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Toot-Toot! The Watchman

Ezekiel the watchman looks far, blows his trumpet and helps everyone get safe

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 45
  • 📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Heavenly Father gives us a prophet to help keep us safe.

I can listen to the prophet.

Study it yourself firstRead Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47)
Know the chapters

Ezekiel was a prophet who lived far from home in Babylon. The Lord told him, “I have made thee a watchman” (Ezekiel 3:17; see also 33:1–7). A watchman stood high on a city wall, looked far away, and blew a trumpet when he saw danger coming so everyone could hurry to a safe place.

Your one tiny truth for today: the prophet helps keep me safe. Prophets are like watchmen. They can see dangers we can’t see yet, and they tell us what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to know. Today we have a living prophet too, the President of the Church. Bring a current picture of him so the children can point to him.

Three-year-olds learn with their whole bodies. Everyone gets to be a watchman: stand on tiptoe, make hand binoculars, blow a pretend trumpet, and run to the safe spot. Keep the “danger” vague and gentle (“Uh-oh, something is coming!”). Say the tiny truth again and again: “The prophet helps keep me safe.”

The rest of Ezekiel is full of good pictures too: the Lord as a shepherd who looks for His lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:11–12) and a river from the temple that makes everything come alive (Ezekiel 47:9). They are in the extras if you have time.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring a picture of the prophet (or skip it and use the no-supplies versions). Tell the Watchman story with your phone or tablet scenes (everyone is a watchman), play Toot or Thumbs Up?, say “I have made thee a watchman” with binocular hands, sing the chorus of “Follow the Prophet” while marching, and end by saying, “The prophet helps keep me safe. I know it’s true.”

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. Find a picture of the prophet and tuck it under the scarf or towel.
  2. Put the paper towel tube in a bag or under your chair for the hook.
  3. Pick a “safe spot” in the room (a rug, a corner, or right in front of your chair) where everyone can sit close together.
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode so the story pictures and the Sound Board trumpet are ready.

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Hand the child the trumpet tube: “Will you be my watchman helper?” A job helps a lot. If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • Potty breaks: have one grown-up (or the class helper or a parent) take the child; never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep going with everyone else.
  • When the room gets too loud, blow the Sound Board trumpet and say, “Toot-toot! Watchmen, sit in the safe spot!” It works as your call-back all day.
  • Keep the “danger” in the story light and pretend. If a child looks worried, say, “We’re all safe here. The watchman helps everyone!”
  • Snacks only after checking allergies and your ward’s policy. A tiny snack at the safe spot is a great way to calm the room at the end.

The 25-minute plan23 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

What’s Under the Blanket?

2 min

A peekaboo reveal grabs little eyes and brings out the watchman’s trumpet.

  1. Sit on the floor with the children. Hold up the scarf with the paper tube hidden under it.
  2. SAY“Something is hiding! Let’s count and peek. One… two… three… peekaboo!” Lift the scarf a tiny bit, then drop it. Do it twice more.
  3. On the last peek, pull out the tube and blow into it: “Toot-toot! It’s a trumpet!”
  4. Let each child blow the trumpet once: “Toot-toot!”
  5. SAY“Today we’ll meet a man who blew a trumpet to help people get safe. His name was Ezekiel.”
🌪️ If they all grab for the trumpet at once, pass it around the circle one at a time while everyone counts together.

Class screen: 🎺 Peekaboo! What’s hiding? · 1… 2… 3… · Peekaboo!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A scarf, dish towel or small blanket for peekaboo, A paper towel tube for a pretend watchman’s trumpet

Peekaboo Trumpet

  1. Cover your face with your hands. Say: “Where did I go?” Pop out: “Peekaboo!” Do it three times.
  2. On the last one, pop out with your fists in front of your mouth like a trumpet: “Toot-toot!”
  3. Everyone makes a hand trumpet and toots with you. Tap the trumpet on the Sound Board too.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll meet a man who blew a trumpet to help people get safe. His name was Ezekiel.”

Class screen: 🎺 Make a hand trumpet! Toot-toot!

2. Story

Story: Ezekiel the Watchman

5 min

Every child becomes a watchman, so the tiny truth is something they do, not just hear.

