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Toot-Toot! The Watchman

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

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • 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.” That’s Ezekiel 3:17, and see also 33:1–7. A watchman stood high on a city wall and looked far away. When he saw danger coming, he blew a trumpet so everyone could hurry to a safe place.

Your one tiny truth today: the prophet helps keep me safe. Prophets are like watchmen. They can see dangers we can’t see yet. 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 kids can point to him.

Three-year-olds learn with their whole bodies. Give them a few simple things to do from their spots during the story. Binocular hands say “Look!” A hand trumpet says “Toot-toot!” A big self-hug says “Safe!” Keep the danger vague and gentle, like “Uh-oh, a storm is coming!” Say the tiny truth again and again: “The prophet helps keep me safe.”

The rest of Ezekiel has good pictures too. In Ezekiel 34:11–12, the Lord is a shepherd who looks for His lost sheep. In Ezekiel 47:9, a river from the temple makes everything come alive. They’re in the extras if you have time.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a paper towel tube and a picture of the prophet. Or use the no-supplies versions. Peekaboo the tube into a trumpet. Tell the Watchman story and let them guess what the watchman does. Say “I have made thee a watchman” with binocular hands, and play Toot or Thumbs Up? End by showing the prophet’s picture. Say, “The prophet helps keep me safe. I know it’s true.”

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. Tuck the prophet’s picture in your bag. Hide the paper towel tube under the scarf by your chair.
  2. Pick a “safe spot” right in front of your chair where everyone can scoot close.

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Hand the child the trumpet tube and ask, “Will you be my watchman helper?” A job helps a lot.
  • For potty breaks, have another grown-up or a parent take the child. Never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep going with everyone else.
  • When the room gets loud, tap the trumpet on the Sound Board. Say, “Toot-toot! Watchmen, hug yourselves. Safe!” 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!”

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

What’s Under the Blanket?

3 min

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

  1. SAY“Something is hiding under here! Let’s count and peek. One… two… three… peekaboo!”
  2. Lift the scarf a tiny bit, then drop it. Count and peek again.
  3. On the last peek, pull out the tube and toot into it, “Toot-toot! It’s a trumpet!” Pass it around for one toot each.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll meet Ezekiel. He blew a trumpet to help people get safe.”
🌪️ If everyone grabs for the trumpet, pass it around the circle one at a time. Everyone counts together.

Class screen: 🎺 Peekaboo! What’s hiding? · 🎺 Toot-toot!

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. SAY“Where did I go?”
  2. Cover your face with your hands, then pop out, “Peekaboo!” Do it three times.
  3. On the last one, pop out with fists at your mouth like a trumpet. Toot-toot! Tap the trumpet on the Sound Board too.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll meet Ezekiel. He blew a trumpet to help people get safe.”

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

2. Story

Picture Story: Ezekiel the Watchman

6 min

Seven short scenes show a watchman who looks far and warns people, and everyone joins in from their spots.

  1. SAY“Let’s look at the pictures and meet Ezekiel the watchman. I’ll ask you to guess!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. At each “Guess!”, take a guess or two. Little ones can just point.
  3. Keep the storm in scene 4 light. If someone looks worried, say, “It’s pretend. The watchman helps everyone!”
  4. After scene 7, say together, “The prophet helps keep me safe!”
🌪️ If a child wanders, toot your hand trumpet and hug yourself, “Safe!” Most kids hurry back to copy you.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 👀 Ezekiel the watchman! · 🤔 Guess! · 🎺 Toot-toot!

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! Stand up and walk slowly around your spot.”
  2. Call out moves, like “Tiptoe! Hop like a bunny! March!” Then toot. Everyone hurries to the safe spot, sits, and hugs, “Safe!”
  3. Say, “You listened! You’re safe!”
  4. Play three rounds, then end sitting in the safe spot.
🌪️ 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! Hurry to the safe spot!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Ezekiel 3:17

3 min

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

  1. SAY“The Lord said these words to Ezekiel. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures and read, “I have made thee a watchman.”
  3. Teach the motions. Point up, then to a friend, for “I have made thee.” Make binocular hands for “a watchman.”
  4. Say it together three ways: a whisper, a big watchman voice, then a squeaky mouse voice.
  5. 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. Game

Toot or Thumbs Up?

