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Jesus Calms the Storm

A chair boat, a sleeping Savior, a wild storm, and four friends who carried a man to Jesus

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–7
  • Week 9
  • 📅 Sunday, February 28, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ is stronger than any storm, so when I feel scared I can turn to Him and feel His peace.

I can turn to Jesus when I feel scared, and I can help bring my friends to Him.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 8; Mark 2–4; Luke 7 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 8; Mark 2–4; Luke 7)
Know the chapters

This week Jesus shows His power again and again. He touches a man with leprosy and makes him clean (Matthew 8:1–4). He heals a Roman soldier’s servant from far away, just by saying the word (Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10). He heals a man’s hand on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1–5) and brings a widow’s son back to life (Luke 7:11–15). In Mark 2:1–12, four friends can’t get through the crowded door, so they climb up, open the roof and lower their friend down to Jesus. Jesus sees their faith, forgives the man’s sins, and then heals his body.

The story at the center of this lesson is Mark 4:35–41. Jesus falls asleep on a pillow in the back of a fishing boat. A great storm comes up, the waves fill the boat, and the scared disciples wake Him. He speaks to the wind and the sea, “Peace, be still,” and everything goes calm. Then He gently asks why they were afraid. He had been with them the whole time.

Four- to seven-year-olds have real storms: thunder at night, a new school, a sick grandma, a big dog, the dark. The point is not that Jesus makes every scary thing disappear right away. It’s that He cares, He is more powerful than anything we fear, and He can give us peace inside when we pray, sing about Him or remember Him.

For the 7-year-olds getting ready for baptism, the four friends are a lovely picture. Jesus forgave the man, and He forgives us when we repent. Friends and families help carry each other to Jesus, like parents who bring a child to be baptized. Keep the focus on Jesus’s kindness and power.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Mark 4:35–41 so you can tell it in your own words. Line up chairs in two rows for a boat, open the Story Drama in Teach Mode and let the class rock, blow and splash until you say, “Peace, be still.” Teach Mark 4:39 with the motions, play Forehead Guess and close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: the pillow becomes a pantomime and the four friends lower an invisible bed.

What to bring4 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Hide the pillow in the pillowcase or bag and set it where the kids can’t peek.
  2. Line up chairs in two rows to make a boat, with one empty spot at the back for the pillow. No room for chairs? Mark a boat shape on the floor with your feet.
  3. Lay the blanket and stuffed animal near the door for Four Friends Lift.
  4. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out roles with one tap.

If your class is wild

  • The storm is supposed to be loud. Let it be loud for about ten seconds, then use “Peace, be still” as your magic stop signal for the whole lesson.
  • Practice the freeze once before the story: raise one hand slowly, and everyone freezes like calm water.
  • Give your readers the Lead Disciple line and the screen captions. Give your 4-year-olds the wind, waves and thunder; they love those jobs.
  • Some little ones really are scared of storms. Sit a nervous child next to you in the boat and let them be the one who smooths the water at the end.

The 25-minute plan25 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

The Mystery Pillow

2 min

A secret in a bag gets everyone curious and introduces the Savior asleep in the boat.

  1. Hold up the bag. Say: “Something in here is soft and squishy. You use it every night. What is it?” Let a few kids feel the outside of the bag and guess.
  2. Pull out the pillow. Everyone pretends to fall asleep on their hands and snore.
  3. SAY“Jesus once fell asleep on a pillow in a very surprising place: in a boat, in the middle of a giant storm! Let’s climb in and see what happened.”
🌪️ Everyone who guesses gets to “snore” once. Then say, “Wake up!” and they pop up and hurry into the boat.

Class screen: 🛏️ What’s in the bag? · Soft and squishy · You use it every night

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A pillow or folded jacket hidden in a pillowcase or grocery bag (the mystery pillow)

Mystery Mime

  1. SAY“I’m going to act out something you use every night. Guess what it is!”
  2. Pretend to fluff a big pillow, pat it, lay your head on it and snore. Let kids guess.
  3. SAY“A pillow! Jesus once fell asleep on a pillow in a very surprising place: in a boat, in the middle of a giant storm! Let’s climb in and see what happened.”