  1. SAY“Everybody stand up. You are all watchmen!”
  2. Show each scene on your phone or tablet and read the one or two sentences.
  3. Do each action together. Go slowly and do it big.
  4. In scene 5, tap the trumpet sound and let the Trumpet Helper toot.
  5. End sitting close together in the safe spot. Say the tiny truth together: “The prophet helps keep me safe!”
🌪️ If kids wander off during the running scene, make the safe spot right in front of you and say, “Watchmen, find me!”
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 👀 Everyone is a watchman! · Look far · Toot-toot! · Get safe!

3. Wiggle break

Toot-Toot, Get Safe!

2 min

Burns energy and practices listening for the warning, just like the people in the city.

  1. SAY“Let’s play in the city! Walk around slowly.”
  2. Call out fun moves: “Tiptoe! Hop like a bunny! March! Flap like a bird!”
  3. Then tap the trumpet (or say “Toot-toot!”). Everyone hurries to the safe spot and sits.
  4. SAY“You listened! You’re safe!” Play 3 or 4 rounds.
🌪️ Keep the safe spot close so nobody has to run far. Walking fast counts!
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🏃 Toot-toot! Run to the safe spot!

4. Scripture

Key Words: “I Have Made Thee a Watchman”

3 min

Five scripture words with motions help the children remember that prophets are watchmen.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “These words are from the Bible. The Lord said them to Ezekiel.”
  2. Say it slowly with the motions: “I have made thee” (point up, then to a friend) “a watchman” (hand binoculars).
  3. Say it together three ways: in a whisper, in a big watchman voice, and in a squeaky mouse voice.
  4. SAY“The Lord made Ezekiel a watchman. Our prophet is a watchman too. The prophet helps keep me safe!”

Class screen: 📖 “I have made thee a watchman” · ☝️ I have made thee · 👀 a watchman

5. Song

March to “Follow the Prophet”

2 min

Singing and marching together lets them move while the truth sinks in.

  1. SAY“Let’s march like watchmen on the wall!”
  2. Sing the chorus of “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110) while everyone marches in a line behind you.
  3. Sing it once more, then march back to the safe spot and sit.

Class screen: 🎵 March and sing!

6. Game

Toot or Thumbs Up?

3 min

Little ones practice telling safe from not safe, the way a watchman helps people know.

  1. SAY“I’ll say something. If it’s safe, show me a thumbs up. If it’s not safe, blow your trumpet: toot-toot!”
  2. Try: “Holding Mom’s hand in the parking lot.” (👍) “Touching a hot stove.” (🎺) “Wearing a seat belt.” (👍) “Running into the street.” (🎺) “Saying a prayer.” (👍) “Climbing on the kitchen counter.” (🎺)
  3. After each one, cheer: “Good watching!”
  4. SAY“Moms, dads and the prophet help us know what is safe. The prophet helps keep me safe!”
🌪️ If the tooting gets too loud, switch to a whisper trumpet: “toot-toot” as quiet as a mouse.

Class screen: 👍 Safe? Thumbs up! Not safe? Toot! · 👍 safe · 🎺 not safe

7. Wiggle break

Do As I’m Doing: Watchman Moves

2 min

A copy-me song gives one more big wiggle before the quiet part.

  1. Sing “Do As I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276).
  2. Use watchman moves: stand on tiptoe, look through binoculars, blow the trumpet, march on the wall.
  3. Finish with a slow move: sit down very, very slowly like a sleepy watchman.

Class screen: 🙌 Do what I do!

8. Talk it over

Peekaboo: Who Is Our Watchman?

2 min

Children see and point to the living prophet and connect him to the watchman.

  1. Hold up the scarf with the prophet’s picture under it. Count together: “One… two… three… peekaboo!”
  2. SAY“This is our prophet! He is our watchman today.” Let each child point to him or wave hello.
  3. Ask the questions one at a time. Any answer, even a point or a nod, gets a smile and a “Yes!”
💬 Ask the class
  • Can you show me how a watchman looks far away?
  • What does the watchman’s trumpet say?
  • Who is our watchman today? Point to the prophet!
  • Show me your listening ears!

