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Follow the Star to Jesus

A peekaboo star, baa-ing sheep, a long twinkle-walk with the wise men, and a hug for Jesus

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 2
  • 📅 Sunday, January 10, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I can come to Jesus and love Him.

I can twinkle my fingers like the star and hug my heart because I love Jesus.

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

Luke 2 tells how baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. An angel told shepherds the good news, and “they came with haste” to find Him. That’s Luke 2:16. When Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple, old Simeon held Him and praised God. Anna, an old prophetess, gave thanks too. That’s Luke 2:25–38. Matthew 2 tells about wise men. They said, “we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” That’s Matthew 2:2. The star led them to young Jesus, and they knelt and gave Him gifts, in Matthew 2:11. Luke 2:52 adds that Jesus grew up.

For toddlers, the whole lesson is one happy idea. Everyone came to see Jesus, and I can come to Him and love Him too. Shepherds hurried. Simeon and Anna waited. Wise men followed a star a long, long way. Toddlers love to toddle and point at lights, so everyone twinkles and walks. Twinkle your fingers for the star again and again. Then hug your heart and say “I love Jesus!” That’s the key phrase. The wise men knelt down and worshipped Him in Matthew 2:11, and toddlers can love Him too.

Keep King Herod out of nursery. The wise men probably came later, when Jesus was a young child in a house, in Matthew 2:11. Toddlers don’t need that detail, so the story simply says they found Jesus. Baby Jesus is always a picture or a doll. Nobody plays Jesus or Heavenly Father. The lesson takes six minutes, and the play-time ideas repeat the same idea.

Only have 5 minutes?

Cut a big star from yellow paper or a cereal box, and grab a picture of Jesus. Pop the star out from behind your back for peekaboo. Swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet. Twinkle-walk like the wise men. Hug your heart and say “I love Jesus!” End with a quiet testimony. For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Your twinkling fingers are the star, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring7 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. Keep the star hidden in your bag until the opening.
  2. Tape the picture of Jesus low on a wall across the room, at toddler eye level. The star walk ends there.
  3. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the magic and bells buttons. Turn the volume low.
  4. Check the floor for anything small. If it fits through a toilet-paper tube, put it up high or away.
  5. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  6. Practice the heart hug, with both hands crossed over your chest. Say “I love Jesus!”

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal, especially with new kids in January. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun. They can whisper, “Mommy will come back. You’re safe here.” Letting a sad child hold the star with you often dries tears fast.
  • Everyone will want the paper star. Hold it up high and let each child touch it once. If it rips, say “Now we have two stars!” and keep going.
  • Got runners? Make it part of the story: “Hurry, hurry, like the shepherds!” Then tiptoe: “Shhh, we found baby Jesus.”
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips. Never leave one adult alone with the class, and never go off alone with one child.

The 25-minute plan6 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

Peekaboo Star

1 min

A star that pops out from behind your back pulls toddlers close and starts the wise men’s long walk to Jesus.

  1. Sit on the floor with the star behind your back. Tap magic on the Sound Board and whisper, “Ooh… what’s that?”
  2. Peek the star out a tiny bit, then hide it: “Peekaboo!” Do it again. Little ones will come see.
  3. Hold it up high: “A star! A big, bright star!” Twinkle the fingers of your other hand under it.
  4. SAY“Wise men followed a star to find Jesus. Let’s find out who came to see Jesus!”
🌪️ If they grab for the star, let each child touch one point while you hold it. Then put it up high.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ⭐ Peekaboo! A star!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A big star cut from yellow paper, cardboard or a cereal box (about the size of a dinner plate); a grown-up holds it

Twinkle Peekaboo

  1. Tap magic on the Sound Board and whisper, “Ooh… what’s that?”
  2. Cover your eyes. Then pop your hands up high and twinkle your fingers: “Peekaboo! A star!”
  3. Do it again and again while they copy you.
  4. SAY“Wise men followed a star to find Jesus. Let’s find out who came to see Jesus!”

