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Munch, Munch… Rain!

Hungry bugs gobble up everything, the people turn back to the Lord, and the rain makes it all grow again

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 47
  • 📅 Sunday, November 22, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

The Lord loves me, and when I turn back to Him with all my heart, He helps good things grow in my life again.

I can turn to Jesus with all my heart, and He will help me start again.

Study it yourself firstRead Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel)
Know the chapters

Hosea and Joel are two short books near the end of the Old Testament. In Hosea, the Lord compares His covenant with His people to a marriage. He promised to love them faithfully, but they broke their promises and wandered away. He kept loving them and inviting them back. Little ones don’t need the family details, just the message. The Lord loves us and always wants us to come home to Him. In 14:4 He says, “I will love them freely.” In 13:4 He also says, “there is no saviour beside me.” Jesus Christ is our only Savior.

Hosea 10:12 uses farm words to teach. Plant good seeds, gather mercy and remember that “it is time to seek the LORD.” He will “rain righteousness upon you.” The Plant, Rain, Grow, Pick wiggle turns it into a quick stretch.

In Joel 1, a swarm of locusts ate every crop in the land. Locusts are bugs a lot like grasshoppers. Joel called everyone together with a trumpet, even the babies. He gave the Lord’s message in 2:12: “turn ye even to me with all your heart.” The Lord cared for His people and sent the rain. In 2:23–25 He promised to give back “the years that the locust hath eaten.” That’s what Jesus does when we repent. He helps good things grow again.

Joel 2:28 promises, “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” The angel Moroni quoted it to Joseph Smith. For children getting ready for baptism, this is their promise. After they’re baptized, they’ll be confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. You tell the story with pictures, and everyone joins in from their seats. Keep the locusts funny, since they’re bugs, not monsters. And keep the rain joyful.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Joel 1:4 and 2:12–25. Tear 15 to 20 small squares of green paper. Tell the story in Teach Mode. Say “I will love them freely” with motions and play Grow It Back. Close with your testimony of Jesus. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing,” and the kids’ raised arms become the wheat field.

What to bring2 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. Tear the green paper into small squares. Spread them on a chair or the floor in front of you. That’s the field.
  2. Read Joel 1:4 and 2:12–25 so you can tell the story in your own words.

If your class is wild

  • Save the rain for the happy ending. It makes the “Pitter-patter!” feel huge.
  • Give your wiggliest kid the Rain Leader job. Now their energy starts the “Pitter-patter!” for everyone.
  • Keep the locusts funny. They’re bugs, not monsters. A silly “Munch, munch!” gets giggles.
  • In Grow It Back, only the child who answered places a leaf. Everyone else pats “Pitter-patter!” from their seat.
  • Seat each 4- or 5-year-old by a 6-year-old buddy. Little ones copy the motions, and big kids love to help.

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 Hungry Locust

3 min

A hungry “locust” hand gobbles the green field, setting up the story.

  1. SAY“Look at my beautiful green field! But here comes a hungry bug called a locust.”
  2. Make your hand a buzzing bug. It gobbles the leaves one by one into your pocket. Everyone rubs hands: “Bzzz! Munch, munch!”
  3. SAY“Oh no! It’s all gone!”
  4. SAY“Let’s see how the Lord helped a land that lost everything.”

Class screen: 🦗 Bzzz! Munch, munch! All gone! · 🦗 Bzzz! Munch, munch!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 15–20 small squares of green paper (scrap paper works): the leaves and wheat

The Hungry Locust (Wheat Arms)

  1. SAY“Everybody, be wheat in a field! Put your arms up and sway.”
  2. Make your hand a hungry locust. It buzzes around and taps each child’s hand, and tapped wheat flops down. Everyone rubs hands: “Bzzz! Munch, munch!”
  3. SAY“Oh no! It’s all gone!”
  4. SAY“Let’s see how the Lord helped a land that lost everything.”

Class screen: 🌾 Sway like wheat… here comes a locust! · 🦗 Bzzz! Munch, munch!