Class screen: 😴 What am I pretending to use?

2. Story

Story Drama: The Storm on the Sea

7 min

Being in the boat when the storm roars and then goes silent helps kids feel Jesus’s power and peace.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode). Everyone who doesn’t have a part is a Disciple in the boat.
  2. SAY“When I raise my hand and say, ‘Peace, be still,’ everything freezes. Let’s practice.” Practice once.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the action. Let a reader read each caption out loud.
  4. The teacher reads all of Jesus’s words. Nobody plays Jesus: the pillow in the back of the boat shows where He is sleeping.
  5. After scene 9, ask: “Who stopped the storm?” (Jesus!) “Was He with the disciples the whole time?” (Yes!)
🌪️ The storm lasts ten seconds, then “Peace, be still.” If anyone keeps going, the whole boat freezes and waits. Waves stay beside the boat, not on it.

Class screen: ⛵ All aboard the boat! · Row 🚣 · Storm ⛈️ · Peace, be still ✋

3. Wiggle break

Storm and Calm

2 min

A call-out movement game gets wiggles out and ends with the whole class practicing calm.

  1. Everyone stands. Teach the calls: “Wind!” (sway and blow) · “Rain!” (wiggle fingers down) · “Waves!” (roll arms) · “Thunder!” (stomp).
  2. Call them fast and in any order. Let a 6- or 7-year-old be the caller for a round.
  3. Then say, “Peace, be still!” and everyone freezes and sits down slowly.
  4. Tap Noise Meter. Say: “Can our boat get so calm the meter hardly moves?”
🌪️ Thunder stomps stay in your own spot. If it gets too wild, say “Peace, be still” and wait for a perfect freeze before the next round.
🐭 Noise Meter (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🌬️ Wind! Rain! Waves! Thunder! · Then… peace, be still ✋

4. Object lesson

Four Friends Lift

3 min

Carrying a “sick friend” through the roof shows how Jesus forgives and heals, and how we can help bring others to Him.

  1. Lay the stuffed animal on the blanket. Say: “This man couldn’t walk. His four friends wanted to bring him to Jesus.” Pick four kids to hold the corners.
  2. Everyone else squishes together by the door as the crowded house. Say: “Oh no! Too many people. They can’t get in the door!”
  3. The four friends pretend to climb up on the roof, dig a hole (“Scritch, scratch!”) and slowly lower the bed to the floor in front of you.
  4. Read Jesus’s words in a kind voice: “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee… Arise, and take up thy bed.” Let the stuffed animal stand up and walk.
  5. SAY“Jesus saw the friends’ faith. He forgave the man and healed him. When we repent, Jesus forgives us too. That’s part of the promise we make when we’re baptized.”
🌪️ Nobody gets carried for real. If the crowd starts pushing, say, “The house is so quiet you can hear Jesus teaching,” and everyone freezes.

Class screen: 🏠 Four friends and a hole in the roof! · Mark 2:1–12

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small blanket or beach towel and a stuffed animal or doll (the man on his bed)

The Invisible Bed

  1. Pick one child to be the man who couldn’t walk. They sit on the floor. Pick four friends to kneel at the corners of an invisible bed.
  2. Everyone else squishes together by the door as the crowded house. Say: “Too many people! They can’t get in!”
  3. The four friends pretend to climb up, dig a hole in the roof (“Scritch, scratch!”) and lower the invisible bed hand over hand with pretend ropes.
  4. Read Jesus’s words in a kind voice: “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee… Arise, and take up thy bed.” The man stands up, rolls up his invisible bed and walks around the room.
  5. SAY“Jesus forgave the man and healed him. When we repent, Jesus forgives us too. That’s part of the promise we make when we’re baptized.”
5. Scripture

Peace Verse: Mark 4:39

3 min

A verse with big motions sums up the story: Jesus can bring peace.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a reader to read it slowly while the little ones watch the motions.
  2. Teach the motions one part at a time. Say it together three ways: stormy voice (loud), windy voice (whispery), and calm voice (slow and soft).
  3. SAY“Jesus can say ‘Peace, be still’ to our scared feelings too. When we pray or think about Him, He can help us feel calm inside.”
  4. Say it one last time with motions, then sit down as still as calm water.

