April 20-26, Free Come Follow Me, Primary lesson helps
- redwallace
- Apr 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Ideas for Teaching Children
God gives me commandments because He wants me to be happy.
How can you make learning about the Ten Commandments fun for your children? As you read Exodus 20:3–17 together, let your children help you find or draw a picture to represent each of the Ten Commandments. Then your children could take turns choosing a picture and talking about how they can live that commandment. Share with each other how living that commandment brings you happiness.
You can play a memory game with these. After they make a match, they can talk about how they can follow that commandment. How does living that commandment bring happiness?
There is a match-up in my store that is more child-friendly, or simplifies these commandments so children can understand.
You could also sing a song like “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47). Help your children find words in the song that teach them why God wants us to keep His commandments.
Spin this finder around the circle to find the picture in the song.
For older students, you can lay out the commandments and see if they can guess the blessing. Put the pile of blessing pieces in your hand. When they get it right, hand it to them and let them make a match.
For younger students, have a discussion as you match.
Regarding the bad review:
I personally print each design before offering it, and I even reprinted this one to double-check—everything came out beautifully on my end. Print quality can sometimes vary depending on printer settings, paper, or ink, but the file itself is high-resolution and designed to print clearly. But as always, message me on Etsy with any concerns.
Also: The puzzle pieces aren’t designed to match each commandment in a strict one-to-one way. I created the set with younger children in mind, so some of the more complex commandments—like graven images (#2) and adultery (#7)—are represented more generally or are meant to be guided by discussion rather than direct matching.
For those, you might consider:
Graven images: talking about putting God first and not worshiping other things
Adultery: focusing on love, kindness, and being true to family
The Lord wants me to honor my parents.
Help your children learn the phrase “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12). You may want to explain that to “honor” someone can mean to show respect for them or to bring them happiness. What did Jesus do to honor His mortal mother and His Heavenly Father? (see Luke 2:48–51; John 19:26–27). Perhaps your children could take turns acting out things they can do to honor their parents, while the other children guess what they are doing.
Here is a fun idea:
Bring simple props that represent a mother or father, such as:
A tie, button-up shirt, or briefcase (father)
A scarf, apron, purse, or glasses (mother)
Invite a few children to come up and dress up as a “parent.”
Then have the rest of the children pretend they are at home. The “parent” can gently call out something like:
“Please come help me!”
“It’s time to clean up!”
“Come here, please!”
When they hear the call, all the children respond by acting it out and then sing:🎵 “When my mother calls me, quickly I’ll obey…”
“Quickly I’ll Obey” is in the LDS Children’s Songbook on Page 197.
Honoring the Sabbath is a sign of my love for the Lord.
Your children might enjoy looking at examples of signs—such as road signs or signs on a building. What are the purposes of signs? Your children could then find the word “sign” in Exodus 31:13, 16–17. What did the Lord say is a sign between us and Him? Share with each other some of the ways you and your family try to show your love for the Lord on the Sabbath.
Here is a coloring page they can color while you have this discussion.
There was an entire lesson on keeping the Sabbath day holy, but it is no longer in the primary manual. Just click on the zipped file below to access everything. There are also some extra prints; just use what you need or what you would like.
I will not “turn aside” from God’s ways.
Consider using “Moses on Mount Sinai” (in Old Testament Stories, 77–82) to help your children learn the story in Exodus 32:1–8, 19–24. Why was it wrong for the Israelites to worship a statue instead of God?
It might be fun to create a path on the floor (or find one near your home) to illustrate these words from Exodus 32:8: “They have turned aside quickly out of the way.” While walking on the path, your children could talk about temptations we face to turn away from God. What helps us remain on God’s path—and return to it if we have strayed? (see Exodus 34:6–7).
Create the “Path”
Tape footprints in a clear, straight, or slightly curvy line across the floor
This is God’s path
On some footprints, write things like:
Pray
Be kind
Tell the truth
Obey parents
Choose the right
2. Add “Turning Aside” Paths
Off to the side, create a few small branching paths (just a few footprints going the wrong way)
On those, write:
Lie
Be mean
Disobey
Get distracted
Follow friends instead of God
This visually shows:
“They have turned aside quickly out of the way.”
If the students can't read, tell them what the footprints say so they know which ones to walk on. If you would like, mix them up for the next student. Give everyone a turn.
HAGA CLIC EN LA IMAGEN PARA VER LA LECCION EN ESPAÑOL