2. Story

Story: The Hungry Bugs and the Big Rain

7 min

When the people turn back to the Lord, He sends rain and gives back what was lost.

  1. SAY“This is a story from the prophet Joel. When the rain comes, pat your knees with me.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. Do a motion only when it shows. Big kids can read the caption first.
  3. Pause after scene 4.
  4. SAY“Turning back to the Lord is called repenting.”
  5. After scene 7, ask, “What did the people do?” They turned back. Then ask, “What did the Lord do?” He sent rain and helped everything grow.
🌪️ If the room drifts, do ten seconds of the loudest “Pitter-patter!” ever. Then whisper the next scene.

Class screen: 🌧️ The Hungry Bugs and the Big Rain · 🦗 Bzzz! · 🌧️ Pitter-patter!

3. Wiggle break

Plant, Rain, Grow, Pick!

2 min

Hosea’s farm words become a quick stretch before the verse.

  1. SAY“Everyone stand up! Let’s learn four moves.”
  2. Plant means crouch and poke seeds. Rain means wiggle fingers down. Grow means stand up slowly. Pick means reach up high. Call them in order, then mix them up.
  3. SAY“Hosea said, ‘It is time to seek the Lord.’ When we plant good choices, good things grow! Now let’s sit down.”

Class screen: 🌱 Plant! Rain! Grow! Pick!

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Hosea 14:4

3 min

Motions help every age remember that the Lord loves them freely.

  1. SAY“The prophet Hosea wrote down what the Lord says about you.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. A big kid reads it, and everyone repeats.
  3. Teach the motions. Say it three times, louder each time. Then say it three times, softer each time.
  4. SAY“Freely means it’s a free gift. You don’t have to earn it.”
  5. Ask, “When you make a mistake, does He stop loving you?” Never!

Class screen: 🎁 I will love them freely.

5. Game

Grow It Back

7 min

Kids practice turning back to the Lord in everyday moments, and watch the field grow back.

  1. SAY“The locusts ate our field! Let’s grow it back. Every time you tell how to turn back to the Lord, a leaf goes back.”
  2. Describe a moment: “You grabbed your sister’s toy.” A child tells how to turn back, like saying sorry. They put a leaf back while everyone pats: “Pitter-patter!”
  3. Try more: “You yelled at your friend.” “You forgot to pray.” “You told a fib.” “You didn’t share your snack.”
  4. Keep going until the field is green again. Then cheer: “He gave it back!”
  5. SAY“When we turn back, Jesus helps good things grow again.”
🌪️ Only the child who answered places a leaf. Everyone else pats the rain from their seat.

Class screen: 🌱 Turn back, and watch the field grow! · ❤️ Turn back! · 🌧️ Pitter-patter! · 🌾 He gave it back!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 15–20 small squares of green paper (scrap paper works): the leaves and wheat

Grow It Back (Wheat Arms)

  1. SAY“The locusts ate our field! Let’s grow it back.”
  2. Everyone flops down like eaten wheat. Describe a moment: “You grabbed your sister’s toy.” A child tells how to turn back, then grows up tall.
  3. Everyone pats: “Pitter-patter!” Try more: “You yelled at your friend.” “You forgot to pray.” “You told a fib.”
  4. When every child is tall wheat again, cheer: “He gave it back!”
  5. SAY“When we turn back, Jesus helps good things grow again.”

Class screen: 🌾 Turn back, and grow up tall! · ❤️ Turn back! · 🌧️ Pitter-patter! · 🌾 He gave it back!

6. Testimony

Only One Savior

3 min

End quietly with Jesus Christ, who helps us start again.

  1. SAY“Let’s get as quiet as a gentle rain. Put both hands on your heart.”
  2. SAY“The Lord said, ‘There is no saviour beside me.’ Only Jesus Christ can take away our mistakes. Only He can help us start again.”
  3. Share a short testimony of Him. Then show the Plant a Good Seed challenge on the screen.
  4. Ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat after you, a few words at a time.

Class screen: 💚 Jesus helps good things grow again.