Class screen: ✋ Peace, be still. And the wind ceased · …and there was a great calm. · Mark 4:39

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Storm Edition

3 min

A Heads Up–style game reviews the story with easy picture words.

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. One child holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Classmates give clues or act it out without saying the word. The picture helps pre-readers know what it is.
  3. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. About 30 seconds per guesser.
  4. Pair younger guessers with an older buddy who can whisper hints.
🌪️ Clue-givers raise a hand and wait to be called on. Storm sounds are great clues, but only for three seconds.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out. Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

When I Feel Scared

2 min

Kids connect the storm to their own scary moments and learn what they can do.

  1. Sit close together. Tap Name Spinner to pick who answers.
  2. Little ones can show a scared face and a calm face, or point to their answer.
  3. Share your own answer to one question first.
💬 Ask the class
  • What are some things that feel scary, like a storm?
  • What did the disciples do when they were scared?
  • What can you do when you feel scared?
  • How do you think the disciples felt when everything got calm?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 💬 Let’s talk!

8. Testimony

Jesus Brings Peace

3 min

End calm and quiet with the feeling of peace Jesus gives.

  1. Everyone sits still. Softly sing or hum “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74).
  2. SAY“When I feel scared, I can pray. I can sing about Jesus. I can remember that He is with me, just like He was in the boat.”
  3. Share a short testimony: a time you felt scared and Jesus helped you feel peace.
  4. Show the challenge on the screen. Invite a child to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 😌 Jesus can help me feel peace · Pray 🙏 · Sing 🎵 · Remember Him ❤️

9. Craft

Storm-and-Calm Pictures

4 minBONUS

Drawing the same boat stormy and calm helps kids remember what Jesus did.

  1. Fold each paper in half. On one side, kids draw the boat in the storm. On the other side, the same boat on calm water.
  2. Readers write “Peace, be still” on the calm side. Little ones can draw a big smile on the sun.
  3. SAY“Take it home and tell your family what Jesus said to the storm.”

Class screen: 🖍️ Draw the storm, then draw the calm!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Paper and crayons for the bonus Storm-and-Calm Pictures

Draw & Guess: Storm Edition

  1. Tap Draw & Guess. One child draws a word from the story on your phone or tablet.
  2. The class guesses. Whoever guesses right draws next.
  3. Whisper the word to pre-readers so everyone can have a turn.

Class screen: 🎨 Draw it! Guess it!

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team quiz reviews the lesson if you have extra time.

  1. Split into two teams. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  2. Read each question and the choices out loud for the pre-readers.
  3. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer. Tap the team that got it right.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

Story drama

The Storm on the Sea

Mark 4:35–41 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Lead DiscipleA reader who wakes the sleeping Savior with the line from the screen: “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
  • DisciplesSit in the chair boat, row, rock, and scoop water out with their hands.
  • Wind CrewBlow “Whoooo!” and wave their arms, softly at first, then big.
  • Wave CrewCrouch beside the boat and roll their arms up and down like waves: “Splash!”
  • ThunderStomps feet and pats knees for booming thunder.
  • Little ShipsSail alongside the big boat with arms out like sails.

Scenes

  1. 🌅⛵ Let’s go to the other side!

    Jesus had been teaching big crowds by the sea all day. When evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” They climbed into a fishing boat, and some little ships came along too.

    🎬 Disciples sit in the chair boat and row: “Row, row, row!” The Little Ships sail beside them.