Class screen: ✨ Peekaboo! A twinkly star!

2. Story

Picture Story: Who Came to See Jesus?

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers rock, baa, twinkle and walk their way to Jesus.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet at their eye level. Everyone gets to be a Little Sheep, a Twinkle Star and a Wise Men Walker.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone. The joiners will come.
  3. After the star picture, twinkle your fingers on every picture: “Ooh, the star!”
  4. Losing them before the end? Jump to the last picture. Hug your heart: “I love Jesus!”
🌪️ Got a child who won’t stop moving? Let them tap your phone or tablet to change the picture, with your hand on it too. A job beats a battle.

Class screen: ⭐ Who came to see Jesus?

3. Wiggle break

Twinkle, Hurry, Tiptoe

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and a walk to the picture of Jesus retells the story with their feet.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s follow the star!”
  2. Twinkle your fingers up high and walk slowly around the room. Little ones can follow or hold a hand.
  3. Toddle a little faster: “Hurry, hurry, like the shepherds!”
  4. Tiptoe to the picture of Jesus and kneel down softly: “Shhh! We found Jesus!”
  5. Hug your heart: “I love Jesus!” Then sit down together right there.

Class screen: 🚶 Twinkle! Hurry! Tiptoe! · ✨ Twinkle · 🏃 Hurry · 🤫 Tiptoe · ❤️ Hug

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Matthew 2:11

1 min

Three words and one motion, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures.
  2. SAY“This is the Bible. It tells about Jesus. Listen!”
  3. Read slowly: “and worshipped him.”
  4. SAY“The wise men found Jesus. They knelt down because they loved Him!”
  5. Hug your heart and say “I love Jesus!” three times: whisper, normal, happy. Then kneel by each child: “Ella loves Jesus.”

Class screen: ❤️ I love Jesus! · ❤️ Heart hug!

5. Testimony

I Know Jesus Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel that coming to Jesus feels warm and safe.

  1. Drop your voice to a whisper and hold up the picture of Jesus.
  2. SAY“This is Jesus. Everyone came to see Him.”
  3. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  4. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. We show Him our love with a big heart hug.”
  5. Hug your heart. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ Jesus loves you!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Drop your voice to a whisper and put your hand on your heart.
  2. SAY“Let’s think about Jesus.”
  3. Touch each child’s hand or wave, and whisper, “Jesus loves you.”
  4. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. We show Him our love with a big heart hug.”
  5. Hug your heart. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Sing: Stars Were Gleaming

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a gentle song with twinkling fingers is a calm, happy way to finish.

  1. Lie down or sit and look up at the ceiling.
  2. SAY“Let’s look for the star.”
  3. Sing “Stars Were Gleaming,” Children’s Songbook page 37, slowly while everyone twinkles their fingers.
  4. At the end, hug your heart and whisper, “I love Jesus.”

Class screen: 🌟 Twinkle while we sing

The story

Who Came to See Jesus?

Luke 2:7–38; Matthew 2:1–11 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Little SheepEveryone! Say “Baa!” and hurry to see the baby.
  • Twinkle StarsEveryone! Wiggle your fingers up high like a twinkling star.
  • Wise Men WalkersEveryone! Walk in place a long, long way, following the star.

Scenes

  1. 👶 Baby Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

    Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and Mary laid Him in a manger.

    🙌 Rock your arms and whisper, “Shhh, baby Jesus.”

  2. 🐑 Baa! The shepherds hurry to see Jesus!

    The shepherds heard the good news and hurried to see baby Jesus.

    🙌 Say “Baa!” and toddle fast in place: “Hurry, hurry!”

  3. 👵 Simeon and Anna are so happy!

    At the temple, old Simeon held baby Jesus, and old Anna thanked God.

    🙌 Clap softly: “Thank you, Heavenly Father!”

  4. ⭐ Look! A big, bright star!

    Far away, wise men saw a big, bright new star.

