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Jonah Got Up and Went

A peekaboo fish, a rocking boat, a big friendly gulp, and marching feet that say “I can obey!”

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 48
  • 📅 Sunday, November 29, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I can obey Heavenly Father, and He helps me.

I can stand up, march and say, “I can obey!”

Come, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Amos; Obadiah; Jonah)
Know the chapters

The Lord asked the prophet Jonah to go to the big city of Nineveh and warn the people. Jonah sailed the other way. A great storm came, the sailors put Jonah into the sea, and “the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah” (Jonah 1:17). Inside the fish Jonah prayed, and the Lord heard him (Jonah 2:1–2). The fish put Jonah on dry land, and when the Lord asked again, “Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh” (Jonah 3:3). Amos and Obadiah are also in this week’s reading.

For toddlers, the whole lesson is two happy things they can do with their bodies: stand up and go (I can obey!) and fold arms (Heavenly Father hears me). An 18-month-old practices obeying all day long: “Come here,” “Gentle hands,” “Shoes on.” Cheer every little bit of obeying you see in nursery and call it by name: “You obeyed, just like Jonah!”

Keep the fish big and friendly, never scary. In this story the fish is how the Lord kept Jonah from sinking. Skip the word “swallowed” if a child looks worried and say “the big fish gave Jonah a ride.” The lesson is six minutes; the play-time ideas below bring back the boat, the fish and the marching for the rest of nursery.

Only have 5 minutes?

Hide a stuffed fish (or any soft toy) under a blanket. Peekaboo the fish, swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet, rock like a boat for the wiggle, then stand up and march while you say “I can obey!” End with folded arms and “I know Heavenly Father hears you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: your hands become the fish, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring6 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. Tuck the fish under the folded blanket in your bag so it’s ready for peekaboo.
  2. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the waves, splash and heartbeat buttons. Turn the volume low. Skip thunder and crash: big booms scare little ones.
  3. Sweep the floor with your eyes and hands for anything small. Quick test: if it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard and goes up high or away.
  4. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets and comforts at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  5. Practice the key phrase: stand up tall, march in place and say, “I can obey!” That’s the whole scripture for today.

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun and say softly, “Mommy will come back. You’re safe here.” A quick, happy goodbye works better than sneaking a parent out.
  • Toddlers don’t obey on cue, and that’s okay. Make obeying a game (“Can your feet come to the boat? Yay!”) and cheer the tiniest try.
  • Nobody has to sit. Rock, march and gulp from the floor at their level; the wanderers still hear you and often copy from across the room.
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips, and never leave one adult alone with the class or 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 Fish

1 min

A splash sound and a peekaboo fish pull scattered toddlers toward you and make the big fish friendly from the start.

  1. Sit on the floor with the fish hidden under the blanket. Tap waves on the Sound Board and whisper: “Shhh… what’s that? Water!”
  2. SAY“Something is swimming under here! One… two… three… peekaboo!” Lift a corner, then cover it again.
  3. On the next peekaboo, bring out the fish and swim it through the air: “A big friendly fish! Hello, fish!”
  4. Let children give the fish a gentle pat. Say: “Today we hear about Jonah and a big fish.”
🌪️ If they grab and tug, give the fish a quick hug and put it up high. Your hand fish can do the rest.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🐋 Peekaboo! A big fish!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A stuffed fish or whale, or any soft toy animal you can call “the big fish”, A light blanket or bath towel to hide the fish under (and for the boat and quiet time)

Peekaboo Hand Fish

  1. Sit on the floor. Tap waves on the Sound Board and whisper: “Shhh… what’s that? Water!”
  2. Hide your hands behind your back. Say: “Something is swimming back here! One… two… three… peekaboo!”
  3. Bring out your hands pressed together and wiggle them like a swimming fish. Swim it up high, down low, and to each child.
  4. SAY“A big friendly fish! Today we hear about Jonah and a big fish.”

