STAR Box
by Cindy Tyler / ga08262006
 

I made a "STAR box" out of a refrigerator box decorated with big shiny stars. I cut off the back of the box so that a person could step inside from the back. On the front were the words "Sharing Testimonies and Remembrances" in big letters. I attached two folded sheets of colored paper on the front. One said "Today’s Message" and the other "Today’s Stars." I put an "instruction" sheet on the side of the box.

I told the children that we had had a delivery made to our Primary. It was a new invention – the STAR box. We all went to the back of the room where the box was standing. We read the instructions on the side, which said, "Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a Primary STAR box. We hope it will bring you many happy events in Primary as you strengthen tender testimonies. Please follow these instructions carefully:

1. To be used only under the careful supervision of a Primary leader.

2. Read "Today’s Message." (The children then opened the sheet that said "Today’s Message" and found this month’s theme printed there.)

3. Read "Today’s Stars." (They then looked inside the "Today’s Stars" paper and found the names of our bishopric counselor and a recently returned missionary who "happened" to be visiting with us in Primary.) 4. Ask one of the stars to step into the box.

5. All children must say the magic words. ("Their promises are sure!")

6. Listen carefully to what the Star has to say.

7. Repeat steps 4-6 as many times as you wish.

Our "stars" would step into the box and slip on a big name tag that I had made for each of the people they were representing. (We used stories from the Friend, but this could be done with scripture stories, prophets, pioneers, or just about anything. They could also use costumes, instead of just name tags.) They came out and, pretending to be the person on the tag, told a story about someone who had his prayers answered. The children loved it! They were so attentive and they really listened to the stories and participated enthusiastically throughout the whole thing.

It was a lot of fun, and the kids seemed to really like the STAR box. I think we’ll bring it back and use it a few times a year... if only I can figure out where to store it in between. It spent most of the past week in the middle of my living room and that just isn’t going to work!