  2. 😴🛏️ Jesus falls asleep on a pillow

    Jesus was very tired. He lay down in the back of the boat and fell fast asleep on a pillow.

    🎬 Set the mystery pillow in the empty spot at the back of the boat. Everyone whispers, “Shhh!” and rocks gently.

  3. 🌬️🌊 The wind starts to blow

    Then the wind began to blow across the water. Whoosh! The boat started to rock, and the waves started to grow.

    🎬 The Wind Crew blows, “Whoooo!” The Wave Crew makes small waves. Everyone in the boat sways side to side.

  4. ⛈️🌊 A great big storm!

    The storm got bigger and bigger! Huge waves splashed over the side, and the boat began to fill up with water.

    🎬 Thunder stomps, the waves roll high, and the Disciples scoop water out of the boat with their hands. (Ten seconds of loud, then look at the teacher!)

  5. 😱🙏 “Master, carest thou not…?”

    The disciples were so scared. They woke Jesus up and cried, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” That means, “Don’t You care that we’re sinking?”

    🎬 The Lead Disciple reads the line from the screen. Everyone else holds the sides of their chairs and says, “Help!”

  6. ✋🌊 “Peace, be still.”

    Jesus got up. He spoke to the wind. Then He said to the sea, “Peace, be still.”

    🎬 The teacher slowly raises one hand and says, “Peace, be still.” Everyone freezes: wind, waves, thunder and boat.

  7. 😌🌊 Everything is calm

    The wind stopped. The waves went flat and smooth like glass. Everything was quiet and calm.

    🎬 The Wind and Wave Crews lie down quietly. Everyone smooths one hand flat like still water and takes one slow breath.

  8. ❤️⛵ Jesus was with them all along

    Jesus asked them, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” He had been right there in the boat the whole time. He cared about them, and He cares about you too.

    🎬 Everyone gives themselves a hug and whispers, “Jesus cares about me.”

  9. 🙌🌬️ Even the wind obeys Jesus!

    The disciples looked at each other with big eyes. They said, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

    🎬 Everyone whispers, “Even the wind obeys Him!” and gives a silent cheer with wiggly jazz hands.

Key verse

Mark 4:39 ↗
“Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
In kid words: Jesus told the storm, “Peace, be still,” and the wind stopped and everything was calm.
🙌 “Peace” = raise one hand, palm out · “be still” = freeze like a statue · “And the wind ceased” = wave your arms, then drop them · “and there was a great calm” = smooth your hand out flat like calm water and take a slow breath.

More verses

Mark 4:41 ↗
“What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
In kid words: Who is this? Even the wind and the waves do what He says!
Mark 2:5 ↗
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
In kid words: Jesus saw that the four friends believed in Him, and He told the man, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 8:3 ↗
“I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
In kid words: Jesus said, “I want to help you. Be clean!” And right away the man was healed.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • ⛵ Boat
  • ⛈️ Storm
  • 🌬️ Wind
  • 🌊 Waves
  • 🛏️ Pillow
  • 😴 Sleep
  • ⚡ Thunder
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • 🚣 Row
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🏠 Roof
  • 👫 Friends
  • 🛌 Bed
  • 🚶 Walk
  • 💂 Soldier
  • 🙏 Pray
Clues for each word
  • Boat: Jesus and the disciples sailed in it
  • Storm: Wind, rain, thunder and big waves
  • Wind: Whoooo! You can’t see it, but you can feel it
  • Waves: Water that goes up and down
  • Pillow: Jesus slept on one in the boat
  • Sleep: Close your eyes and snore
  • Thunder: Boom! A loud sound in a storm
  • Rain: Water falling from the clouds
  • Row: Pull the oars to move a boat
  • Fish: It swims in the sea
  • Roof: The friends made a hole in it
  • Friends: Four of them carried the man to Jesus
  • Bed: The man was lowered down on it
  • Walk: Jesus healed the man so he could do this
  • Soldier: He believed Jesus could heal from far away
  • Pray: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What was Jesus doing when the storm started?
    • A. Sleeping on a pillow 😴
    • B. Eating lunch 🥪
    • C. Swimming 🏊
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Sleeping on a pillow 😴 He was so tired He fell asleep in the back of the boat.

