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Peace, Be Still!

A sleepy pillow, a windy picture story, and a blanket sea that goes still

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 9
  • 📅 Sunday, February 28, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I feel scared, Jesus can help me feel peace.

I can think of Jesus and pray when I feel scared.

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’s chapters are full of Jesus helping people. In Matthew 8:1–4, He touched a man with a sickness called leprosy and made him clean. In Mark 2:1–12, four friends carried a man who couldn’t walk up onto a roof. They let him down to Jesus, and Jesus forgave him and healed him. In Luke 7:36–50, He forgave a woman who came to Him in tears. And in Mark 4:35–41, He stopped a storm one night on the Sea of Galilee.

Your one tiny truth today: Jesus can help me feel peace. In the storm story, Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the back of the boat. The wind blew, the waves splashed in, and His friends were scared. They woke Him. He said to the wind and the sea, “Peace, be still.” The wind stopped, and everything became calm. Say the tiny truth again and again: “Jesus helps me feel peace.”

Three-year-olds have real fears. Thunder, the dark, big dogs, a new classroom, even saying goodbye to Mom at the door. They don’t need to hear that nothing scary will ever happen. They need to know that Jesus loves them. They can pray and think of Him, and He can help them feel calm inside. Keep the storm fun and pretend. Make the calm part slow and cozy.

The kids join the story from their spots. They blow like the wind, freeze when you say “Peace, be still,” and hug themselves when the sea is calm. Nobody plays Jesus. You say His words, “Peace, be still,” in a soft, sure voice, and the whole room freezes. That moment is the lesson.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a pillow, a blue blanket, and a toy boat. Pull out the pillow and pretend to sleep. Tell the storm story in Teach Mode and let them guess what Jesus will do. Say “Peace, be still” with motions, and play Blanket Sea. End in a quiet circle. Say, “When I feel scared, Jesus helps me feel peace.” Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Use pillow hands and make the sea with your hands on your knees.

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 behind your back for the hook. Fold the blanket with the toy boat on top.
  2. Practice saying “Peace, be still” softly and slowly. Your calm voice is the magic.
  3. Practice once. Hand up: “Peace, be still.”

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Give the child a job, like “Can you hold Jesus’s pillow for me?” If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • Potty breaks happen. Follow your ward’s policy. Usually a parent or the second adult takes the child. Keep two adults with the children, and never leave the class alone.
  • Here’s your call-back today. Raise your hand and say softly, “Peace, be still.” Kids freeze and put a hand up too. It’s in the story too, so it’ll be well practiced.
  • Some kids really are afraid of thunder. Keep the storm sounds short and soft. Say, “It’s pretend! We’re safe.” Let a worried child sit right next to you.
  • If the blanket sea gets too wild, lower your voice and make tiny, tiny waves. Curious kids will quiet down to match you.

The 25-minute plan22 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

Sleepy Pillow

3 min

A pillow and a surprise “whoosh” set up the sleeping Jesus and the sudden storm.

  1. SAY“I have something behind my back. What could it be?”
  2. Pull out the pillow and ask, “What do we do with a pillow?” Then say, “Let’s all go to sleep.” Everyone snores softly on their hands.
  3. Tap the wind on the Sound Board, or blow “whoooo” yourself. Sit up surprised and ask, “Uh-oh! What was that?”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Jesus sleeping on a pillow in a boat. And a big, windy storm!”
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 😴 Shhh… time to sleep!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small pillow or a folded sweater (Jesus’s pillow in the boat)

Pillow Hands

  1. SAY“Look, I made a pillow with my hands! Can you make one?”
  2. Put both hands together under your cheek. Everyone leans on their pillow hands and snores softly.
  3. Tap the wind on the Sound Board. Sit up surprised and ask, “Uh-oh! What was that?”
  4. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Jesus sleeping on a pillow in a boat. And a big, windy storm!”

Class screen: 😴 Make pillow hands! Shhh…

2. Story

Picture Story: Jesus Calms the Storm

6 min

Seven picture scenes show that Jesus has power over the storm and helps us feel safe.

  1. SAY“Jesus and His friends went out in a boat. Let’s look at the pictures. I’ll ask you to guess!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. At each “Guess!”, take a guess or two. Do a motion together when one shows.
  3. At scene 5, say “Peace, be still” very softly. Wait until everyone freezes. Enjoy three quiet seconds.
  4. After scene 7, say together, “Jesus helps me feel peace!”
🌪️ Keep the wind short. After two “Whoooo!”s, raise your peace hand and wait.

Class screen: ⛵ A big storm on the sea! · 🤔 Guess! · ✋ Peace, be still

3. Wiggle break

Do As I’m Doing: Boat Moves

2 min

A copy-me song with boat moves lets the wiggles out, then ends calm and still.

