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God’s Commandments Are Like an Ice Cream Recipe: Primary School Lesson

Author: Vanessa Rooney

Vanessa is a devoted wife, mother, and writer, she shares uplifting insights, practical parenting tips, and inspiring faith-based content to help families grow closer to God and each other.

Age Group: Junior Primary (ages 4–7)
Time: 30-40 minutes
Main Gospel Principle: God’s commandments help us be happy, just like following a recipe helps us make delicious ice cream!
Scripture: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15

Lesson Objective:

To help the children understand that following God’s commandments is like following a recipe—when we do it right, we get something sweet and wonderful!

Materials:

  • A simple “ice cream recipe” card
  • Ice cream cones or cup
  • 1/2 and 1/2, milk or cream
  • Ice
  • Salt
  • Vanilla
  • Sugar
  • 1 large freezer bag
  • Measuring cups
  • Oven mits or a tea towel
  • Ice cream toppings
  • 1 small freezer bag
  • Watch this video on how to create ice cream

I would bring another tub of ice cream, as this only creates a small amount unless you plan on doing multiple bags. The ice cream does melt fast, so I simply used it as an object lesson and brought a few tubs of ice cream along for an ice cream party afterwards.

Recipe

  • 1/2 cup of cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 1 table spoon of sugar
  • 4 cups of ice
  1. Place cream, vanilla, and sugar into the small freezer bag and seal.
  2. Place ice into the large zipper bag with 1/2 cup of salt.
  3. Place the small bag inside the large bag of ice and seal the bag.
  4. Shake the bag for 10 minutes.

Introduction (3 minutes):

Gods Love

Ask: “Who loves ice cream?

Today, we are going to make our very own ice cream! (Have the ice cream ingredients out on the table in front of you.)

Hold up your recipe card and say: “This is a recipe for ice cream. We have to follow the steps—mix the cream, add sugar, freeze it—all in the right order!”

“What happens if we don’t follow the recipe? What do you think will happen if we forget the sugar or perhaps freeze it wrong?”

“How do we know the recipe will turn out? Someone has made it before using these instructions, so we know if we follow everything on this recipe card, the ice cream will turn out yummy.”

“Just like we learned how to make ice cream from other people’s experiences, we can learn from others how to have a sweet and joyful life.”

“Who do you think can best teach you how to have a sweet and joyful life?”

Have one of the students who answered add the 1/2 and 1/2 into the bag. Another can add the sugar and so on.

“Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father gave us a recipe too—it’s called the commandments. When we follow them, they help us feel peace and joy—like getting a big scoop of ice cream!”

“What actions can we take in our lives to be more like Jesus Christ? What are some small and simple ways that we can sweeten someone else’s day?”

Add one topping to the ice cream bag for each suggestion.

Shake it up

When the discussion has ended, put on some fun music and pass the bags of ice cream around to be shaken by each child for a total of 10 minutes. (Plays Taylor Swifts Shake it Off.)

Play List

Testimony & Wrap-Up (2 minutes):

Bear your testimony that God’s commandments help us be happy, just like following a recipe helps make delicious ice cream. Encourage the children to pick one commandment to “practice” this week.

What flavors are you going to make at your ice cream party?

Vanessa Rooney – LDS Mum