Some children learn best by interacting with the world around them. They love to dig in and learn in a hands-on way. That’s why we like to incorporate activities that engage the senses!
Engage your sense of touch with this Help Me Dear Father Sensory Bin object lesson! Help your primary children better understand the message of this song by choosing objects that relate to forgiveness and repentance. As we “clean out” our hearts through the power of Christ’s Atonement, we can feel more peace and joy.
**See all Help Me Dear Father Singing Time Ideas**
Help Me, Dear Father Sensory Bin
Use this fun object lesson with simple scenarios and sensory props to teach your primary children about repentance and forgiveness as taught in this primary song.
For this activity, create your sensory bin by using a tote or box and filling it with a small filler, such as rice, dried beans, popcorn, or noodles. Then, fill your sensory bin with random objects. I recommend using fairly small objects, but you can vary the size!
I chose to coordinate my sensory bin objects with items that I could use to come up with simple sceanios that require someone to either repent or forgive. I’ve included a list of 12 simple scenarios in the printable later in this post. Cut out and tape each of these scenarios to an object in the bin.
I’ve also included some simple visuals for each of the scenarios. You can use these instead of household items in your sensory bin, although I do recommend having some real objects for the kids to engage with.
Place your sensory bin on the table and cover it with a cloth or towel before singing time. This makes for a fun element of surprise and will pique their curiosity!
At the start of singing time, begin with a brief review of the song. I like to sing through the song first to help keep the song fresh in the kids’ minds. Feel free to grab our colorful flipchart for Help Me, Dear Father to help you review!
Then, reveal the sensory bin and have the kids imagine that this sensory bin represents our hearts. Choose a child to come up and pick an item.
Have them read the scenario to the class. Ask the class: Is this something that we need to repent for or something we need to forgive someone else for?
Remove the item from the bin and sing through the song again. Then, have someone else come up and choose another item. Continue uncovering objects in the sensory bin and discuss the importance of repenting and forgiving so that our hearts can be clean.
Repentance/Forgiveness Scenarios
Sensory Object Ideas
Repentance:
- You call someone a mean name at school (“Lips” Picture or chapstick).
- Your mom asks you to help with the dishes, but you play with your toys instead (Dish towel or plastic dish).
- You copy your friend’s homework (Pencil or paper).
- You break a picture frame and lie about it (Picture frame or 4×6 picture).
- You gossip with your friends about a new student (Plastic phone).
- You push someone over on purpose at recess. (Basketball, baseball).
Forgiveness:
- Your brother often plays with your toys and breaks them (Toy car or other toy).
- Someone at school says a joke about you, but it really hurts your feelings (Picture of laughing emoji).
- You ask your mom to pack a special snack for your lunch, but she forgets (Granola bar or other snack).
- Your older sister makes fun of your drawing (Crayons or colored pencils).
- Your best friend yells at you while you’re playing a game (Game dice).
- Someone bumps into you at school and knocks you over (Band-Aid)
Extension Activities:
- For another simple object lesson, bring in a backpack filled with rocks. Write challenges that result in needing to forgive or repent. Explain that when we hold on to grudges or wait to repent, our spiritual load becomes heavy. Remove the rocks while you sing to represent the healing power of Christ’s Atonement.
- Instead of writing scenarios on each item, bring in random objects and have the children come up with a scenario to match each object!
- Instead of writing scenarios, write a quote about forgiveness or repentance on each object. When an item is chosen, read the quote.
For another fun similar activity using senses, head over to see this I Love to See the Temple Touch the Temple singing time activity!
Help Me Dear Father Sensory Bin Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes 12 sample sceanios to use for this object lesson, as well as colorful images to pair with each sceanio and include in your sensory bin!
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including 1/4 and 1/2 page image and scenario cards in color and black and white. You’ll find these bonus files included when Help Me Dear Father is the featured song of the month.
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
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For another simple way to review this song in primary, check out this Help Me Dear Father Concentration game!
What other fun ways will you use this sensory bin singing time activity in your Primary room?