  1. SAY“Let’s do boat moves! Do what I do.”
  2. Sing “Do As I’m Doing,” Children’s Songbook page 276. Row the boat, blow the wind, splash the waves, and sleep on a pillow.
  3. Finish slow. Smooth the calm water with flat hands and sit very, very still.

Class screen: 🚣 Row, blow, splash… calm!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Mark 4:39

3 min

Three quiet words with a peace hand help Sunbeams remember that Jesus can calm storms and scared feelings.

  1. SAY“These words are from the Bible. Jesus said them to the wind and the waves. Listen!”
  2. Read slowly, “Peace, be still.” Teach the Key Verse motions. Then say it together with the motions.
  3. Say it three ways: a whisper, a slow sleepy voice, then a teeny-tiny mouse voice.
  4. Say, “Even the wind and the sea listened to Jesus. When I feel scared, Jesus helps me feel peace!”

Class screen: 📖 “Peace, be still” · ✋ Peace · 🧊 be still

5. Game

Blanket Sea

5 min

Stormy blanket waves that go still on “Peace, be still” practice what to do when we feel scared: pray and think of Jesus.

  1. SAY“Let’s make a sea!”
  2. Everyone sits around the blanket and holds the edge. Put the toy boat in the middle. Call out tiny waves, bigger waves, then storm waves.
  3. Raise your hand and say softly, “Peace, be still.” Everyone holds the blanket flat. The boat is safe!
  4. Ask one child, “What feels scary to you?” Help with ideas like thunder or the dark. Say, “You can pray. And Jesus helps you feel peace.”
  5. Play four rounds. Let a different child raise the peace hand each time.
🌪️ Everyone stays seated with two hands on the edge. If the boat flies off, that’s a funny splash, not a problem.

Class screen: 🌊 Storm waves… Peace, be still! · 🌊 Shake! · ✋ Still!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A blue blanket, big towel or large scarf for the sea, A small toy boat, toy car or stuffed animal to ride the blanket waves

Hand Sea

  1. SAY“Let’s make a sea with our hands!”
  2. Everyone puts flat hands on their knees. Call out tiny waves, bigger waves, then storm waves. Hands rock gently, then bigger and bigger.
  3. Raise your hand and say softly, “Peace, be still.” Everyone freezes with flat, calm hands.
  4. Ask one child, “What feels scary to you?” Say, “You can pray. And Jesus helps you feel peace.” Play four rounds.

Class screen: 🖐️ Hand waves… Peace, be still!

6. Testimony

Calm Sea

3 min

A slow, cozy close where each child hears that Jesus can help them feel peace.

  1. SAY“Our sea is calm now. Let’s be very still. Fold your arms and take a slow breath.”
  2. Hold up the picture of Jesus. Say softly, “Jesus loves you. When you feel scared, you can pray and think of Him. I know He helps me feel peace.”
  3. Name each child, like “Mia, Jesus can help you feel peace.” Invite them to try Peace Hands at home this week.
  4. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 💛 Jesus helps me feel peace. · ✋ Peace Hands this week

7. Game

Storm Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story if you have a few extra minutes, and every child gets to point.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Skip the teams. Everyone wins.
  3. After every answer, everyone whispers, “Peace, be still.”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 👉 Point to the right picture!

8. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A slow picture reveal reviews the story.

  1. SAY“A picture from our story is hiding! Let’s find out what it is.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Call out a “show me,” like “Show me the wind!” Tap away a tile after each one.
  3. Let everyone guess. When the picture shows, tell that part of the story together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

The story

Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 4:35–41 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Picture HelperSits by you and holds up the picture of Jesus in scenes 5 and 7.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help. Waves, wind, and magic!

Scenes

  1. ⛵🌊 Jesus and His friends sail away

    One evening Jesus and His friends got into a boat. They sailed across the sea.

    🙌

  2. 😴🛏️ Jesus sleeps on a pillow

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

    🙌 Hands under your cheek. Whisper: “Shhh!”

  3. 🌬️🌊 Whoosh! A big storm!

    Then the wind blew hard. The waves got big, and water splashed into the boat!

    🙌 Blow like the wind: “Whoooo!”

  4. 😟🙏 His friends wake Jesus up

    Jesus’s friends were scared. They woke Him up and asked Him for help.

    🙌 Guess! What will Jesus do?

  5. ✋🌊 Jesus says, “Peace, be still.”

    Jesus stood up. He said to the wind and the waves, “Peace, be still.”

    🙌 Hand up: “Peace, be still.” Everyone freezes!

  6. 😌💙 Everything is calm

    The wind stopped. The water was smooth and quiet. Jesus loved His friends, and they felt safe.

