptures or paper book
What to say: “Josiah was so happy to hear God’s words. We can find the scriptures too! I can trust the Lord and follow His words.”
Connection: “We just heard about Josiah finding the book. Now we get to find one too!”
2. Trust Walk Steps
What to do:
- Put paper footprints on the floor in a straight line.
- Let children step from one footprint to the next.
- At each step, say a simple choice: “Pray,” “Be kind,” “Listen,” “Read scriptures.”
Materials: Paper footprints
What to say: “Hezekiah trusted the Lord step by step. We can follow Jesus step by step too.”
Connection: “After finding the scriptures, now we can walk and do what they teach.”
3. Heart Crown Craft
What to do:
- Give each child a paper crown or strip of paper for a headband.
- Let them add paper hearts or stickers.
- Write on it: “I trust the Lord” or “I follow God’s words.”
Materials: Paper strips/crowns, crayons, stickers, glue, paper hearts
What to say: “Hezekiah and Josiah were kings, but we can choose like they did. We can love the Lord with our hearts.”
Connection: “We walked in the Lord’s way, and now we make a crown to remember those good choices.”
4. Freeze-and-Pray Game
What to do:
- Let children march around the room.
- When you say “Scary moment!” they freeze.
- When you say “Trust the Lord!” they fold arms or kneel and pretend to pray.
Materials: None
What to say: “When Hezekiah felt afraid, he turned to the Lord. When we feel scared, we can pray.”
Connection: “Our crowns remind us to choose the Lord. Now we practice what to do when we need help.”
Picture Time
Show a picture of King Josiah and the book of the law from the lesson pictures or Gospel Art Book if available in your classroom materials.
Ask:
- “What do you see in this picture?”
- “How do you think Josiah felt when he heard God’s words?”
- “What can we do with our scriptures at home?”
Remind them: I can trust the Lord and follow His words.
Song and Actions
Sing “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109).
Simple actions:
- Search, hand over eyes like looking
- Ponder, tap head gently
- Pray, fold arms
- Will know the scriptures are true, hug scriptures or hands to heart
Say: “This song helps us remember Josiah and also reminds us to trust the Lord.”
Jesus Loves Me Moment
Gather the children close. Hold the scriptures and say: “Hezekiah trusted the Lord. Josiah listened to God’s words. Jesus loves us and helps us too.”
Invite each child to finish one sentence:
- “I know Jesus loves me because …”
- “I can be like Jesus when I …”
Take-Home Hug
This week, hug your family and say, “Let’s read one scripture” or “Let’s say a prayer.”
Teacher Survival Tips
- Keep each activity very short; if attention drops, move to the next one quickly.
- Let children repeat the big idea often with actions so busy bodies stay engaged.
- If needed, do only two activities and spend extra time on the song and picture, those usually work best for this age.