  2. What filled up the boat in the storm?
    • A. Sand 🏖️
    • B. Water 🌊
    • C. Balloons 🎈
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Water 🌊 Big waves splashed right into the boat!

  3. What did Jesus say to the wind and the sea?
    • A. “Go faster!” 💨
    • B. “Good night!” 🌙
    • C. “Peace, be still.” ✋
    Show answer

    ✅ C. “Peace, be still.” ✋ Mark 4:39. And everything became calm.

  4. What happened after Jesus spoke?
    • A. It got very calm 😌
    • B. It started to snow ❄️
    • C. The boat sank 🫧
    Show answer

    ✅ A. It got very calm 😌 The wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

  5. How did the friends get the man to Jesus?
    • A. Through the window 🪟
    • B. Through the roof 🏠
    • C. Down the chimney 🎅
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Through the roof 🏠 The house was so crowded that they lowered him through the roof!

  6. What did Jesus do for the man on the bed?
    • A. Gave him a snack 🍎
    • B. Sent him home 🚪
    • C. Forgave him and healed him ❤️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Forgave him and healed him ❤️ Jesus forgave his sins, and then the man got up and walked!

  7. What can you do when you feel scared?
    • A. Hide forever 🙈
    • B. Pray to Heavenly Father 🙏
    • C. Yell at everybody 😠
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Pray to Heavenly Father 🙏 We can pray in Jesus’s name, and He can help us feel peace.

  8. Who is more powerful than any storm?
    • A. Jesus Christ ✨
    • B. A big truck 🚚
    • C. A superhero 🦸
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Jesus Christ ✨ Even the wind and the sea obey Him!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Feel My Savior’s Love Children’s Songbook, p. 74

    A calm song for the testimony, after the storm is over. Find it ↗

  • Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 57

    Sing it before the story drama: today’s story is a favorite. Find it ↗

  • Faith Children’s Songbook, p. 96

    The four friends had faith, and Jesus asked the disciples about theirs. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Peace, Be Still

This week, when you feel scared, raise your hand, say “Peace, be still” quietly, and say a prayer. Then tell your family about the storm Jesus stopped.

Text the parents

Today in Primary we sailed in a chair boat through a giant storm until Jesus said, “Peace, be still,” and everything went calm (Mark 4:35–41). We also lowered a friend through a roof to Jesus. We learned that Jesus is stronger than any storm and can help us feel peace. Ask your child: what did Jesus say to the storm, and what can you do when you feel scared?

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

💂 Just Say the Word · 3 min

  1. Tell how a Roman soldier asked Jesus to heal his servant, and believed Jesus could do it from far away just by saying the word (Matthew 8:5–13).
  2. Stand across the room and give quiet commands: “Touch your nose.” “Sit down.” Kids obey without you coming close.
  3. SAY“Jesus didn’t have to be close to heal. His word has power.”

🩺 Doctor Jesus · 3 min

  1. Ask: “Who goes to the doctor, people who are well or people who are sick?”
  2. SAY“Jesus said a doctor comes for the sick (Mark 2:17). Jesus came to help everyone who makes mistakes, and that’s all of us.”
  3. Let kids put a pretend bandage on a stuffed animal or on their own hand, and name one way Jesus helps us feel better.

🫙 Bottle Storm · 3 min

  1. Fill a clear plastic bottle halfway with water, add a drop of dish soap or some glitter, and close the lid tightly.
  2. Let a child shake it hard: a storm! Then set it down and have everyone whisper, “Peace, be still,” while it settles.
  3. SAY“When our feelings are stormy, praying and thinking about Jesus help us settle down.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

All CTR 4–7 lessons