Class screen: 🙂 Who is our watchman today?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A current picture of the President of the Church (from the Gospel Library app printed out, a Friend or Liahona magazine, or the ward library), A scarf, dish towel or small blanket for peekaboo

Listening Ears

  1. SAY“Our prophet lives far away, but he talks to us. Moms and dads listen to him on TV, on phones, and in the Friend magazine.”
  2. SAY“He is our watchman today. He tells us what Heavenly Father wants.”
  3. Ask the questions one at a time. Everyone shows their listening ears by cupping hands behind their ears.

Class screen: 👂 Show me your listening ears!

9. Testimony

Quiet Watchmen

2 min

A calm, loving moment where the teacher shares a simple testimony.

  1. SAY“Watchmen, let’s be very quiet. Fold your arms and sit like a quiet watchman at night.”
  2. In a soft voice, say: “Heavenly Father loves you. He gives us a prophet to help keep us safe. I know that is true.”
  3. Name each child: “Emma, the prophet helps keep you safe. Leo, the prophet helps keep you safe.” (Use your own class names.)
  4. SAY“When you hear the prophet, you can use your listening ears.” Say a short closing prayer or invite a child to fold arms while you help them.

Class screen: 🤫 The prophet helps keep me safe.

10. Game

Watchman Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story, and every child gets a turn to point.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to the right picture or call it out. No teams needed: everyone wins.
  3. Cheer with a toot-toot after every answer.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🎺 Point to the right picture!

11. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal keeps them guessing and names things from the story.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “Something is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Let one child at a time tap a square, or remove one each time someone does a watchman move.
  3. When they guess, act it out: trumpet = toot, sheep = baa, river = splash.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

12. Craft

Make a Watchman Trumpet

4 minBONUS

A take-home trumpet reminds them to listen to the prophet.

  1. Give each child a toilet paper tube.
  2. Let them add stickers or scribble colors on it.
  3. Everyone toots together. Say: “When you toot at home, remember: the prophet helps keep me safe!”

Class screen: 🎺 Make your own trumpet!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Optional: one toilet paper tube per child and stickers for trumpets

Hand Trumpets

  1. Show how to make a trumpet by curling both fists in front of your mouth.
  2. Toot high, toot low, toot soft, toot loud.
  3. SAY“Take your hand trumpet home! When you toot, remember: the prophet helps keep me safe!”

Story drama

Ezekiel the Watchman

Ezekiel 3:17; 33:1–7 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Everyone: WatchmenStand on tiptoe, make hand binoculars and blow pretend trumpets: toot-toot!
  • Everyone: People in the CityPlay and walk around, then hurry to the safe spot when the trumpet toots.
  • Trumpet HelperHolds the paper tube trumpet (or taps the Sound Board) when the teacher nods.

Scenes

  1. 🧔 Ezekiel was a prophet

    Long ago there was a prophet named Ezekiel. Heavenly Father gave him a special job.

    🎬 Wave hello to Ezekiel! 👋

  2. 🧱 Up high on the wall

    The Lord told Ezekiel he would be His watchman. A watchman stands way up high on a city wall.

    🎬 Stand up on tiptoes and stretch up tall, tall, tall.

  3. 👀 The watchman looks far away

    The watchman looks far, far away. He watches over all the people.

    🎬 Make binoculars with your hands. Look this way… and that way!

  4. ⛈️ Uh-oh! Something is coming!

    One day the watchman sees danger far away. He needs to tell the people!

    🎬 Point far away and say, “Uh-oh!”

  5. 🎺 Toot-toot! Get safe!

    The watchman blows his trumpet: toot-toot! That means, “Hurry! Get safe!”

    🎬 Blow your pretend trumpets: “Toot-toot!”

  6. 🏠 Everyone hurries to the safe place

    The people listen to the watchman. They hurry to the safe place, and everyone is okay!

    🎬 Run in place, then sit down in a cozy ball. Phew! Safe!

  7. 🙂 Our prophet helps keep us safe

    Today we have a prophet too. He tells us what Heavenly Father wants, and that helps keep us safe.

    🎬 Say together: “The prophet helps keep me safe!”

Key verse

Ezekiel 3:17 ↗
“I have made thee a watchman”
In kid words: The Lord told Ezekiel, “I made you a watchman.”
🙌 “I have made thee” = point up to heaven, then point to a friend · “a watchman” = make binoculars with your hands and look far away.

