Click here for a list of activity ideas for any lesson

Articles:

A Call to the Nursery
My turn in the Nursery
The loveliest job in the world
The Ward Nursery



Click here for some birthday ideas



Check-In

LDS Coloring Pages - 'momof7' has indexed all of the coloring pages from the Friend Magazine...check it out!

  These crafts can be done with any lesson...simply adapt to theme-

TIP - Are you getting rid of some of your old T-shirts?  Pull them out of your donation pile and take them to church.  That way when you want to do an activity that might be a little messier, you can throw a t-shirt over the children.

Applesauce Cinnamon Dough
Bubble Blowing Puppet
Girl Bag Puppet,  Boy Bag Puppet (from Christy's Clipart)
Homemade Slime Recipes 
Mosaic Art

Potato Printing  
Spoon Puppets - Color, cut on dotted lines, and insert spoon.  You could make these spoons characters for any of the nursery stories from manual.
Tips for Stringing Cereal

Graduating to Sunbeams

I Don't Want To Be Three (Helping Your 3 year old Transition into Sunbeams) - I gave this story to each child graduating into Sunbeams.  I asked the parents to take time during the week to read it to their child.
I'm going to Primary - Melissa Dillon thought it would be cute to give to the children who are “graduating” from Nursery this week.  It's taken from the January 1999 Friend Magazine.
Nursery Graduation Idea by Sara Roylance
Nursery Graduation Certificate from The Idea Door
Nursery Graduation Program - Held the last Sunday of the year, 20 minutes before church gets out. by Diane Tamariki



Cute Idea on Handouts by Anita Nunnery 
Handout Idea by Linda Vaughn  

  

Sometimes as leaders we like to do a little extra "something" around the holidays and special occasions.  That doesn't mean the whole two hours is dedicated to a holiday theme...just a little extra fun is all.   Whether it is a handout or small activity, here are some ideas centered around holiday themes... If you'd like to add some ideas, e-mail them to me.

Birthday Ideas
Christmas
Easter

Father's Day
Halloween
Independence Day
Mother's Day
Other Ideas
Pioneer Day
St. Patrick's Day

Thanksgiving
Valentine's Day



LESSONS 1 - 17 have been moved over to the new site.
 

I am a child of God Visuals - I drew these visual aids for my Nursery class so I could teach them this song a little easier.  Color, cut and mount pictures on popsicle sticks.  Click here for pdf file of visuals.
Jingle Bell Wreaths by AnJanette Broderick (You could use any color pipe cleaner and do this year round)
Miracle Spray - Using lemonade and adapting this a little, it was a big hit!
Music Ideas for Nursery
Music Match (pdf file) - Match cards and then sing the song
Nursery Song Book by Rebekah Mickelson 
Nursery Song Sheet from Primary-To-Go.  Just scroll down to "Nursery Song Sheet" (near bottom) and click on pdf file and print!
Obedient Bees by Alana Lee
Our children LOVE music time! The music teacher has prepared a small squirt bottle of water to use during the Rain Is Falling All Around song in the Primary Nursery Songbook. As we sing the song, she lightly mists the children with the water from the squirt bottle and they absolutely LOVE it! (Idea by Brenda Schultz / ga04272007)
Windwand Movement Cards



Nursery Newsletter - This is one of my newsletters from January 2006.  It is not the easiest template to use, but maybe it could help someone else.  [Front] and [Back]  
Here are several templates you can download and use to create a newsletter.
 