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Bugs and Rain Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of the story words.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead. Everyone gives clues from their seats. Little ones can show a motion.
  3. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews the lesson.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Rain versus Team Wheat!”
  2. Split into two teams, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud. The team whispers, then points to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

The Hungry Bugs and the Big Rain

Joel 1–2 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Rain LeaderStarts the knee-pat “Pitter-patter!” from their seat when the rain comes.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 🌾🍇☀️ A land full of yummy food

    Long ago in Israel, the fields were full of wheat for making bread. Grapes grew on the vines. Figs grew on the trees. And the farmers were happy!

    🙌

  2. 🦗🦗🦗 Bzzz! Here come the bugs!

    Then the sky got dark. Here came a swarm of locusts! Locusts are bugs, like grasshoppers. And there were more than anyone could count!

    🙌

  3. 🍂😮 Munch, munch… all gone!

    The locusts ate the wheat. They ate the grapes. They even chewed the bark off the trees! Soon there was nothing left.

    🙌 Rub your hands: “Bzzz! Munch, munch!” Then: “Oh no!”

  4. 🎺🔄 “Turn to the Lord with all your heart!”

    The prophet Joel blew a trumpet. He called everyone together, even the babies. It wasn’t too late! The Lord’s message was, “Turn ye even to me with all your heart.”

    🙌

  5. 🙏💚 The people pray, and the Lord listens

    The people were sorry. They prayed, “Please help us, Lord!” And the Lord listened. He loved His people, and He answered them.

    🙌

  6. 🌧️🌱 Rain, rain, glorious rain!

    The Lord sent the rain! First a little, then a lot. Green grass popped up. The trees grew leaves again. Everything started to grow!

    🙌 Pat your knees, faster and faster: “Pitter-patter!”

  7. 🌾🎉 More food than before!

    Soon the fields were full of wheat and grapes again. There was more than enough for everyone! The Lord promised to give back what the locusts ate. And the people were so happy!

    🙌 One more “Pitter-patter!” Then cheer: “He gave it back!”

Key verse

Hosea 14:4 ↗
“I will love them freely”
In kid words: The Lord says, “I love you, and you never have to earn it.”
🙌 “I will love” = hug yourself tight · “them” = point to everyone in the room · “freely” = fling your arms wide open like you’re giving a giant present.

More verses

Hosea 13:4 ↗
“there is no saviour beside me”
In kid words: Jesus Christ is our only Savior.
Hosea 10:12 ↗
“for it is time to seek the LORD”
In kid words: Now is the time to come to the Lord!
Joel 2:25 ↗
“I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten”
In kid words: The Lord will give back what the bugs ate.
Joel 2:28 ↗
“I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh”
In kid words: The Lord will pour out His Spirit on everyone.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🦗 Locust
  • 🍇 Grapes
  • 🌾 Wheat
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🎺 Trumpet
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • ☁️ Cloud
  • 🌱 Seed
  • 🧑‍🌾 Farmer
  • 👶 Baby
  • ❤️ Heart
  • ☂️ Umbrella
  • 🌳 Tree
  • 🕊️ Dove
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 💧 Water
Clues for each word
  • Locust: A hungry bug that hops like a grasshopper
  • Grapes: Little round purple fruit
  • Wheat: It grows in fields; we make bread from it
  • Bread: You make sandwiches with it
  • Trumpet: Toot toot! Joel said to blow it
  • Rain: Water falling from the clouds
  • Cloud: Fluffy and white in the sky
  • Seed: Plant it, and it grows
  • Farmer: Grows food on a farm
  • Baby: Tiny and cries, “Waaah!”
  • Heart: Turn to the Lord with all of it
  • Umbrella: Keeps you dry in the rain
  • Tree: Tall with leaves and branches
  • Dove: A white bird; a sign of the Holy Ghost
  • Pray: Talking to Heavenly Father
  • Water: You drink it and splash in it
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. What ate up all the food in Joel’s story?
    • A. Elephants 🐘
    • B. Locusts 🦗
    • C. Hungry kids 🧒
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Locusts 🦗 A giant swarm of locusts. Munch, munch!