    🙌 Twinkle your fingers up high: “Ooh, a star!”

  5. 🚶 The wise men follow the star.

    The wise men walked a long, long way, following the star to Jesus.

    🙌 Walk in place with twinkle fingers up high.

  6. 🎁 Gifts for Jesus! I love Jesus!

    The wise men gave Jesus gifts, and we can give Him our love.

    🙌 Hold out a pretend gift, then hug your heart: “I love Jesus!”

Key verse

Matthew 2:11 ↗
“and worshipped him”
In kid words: I love Jesus!
🙌 Cross both hands over your heart in a big heart hug the whole time you say it.

More verses

Luke 2:7 ↗
“laid him in a manger”
In kid words: Mary put baby Jesus in a manger bed.
Luke 2:16 ↗
“they came with haste”
In kid words: The shepherds hurried to see Jesus!
Luke 2:52 ↗
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature”
In kid words: Jesus grew, just like you!

Forehead Guess words9 words

  • ⭐ Star
  • 👶 Baby
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 👼 Angel
  • 🎁 Gift
  • 👑 Crown
  • 🌙 Moon
  • 🐄 Cow
  • ❤️ Heart
Clues for each word
  • Star: Twinkle your fingers up high!
  • Baby: Rock your arms: baby Jesus
  • Sheep: Baa! Hurry to see Jesus.
  • Angel: Told the shepherds the good news
  • Gift: The wise men gave Jesus gifts
  • Crown: Something a king wears
  • Moon: Shines at night with the stars
  • Cow: Moo! Animals eat from a manger.
  • Heart: Hug it: I love Jesus!
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Which one twinkles in the sky?
    • A. ⭐ Star
    • B. 🍌 Banana
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ⭐ Star Twinkle your fingers! The wise men followed a star to Jesus.

  2. Who says baa?
    • A. 🐷 Pig
    • B. 🐑 Sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🐑 Sheep Baa! The shepherds hurried to see baby Jesus.

  3. What did the wise men bring Jesus?
    • A. 🎁 Gifts
    • B. 🧦 Socks
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🎁 Gifts The wise men knelt and gave Jesus gifts.

  4. Who did everyone come to see?
    • A. 🚗 A car
    • B. 👶 Baby Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👶 Baby Jesus Everyone came to see Jesus, and we can come to Him too.

  5. How can I show I love Jesus?
    • A. ❤️ Hug my heart
    • B. 😠 Grumpy face
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ Hug my heart Hug your heart: I love Jesus!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Stars Were Gleaming Children’s Songbook, p. 37

    Twinkle your fingers while you sing it after the lesson or on the Star Parade. Find it ↗

  • Jesus Once Was a Little Child Children’s Songbook, p. 55

    Jesus grew up, just like them (Luke 2:52). Crouch small and grow tall while you sing. Find it ↗

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    Hum it softly during Starry Quiet Time; many children know it from home. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Star Spotting

When you see stars at night this week, twinkle your fingers together. Tell how the wise men followed a star to Jesus. Then hug your hearts: “I love Jesus!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we followed a star to Jesus! We baaed like the shepherds who hurried to see Him. We twinkled our fingers like the star the wise men saw, in Matthew 2:2. We hugged our hearts to show we love Jesus, like the wise men in Matthew 2:11. Try it at home. When you see stars at night, twinkle your fingers and tell the story. Then hug your hearts and say, “I love Jesus!”

📝 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.

Nursery play time

The lesson is short on purpose. Fill the rest of nursery with these: pick what fits your little ones today.

🐄 Barnyard Visit · 10 min

  1. Make a little stable from blocks or a box on its side. Lay a doll or folded blanket inside as baby Jesus.
  2. Set toy animals nearby and let kids play. Play along with animal sounds: “Moo! Baa!”
  3. Every few minutes, twinkle your fingers: “Who’s coming to see baby Jesus? The sheep!” Help a child walk an animal over.
  4. Hug your heart: “We come to Jesus too! I love Jesus!”
  5. Big animals only, nothing that fits through a toilet-paper tube. No toys? Crawl like animals to the picture of Jesus: “Baa!”