Class screen: 🐟 Peekaboo! A hand fish!

2. Story

Picture Story: Jonah and the Big Fish

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers rock, gulp, pray and march through Jonah’s story.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is a Rocking Boat, a Big Fish Mouth and Marching Feet.
  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. On the praying picture, slow down and whisper. On the last picture, stand up and march: “I can obey!”
  4. If attention is gone before the end, jump to the last picture and march together.
🌪️ Let a child who won’t stop moving tap your phone or tablet to change the picture (with your hand on it too). A job beats a battle.

Class screen: 🐋 Jonah story time!

3. Wiggle break

Rock, Gulp, March

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and boat and fish moves replay the story with their whole bodies.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s be the boat!” Sway side to side: “Whoosh, whoosh!”
  2. Make big fish mouths with your arms: open wide, then “Gulp!” Do it again and let them giggle.
  3. Swim with your arms, then flop down on the “sand”: “Hooray!”
  4. Stand up and march in place: “I can obey!” Sit down together.

Class screen: 🌊 Rock! Gulp! March! · ⛵ Rock · 🐋 Gulp · 🏊 Swim · 👣 March!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Jonah 3:3

1 min

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

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It tells about Jonah.”
  2. Read slowly: “Jonah arose, and went.” Say: “That means Jonah got up and went. He obeyed!”
  3. Stand up and march in place together: “I can obey!” Say it three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child and march your fingers on their knee: “Ella can obey!”

Class screen: 👣 I can obey! · 🧍 Stand up! · 👣 March!

5. Testimony

Heavenly Father Hears You

1 min

A quiet moment with folded arms and a picture of the Savior helps each child feel loved and heard.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “Jonah prayed, and Heavenly Father heard him.”
  2. Fold your arms. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father hears you when you pray. He helps you obey.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: 🙏 Heavenly Father hears you!

No supplies? Do this instead

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

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Fold your arms and say: “Jonah prayed, and Heavenly Father heard him.”
  2. Whisper each child’s name as you touch their hand or wave: “Heavenly Father hears Ella.”
  3. SAY“I know Heavenly Father hears you when you pray. He helps you obey.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Quick Little Feet

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, an obeying song with marching feet is a happy way to finish.

  1. SAY“Let’s be quick like Jonah the second time!”
  2. Sing “Quickly I’ll Obey” (Children’s Songbook, 197) and march in place while you sing.
  3. At the end, call a simple “Come here, feet!” and cheer everyone who comes: “You obeyed, just like Jonah!”

Class screen: 🎵 March and sing!

Story drama

Jonah and the Big Friendly Fish

Jonah 1–3 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Rocking BoatsEveryone! Sway side to side like a boat on the waves: “Whoosh!”
  • Big Fish MouthsEveryone! Open arms wide like a big mouth, then clap them shut: “Gulp!”
  • Marching FeetEveryone! Stand up and march in place: “I can obey!”

Scenes

  1. 🧔 Heavenly Father gave Jonah a job.

    Heavenly Father asked Jonah to go to a big city and help the people.

    🎬 Point far away. Say together: “Go, Jonah, go!”

  2. ⛵🌊 Jonah’s boat rocked in a big storm!

    Jonah got on a boat going the wrong way, and the waves went whoosh!

    🎬 Everyone sways side to side like a rocking boat. Grown-ups rock too.

  3. 🐋 Gulp! A big friendly fish!

    Heavenly Father sent a big friendly fish to keep Jonah from sinking.

    🎬 Open arms wide like a big mouth, then clap them shut: “Gulp!”

  4. 🙏 Jonah prayed inside the fish.

    Inside the fish, Jonah prayed, and Heavenly Father heard him.

    🎬 Everyone folds arms and whispers: “Heavenly Father hears me.”

  5. 🏖️ Out onto dry land! Hooray!

    The big fish put Jonah out onto dry land.

    🎬 Everyone jumps or bounces: “Hooray!” Give a little clap.