  2. What did Joel say to blow to call everyone together?
    • A. A trumpet 🎺
    • B. Bubbles 🫧
    • C. A whistle 😗
    Show answer

    ✅ A. A trumpet 🎺 Toot-toot! Everyone came, even the babies.

  3. The Lord said to turn to Him with all your…
    • A. Toes 🦶
    • B. Toys 🧸
    • C. Heart ❤️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Heart ❤️ “Turn ye even to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12).

  4. What did the Lord send to help everything grow again?
    • A. Snow ❄️
    • B. More bugs 🐛
    • C. Rain 🌧️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Rain 🌧️ Rain, rain, glorious rain! And everything grew back.

  5. How does the Lord love you?
    • A. Freely 💖
    • B. Only if you’re perfect ⭐
    • C. Only on Sundays 📅
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Freely 💖 “I will love them freely.” You never have to earn it.

  6. What does the Lord promise to pour out?
    • A. Juice 🧃
    • B. His Spirit 🕊️
    • C. Sand 🏖️
    Show answer

    ✅ B. His Spirit 🕊️ “I will pour out my spirit.” You can have the Holy Ghost after baptism.

  7. Who is our only Savior?
    • A. Jesus Christ 💖
    • B. A superhero 🦸
    • C. A lifeguard 🛟
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Jesus Christ 💖 “There is no saviour beside me” (Hosea 13:4).

  8. What is turning back to the Lord called?
    • A. Running 🏃
    • B. Repenting 🔄
    • C. Sleeping 😴
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Repenting 🔄 When we repent, Jesus helps good things grow again.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Repentance Children’s Songbook, p. 98

    The people turned back to the Lord. That’s repenting! Find it ↗

  • The Holy Ghost Children’s Songbook, p. 105

    Goes with the Drip or a Pour? extra and the promise of the Holy Ghost after baptism. Find it ↗

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

    The Lord loves us freely. Sing it before the testimony. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Plant a Good Seed

Each day this week, plant one good choice. Say a kind word, help without being asked or say sorry when you need to. At bedtime, tell your family what grew!

Text the parents

Today in Primary we heard Joel’s story of the hungry locusts that ate all the crops. When the people turned back to the Lord, He sent rain and helped everything grow again. We grew a paper field back by naming ways to turn back to the Lord. We also learned from Hosea 14:4 that the Lord will “love them freely.” Ask your child, “What did the people do? What did the Lord do?”

📝 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?

🌱 Grow a Seed · 4 min

  1. Give each child a damp paper towel and a dry bean in a zip bag. Seal it tight, since dry beans are a choking hazard for little ones.
  2. SAY“When we turn to the Lord and make good choices, He helps good things grow in us.”
  3. Send the bags home to tape in a sunny window. Next week, ask who has a sprout!

🕐 Seek the Lord Clock · 4 min

  1. Draw a big clock on paper.
  2. SAY“Hosea said, ‘It is time to seek the Lord.’ When can we do that?”
  3. Kids call out times of day and something they can do. Try morning prayer, a scripture at breakfast, a Primary song in the car or bedtime prayer.
  4. Readers write them on the clock. Little ones draw a picture.

🖼️ Who Is the Savior? · 3 min

  1. Lay out pictures of a firefighter, a doctor, a teacher and Jesus Christ.
  2. Ask one at a time: “Who can help us when we’re sick?” “Who can help when there’s a fire?” Kids point to the right picture.
  3. Last, ask: “Who can save us from our sins and help us live again?” Everyone points to Jesus.

💧 A Drip or a Pour? · 3 min

  1. Hold up an empty clear cup. Let two or three kids each add a spoonful of water. Ask, “Is it filling up fast?”
  2. SAY“Joel said the Lord promised, ‘I will pour out my spirit.’ Not just a drip. A pour!”
  3. Pour water in until the cup is full.
  4. SAY“After you’re baptized, you’re confirmed. You receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He comforts us and helps us choose the right.”

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 4–6 lessons