Pioneer Day FHE Lesson

Pioneer FHE Lesson
by Lara Goold
Materials needed: Scriptures,
Purpose: To teach family members about the pioneers that crossed the plains, and most importantly to show that
we can each be pioneers now by living righteously, following the prophet, and exercising faith in Jesus
Christ.
Scripture: “Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for
the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.”
1 Nephi 7:12
Opening song(s) and prayer:

“To Be a Pioneer,” Children’s Songbook, page 218-219
“Come, Come, Ye Saints,” Hymns, page 30
Lesson:
Lay down a quilt, turn off the lights (or most of them), unplug your phone and tell your family
that you are going to have Family Home Evening like the pioneers might have had (without
any modern conveniences).
Show the picture of the covered wagon from the flannel board story.
Tell them that today you are going to learn about the pioneers of old and later on we will learn
how we can be pioneers today…no covered wagon needed.
Define: A pioneer is a person who opens a way or prepares others to follow.
Briefly share the story of the pioneers (using summary and flannel board figures): A long
time ago there were people who were living in many different lands who all had recently joined a
new church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Because they lived in places and
times where their new beliefs were not accepted, Heavenly Father gave them instructions to
gather together in one place where they could be near the prophet and give support to each other.
It was a hard thing to leave behind their nice belongings and comfortable homes, but they
sacrificed so that they could follow what the Lord wanted them to do.
Because it was such a long time ago, there were no cars, or buses, or airplanes for the pioneers to
ride to Utah. Many of them had come in boats across the ocean and then walked or rode in
wagons pulled by oxen the rest of the way. It took a very long time to get to their new homes
and they faced many trials along the way, but the Lord blessed them and eventually they found a
peaceful haven where they could flourish and grow together.
Ask : Think back to the definition we talked about at the beginning, how did the pioneers open a
way or prepare others to follow? Talk about how by gathering in one place (eventually Utah)
they helped the church to become more firmly established and accepted, thereby preparing a less
arduous path for those who would follow (us).
For more ready‐to‐print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.   
 
Ask: Does the Lord ask us to leave our homes now to live in one place? No. Now Saints live
all over the world and establish themselves in their communities wherever they are. By living
the gospel, we are leaders and examples in our schools, communities, and workplaces, thereby
making us pioneers as well.
Pioneers of a Different Kind (with picture): Read this poem while showing the picture and use
it to facilitate a discussion about we can be pioneers today.
Modern Day Pioneers: Use these “case studies” to talk about the many different ways that we
can be pioneers now and how there are pioneers all around us. Emphasize that it is through
righteous choices, following the prophet, and having faith in Jesus Christ that we can be
pioneers.
To Be a Pioneer: Sing or read the words to, “To Be a Pioneer” (page 218 in Children’s
Songbook) while holding up a picture of the modern and traditional pioneer together (same
picture as from the Pioneers of a Different Kind poem). You may want to discuss some of the
similarities and differences in the picture.
Bear your testimony about the faithfulness of the pioneers and of your prayer that they can be
pioneers today in their every day life.
Closing song: “Little Pioneer Children,” Children’s Songbook, page 216

“Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked,” Children’s Songbook, page 214
Closing Prayer:
Refreshments: See below for a yummy recipe
Enrichment: Based on the ages and attention spans of your children, choose one or more of the following enrichment
activities to enhance the message of the lesson. Enrichment activities do not necessarily need to be
completed on the same night as the lesson. We often use them as reinforcement/reminders during the
week.
Try some of the crafts, recipes, or game ideas included.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FRENCH PEASANT BREAD
From http://recipeshoebox.blogspot.com
The ingredients:
1 Tbs. dry, quick rising yeast
2 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
4 cups all-purpose flour ( I used half whole wheat and half white flour)
olive oil (for greasing the pan)

corn meal (for pan)
1/4 cup butter, melted (for brushing over top before and after baking)
Place yeast, water, sugar, and salt in warm bowl and stir until dissolved. Add flour and stir until blended, but do
NOT knead.
Cover and let rise one hour or until double in size. Flour hands, remove dough from the bowl and place in 2
roughly equal rounds on an oiled cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Let rise an additional hour.
Brush the tops and sides of the rounds with melted butter and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce oven
temperature to 375 degrees and cook an additional 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and
brush tops and sides of rounds again with melted butter. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Make homemade butter ‐ Go to the store and buy heavy whipping cream.  Make sure it is not ordinary 
whipping cream; be sure it is designated as "heavy".  Fill a small container half way (like a baby food jar, sippy 
cup, anything like that will work) along with a pinch of salt.  Have each child shake, shake, shake their 
container until it forms a ball.  Drain any excess liquid.  Have them spread their butter on a piece of bread.  
 
While everyone is munching away ask them: 
 
* How hard was it to shake the jar? 
* How did your arm feel? 
* How long would you say it took the cream to turn to butter? 
* How does it taste?  
* What can making butter teach us about reaching our goals? 
* Should we just quit when it becomes hard?  Why or why not? 
* What are the rewards of finishing a task? 
 
The pioneers became very tired as they walked all day long, day after day.  Heavenly Father blessed them and 
he will bless us as we are faithful too.
 
