Here are 20 Montessori-inspired activities that parents can do with young children to help them learn the principles in Helaman 7-12 in the Book of Mormon:
Activity 1: Prayer and Reflection – Prayer Rock Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 7:10
- Materials:
- Smooth stones
- Paint or markers
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 7:10, discussing how Nephi prayed on the tower.
- Give each child a smooth stone and have them paint or decorate it with symbols or words that remind them to pray.
- Encourage them to place the stone by their bed as a reminder to say their prayers daily.
Activity 2: Repentance Path – Footsteps to Change
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 7:17
- Materials:
- Paper footprints
- Markers
- Tape
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 7:17, discussing the importance of repentance.
- Create a path using paper footprints, each labeled with a step in the repentance process (e.g., recognizing wrong, feeling sorry, asking for forgiveness, making it right).
- Have the children walk the path, discussing each step as they go.
Activity 3: Building Strong Foundations – Block Tower
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 5:12
- Materials:
- Building blocks
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 5:12, discussing how building on a strong foundation helps us withstand challenges.
- Use blocks to build a strong tower or wall.
- Talk about how strong foundations like faith and obedience help us stay strong.
Activity 4: Light of Christ – Candle Lighting
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 9:21
- Materials:
- Small candles or LED candles
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 9:21, emphasizing the light of Christ.
- Light a small candle and discuss how Christ’s light can guide us.
- Allow the children to light their own candles from the original, symbolizing spreading Christ’s light.
Activity 5: Listening to God – Whisper Game
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 10:3
- Materials:
- None
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 10:3, focusing on how Nephi heard the voice of the Lord.
- Play a whisper game where one person starts by whispering a message to the next person.
- Discuss how important it is to listen carefully to God’s promptings.
Activity 6: Patience – Waiting Game
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 10:12
- Materials:
- Timer
- Small rewards
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 10:12, discussing Nephi’s patience in following the Lord’s will.
- Play a waiting game where the children have to wait patiently for a set amount of time before receiving a small reward.
- Discuss the importance of patience and trusting in God’s timing.
Activity 7: Gratitude Journal
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 10:6
- Materials:
- Small notebooks
- Pens or crayons
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 10:6, focusing on being grateful for God’s blessings.
- Give each child a small notebook to create a gratitude journal.
- Encourage them to write or draw things they are grateful for each day.
Activity 8: Courage and Faith – Shield Craft
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 7:17
- Materials:
- Cardboard or thick paper
- Markers, paint, or stickers
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 7:17, discussing the courage of Nephi.
- Help the children cut out a shield shape from cardboard.
- Let them decorate their shields with symbols of faith and courage.
- Talk about how having faith and courage helps us stand up for what is right.
Activity 9: Service – Helping Hands
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 11:23
- Materials:
- Cleaning supplies
- Simple service project ideas (e.g., making cards, picking up trash)
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 11:23, discussing how the Nephites helped each other.
- Choose a simple service project to do together, like making cards for neighbors or picking up trash in a park.
- Discuss how helping others is a way to show love and follow Jesus Christ’s example.
Activity 10: Trust in God – Trust Walk
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 12:1
- Materials:
- Blindfolds
- Safe area for walking
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 12:1, discussing how the Nephites trusted 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 the importance of trusting in God and His guidance.
Activity 11: Honesty – Honesty Box
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 9:27
- Materials:
- Small box
- Slips of paper
- Pen
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 9:27, emphasizing the importance of honesty.
- 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 honesty.
Activity 12: Following the Prophet – Role-Playing
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 10:4
- Materials:
- Simple costumes or props for role-playing
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 10:4, highlighting the importance of following the prophet’s guidance.
- Role-play scenarios where the children have to follow instructions from a “prophet” (parent or older sibling).
- Discuss the importance of listening to and following the prophet’s counsel.
Activity 13: Building Strong Foundations – Sand and Rock Experiment
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 5:12
- Materials:
- Sand
- Small rocks
- Water
- Tray or container
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 5:12, discussing the importance of building on the foundation of Christ.
- In a tray, create two foundations: one of sand and one of rocks.
- Pour water over each foundation and observe how the sand washes away while the rocks remain firm.
- Discuss how building our lives on Christ helps us stay strong.
Activity 14: Recognizing God’s Hand – Nature Walk
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 12:13-15
- Materials:
- Nature walk checklist
- Magnifying glass
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 12:13-15, discussing how all things obey God’s command.
- Go on a nature walk with a checklist of things to find (e.g., leaves, flowers, rocks).
- Use a magnifying glass to observe the details of each item.
- Discuss how we can see God’s hand in the beauty of nature.
Activity 15: Obedience – Simon Says Game
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 11:2
- Materials:
- None
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 11:2, focusing on how the Nephites obeyed Nephi’s commands.
- Play a game of “Simon Says” to teach obedience.
- Explain how following instructions promptly and correctly is important, just as the Nephites followed Nephi’s guidance.
Activity 16: Patience – Waiting Game
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 10:16
- Materials:
- Timer
- Small rewards
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 10:16, discussing how Nephi waited patiently for the Lord’s direction.
- Play a waiting game where the children have to wait patiently for a set amount of time before receiving a small reward.
- Discuss the importance of patience and trusting in God’s timing.
Activity 17: Faith – Planting Seeds
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 12:15
- Materials:
- Small pots or cups
- Soil
- Seeds (flowers or herbs)
- Water
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 12:15, discussing the faith needed to believe in God’s power.
- 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 the seeds need care to grow, just like our faith.
- Check the plants daily, using the growth process to discuss how nurturing our faith helps it grow stronger.
Activity 18: Honoring Covenants – Covenant Chain
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 10:7
- Materials:
- Strips of colored paper
- Markers
- Stapler or glue
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 10:7, emphasizing the importance of honoring covenants.
- Write different covenants or good deeds on paper strips (e.g., praying daily, being kind).
- Create a chain by linking the strips together with staples or glue.
- Hang the chain in a visible place, adding a new link each time the children follow a covenant or do a good deed.
Activity 19: Forgiveness – Healing Hearts
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 7:16
- Materials:
- Paper hearts
- Markers
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 7:16, discussing Nephi’s call for repentance and forgiveness.
- Provide paper hearts and markers.
- Have the children write or draw ways they can forgive others or ask for forgiveness.
- Discuss how forgiveness heals our hearts and strengthens our relationships.
Activity 20: Humility – Kneeling Prayer
Scripture Inspiration: Helaman 12:1-2
- Materials:
- Quiet space for prayer
- Directions:
- Read Helaman 12:1-2, focusing on the importance of humility and turning to God.
- Invite the children to kneel in prayer, asking for help to be humble and follow God’s will.
- Discuss how being humble and turning to God helps us receive His guidance and blessings.
