#: 5
Title: “No Stress Family Home Evenings”
Exhibitor: Menousek, Diane
Description: Family Home Evening packets can be prepared creatively
and easily through organized group activities. This project will result in having family home evening activities prepared for up to three months at a time. A group of 12 sisters meets every three months to choose individual topics on which they prepare a complete family home evening packet. Each packet is copied and shared with the other 11 members of the group. This is also an excellent way to meet new sisters and their families as they get together to share packets and pick new topics.
How To’s: How to Get Organized
General Information Handout
Responsibilities of Hostess
Packet Contents
Topic Ideas
Pattern for Poster Board Easel
Pattern for Quilted Flannel Board w/ Carrying Case
List of Resources
How
to Get Organized:
! Invite 12 sisters.
! Have a meeting together.
! Have each sister pick a different topic.
! Make a list of the topics everyone chose.
! Each sister makes 12 packets exactly alike, one for every sister in the group. You have three months to complete the 12 packets. If you have handouts in the packet, make one handout for each member of their family plus one extra as a master. You should also make a master copy of everything in your packet. You can put these together in a manila folder and keep them in a group master file. If you have someone move or drop out, you can then invite another sister to take her place. If the new sister wants to go back and make packets she has not received, she can then use the master file to do so.
! Meet every three months to exchange your packets. At this time decide on your next topic and start again. Have a different sister host each quarterly meetings. At this meeting you can also do a project. Some suggestions for the projects are a poster board easel, quilted flannel board for your flannel board stories, coloring with chalk lesson, etc.
! There is really no limit to how many sisters you want to have in the group. At one time we did have 17 sisters. We then made 17 packets each and meet every 17 weeks. If you only get 9 sisters, then make 9 packets and meet every 9 weeks, etc. Keep in mind that 12 seems to be the perfect number, but you certainly don’t want to turn sisters away. If you get too many, you can even do two groups. With two groups, you then can swap idea topics and master files.
General Information Handout (Can be used for your first meeting):
1. Our Family Home Evening Lesson Exchange Group will meet every three months (12 weeks) to exchange packets.
2. Come prepared with several lesson topic ideas so that we can sign up for the topics at each meeting. (A list of FHE ideas is included on this web site). Each person is responsible for finding their own lessons. Resources can be pooled together.
3. Each person is making a packet with you in mind. We are all depending on each other to complete our packets on time. If a group member does not have her lesson materials, her lesson will be held back.
4. Schedule your self by deciding which week you will make your copies, color. Laminate, sort, etc. If we wait to prepare our packets at the last minute, it will become a burden and will reflect in our packet.
5. The amount of money you spend will not guarantee the quality of your packet. The time we spend will determine how our lessons look.
6. Let’s not make apologies for our packets. No matter how hard I tried, I still have typos and many other errors; but I did my best. The important thing is that we complete our packets on time and do the best we can.
Responsibilities
of Hostess:
Thank you for being a Family Home Evening Lesson Exchange Hostess! Below is a list of responsibilities. If you have any questions please call.
- Put announcements in both the ward bulletin and Relief Society page unless you prefer to keep your group small or personally invited.
- Call and remind everyone of the meeting.
- Take charge of the FHE project for the quarter or assign someone else to do it.
a. Copy directions for the project and distribute them to the group members.
b. Purchase any supplies that would be cheaper if they were purchased in bulk – have the group members pay in advance.
c. Instruct the group on how to make the project or assign it.
- Make refreshments or assign someone to make them.
By having different people host FHE Lesson Exchange Group, we can have a more self-sufficient group. We appreciate your efforts.
Packet Contents:
Guide sheet: The guide sheet should be in a plastic cover sheet and have all of the information that is in the packet.
Story for younger children: All stories for younger children will have flannel figures to assist them in learning the concepts in the story. The figures can be made out of felt or card stock paper and then laminated. This will insure that we will be able to enjoy our packets for years to come. Sandpaper, felt, and the blue foamy dryer sheets seem to work best on flannel boards. Attach them securely on the back. We should avoid figures that are smaller than 5” so that they are not easily lost.
Story for older children: Any story or poem we can find to support our topic can be used. Good resources are The New Era, and lesson manuals. By including a story for older children we will be able to grow with our packets and insure the interest of all ages.
Activity: We can get very creative with our activities, and they can be free! A nature walk, playing “Duck, Duck, Goose” but calling it “Nephite, Nephite, Lamanite”, painting a mural about the lesson, visiting church sites in the area, making cookies for a neighbor, etc. The options are endless.
Treat: I know of one family that has dessert once a week, and it is on Family Night to make the evening special. The treat does not have to coordinate with the lesson, yet if you can, the kids really enjoy it.
Songs: Please include the page number from the LDS
Hymn book or the Children’s Song Book.
Scripture: Please provide the reference or type out the scripture.
Refrigerator Magnet Display: The refrigerator display may be used as a reminder of the things that were taught in the lesson, or put it up to excite the children about the upcoming FHE. The display can be made of many things, but if it is on paper, please use card stock and laminate them. Secure a magnetic strip to the back.
FHE File Card: The file cards should be 3” x 5” so that we can file all cards together for easy reference. After completing a lesson, put the date on the back of the card.
10” x 15” Manila Envelope: All FHE packets should be stored in an envelope with a card exactly like the FHE File card glued to it. Print each group member’s name on the upper right corner on the back of the envelope.
**A master file of originals will be stored at the group leader’s home. Originals can be checked out as needed.