Activities

Progressive Story Writing Activity

2012

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Family Night Activity: Progressive Story Writing Activity

Supplies Needed:

Notebook paper

Pencils/Pens

Timer

Get Started:

Give everyone a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Have everyone gather in a circle or around a table. Assign each person a different category to start writing a story on– comedy, mystery and so on, until everyone has their own category to start writing.

Set the timer for three minutes and everyone writes on their topic. After the three minutes is up, switch papers to the right. Re-set the timer for another three minutes and everyone continues to write on the storyline they’ve received.

Continue this until everyone has rotated the stories completely.

Gather all the stories and read them aloud.

Filed Under: Activities, Families

Secret Server

2012

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Purpose: To gain a testimony of the importance of serving, especially serving without seeking praise or recognition.

Materials:

Picture: Jesus Washing Apostles’ Feet
Clip art for the stories
1 copy of the Service Chart per person
several “You have been Served” calling cards per person

Lesson:
Attention getter:
As you are about to begin the lesson, drop a box of crayons or your papers on the ground with an exclamation such as “Oh no!” or “Oops!”. Wait and see if anyone offers to help you pick them up. If no one does, go ahead and ask for help.
Thank those who helped and explain that Heavenly Father wants us to help one another. This is called service. We can show we love our Heavenly Father by serving his children.

Display the quote on service:

“The Lord answers the prayers of the needy by prompting others to righteous deeds: God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another mortal that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other.” -Spencer W. Kimball

Show the picture of Jesus washing apostles’ feet.

Jesus set the example for us when he, the greatest of all, served his disciples by washing their feet.

Summarize the story.
John 13:4-5, 12-15

Story:

The Zucchini Bandit

Helping Mom (for very young children)

Discuss the story emphasizing that the service was given in secret. * If you have a personal experience in which someone served you anonymously or you helped someone else anonymously, this would be the perfect time to share it. Testify of the importance of serving others and the blessings that come from it.

Activity/Weekly Challenge:

Secret Server Week

You are going to be a SECRET SERVER for the week. Draw family members’ names out of a hat so that everyone has someone else’s name. Don’t tell anyone whose name you have (parents will help the very young ones). Each day of the week you will perform at least one secret act of service for your Receiver. You may leave a “You Have Been Served” calling card with your Receiver’s name on it (this helps the Receiver recognize that an act of service was done in their behalf). For each day you do a special, secret act of service, you will color in a heart on the Service Chart. Have fun and shhhhhhhh Don’t give yourself away!

Dessert: Zucchini Cobbler

*ideas of small acts of secret service that can be done at home

make the bed for your receiver
set his/her place at the breakfast table
draw or color a picture
leave a favorite treat on his/her pillow
put toothpaste on his/her toothbrush
do one of his/her chores
make a favorite meal or dessert with mom or dad’s help
straighten up his/her closet
decorate his/her bedroom
leave a surprise note or treat in a lunchbox

Filed Under: Couples, Families, Families With Children, FHE Lessons for All, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects, Single Groups, Tweens & Teens

New Year Individual and Family Goals

2012

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Purpose: Setting goals and establishing resolutions is the number one way people begin the New Year. The most important aspect is to plan according to what you really want to accomplish in realistic time frames. You can plan for one long-term goal(s), something to focus on throughout the year and you can also do smaller, short-term goals to work on for a few months at a time, or even shorter. The most important aspect is “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

This lesson is to help jump-start individuals and families to set goals to for the New Year.

Lesson:

Goals have multiple layers: first, you create a visual in your mind of the goal(s) you would like to accomplish. Once you have in mind what you want to do, you’ve already accomplished half your goal.

1. Visualize yourself at the end point of reaching that goal.

Create a detailed plan to reach that goal. Will this be reached in 3, 6, 9 or 12 months? When will you have accountability on how you’re doing on reaching these goals? How often will you have this accountability? You can invite family and/or friends to help keep you focused on the goal(s) that you create.

What type of goals are you wanting to create for the upcoming year?