5 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, toot your hand trumpet!”
  2. Try “Holding Mom’s hand in the parking lot.” That’s a thumbs up! Then “Touching a hot stove.” That’s a toot!
  3. Keep mixing them up. “Wearing a seat belt.” “Running into the street.” “Saying a prayer.” “Climbing on the kitchen counter.”
  4. After each one, cheer, “Good watching!”
  5. Say, “Moms, dads, and the prophet help us know what’s safe. When we listen, we stay safe!” Everyone hugs, “Safe!”
🌪️ If the tooting gets too loud, switch to a whisper trumpet. Toot as quiet as a mouse.

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

6. Testimony

Peekaboo: Our Watchman Today

3 min

Children see the living prophet, connect him to the watchman, and hear a simple testimony.

  1. SAY“Someone else is hiding. It’s our watchman today! One… two… three… peekaboo!”
  2. Pull the prophet’s picture out from under the scarf. Say, “This is our prophet. He tells us what Heavenly Father wants.”
  3. Let each child wave hello. Softly say, “Heavenly Father loves you. He gives us a prophet to help keep us safe. I know that’s true.”
  4. Invite them to use Listening Ears this week. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 🙂 The prophet helps keep me safe.

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 at general conference.”
  2. SAY“He’s our watchman today. Show me your listening ears!”
  3. Everyone cups hands behind their ears. Softly say, “Heavenly Father loves you. He gives us a prophet to help keep us safe. I know that’s true.”
  4. Invite them to use Listening Ears this week. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 👂 Show me your listening ears!

7. Game

Watchman Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story, and every child gets a turn 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, cheer with a hand-trumpet “Toot-toot!”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🎺 Point to the right picture!

8. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

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

  1. SAY“Something is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Remove a square each time the kids do a motion, like “Look!” or “Toot-toot!”
  3. When they guess, make its sound together. A trumpet toots, a sheep says baa, and a river goes splash.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

The story

Ezekiel the Watchman

Ezekiel 3:17; 33:1–7 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Trumpet HelperSits by you and leads the hand-trumpet “Toot-toot!” from their seat at scene 5.
  • Sound HelperTaps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet with your help.

Scenes

  1. 🧔 Ezekiel was a prophet

    Long ago, there was a prophet named Ezekiel. The Lord gave him a special job. He would be a watchman.

    🙌

  2. 🧱 Up high on the wall

    A watchman stands way up high on the city wall. He watches over all the people.

    🙌

  3. 👀 The watchman looks far away

    The watchman looks this way… and that way… far, far away.

    🙌 Binocular hands. Look this way, then that way.

  4. ⛈️ Uh-oh! A storm is coming!

    One day the watchman sees a big storm coming far away. He needs to tell the people!

    🙌 Guess! What will the watchman do?

  5. 🎺 Toot-toot! Get safe!

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

    🙌 Hand trumpets: “Toot-toot!”

  6. 🏠 Everyone hurries to the safe place

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

    🙌 Hug yourself tight: “Safe!”

  7. 🙂 Our prophet helps keep us safe

    Today we have a prophet too. He is our watchman. He tells us what Heavenly Father wants. And that helps keep us 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, or sing it while everyone does binocular hands. 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. He looked far away and blew a trumpet to help people get safe. Our prophet helps keep us safe today. We made binocular hands, blew hand trumpets and gave ourselves big hugs for “Safe!” Ask your child, “What does the watchman’s trumpet say?” Then show them a picture of the prophet and share one thing he’s 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. Open to Ezekiel 34:11–12. Say, “The Lord said He will look for His sheep and find them.”
  2. While the kids cover their eyes, hide a soft toy sheep or any stuffed animal. Put it somewhere easy to spot.
  3. Everyone says “Baa, baa!” and crawls like little sheep to find it. When someone finds it, cheer and give 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. Point to Ezekiel 47:9. Say, “Ezekiel saw a river flow out of the temple. Everything it touched came alive!”
  2. Walk into the pretend river together. Tiptoe for ankle-deep water. March high for knee-deep. Swim with your arms for tummy-deep.
  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 kids in a line around the room, like a walk through the city.
  2. Be the watchman and 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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