Here are 17 Montessori-inspired activities to help young children learn the principles in Mormon 1-6 from the Book of Mormon:
Activity 1: Standing for Truth – Shield Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 1:15
- Materials:
- Cardboard or thick paper
- Markers, paint, or stickers
- Scissors
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 1:15, discussing how Mormon stood for truth even in difficult times.
- Help the children cut out a shield shape from cardboard.
- Let them decorate their shields with symbols of faith and truth.
- Discuss how standing for truth helps us protect ourselves and others.
Activity 2: Record Keeping – Personal Journals
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 1:4
- Materials:
- Small notebooks or journals
- Pens or crayons
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 1:4, explaining how Mormon kept a record of his people.
- Give each child a small notebook to create a personal journal.
- Encourage them to write or draw their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
- Discuss the importance of keeping a personal record and how it helps us remember important events.
Activity 3: Courage and Leadership – Role-Playing
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 2:2
- Materials:
- Simple costumes or props for role-playing
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 2:2, discussing how Mormon was chosen to lead his people at a young age.
- Role-play different scenarios where the children can practice being leaders (e.g., guiding others, making decisions).
- Discuss how being a good leader requires courage and the ability to make wise choices.
Activity 4: Building Strong Foundations – Block Tower
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 2:10
- Materials:
- Building blocks
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 2:10, discussing the importance of building strong foundations in our lives.
- Use building blocks to create a strong tower, symbolizing the foundation of faith and obedience.
- Talk about how building our lives on the teachings of Christ helps us stay strong even in difficult times.
Activity 5: Obedience – Simon Says Game
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 2:10
- Materials:
- None
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 2:10, focusing on the importance of obedience.
- Play a game of “Simon Says” to teach obedience.
- Explain how following instructions promptly and correctly is important, just as obedience to God’s commandments brings blessings.
Activity 6: Faith and Hope – Planting Seeds
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 5:10
- Materials:
- Small pots or cups
- Soil
- Seeds (flowers or herbs)
- Water
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 5:10, discussing how faith and hope help us endure challenges.
- Provide each child with a pot, soil, and seeds. Let them plant the seeds, water them, and place them in a sunny spot.
- Talk about how faith, like seeds, needs to be nurtured to grow and bring forth blessings.
Activity 7: The Importance of Prayer – Prayer Journal
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 3:12
- Materials:
- Small notebooks
- Pens or crayons
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 3:12, discussing the importance of prayer and seeking God’s guidance.
- Give each child a small notebook to create a prayer journal.
- Encourage them to write or draw things they want to pray about.
- Discuss how prayer helps us stay close to God and seek His help.
Activity 8: Trust in God – Trust Walk
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 5:16
- Materials:
- Blindfolds
- Safe area for walking
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 5:16, discussing how Mormon trusted in God even during difficult times.
- 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 the importance of trusting in God’s guidance.
Activity 9: Forgiveness and Repentance – Heart Puzzle
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 3:12
- Materials:
- Heart-shaped puzzle (make a heart and cut it into pieces)
- Markers
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 3:12, focusing on the importance of forgiveness and 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 forgiveness and repentance help heal our hearts.
Activity 10: Writing Messages – Scroll Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 1:1
- Materials:
- Paper
- Wooden dowels or sticks
- String
- Markers
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 1:1, discussing how Mormon recorded important messages.
- Create scrolls by attaching paper to wooden dowels or sticks.
- Have the children write or draw messages of faith on the scrolls, then roll them up and tie with string.
- Discuss how writing down our thoughts and feelings can help us remember important lessons.
Activity 11: The Power of Scriptures – Scripture Hunt
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 1:4
- Materials:
- Small scripture verses written on paper
- Hidden “treasures” (small toys or treats)
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 1:4, discussing the importance of scriptures in guiding us.
- 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 12: Helping Others – Service Project
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 5:12
- Materials:
- Cleaning supplies
- Simple service project ideas (e.g., making cards, picking up trash)
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 5:12, discussing how helping others shows love and compassion.
- Choose a simple service project to do together, like cleaning up a room or making cards for neighbors.
- Discuss how serving others is a way to show Christ’s love.
Activity 13: Unity – Team Building Game
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 2:9
- Materials:
- Large sheet or blanket
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 2:9, emphasizing the importance of unity and working together.
- Spread a large sheet or blanket on the floor.
- Have the children stand around the edges and work together to lift and move the blanket without letting any objects (balls, stuffed animals) fall off.
- Discuss how unity and working together help us achieve our goals.
Activity 14: Gratitude – Gratitude Tree
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 5:10
- Materials:
- Large paper or cardboard
- Construction paper leaves
- Markers and tape
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 5:10, focusing on the blessings we receive through faith.
- 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 showing gratitude helps us recognize God’s blessings.
Activity 15: The Importance of Truth – Honesty Box
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 1:15
- Materials:
- Small box
- Slips of paper
- Pen
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 1:15, emphasizing the importance of standing for truth.
- Create an “Honesty Box” where the children can write down and submit examples of honesty they observe throughout the week.
- At the end of the week, read and discuss these examples, reinforcing the importance of being honest and truthful.
Activity 16: Learning from Mistakes – Erase the Mistakes
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 2:14
- Materials:
- Whiteboard or paper
- Markers or crayons
- Eraser or cloth
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 2:14, discussing how the people refused to repent and learn 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 learning from our mistakes.
Activity 17: Light in Darkness – Candle Lighting
Scripture Inspiration: Mormon 5:16
- Materials:
- Small candles or LED candles
- Directions:
- Read Mormon 5:16, discussing how Mormon was a light to his people even in dark times.
- Light a candle in a dark room and observe how it lights up the space.
- Discuss how we can be lights to others by standing for truth and righteousness.