  6. 👣 This time Jonah obeyed!

    Heavenly Father asked again, and this time Jonah got up and went!

    🎬 Stand up and march in place. Say: “I can obey!”

Key verse

Jonah 3:3 ↗
“Jonah arose, and went”
In kid words: I can obey!
🙌 Stand up tall from sitting and march in place while you say all three words.

More verses

Jonah 1:17 ↗
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah”
In kid words: Heavenly Father sent a big fish.
Jonah 2:2 ↗
“I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me”
In kid words: Heavenly Father hears me.
Jonah 2:9 ↗
“I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving”
In kid words: Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • 🐋 Fish
  • ⛵ Boat
  • 🌊 Waves
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 🏖️ Sand
  • 👣 Feet
  • 🏙️ City
  • ☀️ Sun
Clues for each word
  • Fish: Big and friendly. Gulp!
  • Boat: Rocks on the waves
  • Waves: Whoosh! Sway side to side.
  • Pray: Fold your arms
  • Sand: Dry land by the sea, where Jonah landed
  • Feet: March! I can obey!
  • City: Where Jonah went to help
  • Sun: Warm and bright on the beach
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Which one swims in the sea?
    • A. 🐋 Big fish
    • B. 🐶 Puppy
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🐋 Big fish Gulp! Heavenly Father sent a big friendly fish.

  2. Where did Jonah ride on the water?
    • A. 🚗 Car
    • B. ⛵ Boat
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ⛵ Boat Whoosh! Rock side to side like Jonah’s boat.

  3. What did Jonah do inside the fish?
    • A. 🙏 Pray
    • B. 😴 Sleep
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Pray Fold your arms: Heavenly Father heard Jonah.

  4. Show me what obeying feet do!
    • A. 🛌 Stay in bed
    • B. 👣 March
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👣 March Stand up and march: I can obey!

  5. Where did the fish put Jonah?
    • A. 🏖️ Dry land
    • B. 🌳 Tree
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🏖️ Dry land Out onto dry land by the sea. Hooray!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Quickly I’ll Obey Children’s Songbook, p. 197

    March while you sing; it’s the whole lesson in one song. Find it ↗

  • Do As I’m Doing Children’s Songbook, p. 276

    Toddlers copy you: rock the boat, gulp like a fish, fold arms, march. Find it ↗

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Hum it softly in the Inside the Big Fish quiet time: Jonah prayed, and Heavenly Father heard. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Obey Like Jonah

When your little one comes when called or helps pick up, cheer and say, “You obeyed, just like Jonah!” Then march together and say, “I can obey!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we heard about Jonah and a big friendly fish (Jonah 1–3). We rocked like a boat, made big fish gulps, folded our arms like Jonah praying, and marched while we said, “I can obey!” Try it at home: when your child comes when you call, march together and say, “You obeyed, just like Jonah!”

📝 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.

⛵ Blanket Boat Rescue · 10 min

  1. Spread the blanket flat on the floor. Say: “This is Jonah’s boat!” Set out the nursery’s stuffed animals, dolls and trucks, and let children play however they like.
  2. Every few minutes, tap waves on the Sound Board and say: “Uh-oh, big waves! Bring Teddy to the boat!” Cheer each child who brings a toy: “You obeyed!”
  3. Tap splash and swim a toy fish or a hand fish over to a toy: “Here comes the big fish to help!”
  4. SAY“The waves stopped!” Let the toys swim back out and play until the next waves.
  5. Safety: toddlers sit and play on the blanket; nobody gets pulled or swung in it. No blanket? The rug or a taped square of floor is the boat.

🎵 Fishy Freeze Dance · 5 min

  1. Stand up and sing “Do As I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276). Lead swimming arms, rocking boats, fish gulps and marching feet, and let them copy you.
  2. Sing “Quickly I’ll Obey” (Children’s Songbook, 197) and march around the room like Jonah going to the city.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. Everyone swims like a fish. When the music stops, freeze and fold arms like Jonah praying.
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or just chant “Swim, swim, swim!” while you move.