Career (do you want to achieve a promotion, finish an important project, increase sales, etc), Financial (pay off one credit card, two credit cards, all debt, pay off car, learn how to coupon and use them weekly, etc), Education (go back to school- finish your degree or begin a degree program, learn a new language, take a community class, etc.), Family (plan a vacation and set a budget, create a budget for your family, etc), Volunteer Service (make goals to volunteer monthly or do toy/food drives, make 24 Hr. Survival Kits, etc.), Physical (make goals to work out, lose weight, run a race, etc.), Personal Enrichment (learn to play a musical instrument, paint, cut hair, etc.).

2. Write it down.

Keeping a written log, journal or even create a blog to keep a daily or weekly record of your experience working towards your goals. Blogging can be a powerful way to keep yourself accountable and to engage others which will help you stay focused.

3. Create the plan.

Use budget sheets, goal sheets, calendars and whatever other materials you can find to get a detailed break down of your goal.

Set SMART Goals (from mindtools.com):

S – Specific (or Significant).
M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
T – Time-bound (or Trackable).

Discussion:

1. Is goal setting important? Why or why not?

2. How can setting goals help you discover new things about yourself and help you live your best life?

Activity:

FREE Budget Tracking Sheets & other Financial Worksheets

FREE Blog Access (create a free blog to journal your progress in reaching your goals)

Why Set Goals? article

Treat:

Hot Chocolate & Marshmellows and No Bake Cookies

Hershey’s No Bake Cookies

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Couples, Families, Families With Children, FHE Lessons for All, Latter-day Saints, Newlyweds, Newlyweds, Single Groups, Tweens & Teens

Christmas Family Home Evening Lesson

2011

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Christmas Family Home Evening Lesson

Purpose: To reflect on the true meaning of celebrating Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Song: “Away In A Manager”

Scripture:Luke 2: 1-14

Lesson:

Young Children~ Print & Use this Picture Strip of the Christmas Story. *Manger Cut Out
~From LDS.org

Tweens~ Print & Use Nativity Matching Game

Teens, Groups, Couples,Individuals~

What Is Christmas?

Christmas is prophecy fulfilled. On the eve of His birth, the voice of the Lord came unto Nephi, saying, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.”

What did the holy prophets of old declare? Isaiah, more than 700 years before the birth of Christ, prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

On the American continent, King Benjamin said, “For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent … shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay. … He shall suffer temptations, and pain. … And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”

Then came that night of nights when the shepherds were abiding in the fields and the angel of the Lord appeared to them, announcing: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. … For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

The shepherds with haste went to the manger to pay honor to Christ the Lord. Later, wise men journeyed from the East to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. … When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Since that time, the spirit of giving gifts has been present in the mind of each Christian as he or she commemorates the Christmas season. Our Heavenly Father gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ. That precious Son gave to us His life, the Atonement, and victory over the grave.

What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that He “went about doing good.” As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours. ~President Thomas S. Monson

Story: “Maybe Christmas Doesn’t Come From A Store” ~ Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Activity:

Young Children~ Coloring Pages

Wise Men Still Seek Him Color Page ~ From LDS.org

Joseph, Mary & Baby Jesus Color Page ~ From LDS.org

Meaning Of Christmas Decorations~ from LDS.org

Want an activity for the older children. Have them observe Christmas decorations around the house or around the neighborhood and write down the decorations they see and what they think each of them symbolize. Compare the lists and talk about their meanings.

Decoration	Symbolism
Bells	Sheep bells
Candy canes	Shepherd’s staff
Lights, candles, star	The star that appeared on the night of Jesus’ birth
Holly	The crown of thorns
Evergreen tree	Eternal life
Green, ivy	Life and hope
Red, holly berries	The blood of Christ

Filed Under: Families, Families With Children, Latter-day Saints, Lessons

FHE Service Project: Write Letters to Sick Children

2011

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Letters to Sick Children Service Project

Purpose: Jesus taught us by His teachings and His perfect example to bless those that are sick and afflicted. There are many seriously ill children in hospitals all over the world that would love to have your letters of hope and inspiration.

Lesson:

Have you ever had an earache, sore throat or the flu and felt miserable for a day, two or maybe for a week? There are many children all over that suffer from more serious illnesses that leave them bound in hospitals. Many are to weak to play and are unable to go outside, jump in piles of leaves, smell the fresh air or even play in the park.

