Friday, April 19, 2013

Headband Holder - Developing Talents

For this activity, we made headband holders made out of oatmeal containers. Since we collected the oatmeal containers for a little while before the activity and got the candlestick at the dollar store, this activity should only cost the candlesticks + supplies.... no more than 1.50 per girl.

Here is what you will need:
  • oatmeal containers
  • modge podge
  • foam brushes
  • paper (2 12x12 pieces for each girl, with some left over)
  • candle sticks (found at the dollar store)
  • hot glue gun or strong glue



Each girl needs an oatmeal container and candlestick....


First we had the girls pick out what paper they wanted. In order to cover the whole oatmeal container, we had the girls pick two pieces of 12x12 paper and then cut it to size. Then we had the girls modge podge the paper to the oatmeal container.


Some of the oatmeal containers had print on the top of the lid, so some girls cut out a circle and glued that to the top of the lid. Then you just glue the candlestick to the bottom of the oatmeal container, and there you go!

I think they turned out really cute!





Then to finish them off, have each of the girls write their favorite scripture on the bottom of the lid. We pretty much ran out of time... so I also suggest having a scripture ready for them. With this headband holder conveniently in their room, whenever they want to read their favorite scripture, all they have to do is look at the bottom of their lid.

Check out my activity day files here: Snapshot Place


Friday, April 5, 2013

Called to Serve - Learning and Living the Gospel



What a fun activity! The girls loved it. For this "Called to Serve" activity, we had the girls pretend that they were being called on a mission. Trinity, my partner is such a genius... once again this was all her.

I think you can totally tailor this activity to what you want to do... but if you do it the same as us, you will need:

- Personalized mission calls
- Personalized name tags
- Scriptures
- Clothes - jackets and skirts for each girl
- (Returned) Sister Missionaries to speak

You can get my files for this activity HERE (mission call, name tags and language words, subway art).

At the beginning of the activity, each girl got a sealed envelope with a mission call inside. They each took turns reading their call and each girl was on the edge of their seat excited for their turn to see where they were going and what language they were going to speak. Trinity set it up so each place had two girls "called" to it... that way the two girls could be companions and do the rest of the activity together. For example, Julie and Andrea were both called to Geneva, Switzerland.



After they read their mission calls, each girl got a name tag in the language they were going to be speaking and we had them dress up in skirts and jackets (some of which were mine and were way too big... but that made it fun... we had plenty of safety pins.)

After they were all dressed and had their name tag, we had them find and label on a map where they were going.





Next we did a topical guide activity that was pretty challenging for them. Also I think any kind of scripture search or maybe even scripture mastery would have been great. Anything using the scriptures that is maybe kinda hard to teach them that scripture study isn't always easy.



 Then after our scripture activity, two return sister missionaries came to talk to the girls. They each talked about their missions a little bit and then bore their testimony. When they were done talking the time was up but the girls asked them questions for like 10 minutes! It was really sweet. Trinity knew these girls and they are fresh off their mission... but I think if you had Sister missionaries currently serving in your ward, they would love to come too.


We didn't do this, but I think another great addition would be having the girls learn a few words in the language they were "called" to speak. They would think that is pretty cool to learn some words, plus show them how challenging learning a new language can be!

Also... I just finished making this "I hope they call me on a mission" subway art. This would be a great handout :).


If you like the subway art, you can get more HERE and for the articles of faith HERE.



UPDATE! I updated these files just a bit. They are still available HERE. Now they come with mission call letters for both brothers and sisters (Primary and Youth Activity), tags in 10 different languages (brother and sister), 10 language preview cards and a map (with a key) on where those missions are located :)