Here are 18 Montessori-inspired activities to help young children learn the principles in Ether 12-15 from the Book of Mormon:
Activity 1: Faith Like the Brother of Jared – Rock Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:4
- Materials:
- Smooth rocks
- Paint or markers
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:4, discussing how faith in God gives us hope.
- Let the children paint or decorate rocks with symbols of faith (e.g., hearts, crosses).
- Talk about how having faith is like having a strong foundation that helps us through difficult times.
Activity 2: Building Faith – Block Tower
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:6
- Materials:
- Building blocks or Lego bricks
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:6, discussing how faith grows as we act on it.
- Use blocks to build a tall tower, with each block representing an act of faith (e.g., prayer, kindness).
- Discuss how our faith strengthens as we make good choices and follow Jesus Christ.
Activity 3: Seeking Strength in Weakness – Clay Modeling
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:27
- Materials:
- Modeling clay or playdough
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:27, focusing on how God helps us turn weaknesses into strengths.
- Give each child a piece of clay and encourage them to mold it into something strong (e.g., a tree, a mountain).
- Discuss how God helps us grow stronger when we rely on Him.
Activity 4: Service and Charity – Helping Hands Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:28
- Materials:
- Paper and markers
- Scissors
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:28, discussing the importance of charity.
- Trace the children’s hands on paper and cut them out.
- Write or draw ways they can show love and help others on the handprints.
- Display the hands as a reminder to be charitable.
Activity 5: Trust in God – Trust Walk
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:6
- Materials:
- Blindfolds
- Safe area for walking
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:6, discussing how faith requires trust in God.
- Set up a trust walk where one child is blindfolded and another guides them through a safe area using verbal instructions.
- Switch roles so everyone has a turn being guided and guiding.
- Discuss how trusting in God helps us find our way.
Activity 6: Gratitude – Gratitude Tree
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:28
- Materials:
- Large paper or cardboard
- Construction paper leaves
- Markers and tape
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:28, focusing on the blessings of charity and service.
- Create a “Gratitude Tree” by drawing a large tree on paper or cardboard.
- Have the children write or draw things they are grateful for on the leaves and tape them to the tree.
- Discuss how recognizing our blessings helps us show gratitude to God.
Activity 7: Learning from Scriptures – Scripture Hunt
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:39
- Materials:
- Small scripture verses written on paper
- Hidden “treasures” (small toys or treats)
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:39, discussing the importance of learning from the scriptures.
- Hide small scripture verses around the room or yard along with small “treasures.”
- Let the children go on a scripture hunt to find the verses and discuss their meanings.
Activity 8: The Power of God’s Word – Scroll Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:23
- Materials:
- Paper
- Wooden dowels or sticks
- String
- Markers
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:23, discussing how the words of prophets are powerful.
- Help the children create simple scripture scrolls by writing or drawing messages from the scriptures on paper, then rolling them up and tying them with string.
- Discuss how God’s words guide and strengthen us.
Activity 9: Recognizing Miracles – Miracle Match Game
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:12
- Materials:
- Cards with images or words representing different miracles
- Markers or crayons
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:12, discussing how miracles happen through faith.
- Create pairs of cards, each representing a different miracle (e.g., healing, protection).
- Let the children play a matching game, finding pairs and discussing the miracles.
Activity 10: Building Strong Faith – Block Building
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:30
- Materials:
- Building blocks or Lego bricks
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:30, discussing how faith can move mountains.
- Use blocks to build a tall tower, symbolizing the strength of faith.
- Talk about how our faith helps us overcome challenges.
Activity 11: Strength in Unity – Rope Pull Game
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:4
- Materials:
- A long rope or strong fabric strip
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:4, discussing how faith in God unites us.
- Play a rope pull game where the children must work together to pull an object or each other.
- Discuss how working together in faith makes us stronger.
Activity 12: Trusting in God’s Plan – Puzzle Activity
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 13:4
- Materials:
- Simple puzzles with large pieces
- Directions:
- Read Ether 13:4, discussing how the Jaredites trusted God’s plan.
- Let the children work on simple puzzles, discussing how each piece is important to completing the picture, just as trusting in God’s plan is important in our lives.
Activity 13: Repentance and Forgiveness – Heart Puzzle
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 13:11
- Materials:
- Heart-shaped puzzle (make a heart and cut it into pieces)
- Markers
- Directions:
- Read Ether 13:11, focusing on the importance of repentance.
- Give each child a piece of the heart-shaped puzzle.
- Write on each piece something they can do to forgive or repent.
- Have the children work together to put the heart puzzle back together.
- Discuss how repentance helps us heal our hearts and turn back to God.
Activity 14: Building a Strong Foundation – Lego Building
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 13:2
- Materials:
- Lego bricks or building blocks
- Directions:
- Read Ether 13:2, discussing the importance of building a strong foundation on faith in Christ.
- Let the children build a structure with Legos or blocks, focusing on making a strong, stable foundation.
- Compare the sturdy foundation to having faith in Christ.
Activity 15: Obedience – Simon Says Game
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 14:1
- Materials:
- None
- Directions:
- Read Ether 14:1, focusing on the importance of obedience to God’s commandments.
- Play a game of “Simon Says” to teach obedience.
- Explain how following instructions promptly and correctly is important, just as obedience to God brings blessings.
Activity 16: The Light of Christ – Candle Lighting
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 12:41
- Materials:
- Small candles or LED candles
- Directions:
- Read Ether 12:41, discussing how we should seek to have the light of Christ in our lives.
- Light a candle and observe how it lights up the space.
- Discuss how Christ’s light guides us and helps us see the way forward.
Activity 17: Learning from Mistakes – Erase the Mistakes
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 13:14
- Materials:
- Whiteboard or paper
- Markers or crayons
- Eraser or cloth
- Directions:
- Read Ether 13:14, discussing how the people needed to repent from their mistakes.
- Write or draw examples of mistakes on a whiteboard or paper.
- As you talk about repentance and learning from mistakes, erase each one, showing how repentance clears away our errors.
- Discuss the joy that comes from repentance and being forgiven.
Activity 18: Trust in God – Trust Walk
Scripture Inspiration: Ether 15:2
- Materials:
- Blindfolds
- Safe area for walking
- Directions:
- Read Ether 15:2, discussing how the people were taught to trust in God.
- Set up a trust walk where one child is blindfolded and another guides them through a safe area using verbal instructions.
- Switch roles so everyone has a turn being guided and guiding.
- Discuss how trusting in God helps us find our way.
