“Lesson 9: I Am Thankful for Water,” Primary 1 (2000), 25–27
“Lesson 9,” Primary 1, 25–27
Lesson 9
I Am Thankful for Water
Purpose
To help each child feel gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for water.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study Genesis 1:9–10; Exodus 17:1–6; and Matthew 3:13–17.
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Materials needed:
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A Bible.
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If possible, obtain pictures of various bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans.
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Picture 1-8, Passing the Sacrament (62021); picture 1-11, Boy Being Baptized (62018); picture 1-18, John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 208; 62133).
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Make the necessary preparations for any Enrichment Activities you want to use.
Learning Activities
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Water was an important part of the Creation
Read aloud and explain Genesis 1:9–10.
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Why is water so important for us?
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How do we get our water?
Help the children understand that water comes from many sources, including lakes, rivers, oceans, rain, and snow. Explain that snow and ice are frozen water. Show the pictures of water you obtained and talk about where water comes from in your area.
Tell the children you are thankful that water is a part of Heavenly Father’s plan.
We need water for many things
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Why do we need water? What is it used for?
Explain that all living things, including people, animals, and plants, need water to live. If possible, give each child a small cup of water to drink. Talk about how our bodies could not live without water to drink.
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How do animals and plants get the water they need?
Explain that we also need water for other things, such as washing and cooking.
Jesus gave Moses and the Israelites water in the desert
Water is important in the Church
Enrichment Activities
Choose some of these activities to use during the lesson.
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Recite the following verse with the children, doing the actions indicated:
The Raindrops
When the flowers are thirsty
And the leaves are dry (open hands and stretch arms upward),
Merry little raindrops
Tumble from the sky (bring arms down, wiggling fingers).
All about they splatter (wiggle fingers from side to side)
In their happy play,
‘Til the bright warm sunshine (raise arms overhead and form a circle)
Chases them away (hide fingers behind back).
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Help the children sing or say the words to “Rain Is Falling All Around” (Children’s Songbook, p. 241) or “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, p. 236).
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Have each child draw a picture of water, such as a lake, a river, or raindrops. Write on each child’s paper I am thankful for water.
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Have the children tell about or pantomime ways that they can play in water, such as swimming, ice skating, making a snowman, or splashing in puddles.
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Help the children understand that water helps us get things clean. Have them pantomime cleaning activities that use water, such as washing clothes or washing their hands.
Additional Activities for Younger Children
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Do some or all of the following activities to help the children learn the different ways we use water:
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Give each child a small drink of water. As the children are drinking, explain that water is part of Heavenly Father’s plan for the earth. We can drink water when we are thirsty.
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Put a little water in a bowl and help each child wash his or her hands. Remind the children that Heavenly Father and Jesus planned for us to have water. Explain that we can use water to wash things.
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If possible, take the children outside and let each one water a plant. Or bring a plant to class and allow each child to give a little water to the plant. Explain that plants also need water to live and grow.
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Do the following actions as the children pretend it is raining—softly at first, and then gradually harder.
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Pat fingertips together.
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Pat hands together.
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Pat knees, alternating hands.
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Tap feet.
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