I Can Share (Parable of the Spoons)

Click to Download: I Can Share PDF

Prayer:

Song: “I’m Trying to be Like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook p.78)

Introduction: Bring something to share (a treat or a toy) for the class or family night. Share it with the children and ask them how they feel when you share with them. Talk about how it made you feel to share as well. Why do you think Heavenly Father wants us to share?

Scripture (Jacob 2:17-18): Explain that some of the people in Jacob’s time were very rich, but they didn't want to share what they had with those who were poor. Read the verses and discuss them.

Parable of the Spoons (page 3): Read this story before hand, so you can easily share the meaning with your children/primary class. Give a brief introduction to the story and ask the children to listen for how the people in Heaven shared. (It's a story about heaven and hell, and how the people there were given very long spoons to eat a delicious stew. The spoons were so long, no one could eat on their own. The people in heaven were plump and happy, and the people in hell were think and sickly. Why were the people in heaven so different? Because, they learned to share.)

Enrichment Ideas:

“I Can Share My..” (page 4): Print enough of these for each person. Talk about how to share the first spoon (food) and go around in a circle and have each person practice sharing a food of choice. Then, have each person draw or write the food of choice they mentioned in the oval portion of the food spoon. Continue for remaining spoons until they are all completed.

Sharing Spoons Game (page 5-9): Play the Sharing Spoons Game to brainstorm various ways to share.

I Can Share Coloring Page (page 10): Have the children think of their favorite way to share, or a favorite way others share with them. Draw and color the page.

Testimony: Share an example of when someone shared with you, or how you feel when you share. Remind children the importance of sharing and why Heavenly Father asks us to share. 

Treat (Marshmallow Stew). For a treat, I thought it would be fun to make a long handled spoon - a yard stick with a spoon taped onto the end and practice sharing a "Marshmallow Stew" (a bowl full of marshmallows).