Brothers and Sisters

Filed under: Lesson 24: I Love My Brothers and Sisters, brothers and sisters, kindness

Live the Golden Rule

Pat Graham, “Sharing Time: Live the Golden Rule,” Friend, Sep 1987, 12

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12).

A fable is a story meant to teach a moral lesson. The characters are often animals. And although the story could not have happened, the lesson is valuable. “The New Animal” is a fable with a very important lesson.

Instructions

1. Mount animal parts on heavy paper, then color and cut out.

2. While telling story, put parts together as each animal discovers how he is like Zelmgid.

3. Tell what you think moral of story is.

The New Animal

By Diane Bohn

A new animal was coming to live in the zoo, and the other animals were excited. One morning a big truck backed up to an empty cage, and out stepped the new animal. The zookeeper hung a sign outside the cage that said “ZELMGID.”

The other animals stared in amazement. The zelmgid did not look like any animal that they had ever seen. He had a long neck and a long tail, and when he opened his mouth, he barked. One by one the other animals turned away from the cage. Because the zelmgid was so different, they were not sure how to treat him.

The zelmgid was very lonely. The animals ignored him, so he had no one to talk to. He was so sad that he didn’t eat. The zookeeper began to worry. People stopped visiting the zoo because the new animal was sad and the other animals hid in the backs of their cages.

One day the elephant heard the zelmgid barking to himself. “The zelmgid does have a good trunk,” he told the giraffe. “It’s not as long as mine, but it’s really quite nice.”

The giraffe stretched her neck to take a closer look. “Look at his strong neck. He can reach as high as I can.”

The lion was looking quietly at the new animal’s mane. “My goodness! He has an excellent mane—almost as thick as mine.”

Just then the zebra trotted by the cage. “His coat has a very nice pattern,” she said.

“And his horns are curved just right,” the ibex said, “just like mine.”

When the monkey came swinging from the trees, he said, “Look at that handsome tail. I wonder if the zelmgid would like to play tag?”

Finally the duck waddled by the cage. “What fine feet you have. You probably can swim faster than I can,” she said to him.

The zelmgid stopped crying and thanked the duck for the compliment. Soon all the animals were talking together. They felt much happier. Even though the zelmgid looked different, the other animals had all found something about the new animal that they liked.

Sharing Time Ideas

1. Make copies of zelmgid parts for each child to color and cut out. Or put together for younger children, then make copies for them to color.

2. As you tell story, have children hold enlarged pictures of other animals. Invite child to arrange them so that first letter of each animal represented spells zelmgid.

3. Carefully discuss differences with involvement directions, such as: “All children with brown eyes raise their hands.” “Those with freckles stand.” “Those who can whistle, whistle.” Be sensitive to situations in class in which you can give support to children. Lead to conclusion that we can find something that we like about everybody.

4. Discuss Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12). Who taught us this? Challenge children to apply Golden Rule during week and report their experiences.

5. Sing “Little Things” (Sing with Me, B-49) and “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, no. 223).

[illustrations] Illustrated by Mick Reasor

Filed under: Lesson 44: Do unto Others, Lesson 5: Jesus Christ Showed Us How to Love Others, friends, golden rule, kindness, love one another

Being Kind, Like Jesus

Pat Graham, “Sharing Time: Being Kind, Like Jesus,” Friend, Apr 1987, 34

If the Lord be God, follow him (1 Kgs. 18:21).

When Jesus lived upon the earth, people with handicaps or diseases were often treated unkindly. Most healthy people were afraid of those who had physical problems, and forced them to live apart from their families and friends. But Jesus taught us to love others and to treat them the way that we would want to be treated if we had similar problems. If we have an injured leg or even just a stomachache, we appreciate it when people show us their love by helping us when we especially need it.

Doctors today can help many injured or diseased parts of our bodies to mend. Broken arms and legs can grow strong again, and nearsighted eyes can see more clearly through glasses. But sometimes parts of our bodies cannot be made to work right. Some eyes cannot see, some ears cannot hear, and some brains do not work as they should. People who have handicaps need our love and understanding. Jesus was very kind to people who were not well. He healed lepers and invalids and blind people (Luke 7:21–22). We can be like Jesus and help others feel better by treating them kindly and helping them learn and grow in spite of their problems. We can show love as Jesus did.

Instructions

1. Color and cut out paper dolls and outfits.

2. Put outfit on doll, and think about what problems you might have if you had that handicap and about how people could help you. Remember to do those helpful things when you are with a handicapped person.

Illustrated by Julie F. Young

Sharing Time Ideas

1. To help with discussion, enlarge pictures from “Continue in My Love” (Friend, April 1982, pages 24–25). Read scriptures and tell stories.

2. Prepare paper doll copies for children to color and take home. As they color, have someone play “Love One Another” (Hymns, no. 308), “Kindness Begins with Me” (Sing with Me, B-49), “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (Sing with Me, B-46), and “I’m Trying to be Like Jesus” (Ensign, April 1983, pages 75–76).

3. Highlight handicapped child (be sure to involve his or her parents). Tell what child has accomplished. Discuss ways that Primary children can be helpful and show that they care.

4. Plan an experience to help teach empathy. Emphasize to children that each action that they do represents only one of the problems that people with these handicaps have.

• a. Learn to sign a song or phrase.
• b. Blindfold some children and have others act as their guides. You can obtain braille book and have children write alphabet, their initials, or names in braille.
• c. Put socks over several children’s hands and have them try to button their shirts or tie their shoes.
• d. Simulate dyslexia by trying to write word while looking at reflection of pencil in mirror.

5. Tactfully discuss needs of children in your Primary (allergies, asthma, hyperactivity, emotional problems, etc.)

Filed under: Lesson 33: I Can Be a Friend, Lesson 37: I’ll Serve Jesus Christ by Serving Others, Primary 1: I Am a Child of God, Sharing Time, being like Jesus, friends, kindness