Thursday, February 7, 2019

Planning February: Gospel Study with My Four-Year Old

I want my four year old to know more of the songs sung at church, and be familiar with a dozen or so scripture stories. Sure, I know he's heard of Noah's ark and that Daniel went in the lion's den before, but scattered references that occurred a year ago aren't that useful right now.
This month we are starting at the beginning of "his Bible," which is a binder into which I organize the scripture studies that appear in The Friend magazine each month. I have a full twelve stories from the Old Testament. The plan is to focus on one story each week, and read it once a day for about three weekdays. I'm hoping by the third reading to prompt him to tell me parts of the story. 
One day a week we will read selections from that month's Friend magazine (including New Testament stories to go with the Come, Follow Me curriculum). 
Each day we do this gospel study (every weekday except the day we do a preschool co-op), we will also practice a song and his letter-of-the-week scripture. We've been doing the scripture verses since September, so we're starting February with letter "O." I like to open up my physical scriptures when we practice the verse, so he can make the connection more easily. "The Bible says, 'Obey your parents.' Can you say that now?"
I chose two songs from the list for Primary Singing Time February 2019: "Baptism," and "He Sent His Son."
I hope you find the links useful. They go directly to lds.org and have everything you need. 



Week 1
Scripture Quote: "Obey your parents," Ephesians 6:1
Song: "Baptism," by Mabel Jones Gabbott (First line: "Jesus came to John the Baptist")
Bible Story: "The Creation," retold by Kim Webb Reid and illustrated by Apryl Stott
Read The Friend, including the story "Jesus Was Baptized"

Week 2
Scripture Quote: "Pray to thy Father," Matthew 6:6
Song: "Baptism," by Mabel Jones Gabbott
Bible Story: "Adam and Eve," retold by Kim Webb Reid and illustrated by Apryl Stott
Read The Friend

Week 3
Scripture Quote: "The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet," Isaiah 14:7
Song: "He Sent His Son,"by Mabel Jones Gabbott, Music by Michael Finlinson Moody
Bible Story: "Noah," retold by Kim Webb Reid and illustrated by Apryl Stott
Read The Friend

Week 4
Scripture Quote: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy," Exodus 20:8 (explain that when something is "holy" it is special to Heavenly Father)
Song: "He Sent His Son," Lyrics by Mabel Jones Gabbott, Music by Michael Finlinson Moody
Bible Story: "Joseph Trusted God," retold by Kim Webb Reid and Apryl Stott
Read The Friend