Family Home Evening Packet Groups

This is for friends in Kirksville who have mentioned they may want to try this:) (I copied this from a post my friend, Karene, put on her blog- thanks for doing all the typing, Karene :)

"We are doing this really cool enrichment class. It is ongoing and you basically get together and pick a topic per person (household). Then you get 3 months to put a lesson, activity, etc. together for the number of people who are in the group. You put it all in file folders and then meet to exchange them. If this doesn't make sense, there are 18 people in our group. I chose the topic attitudes. I have had 3 months to put together a whole FHE packet and everything you need. I have made 18 copies and will meet in April and exchange the folders for 18 other folders and go home with 18 FHE nights prepared. We then choose another topic to pick that night and start all over and in 3 more months will receive another 18 different packets and topics, possibly more if more women want to join. I have included the instructions on how to do this in case anyone is interested.Good Luck!

Family Home Evening Packet Guidelines
Assume that each family has the Children’s Songbook, Hymns, a Gospel Art Picture Kit (all are available from the Church Distribution Center).Make your packet complete! If you reference a picture not in the Gospel Art Picture Kit, include your picture in your packet. Any material to be used (i.e. sting, buttons, popsicle sticks) that can be enclosed in the folder should be included so that the whole packet is ready to open and use. If there are materials that cannot be put in the folder (i.e. a tennis shoe, a glass of water, food) a list should be on the outside of the folder of the materials needed to be added for the packet to be complete.

Provide an outline for the family home evening. Your outline can include:
§ Objective
§ Opening song
§ Opening prayer
§ Lesson
§ Story/Thought
§ Scripture§ Game
§ Recipe or idea for refreshments
*Note: not every lesson will have all of the above

Cardstock and laminate: Copy all pictures and game pieces onto cardstock. The cardstock can be white or colored and you may do any coloring with markers, color pencils, or crayons. It must then be laminated to preserve and protect the paper. Other copies you make for the lesson (such as an outline, songs, stories, and master copies of the pictures) can be on regular paper.

Master/White Copies: Include an extra black and white copy of each picture/game piece. This way if a picture is lost or destroyed, it can be replaced.

Lessons for All Ages: When planning your lessons, try to incorporate activities and ideas that are appropriate for older children as well as younger children. For example, suppose your lesson includes a story about missionary work with related pictures and props. This is excellent for younger children, but older children may need more than just a story. Think of activities for them. Have them write their testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it to a friend, etc. Just try to include a few ideas in each lesson to involve children of all age groups.

Packet Assembly:The entire packet should go in a regular sized manila folder, with the sides taped with packing tape, and the name of the lesson on the folder tab.Please put your name and phone number on the back of the folder so we know who made it and who to call if there are questions. "

This is now me typing again :) We met this week and exchanged our packets and now I have 18 excellent family home evening lessons!! I'm so excited! Everyone did such a great job!!

We were given 3 months to do this and of course I didn't even start until 2 days before they were due and it still turned out great! Now we will do it again in August and everyone will choose a new topic that hasn't been used yet. They have great ideas for family home evening lessons at http://www.sugardoodle.net/. It almost lays out the whole lesson for you :)

Good luck to any who try this out. It's so much fun!

************If your time is precious to you, you could just order ones that are already finished at http://www.hatchpatchcreations.com/ :) I did this last year. You do have to color them and cut it all out though :)