    🙌

  7. 💛🙏 Jesus helps me feel peace

    When I feel scared, I can pray and think of Jesus. He can help me feel calm inside too.

    🙌

Key verse

Mark 4:39 ↗
“Peace, be still”
In kid words: Jesus told the wind and the waves, “Peace, be still,” and they stopped.
🙌 “Peace” = raise one hand, palm out, like a gentle stop sign · “be still” = slowly lower your hand and freeze like a statue.

More verses

Mark 4:41 ↗
“even the wind and the sea obey him”
In kid words: Even the wind and the water listen to Jesus.
Mark 2:5 ↗
“When Jesus saw their faith”
In kid words: Four friends brought a man to Jesus, and Jesus saw that they believed in Him.
Luke 7:50 ↗
“go in peace”
In kid words: Jesus told a woman He loved to go and feel peace.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • ⛵ Boat
  • 🌬️ Wind
  • 🌊 Waves
  • ⛈️ Storm
  • 😴 Sleep
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • ⚡ Lightning
  • 👫 Friends
  • 🏠 Roof
  • 🛏️ Bed
  • 📖 Scriptures
Clues for each word
  • Boat: Jesus and His friends rode in it
  • Wind: Whoooo! It blows
  • Waves: Splash! Up and down
  • Storm: Thunder and rain
  • Sleep: Jesus did this on a pillow
  • Fish: Swims in the sea
  • Rain: Drip, drop from the clouds
  • Lightning: A bright flash in the sky
  • Friends: They woke Jesus up
  • Roof: Four friends climbed up on it
  • Bed: The friends carried a man on it
  • Scriptures: The book with Jesus’s words
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Where were Jesus and His friends?
    • A. ⛵ In a boat
    • B. 🌳 Up a tree
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ⛵ In a boat They were in a boat on the sea. Row, row, row!

  2. What did Jesus sleep on?
    • A. 🍕 A pizza
    • B. 🛏️ A pillow
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🛏️ A pillow Jesus was tired and slept on a pillow. Shhh!

  3. What sound does the wind make?
    • A. 🐶 Woof!
    • B. 🐮 Moo!
    • C. 🌬️ Whoosh!
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🌬️ Whoosh! Whoooosh! Let’s all blow like the wind!

  4. Jesus said, “Peace, be…”
    • A. 🤫 Still
    • B. 🐸 Froggy
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤫 Still “Peace, be still.” Freeze like a statue!

  5. After Jesus spoke, the water was…
    • A. 🌊 Big and splashy
    • B. 😌 Calm and quiet
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😌 Calm and quiet The wind stopped, and everything was calm.

  6. Who can help me when I feel scared?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. 🍌 A banana
    • C. 💛 Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 💛 Jesus Jesus loves me and helps me feel peace.

  7. What can I do when I feel scared?
    • A. 🙏 Say a prayer
    • B. 🙈 Hide forever
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Say a prayer I can pray and think of Jesus.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    Sing it softly before the testimony if you have a minute. Find it ↗

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

    Today’s wiggle: a copy-me song with boat and storm moves. Find it ↗

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

    A gentle song for the calm, quiet end of class. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Peace Hands

When you feel scared, put up your hand and whisper, “Peace, be still.” Then say a little prayer with your family.

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Jesus calmed a big storm by saying, “Peace, be still.” He can help us feel peace when we’re scared. Ask your child, “What did Jesus say to the wind?” The answer is “Peace, be still!” Then share a time you prayed and felt calm.

📝 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?

🏠 Through the Roof · 3 min

  1. Open to Mark 2:1–12. Say, “Four friends had a friend who couldn’t walk. They wanted to bring him to Jesus, but the house was too full!”
  2. Lay a teddy bear on a towel. Four kids each hold a corner and carefully walk it across the room. Then they gently lower it to the floor.
  3. Say, “Jesus saw that the friends believed in Him, and He made the man well. We can help our friends come to Jesus too.”
  4. No towel? Four kids hold hands in a square and walk together around a friend in the middle.

😴 Sleep, Wake, Calm · 2 min

  1. Everyone pretends to sleep. When you say “Wind!”, everyone blows. When you say “Waves!”, everyone rocks.
  2. When you say, “Peace, be still,” everyone lies still and quiet again.
  3. Say, “Jesus has power over the wind and the waves. He can help us feel calm.”

🌬️ Peace Breaths · 2 min

  1. Teach a calm breath. Smell a pretend flower to breathe in. Blow out a pretend candle to breathe out.
  2. Do it three times together, slowly.
  3. Say, “When you feel scared, you can take a peace breath and say a prayer. Jesus helps me feel peace.”

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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