🎵 Star Parade · 5 min

  1. A grown-up holds the paper star up high and leads a slow parade. Sing “Stars Were Gleaming,” Children’s Songbook page 37.
  2. End the parade at the picture of Jesus. Kneel and hug your hearts.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone freezes and twinkles.
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or chant “Twinkle, walk.” No star? Twinkle your own fingers.

📏 Growing Like Jesus · 6 min

  1. Tape a long strip of paper to the wall from the floor up. Share Luke 2:52: “When Jesus was little, He grew and grew, just like you!”
  2. Stand each child against the paper for one second. Mark their height and write their name. A close guess is fine for wigglers.
  3. Sing “Jesus Once Was a Little Child,” Children’s Songbook page 55. Crouch down small, then grow up tall.
  4. Show parents the marks at pickup. Kids who don’t want a turn can mark a teddy bear instead.
  5. No paper or tape? Stand each child next to you: “You come up to my knee! You’re growing like Jesus!”

🍎 Snack Is a Gift · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours.
  2. Everyone sits to eat while an adult watches. Skip popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy and raw carrot chunks.
  3. Fold arms while a grown-up says a short blessing. Then hand out each snack like a present: “A gift for you!”
  4. SAY“The wise men gave Jesus gifts. What can we give Jesus? Our love!”
  5. No snack today? Hand out pretend gifts with cupped hands, and let the kids give you one back.

🖍️ Big Bright Star · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper down and draw a giant star: “This star showed the wise men the way to Jesus.”
  2. Give each child one chunky yellow or orange crayon. Skip glitter, star stickers, pom-poms and marker caps.
  3. Every scribble is starlight: “Shine, shine, Jesus’s star!”
  4. Write names by the scribbles and hang the picture by the door. Count the crayons back into the box.
  5. No paper or crayons? Open Draw & Guess on your phone or tablet. Hold it while each child finger-paints a star.

🎁 Gift Box Stack · 6 min

  1. Set out the empty boxes with loose flaps taped shut: “The wise men brought gifts for Jesus!”
  2. Let kids stack them, knock them down, carry them and stack them again.
  3. Help each child carry a box to the picture of Jesus: “A gift for Jesus!” Hug your heart: “I love Jesus!”
  4. No bows, ribbons or small pieces inside. An adult watches, and nobody climbs the stack.
  5. No boxes? Use soft blocks or pillows, or give Jesus a pretend gift with cupped hands.

🖼️ Picture Walk: Follow the Star · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Swipe through today’s story pictures, or open a Nativity book.
  2. Name one thing in each picture: “Sheep! Baa.” Ask, “Where’s the star?” and let them point.
  3. Hold hands and walk slowly to the picture of Jesus. Twinkle your free hand: “We’re following the star!”
  4. At the picture, kneel and whisper, “We found Jesus! I love Jesus.”
  5. Both adults stay in the nursery room. If a child drifts off, let them go.

😴 Starry Quiet Time · 4 min

  1. Turn off some of the lights, never all. Spread out a blanket. Kids can lie down, sit or climb into a lap.
  2. Look up at the ceiling together and twinkle your fingers slowly: “Night-night, stars.”
  3. Softly hum “I Am a Child of God,” Children’s Songbook page 2.
  4. Whisper each child’s name: “Jesus loves you, Ella.”
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Follow-the-Star Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Tap magic five minutes before the end: “The star says it’s time to clean up!” Put toys away together.
  2. Hold up the star, or twinkle your fingers, and walk to the rug by the door. Sit and hug your hearts: “I love Jesus!”
  3. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian. Wave: “Look for stars tonight!”
  4. Share today’s family note from the app, and tell parents one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Play Gift Box Stack or read a picture book. Both adults stay until every child is picked up.

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.

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