During this holiday season, you can serve other children that are similar ages to those in your family by performing acts of service. One way is to visit them, go caroling at the hospitals, donate toys and even write letters.

Discussion: What are ways in which you can serve someone daily? Weekly? Monthly? How have you felt as you’ve been served? Share an experience of being served.

Goal Setting: Have family, group or ward members write at least one goal to be more active in serving those who are in need– like the sick and afflicted.

Service Project: Write letters to ill children in hospitals

Each member of the family, group or ward can participate in this service activity.

Gather paper, markers, crayons, stickers, etc. to make greeting cards to send to sick children in hospitals all over the country. If you live outside of the U.S., you can send letters to children in your own area/country or surprise some of these children with letters from all over the world!

Visit: Make A Child Smile (click to link to Web site)

You’ll see a list of children who would love to have your letters! You can click on their names to read more about them.

Treat:5-Minute Chocolate Pie

Ingredients: 1 Ready Graham Cracker Pie Crust 1 1/4 C. cold milk 2 pkg. (4- serving size) chocolate instant pie pudding mix 1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping (thawed) 1. Beat milk, pudding and half the whipped topping together in medium bowl with a wire whisk for one minute. The mixture will thicken. 2. Pour into ready-made crust. 3. Top with remaining whipped cream. You can eat it right away or chill until ready to eat!
(recipe adapted from Keebler)

Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Families With Children, Family Home Evening, FHE Lessons for All, Lessons, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects, Tweens & Teens

Christmas Service Countdown Service

2011

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“Christmas Service Countdown Family Home Evening“

Purpose: To reflect on serving one another in our families during the Christmas season. Often times we can focus on selfish thoughts during this gift-giving season. It’s important that we strive to keep the focus on being selfless as our Savior was as we celebrate His birth.

Lesson:
“Over the years, many people, especially youth, have asked me, “Elder Cuthbert, how can I become more spiritual?” My reply has always been the same: “You need to give more service.
Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking outward instead of inward. It prompts us to consider others’ needs ahead of our own. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such as the Savior showed.” – Elder Derek A. Cuthbert, Ensign May 1990

Here are a list of ways service helps us become more spiritual:

1. Helps us see true value in material things vs. things of the eternal value

2. Service establishes a righteous tradition. Start serving when you’re young and that will lead to more willingness to serve throughout your life in the community and church.

3. Service helps us overcome selfishness and sin.

4. Service helps us generate love and appreciation.

5. Service is the principle in which we show gratitude to our Savior.

Discussion:

~ What ways have you been served? How did it make you feel?

~ What are some ways that you’ve served others?

~ How did it make you feel when you’ve served someone else?

~ Why should we focus on service during the Christmas season?

Activity Ideas: *This activity requires prep work*

Prep work for countdown chain: Count down the days from FHE night until Christmas Day. Cut out equal sized strips of red and green construction paper to make the countdown chain.

1. Pick one of the ways stated below to use each section of your chain. Remember that the service continues and includes Christmas Day.

W 1. With each section of the chain you can write an act of service to perform as a family.

2. 2. Each night at dinner you can take a piece of the chain off and describe what acts of service each family member did during that day.

Treat:

5-Minute Chocolate Pie

Ingredients:1 Ready Graham Cracker Pie Crust 1 1/4 C. cold milk 2 pkg. (4- serving size) chocolate instant pie pudding mix 1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping (thawed) 1. Beat milk, pudding and half the whipped topping together in medium bowl with a wire whisk for one minute. The mixture will thicken. 2. Pour into ready-made crust. 3. Top with remaining whipped cream. You can eat it right away or chill until ready to eat!

Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Couples, Families, Families With Children, Family Home Evening, Lessons, Newlyweds, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects, Single Groups, Tweens & Teens

Establish House Rules With Your Children

2011

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Purpose: Each home should establish its own set of rules, values and guidelines. It helps create a feeling of a safe and secure environment for your children and friends that visit It also helps to clarify expectations and define boundaries in the home.