Pioneer Flannel Board Story (to use with summary in lesson plan)
 
Pioneers of a Different Kind (use with poem that follows):
 
Pioneers of a Different Kind
by Jennifer Saintsbury Brown
My great-great grandma was a pioneer

And sacrificed for her journey here.
She left her fancy toys behind
For other children to come and find.
She got up early before the sun
And walked and walked ‘til the day was done.
She braved the dangers of woods and rivers,
Buffalos, snakes, and coyote shivers.
She tended the baby, fed the chicks,
Chased the cow and gathered the sticks.
Today I am a pioneer
in a different way—a different year.
I can sacrifice to help others.
I can truly love my sisters and brothers.
I can keep my language pure and clean.
I can avoid tv shows that shouldn’t be seen.
I can follow church leaders in all that they say.
I can say my prayers every day.
The journey is different—the goal is the same:

We want to reach Zion and be called by his name.
 
Modern Day Pioneers (case studies): Cut out and mount with their “stories” found on the
following page.
Emily
Jacob
Adjoa
Nikolai
 
Modern Day Pioneers (case studies): Cut out and mount onto their pictures found on the
previous page.
 
 
 
 
Field Trip and Activity Ideas (from Sugardoodle.net):
- Go on a picnic.
- Talk to some senior citizens. Find out what it was like when they were young. Ask them what life was like
for them as a child. Do they know what it was like for their parents?
- Visit a heritage building.
- Walk through the oldest section of the town or city where you live. See if you can identify the original homes
and pick out what they have in common.
- Learn about the first settlements in your area.
- Have a square dance with some neighbors. Involve extended family and friends to cook up some traditional
pioneer desserts to serve as refreshments, like pies and cakes. Make sure to wear your pioneer dresses and hats,
and, if possible, dance to live fiddles!
Pioneer Games:
Duck Duck Goose - renamed "horse, horse, ox."

Sack Race - Use two old pillowcases and let the children race each other in the backyard.
Checkers - Make your own checker board with 12 squares across instead of 8 and use buttons as player
pieces.
Pioneer Games by Susan Davis Friend Feb. 1989 (form of baseball, dare base, chain tag, last couple out,
railroad spelling bee)
Pioneer Puzzle Game - July 2004 Friend Magazine
Stick pulling - a favorite game Joseph Smith played with children and his peers (use a stick or broom)
Just Like Us - Word search puzzle from the July 2005 Friend.
Craft Ideas:
Make Sugar Cube Temples - Build sugar cube temples and talk about the importance of temples. Talk about
how important the temples were important to the pioneers.
Pioneer Bonnets and Vests - Make a pioneer bonnet pattern #1, pioneer bonnet pattern #2 and vest.
Other Activities:
 One room schoolhouse‐pretend you are going to school in a one room schoolhouse.  All of your siblings are in the 
same class as you are.  Find chalk and chalkboard or dry erase marker and whiteboard and write your letters, name, 
numbers, shapes, math, etc.  Have the older siblings teach something new to the younger siblings, if applicable.  
 Pack up‐pack up necessary belongings for a long "trek".  Suggestions might include food for lunch, a book to read for 
story time, harmonica or children's primary songbook, simple games.  Put them in backpacks or wagons.  Walk to the 
nearest park or designated area.   
 
 Plant seeds or a new garden just like the pioneers did when they settled a new land.  
 
 Make your own covered wagon with a cardboard box (A refrigerator box would work the best).  Draw wheels on 
outside of box.  Load up your wagon with things pioneers would take. 
 
 Pioneers didn't have mileage markers in their wagons like we do in our cars today.  To mark the distance they 
traveled they tied a piece of cloth on their wagon wheel and counted how many times it revolved (or spun around to its 
original location).  Tie a piece of cloth to your bike and mark how far you traveled in a given distance (i.e. 25 revolutions 
etc.)  
 Learn to sew using lacing cards (make your own by punching holes around a design), scrap pieces of material, tie 
quilts, make your own doll clothing.  
 
 Learn to dance like the pioneers.  Dances such as Virginia Reel.  Songs such as Turkey in the straw  
 
 Play horseshoes  
 
 Jump rope  
 
 Build a campfire and tell stories and sing songs  
 
 Pioneer Fashion show  
 
 Do your chores!   
 
 Pantomime chores that they pioneers would have done (chop wood, build a fire, fetch water from well, harvest 
crops, make food from scratch (i.e  butter, bread), churn butter, collect firewood, etc.  
 
 3 legged races 
 Make a pioneer spinner with string and button.  
 
 Make bracelet or necklace with string and beads.  
 
 Design your own pioneer clothing.  
 
 How did they make barrels and wheels round with straight wood?  They had to bend the wood in water to shape it 
(learned that in Nauvoo).  
 
 Make a prairie diamond by bending a nail in a circle to fit as a ring.  These were the rings men gave their women to 
propose.  (taken from Nauvoo welder shop) 
 

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Pioneer Day FHE Lesson

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Pioneer FHE Lesson

Materials needed: Scriptures,

Opening song(s) and prayer:

Define: A pioneer is a person who opens a way or prepares others to follow.

Closing song: “Little Pioneer Children,” Children’s Songbook, page 216

Refreshments: See below for a yummy recipe

Try some of the crafts, recipes, or game ideas included.

olive oil (for greasing the pan)

My great-great grandma was a pioneer

The journey is different—the goal is the same:

Duck Duck Goose - renamed "horse, horse, ox."

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