I Can Make Wise Media Choices
Psalm 119:30
“I have chosen the way of truth.”
POST-AND-PRESENT Activity
MEDIA CHOICES: “Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me!” Swat Game, tent card, and fly swatter
OBJECTIVE: To help youth choose wisely what they read, watch, and listen to, and to ask themselves, “Is this pleasing to God?” From this activity, they will increase their desire to choose wholesome activities that will invite the Holy Spirit to guide them.
TO MAKE VISUALS: Print and cut out the visuals in color or black and white and follow instructions to assemble (See suggestion below for large group) To make swatters, laminate first then mount securely on paint stir-sticks or wooden dowels; or over real fly swatters. A set of blank cards is provided here if you want to make up different situations.
To Set up the Game. Post the STAR and FLY circles on the board just reachable for youth to swat with the KAPOW! swatters. For the SMALL CLASSROOM lay circles face up on a table. LARGE GROUP, create two sets of circles side-by-side on the board giving players room to swat their own game board. To make swatters, laminate first then mount securely on paint stir-sticks or wooden dowels; or over real fly swatters.
Shoo Fly Discussion:
1. Start out by reading the star circle: “I feel like a morning star. I belong to somebody.” Talk about how we are children of God and belong to Him. He wants us to be happy. This is why He gave us His 10 commandments. Commandment #1 is “Thou shalt have on other gods before me.” If we put God’s standards first He can bless us. If we read, watch, and listen to things that are not pleasing to God, it’s harder for Him to bless us.
2. Read the fly circle: “Shoo Fly . . . Shoo Fly . . . Don’t bother me!” Talk about flies and how they get in our way and sometimes get right in our faces to bother us. Satan is this way, getting in our way of doing good, tempting us to make wrong choices. He doesn’t want us to be happy. Satan sometimes gets right in our face with media (books, movies, video games, magazines) and tries to tempt us to do wrong, to read bad words, look at immodest people or watch bad things that are not wholesome. With our trusty fly swatter, we need to shoo away the fly – crush the fly! (Demonstrate on the board using the swatter)
3. Sing the song, Shoo, Fly Don’t Bother Me (lyrics below*). Talk about the “For I belong to somebody” part of the song. Talk about how that “somebody” is God, our parents, family, teachers, and friends who love us. We should always remember how important we are and how much they want us to be happy by making the right choices.
4. Say, “Let’s play the Media Choices SWAT GAME.
Media Choices SWAT GAME
• Divide into two teams and line up taking turns with two players. See details (above) in setting up the game for LARGE and SMALL groups. Hand each player a swatter. Explain that they can use the swatter to KAPOW! or swat the right circle to vote if the choice is a STAR decision or a crummy dirty SHOO FLY decision.
• Have a player draw a situation and the leader reads it aloud. When reading the word strips be sure to pause after it says, “so he …” or “so she …” and then read the last line as players stand ready with their swatters. Then the players compete to be the first to swat the correct circle. If you do, you earn a point for your team. Place the word strip on the right side of the board by the STAR for the right choice or the left side of the board by the SHOO FLY for the wrong choice.
• Play until all situations are read and choices are voted upon. The team with the most points wins.
Star and Fly TENT CARD
Give each youth a tent card to place on their TV, bookshelf, or dresser to remind them to follow the STAR decisions instead of the FLY. The card reads (1) FLY side: Shoo Fly … Don’t Bother Me! I can avoid the temptations of unworthy shows, books, and music by choosing to not take part. I feel peace when I make righteous choices with what I watch, read, and listen to. I know Heavenly Father is also pleased with me. See Shoo Fly song lyrics (below*).
THOUGHT TREAT:
Star Fruit, Star-shaped Frosted Sugar Cookies. “Fly on My Cracker” (raisin on top of peanut butter or cream cheese on a cracker or glue the raisin on with frosting). Talk about star qualities that come from being obedient to God’s commandments and how they help us stay away from temptations (no flies on our crackers)
DISCUSSION POINTS (Scriptures, Jesus Christ, Choices)
• The devil has no power over us unless we allow it. We were given wonderful bodies and minds so we can have a full earthly experience of tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, pain, disappointment, and even the challenges of physical limitations.
• Satan tries to confuse us and make us feel unhappy. He tries to make us use our bodies in improper ways. He tries to influence us to believe our bodies are not important or special.
• One way Satan works to distract us is with video games and online socializing. He knows this will consume countless hours that would otherwise be spent studying, working, spending time with our families, or serving others. Other media, such as television, music, and even books, can enslave us and dull our senses to what is important.
• Technology can be a wonderful tool to lift and brighten lives, build relationships and strengthen families. If used wrongly it can distort reality, bringing perversions and wickedness into our very homes.
• God knows you and wants you to experience all the joys and happiness life can offer. He wants you to use your agency wisely. He has provided a beautiful way to correct past wrongs through repentance and the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ.
• Perhaps ask yourself: “Is what I’m watching or doing inviting the Holy Spirit?” Or, “Is my time better spent serving and being with my loved ones in more meaningful ways?”
• We can avoid deception by being obedient to God’s commandments and always praying for His divine help.
BIBLE SCRIPTURES TO UNDERLINE:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
1 Thessalonians 4:4
“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour”
Proverbs 23:7
“For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”
Matthew 24:4, 24:24
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
*Shoo, Fly, Don’t Bother Me! Lyrics
Shoo, fly, don’t bother me
Shoo, fly, don’t bother me
Shoo, fly, don’t bother me
For I belong to somebody
I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star
I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star
Shoo, fly, don’t bother me
Shoo, fly, don’t bother me
Shoo, fly, don’t bother me
For I belong to somebody
Shoo Fly | Nursery Rhymes | Favorite | Little Fox | Animated Songs for Kids