Use this lesson as a guide to helping create rules with your children (of all ages) as to what is expected of them in regards to their behavior. Talk about each rule that you want to make so that there is understanding from the beginning. This also helps give them ownership in what is expected to make the home run smoothly. Also teach that these are rules that they should follow wherever they go.

Lesson Materials: Bold writing utensil(s), poster board/large sheet of paper

Lesson: Making effective house rules with/for young children.

1. What are some things Mom and Dad (Guardian’s name) ask you to do?
2. What are some rules that we can follow at home? (Write down some ideas the kids have on one side of sheet/poster)
3. (Turn the poster/sheet over) These are the rules we will follow at home. Write 3-4 simple rules and explain how the rules they gave are a part of these. Draw/take pictures to go with rules.

Sample House Rules:

1. Obey Your Parents: avoid arguing and do what is asked of you the first time.

2. Tell the Truth

3. Treat each other with respect and respect each other’s property.

4. Help out around the house: pick up after yourself, establish assigned chores and discuss rewards/penalties for not completing chores that are assigned. Talk about being rewarded for doing more than is asked, but how they could also be serving the family (without always having to be rewarded).

5. You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.

* Other ideas may be included and adapted for the ages of your children, such as curfew, dating guidelines, grooming and dress guidelines and so forth. The most important thing is to keep communication lines open with your children so they understand why these rules are important to you and the family.

Poster Example of House Rules:

Photo credit: sugardoodle.net

Filed Under: Families, Families With Children, Lessons, Tweens & Teens

Protecting your home and property

2011

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“Protecting Your Home and Property”

Purpose: We are counseled often to be prepared with having food storage as well as money set aside for a rainy day. But what happens when a sudden storm or fire destroys all that we have? This lesson will help us make further preparations in protecting our home and property.

Lesson: Throughout the scriptures there are countless stories of those that chose to be prepared, rather than fear. From early on, we learn of Noah. This prophet constructed an entire ark without it even raining one drop.

Prophets have always warned of the calamities that have come and those that are yet to come.

Does our Heavenly Father want His children to live in fear? No!

Being prepared both spiritually and temporally helps us to show obedience to our Father in Heaven.

Discussion:

1. How are you or your family showing that you are temporally prepared?
2. What calamities have you seen in the world in the past 4-5 years?

3. How can you or your family start preparing your homes to be more prepared in the event of a disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, theft, etc?)

? Do you have the proper insurance to cover you, your home or your property? Even those that don’t own homes or have families– most likely still have property that should be protected by insurance. Add up to basic costs of the items in your home and you’ll be surprised about how much money it would take to have to replace all of that if lost in a fire, flood, theft if they were not insured.

Helpful Web sites:

Know Your Stuff (Home Inventory Online Web site– FREE!)
* You can upload images of all your property as well as descriptions of your items all in one location online.

Home Inventory Check List (paper version)

Activity:

Youth to Adults: Inventory Your Home You can slit the home and assign rooms to each person in the family. You may want to use this helpful sheet to document the items and their value. You should have at least two copies of this list. You should store one copy in a fire and water-proof box in your home and a copy in a safety deposit box. You may want to even talk with family members who may live in your area about doing this same home inventory and even sharing a safety deposit box.

Home Inventory Check-list (click on link to download)

Treat:

Buried Treasure Cupcakes

Filed Under: Couples, Families, Families With Children, Latter-day Saints, Newlyweds, Newlyweds

Thanksgiving Fun

2010

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Thanksgiving Day Family Home Evening
Lesson For Young Children

Attention Activity:

Have each child take a handful of Reese’s Pieces (the fall colors are fun at Thanksgiving), M&M’s or another small candy. After everyone has taken some, go around the room and say something you are thankful for for each piece of candy you have. After you say each thing, eat the treat.

Discussion:

Heavenly Father has commanded us to be grateful for our blessings and to remember to thank him. Why is it important to remember to be thankful? How do we feel when we remember our blessings and thank Heavenly Father for them?

Louise Johnston, “Thanksgiving Is—,” Friend, Nov 1988, 47

T ime to think and time to pray.

H appiness with friends each day.

A pples ripe and rosy red.

N ighttime in my cozy bed.

K ittens purring soft and low.

S ilver moon and stars that glow.

G ardens, flowers, painted white.