Bingo Squares
Crying Babies? What do you do?
Christmas Gift Idea for Nursery Children
If your budget allows, Oriental Trading Company sells a fun "Follow The Leader Line Keepers" for when you go on walks.  Jungle Safari Version or Plain Version
In our nursery, I felt we should divide up the workers in the two hours of nursery. We have a nursery leader there both hours, but the other two workers are only there an hour (two the first hour, two the second) So, 5 leaders total. This has worked wonderfully because we can call Elders or older sisters the first hour and they can still go to Relief Society and Elders/high priest Quorum. Then, Sunday school people are available the last hour. It has made the list of people that we can prayerfully choose from twice as long. I also try to be careful about how long they are in Nursery (especially older sisters--for health reasons, and burn out.). This same tactic (knowing who's available EACH hour, instead of each Sunday) has made our substitute list about four times as long. (Idea by Kendra Embleton)
Lesson Pictures by Laree Ipson
Letter to Parents by Amy Busch / ga01152008
Magnetic Clothespins - Put handouts/papers on the chalkboard using magnetic clothespins.
New Sunbeams - Ideas to help children graduating into Sunbeams
Nursery Lesson Planner   
Nursery Registration by Diane Tamariki
Nursery Teacher Responsibilities shared by Mari Joyce / ga12192007 
Outdated Toys - I have seen requests for toys in the Ward Bulletin before. I made requests for old or mismatched measuring cups and spoons in our "Nursery Newsletter".  As a nursery leader though I would suggest making requests VERY specific. If you just ask for "toys," you'll get every old Happy Meal toy from the past five years! and nothing that's actually useful.  You also might want to be careful with wording. Ask for gently used blocks from families with grown children. Don't make anyone feel that they have to go out and buy something to donate.  Right before Christmas is a great time to remind families to clean house before new stuff arrives. (Nae)
Preparation for Primary from June 1995 Ensign - Things parents can do to help their children transition better into Sunbeams.
Primary Manual Pictures by Leona Strom
Q-Cards - Helping you stay organized to give your lesson  
Recipes for Play dough
Relief Society - Nursery Baby Shower
Reverence Rope  
Some suggestions from a Sunbeam Teacher
Something I've done to quiet things down (like when you're ready to start the lesson and the children are still wiggly and restless) was to turn out the lights and have a rainstorm.  First have everyone rub their hands together, click fingers softly, clap your hands together softly a few times (for light rain), pat legs with hands, then stomp feet softly.  Then you do everything listed in the reverse order (until the storm has ended).  
Taking Roll - We take "roll" during snack time and sort of make a game out of figuring out who's here. I call the name, and the kids point to the person, and they raise their hand. I read the name whether or not that person is in class, and if I know why they aren't there, then I explain. "Seth isn't here today because he has a tummy ache," or "Aidan isn't here because his family went camping."  Then we count how many we have in class. It takes maybe 3 minutes and they are eating snacks while I do it. It has helped them learn each other's names, and you should see their faces light up when their name is said. They love it when they know their friends know their names! (Michelle Foote)
The purpose of Nursery
The Ward Nursery
Use a carpet square for each child to sit on when it's story or singing time.  I got some from the carpet stores for real cheap.
VIP Day - This is something my children's preschool does and could carry over well to Nursery.  Provide a calendar for the year with certain Sunday's blocked off for General, Ward and Stake Conference.  Then post the calendar and ask that each parent sign their child up for a VIP Day.  On their special day, they bring a brown paper sack that has five or six items that describe that child and their interests (favorite stuffed animal, picture they colored, etc.)  Then, on their VIP day, they are asked to bring their child's favorite snack to share with everyone (allergy issues should be addressed upfront so their are no problems on VIP days).  That child is also your helper throughout their VIP day...for example, during the lesson, they are the first to hold a picture or assist you, they get to say the prayer for snack and get the first bite : ), they are basically your helper that day.  Then when you are spotlighting them using their items, they get to come up and talk about each one. 

Welcome to Nursery! - You've been called to Nursery...now what?  What makes a successful Nursery?  Here are some ideas.  
Welcome to Nursery! shared by Mari Joyce / ga12192007 



Homemade Placemats
Placemat Template by Leslie Miller
Table Placemats - Laminate these for snack time, one for each child.  They can put their snack on the "plate" and their drink in the spot for a "cup".  Real Cute! (This is a pdf file and you'll have to have Adobe to view it).



I shared with them the poem "What If" it is from the Friend. I printed off a small mouse and gave them it to put in their pocket.  I brought tape for those who did not have a pocket.  They sat so still so that their mice could see and hear. (Idea by Nicole Richins / ga11152007)
I told the story of Chris-hopper  from the Friend.  It talks about him deciding that on Sunday his feet could be like a turtle.  I printed off little turtles and taped them to their shoes to remind them to walk reverently.  (Idea by Nicole Richins / ga11152007)
LDS Primary Lesson Helps for Lesson 38
To a Nursery Teacher by Leslie Ethington   

   



Quick Quotes



Schedule #1
Schedule shared by Mari Joyce / ga12192007

(This is a section that lists ideas for a fun and different snack every now and then - just make sure there aren't any allergies first.)
Nursery Basket Poem by Aimee     Snack Bucket
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Apple Peanut Butter Boats: Cut apple in half and scoop out core. Fill with peanut butter.
Cheesecake Grahams
Pudding Cones
Yummy Igloo



The Sunbeam from January 1994 Friend
Train Up A Child - The article is mostly focused on what parents should be doing, but it can definitely be applied to primary/nursery too. The section "A Window of Time" is the part I thought would apply the most.
What can I do to help my child entering the Primary nursery have a positive experience?



Nursery Blog



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