With Jr. Primary, I made the clues very, very easy. For example, I hid one behind the blue curtains of a window in the Primary room and the clue said “Look by a window for the next clue.” There were four windows they had to check, but even the Sunbeams were certainly able to find it. Another one was in the podium, and the clue said “Look where we stand and pray.” I rotated classes for each clue (we have bigger Jr Primary classes), and had the teacher choose a reverent child from his/her class to hold the picture and tell the story if they knew it while I’d read the clue on the back. Then I’d let one child (chosen by a teacher again) look for the clue with verbal help from friends and teachers.

Instead of doing the Outline suggested plan, for our smaller Sr. Primary I did a treasure hunt like Jr. Primary, only I made it harder. On the back of each picture, the post-it had a short scripture summarizing the answer to the question below from the story in the picture that everyone had to look up and read to themselves and then I called on someone to read it aloud and answer the question “What did this family do that is a good example of how to strengthen our families?” Then I’d read them a clue and they’d all go looking. The clues were tougher, like the window clue said something like “Look for the next clue behind something blue.” Sufficiently vague, but it only took about 20 seconds for 10 kids to find it.

I found a small box in the Primary closet that I emptied temporarily as a “treasure box” and put stickers inside. When a child found the treasure, I had him bring it to me. I’d told the kids at the beginning that everyone gets a piece of the treasure after they tell me something they can do to strengthen their family. So, I took the treasure box to each child, had them tell me something they could do to strengthen their families (Sunbeams needed a bit of help from their teacher), then let each child choose a sticker.

That’s it! The kids liked it (especially the stickers), and the Sr. Primary did really well with looking up scriptures and understanding how they applied to the question. We didn’t do any music this time, but we had plenty of music later in Singing Time preparing for Mother’s Day (our Primary traditionally sings a special musical number in Sacrament Meeting on Mother’s Day). I was surprised at how reverent the Jr. Primary was because they wanted to be chosen by their teachers to find a clue. Four-five clues was plenty for the time allotted.

I just had to write and say that I love your blog because every single month when I am planning my sharing time lesson and I am googling for ideas your blog pops up and then I “copy” your idea!!! HAHAHA! Anyways, I would LOVE to hear more about your one this month….like how you related the clue to the story? Did it work well? I am teaching tomorrow but if you do get this and email me with those details I would love you forever!

Thanks girl!
Stephanie (a PP from Chicago)
rainfly3@Hotmail.com
http://ourjohnsonjourney.blogspot.com/

Anyway, just my thoughts. I don’t want to be a solicitor, but if you are interested in what I use instead which is made of natural solvents and costs less, email me.