🍎 Thank-You Snack · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours, before snack.
  2. Everyone sits to eat, with an adult watching. Skip choking foods for this age: no popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy or chunks of raw carrot.
  3. Fold arms. Say: “Inside the fish, Jonah said thank you to Heavenly Father” (Jonah 2:9). A grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for our snack.”
  4. Talk while they munch. Ask: “What are you thankful for? Mommy? Your puppy? Crackers?” Say each answer back with a smile: “Thank you, Heavenly Father, for puppies!”
  5. No snack today? Have a pretend picnic on Jonah’s beach: pretend to munch and sip, and say thank you together.

🖍️ Big Fish Scribble · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor. Draw one giant fish outline with a big smiling mouth. Say: “Here’s the big friendly fish!”
  2. Give each child one chunky washable crayon. Every scribble is a fish scale! Say: “Wiggle, wiggle, fishy scales!”
  3. Draw a little stick-figure Jonah inside with folded arms. Say: “Jonah prayed in the fish, and Heavenly Father heard him.”
  4. Write each child’s name by their scribbles and hang the fish by the door for parents. Chunky crayons only: no stickers, glitter or marker caps. Count the crayons back into the box.
  5. No paper or crayons? Open Draw & Guess on your phone or tablet and let each child finger-paint fish scales while you hold your phone or tablet.

🌊 Waves on a Sheet · 5 min

  1. Two grown-ups hold the corners of a flat sheet low, at toddler chest height. Put the stuffed fish in the middle.
  2. Make tiny waves, then bigger waves: “Whoosh! The fish is swimming!” Children can touch the sheet, pat the waves or peek under the edge.
  3. Hold still: “Shhh, the sea is calm.” Let children feel the soft, still sheet. Say: “Heavenly Father helped Jonah.”
  4. Safety: the sheet stays low and no child goes under it while it moves. Fold it away when you’re done.
  5. No sheet? Lie on your backs and make waves with your arms, then lay them still: calm sea.

🖼️ Picture Walk: Under the Sea · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Swipe back through today’s story pictures on your phone or tablet, or open a picture book about the ocean or boats.
  2. Point and name one thing on each picture: “Boat! Rock, rock.” Ask: “Where’s the fish?” and let them point.
  3. Make each thing’s sound or move together: whoosh for waves, gulp for the fish, stomp for marching feet.
  4. Finish at the praying picture. Fold arms and whisper: “Heavenly Father hears me.”
  5. Stay in the nursery room with both adults. If a child drifts off, let them go; picture walks are for whoever wants to come.

😴 Inside the Big Fish · 4 min

  1. Drape the blanket over a small table to make a cozy “fish tummy.” Children may crawl in, sit near it or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Tap heartbeat on the Sound Board with the volume low. Whisper: “Inside the fish, it was quiet. Jonah prayed.”
  3. Hum “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12) softly and fold arms. Whisper each child’s name: “Heavenly Father hears you, Ella.”
  4. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side like a gentle boat and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.
  5. Safety: one adult stays right by the table so nobody pulls the blanket down on a friend.

🔎 What’s Swimming? · 3 min

  1. Tap Mystery Picture on your phone or tablet. A picture from today is hiding behind tiles.
  2. Ask a “show me”: “Show me a fish gulp!” “Show me marching feet!” After each one, tap away a tile.
  3. When the picture shows, name it and act it out together: boat, fish, praying arms!

👋 Obey and March Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, tap march on the Sound Board: “Jonah got up and went! Toys go home!” Put toys in their bins together and cheer every helper: “You obeyed!”
  2. Sit together one more time. Stand up and march: “I can obey!”
  3. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Give a fish-gulp high five and say: “Ask for the marching feet at home!”
  4. Share today’s family note from the app with parents, and tell them one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Keep them busy with What’s Swimming? or 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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