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by Melanie Day
(Teaching important principles of prayer using the
story of The Little Engine that Could)
Prayer Train Clipart:
GETTING READY: Set up chairs (if possible) so
that they resemble a train passenger car. You could even set this up in the
gym or another room (depending on how many children you have in your
Primary). Set two chairs together and make rows of four with an isle
down the middle.
DISCUSSION: Have you ever seen a train? Have you had the
opportunity to ride in a train? How do trains move? How would
you describe a train? Most trains require a boarding pass and you can't get
on without one. Let them know that they don't need a boarding pass
today, everyone is invited to go on a ride on the Prayer Train.
ACTIVITY: Choose four children to help
you with this activity. Make a small train track from masking tape
and for the children to stand on. The children represent a train. Give
each of the children a part of prayer train; however, do not give it to
them in order. Give the first child the train, "We thank thee...",
the second child, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen", etc. See if
anyone can help you put this train in the right order. As each child
is asked to stand in their correct place, review the importance of the
order of prayer. Ask the children if they would ever go to their mom
and start out a conversation by saying, "Because I want to mom!"
What would your mother say? Probably, "What do you want?" When
we speak to our parents, we show respect; however, we show an even greater
level of respect by following the steps of prayer.
SCRIPTURE: Alma 34:21, 26, 27
21. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all
your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
26. But this is not all; ye must pour out your
souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord,
let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for
your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
 When, how, where, why do we pray?
STORY: Let me tell you a story...it might sound familiar, but then
again, it might not.
A little steam engine had a long train of cars to
pull. She went along very well till she came to a steep hill. But
then, no matter how hard she tried, she could not move the long train of
cars. She pulled and she pulled. She puffed and she puffed.
Have you ever had a hard day and you huff and
puff?? Do you ever just want to talk to someone about your day? Let's
see what happens...
She backed and started off again. Choo! Choo! But no! the cars would
not go up the hill. At last she left the train and started up the
track alone. Do you think she had stopped working? No, indeed! She was going
for help.
"Surely I can find someone to help me ," she thought.
Who
could the Little Engine ask for help? Maybe a friend?
Over the hill and up the track went the little steam
engine. Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo!
Pretty soon she saw a big steam engine standing on a
side track. He looked very big and strong. Running alongside, she looked up
and said: "Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so
long and heavy I can't get it over." The big steam engine said he
couldn't help.
The
Little Engine decides to ask another friend for help....do you think they'll
be able to help her?
She went on, Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Soon she
came to a second big steam engine standing on a side track. He was puffing
and puffing, as if he were tired. "That big steam engine may help me,"
thought the little steam engine. She ran alongside and asked: "Will you help
me bring my train of cars over the hill? It is so long and so heavy that I
can't get it over." The second big steam engine answered: "I have just
come in from a long, long run. Don't you see how tired I am? Can't you get
some other engine to help you this time?
Instead of asking friends for help this time, the Little Engine decides to
ask for help from Heavenly Father. How do we speak to Heavenly Father?
(Through prayer). Does Heavenly Father listen to everyone's prayers or
just certain people? (Everyone) Well then let's see what happens to
Little Engine.
After a while she said a little prayer. She
said, "Dear Heavenly Father..." (show picture of Train 1), "I thank thee
(show picture of Train 2) for the strength thou hast given to me so far.
The journey is so long and so heavy I don't know if I can make it. I
ask thee (show picture of Train 3) to help me over the hill with my train of
cars. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen (show picture of Train 4)."
The little steam engine felt so happy inside. She knew Heavenly Father
was saying, "Yes, indeed! I would love to help you...thank you for
thinking of me! But I need you to do your part...will you try?"
"Yes, I'll do my best," said the little steam engine, and off she went. Choo,
choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! So the little steam engines started back
to where the train of cars had been standing. Slowly the cars began to move.
Slowly they climbed the steep hill. As they climbed, the little steam engine
began to sing: "I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! And
together they did! Very soon they were over the hill and going down the
other side.
Now they were on the plain again; and the little steam
engine could pull her train herself.
The
Little Engine knew that Heavenly Father had helped her through a tough
situation, one she couldn't have done by herself. What would be a good
thing to do at this point?
She offered a quick prayer of thanks. She said, "Dear Heavenly
Father..." (show picture of Train 1), "I thank thee for helping me when I
didn't have the strength (show picture of Train 2). I ask thee to
continue to be with me (show picture of Train 3). In the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen (show picture of Train 4)." And she went merrily on her
way, singing that together she knew-they-could, she knew-they-could, she
knew-they-could, she knew-they-could.
When we
call upon Heavenly Father to help us, we become a team. He asks us to
do our part and He will do His.
OBJECT LESSON:
Establishing a relationship with Heavenly Father
from JennySmith.net
CRAFT:
Click to enlarge image.
Have each child color and make their own prayer train. Take a piece of
white paper or construction paper and cut in half length wise. Cut a
long piece of yarn and have the children glue the train on top of the yarn
to connect each cart in the correct order. You could also have them
make the train into a necklace. Staple or tape each part of the train
onto a piece of yarn.
TRAIN TREATS: (If this is adapted for a Family Home Evening
Lesson here are several possible edible train creations for refreshments).
1. Marshmallow Trains - Use pretzel sticks to hook the "cars" together
and peanut butter to glue cheerios on as wheels and other features.
2. Graham Cracker Trains - Make these flat on a paper plate. Use
frosting to connect the sides and decorate.
3. Hostess Twinkie Trains - Attach cookie wheels (Oreos) with
frosting.
4. Edible Train
(Click here to see picture): Make a
delicious train out of cookies, snack cakes and other goodies! (Source:
www.tosmagazine.com)
CONCLUSION: Bear testimony of the
importance of prayer and that we show respect to Heavenly Father when we use
the correct order of prayer. Prayer is like the train tracks...it
helps get us on track to getting to know our Father in Heaven and having
faith in Him.
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