At the end of each Primary class, I give my four-year-olds a Scriptorian lesson. They like the big word and they seem to enjoy their lessons. They can't read yet, but it doesn't matter. Someday they will, and then they will know all about their scriptures. The following lessons take only a few minutes at the end of each class. You will need to repeat each step for quite a long time. Skip any steps you feel are not appropriate to your class or don't interest you. And, of course, add anything that comes to mind. This is just a starting point.

Lesson 1: Teach the names of the scriptures. You may want to focus only on the book your class is using. In Junior Primary, the children alternate between the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. This year, I have introduced my children to both the Old and the New Testament. I discovered the children were not familiar with the word Bible, because of our tendency to refer to scriptures, rather than specific names of books. We began by learning what the Bible is. They learned that my big book was the Bible. Within the big book were two smaller books: The Old Testament and the New Testament.

Lesson 2: Teach the children how to handle their scriptures reverently. Practice turning pages carefully, setting books gently under chairs when not in use, and carrying books carefully.

Lesson 3: Teach children to identify the specific book: I made a card for each child that had a sticker at the top. An arrow points to the New Testament if the sticker is at the top of the card. The children place this between the Old and New Testaments. Each child is encouraged to bring a Bible each week, and I bring some from the library for those who forget. They open their books to the card and I make sure the books are not upside down. Then I go to each child and ask which half is the Old Testament and which is the New Testament. I describe the Old Testament as the story of the first days of the earth. The New Testament is described as being about Jesus' life on earth.

Lesson 4: Begin memorizing the names of the books in the Bible or other scripture. Because the Junior Primary lessons focus on the first four books of the New Testament, we are memorizing these. The children chant them while marching around the room. They also clap as they say them or do some other activity that adds movement. If you are teaching the Book of Mormon, teach the books as you reach them. The children may not be able to learn all of them, but they should be able to learn at least four or five.

Lesson 5: Teach the children what a scripture reference looks like. Write the reference on the board and explain what each part means. Do this each time you read a scripture in class. Be sure they know it means chapter and verse.

Lesson 6: Prepare them to read scriptures. You can do this as you do the other lessons. When you read a scripture, show the children where it is in the scriptures. Let a child come up to "read" it, by repeating the words after you. Write key words on the board, such as Jesus, and repeat them often. Some children will learn to read those words.

Lesson 7: When children can read, introduce them to the footnotes, the Bible Dictionary, and other parts of their scriptures.

You will be amazed at how much your little students learn to love and use their scriptures in a very short time!


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