I ce and snow and frosty night.

V ees that form when geese fly high

I n the clear blue autumn sky.

N eighbors’ visits, joy, and sharing.

G od, whose love is warm and caring.

*Parents: Take a moment to go around the family and tell each of your children why you are thankful for them and how special they are.

Thanksgiving activity ideas:

Week-long: Wall of Thanks
Choose a wall to dedicate to all of the things you are thankful for. Using a pad of sticky notes, write down something you are grateful for and stick it on the wall. Continue adding to the wall until it is full or you run out of sticky notes. It might be fun to give each person in the family a different color pad of sticky notes!

Other idea: Thankful Turkey

Make the body of a turkey using brown poster board (or color a white one!) by drawing a large circle and cutting it out. Draw a smaller circle for a head. Make an orange triangle beak and add a red gobbler. Draw feathers on cardstock. Have each member of the family decorate one or more feathers with some things they are most thankful for. Attach the feathers to the turkey and mount your thankful turkey on the wall. See the picture for a visual guide. Remember though that your turkey doesn’t have to look perfect! Your kids will love seeing their work on the wall and it will help them remember all of their blessings.

Treat idea:

Turkey Sugar Cookies

These are so cute and easy. Fun for all!

Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Families, Families With Children, Service Project Ideas, Tweens & Teens

FHE Service Project: Family History Work

2010

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Family Home Evening Service Project: Indexing

Purpose: This month’s service project is centered on the family and genealogical research. One of the great ways each of us can help in this great work is by extracting names through indexing. The church has made it so simple to do and we can do it in the comfort of our homes!

Scripture: Malachi. 4:5,6

Song: “Who’s on the Lord’s Side?

Lesson: One of the missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to redeem the dead. We participate in genealogical research to help bind families for eternity. The Lord has provided us with many tools in order to find missing links in our families so that everyone’s work may be completed.

One of the tools we’ve been given is the use of the Internet. The church has created a way for us to be able to log-in and access records to do indexing from our homes.

What is Indexing?

Family history indexing is the simple process of extracting names from digital images of historical documents and creating online searchable indexes from the previously gathered information.

How is it done? First click on this link: Family Search Indexing

If you have not registered for an LDS account, you can do so on this Web site. You will need to your membership number to create this account and you will be able to use this same username and password on the Family Search Web site for family history.

If you have a previous username and password (LDS account) from doing family history online, use the same password.

If you are not a member of the LDS church or want to help others begin indexing, then you can create a Family Search account for the general public.

How to start? There is a helpful “How To” video that will begin once you log in to begin using the program for the first time. It is recommended that you watch this short video or have a family history representative from your ward help you learn the steps.

Additional Resources: Need additional help or want to learn more about expanding your skills?

Visit, Family Search Online Classes, for FREE help.

Activity:

Young children: (this activity, photo and idea are from SugarDoodle)

Hand Tree

Items needed: Fabric Paint, Paintbrush, paper plates, 1/2 yard of white cotton fabric for tree, markers, scissors, fabric glue, 1 yard of fabric (white or colored for background)

Have your family members pick out their favorite colors of paint and spread a little of each color on a paper plate. Working from the biggest hands to the littlest ones, have each person dip their hands in her chosen paint and print them on the cotton fabric, overlapping the hand prints slightly as the group moves up the tree (practice on paper first). Use a paintbrush to add a tree trunk, let all the paint dry and then identify each set of hand prints with a permanent marker.

Older children:

Older children can participate in doing the indexing online. You can set a indexing goal as a family– make your first goal an easy one for the first week as you learn how to do indexing. Each family member can take turns doing a name or completing one record until each person has had a turn.

Discussion:

How does doing this indexing help others?

What was your experience doing the indexing?

Treat:

Delicious Healthy Cupcakes

For this simple recipe, all you need is one cake mix and one can of soda. If you want to use a chocolate cake mix, use a dark diet can of soda. If you want to use a light cake mix, use a can of Diet Sprite (or Fresca).

Simply mix the can of soda into the cake mix and stir.

Bake as directed for cupcakes.

You can also use some Sugar Free Cool Whip for icing to make a perfectly healthy and super yummy treat!