More verses

Ezekiel 33:7 ↗
“I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel”
In kid words: The Lord made Ezekiel a watchman for His people.
Ezekiel 34:11 ↗
“Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out”
In kid words: The Lord looks for His sheep until He finds them.
Ezekiel 47:9 ↗
“every thing shall live whither the river cometh”
In kid words: Everything the river touches comes alive.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 👀 Watchman
  • 🎺 Trumpet
  • 🧱 Wall
  • 🧔 Ezekiel
  • 🙂 Prophet
  • 🏠 House
  • 👂 Ears
  • ⛈️ Storm
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 🌊 River
  • 🐟 Fish
  • 📖 Scriptures
Clues for each word
  • Watchman: He looks far, far away
  • Trumpet: Toot-toot!
  • Wall: The watchman stands up high on it
  • Ezekiel: A prophet who was a watchman
  • Prophet: He helps keep us safe
  • House: A safe place to go
  • Ears: We listen with them
  • Storm: Rumble, rumble!
  • Sheep: Baa! The shepherd finds it
  • River: Splash! Water that flows
  • Fish: Swims in the river
  • Scriptures: Holy book with Ezekiel in it
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Who stands up high and looks far away?
    • A. 👀 A watchman
    • B. 🐟 A fish
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👀 A watchman The watchman looks far, far away to keep people safe.

  2. What does the watchman blow?
    • A. 🍌 A banana
    • B. 🎺 A trumpet
    • C. 🧦 A sock
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🎺 A trumpet Toot-toot! The trumpet tells everyone to get safe.

  3. What does the trumpet say?
    • A. 🐮 Moo!
    • B. 🎺 Toot-toot!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🎺 Toot-toot! Toot-toot! Let’s all blow our trumpets!

  4. When the trumpet toots, where do people go?
    • A. 🏠 To the safe place
    • B. 🛝 To the slide
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🏠 To the safe place They listened and hurried to the safe place.

  5. Who is our watchman today?
    • A. 🧸 A teddy bear
    • B. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • C. 🙂 The prophet
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🙂 The prophet The prophet helps keep us safe!

  6. What do we listen with?
    • A. 👃 Our nose
    • B. 👂 Our ears
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 👂 Our ears Show me your listening ears!

  7. Is holding Mom’s hand in the parking lot safe?
    • A. 👍 Safe!
    • B. 🎺 Not safe!
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👍 Safe! Yes! Holding hands keeps us safe.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Follow the Prophet Children’s Songbook, p. 110

    March to the chorus like watchmen on the wall. Find it ↗

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

    A copy-me wiggle song for watchman moves. Find it ↗

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

    Listening and obeying keeps us safe, just like the people in the city. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Listening Ears

Look at a picture of the prophet with your family. When Mom or Dad shares something the prophet said, put on your listening ears!

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Ezekiel was a watchman who blew a trumpet to help people get safe, and that our prophet helps keep us safe today. Ask your child: “What does the watchman’s trumpet say?” (Toot-toot!) Then show them a picture of the prophet and share one thing he has taught.

📝 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?

🐑 Find the Lost Sheep · 3 min

  1. SAY“The Lord said He will look for His sheep and find them” (Ezekiel 34:11–12).
  2. While the children cover their eyes, hide a soft toy sheep (or any stuffed animal) somewhere easy to spot.
  3. Everyone says “Baa, baa!” and crawls like little sheep to find it. When someone finds it, everyone cheers and gives it a gentle hug.
  4. SAY“Jesus is like a good shepherd. He always looks for us because He loves us.”

🌊 The River from the Temple · 2 min

  1. Lay a blue towel or scarf on the floor for a river. Say: “Ezekiel saw a river flow out of the temple. Everything it touched came alive!” (Ezekiel 47:9).
  2. Everyone walks into the pretend river: water to our ankles (tiptoe), to our knees (march high), to our tummies (swim with arms).
  3. Everyone becomes a happy fish, then a tall tree with wiggly leaves. Say: “The temple is Heavenly Father’s house. It blesses families.”

🚶 Watchman Walk · 3 min

  1. Lead the children in a line around the room like a walk in the city.
  2. As the watchman, warn them about pretend things: “Toot-toot! A big puddle! Jump over!” “Toot-toot! A sleeping kitty! Tiptoe!”
  3. SAY“The prophet warns us about things we can’t see yet, just like a watchman.”

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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