34603, Primary 6, 3: The Creation, Purpose, 9
To increase each child's appreciation for the earth that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created for us.
1. Prayerfully study:
* Genesis 1 or Moses 2-Jesus Christ created the earth, heaven, and all forms of life under the direction of Heavenly Father.
* Genesis 2:1-3 or Moses 3:1-3-The Lord rested on the seventh day.
2. Additional reading:
* Abraham 4:1-31-The Gods planned the creation of the earth.
* Abraham 5:1-21-The Gods followed their plan of creation.
* Moses 1:31-39-Moses learned that Jesus Christ created worlds without number.
3. Study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account (see "Preparing Your Lessons," p. vi, and "Teaching from the Scriptures," p. vii). Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will best help the children achieve the purpose of the lesson.
4. Materials needed:
a. A Bible or a triple combination for each child.
b. A container of puzzle pieces (if you do not have a puzzle, cut a picture from a magazine into several pieces).
c. Picture 6-1, Creation-Living Creatures (Gospel Art Picture Kit 100; 62483).
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Show the children the container of puzzle pieces. Ask one of the children to shake the container and try to dump the pieces on the table so that all the pieces fall into place to form a complete picture. Point out that a puzzle cannot fall into place by chance-it requires an intelligent being to organize the pieces and carefully put them together.
Show the picture Creation-Living Creatures and discuss some things that show that the creation of the earth was carefully planned. For example, the earth has to be the right distance from the sun or everything on it would burn or freeze. Without the right amount of oxygen, humans and animals could not breathe.
If there was too little gravity, we would float off the earth. Help the children understand that the earth did not come about by accident or chance. A loving Heavenly Father directed Jesus Christ to organize this beautiful earth for us.
Teach the children the account from Genesis 1:1-2:3 or Moses 2:1-3:3 of the creation of the earth (see enrichment activity 1). (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see "Teaching from the Scriptures," p. vii.)
Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading and discussing the scriptures with the children in class will help them gain personal insights.
* Who created the earth? (Moses 1:33; Moses 2:1.) Explain that the earth was created by Jesus Christ under the direction of Heavenly Father.
* Why did Heavenly Father want the earth to be created? (Abraham 3:24-26.)
* Why are there so many wonderful types of plants on the earth? (Genesis 1:29-30; D&C 59:18-19.) What plants do you most enjoy? What do you use them for?
* What is in each fruit? (Genesis 1:12 or Moses 2:12; see enrichment activity 6.) Why are seeds important?
* What did God command the fish and animals and birds to do? (Genesis 1:22 or Moses 2:22.)
* What commandment did God give Adam and Eve (and all people) about having a family? (Genesis 1:28 or Moses 2:28.)
* In whose image were we created? (Genesis 1:27 or Moses 2:27.)
* What is our responsibility to the earth and all living things on it? (Genesis 1:26 or Moses 2:26.) Explain that dominion means to have power over something (see enrichment activity 5).
* What did God say about his creations? (Genesis 1:31 or Moses 2:31.) How should we feel about the good things we make or do?
* What did God do on the seventh day? (Genesis 2:2-3 or Moses 3:2-3.) What should we do on the Sabbath day?
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
1. Prepare a slip of paper using either the Genesis or Moses account for each day of the Creation:
First day: Genesis 1:3-5 or Moses 2:3-5
Second day: Genesis 1:6-8 or Moses 2:6-8
Third day: Genesis 1:9-13 or Moses 2:9-13
Fourth day: Genesis 1:14-19 or Moses 2:14-19
Fifth day: Genesis 1:20-23 or Moses 2:20-23
Sixth day: Genesis 1:24-27 or Moses 2:24-27
Seventh day: Genesis 2:1-3 or Moses 3:1-3
Divide the chalkboard or a large piece of paper into seven sections and number them one through seven. Give one of the scriptures to each child. If you have more than seven children, have the children work together and decide what they could draw to illustrate the day of Creation they read about. Help them look up their scripture references (if they need help), and give them time to read them silently.
Have each child (or a representative from each group of children) draw, in the appropriate space, what was created on that day without telling the other children what they are drawing. After the other class members guess what is being drawn, have the child read aloud the pertinent part of the scripture reference to show if they guessed correctly. Ask the other children to follow along in their scriptures. After the seven pictures have been drawn, you could quickly review what occurred during each of the seven days of Creation.
After the children have reviewed the seven days of Creation, give them each a piece of paper and pencil or marking pen and have them draw another picture of one of the days of the Creation that they can take home and share with their families.
2. Tell the children you are thinking of something you saw on the way to church that reminded you of how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. (This could be a bird, tree, clouds, and so on.) Ask them to guess what it was as you give them clues. Let the children take turns giving clues of something they saw that reminds them of the love Heavenly Father and Jesus have for them. Discuss the [Articles of Faith 1:1] first article of faith and how the evidence we see in nature can strengthen our testimonies of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Have the children repeat the [Articles of Faith 1:1] first article of faith.
3. Prepare a large circle of paper that represents the earth and give the children colored paper, pencils, and scissors to "create" one of their favorite things found on the earth. Give them several minutes to make their "creations" and then place them all on the paper earth. Explain that the word create means to organize, not to make something from nothing. Discuss this statement from Joseph Smith when he was speaking of the creation of the earth: "Now, the word create came from the word baurau, which does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize; the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship" (History of the Church, 6:308).
4. Show the children a container of salt or sand and ask how many particles of salt or sand they think there are in the container. You may want to take a pinch of salt or sand out of the container and have someone try to count the particles. Explain that God has created many more worlds than there are particles of salt or sand in the container or even on the whole earth. Many of these worlds have been inhabited or will be inhabited by people who have been created in the image of God, just as we have, yet Heavenly Father knows and loves us all. Read and discuss Moses 7:29-30.
5. Discuss ways the children can take care of the creations we have been given, such as being kind to animals, taking care of a garden, keeping parks and buildings free from litter, and so on. Ask each child to tell one way that he or she will take care of the wonderful things Heavenly Father has given us.
6. Bring to class a variety of fruits and vegetables that have been cut open to expose the seeds. Discuss the importance of seeds and how God planned from the beginning for the plants to produce more of their own kind. If fruits and vegetables are not available, show pictures of or draw pictures of fruits and vegetables and seeds on the chalkboard.
7. Sing or read the words to "I Feel My Savior's Love" (Children's Songbook, p. 74) or "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (Children's Songbook, p. 228).
Share your feelings with the children about the beautiful earth we have and how it helps you feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Explain that each of us is Heavenly Father's greatest creation. Express gratitude and love for each class member.
Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the "Suggested Home Reading."
Suggest that the children read Genesis 1:26-31 at home as a review of this lesson.
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.