Singing in Primary

February 2012 CD Challenge

2012-02-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

This is what I'll be passing out after my singing time for our February 2012 CD Challenge:

Here are the details:

_________________________________________

2012 CD Challenge !!

To help encourage the use of the 2012 Primary Songs CD the Primary gave to each family in Primary, every month there will be a new challenge the kids will need to complete that involves using their CD at home and reporting back to Sister Hill. Children who complete each challenge by program time in September will receive a special REWARD! You can always go back and complete previous month’s challenges!

January’s Challenge: (ONLY IF YOU HAVEN’T COMPLETED THIS ONE YET!)

Using your 2012 Primary Songs CD, teach As A Child of God to your family during Family Home Evening or anytime when your family is together - OR - perform As a Child of God on a musical instrument (or sing it it) in Primary (music is in the January 2012 Friend).

_______________, completed the January CD Challenge

_________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE

February’s Challenge:

Listen to Choose the Right on your 2012 Primary Songs CD at home this month. As you listen, write down how many times the words "choose" and "right" are sung and write the numbers below. To pass off this challenge, you must have the correct numbers!

CHOOSE ___________ RIGHT _____________

__________________________________________

Each month I am gradually going to add on so kids will always be able to play catch up. Also, the last week of each month, I'll try to get as many kids as I can to pass off the challenges during singing time.

I was able to fit the information above onto half of a sheet of paper (2 per page). Then on Sunday I'll make enough copies so I can pass them out to all the kids.

Choose the Right, Chorus Details

2012-02-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

I've firmed up my lesson plan for this week and I'm only going to teach the chorus to Choose the Right. I'm using a combination of ideas from Pat Graham's workshop and some I found from Yahoo Groups.

PREP:

CTR Sticks (enough for each child to hold): I LOVED this sister's work found HERE

Key words on word strips: WIDSOM, MARK THE WAY, LIGHT, BLESS YOU

Tape/magnets to hang items on chalkboard

3 Gospel Art Book pictures (I'll reference these as GAB):

Picture of boy praying #111
Picture of a family paying their tithing/coins #113/114
Picture of a family at church receiving the Sacrament #108

If you don't have the Gospel Art Book, you can find similar pictures using the Gospel Art Kit (aka GAK) pictures (I didn't realize there was a difference??) which are featured online HERE. You can also try to find 3 pictures at the library of children choosing the right. If you use different pictures, adjust your activity accordingly.

**Note, the Gospel Art Book comes in a spiral bound book. I have taken it all apart and placed all the pictures in plastic cover sheets. It's much more versatile this way!

ACTIVITY:

Pass out CTR sticks and ask, I am thinking of a word that is the opposite of wrong, what is it? [right]. When I place a choice before you and the choice is a RIGHT choice, raise your CTR stick:

You choose to say your morning prayer (hold up GAB picture 111 & hang on chalk board).
You choose to say bad words when you are angry.
You choose to pay your tithing (hold up GAB picture 113/114 and hang on chalkboard).
You choose to sleep in and miss church.
You choose to be reverent during the Sacrament (hold up GAB picture 108 & hang on chalkboard).

Choosing to do the right is not always easy, but we receive blessings when we try.

Sing the chorus and have the kids raise their sticks when "choose the right" is sung. You point to each picture as the phrase is sung as well (these 3 pictures represent the phrase "choose the right" each time it's sung in the chorus).

Hang key words out of order on the chalkboard.

Pick children at random to help place words in order as you sing until correct (keep raising the CTR sticks when you sing “choose the right” too). The words will be placed between the GAB pictures so hang the GAB pictures accordingly. Since Jr. Primary can’t read, I’ll pick a card, tell them the word and they will have to help me place it in order.

Sign “Evermore” (This word is in Beautiful Savior in ASL on the church's music website HERE. It's the last word of that song too).

Review the chorus a few times by:

Boys sing only "Choose the right" (hold up their sticks) Girls sing the rest/switch
Younger children sing "Choose the right," (hold up their sticks) teachers and leaders sing the rest
Lights on = sing words; lights off = clap rhythm
Gradually remove key words so only the pictures remain on the board

Testimony: I am glad that Heavenly Father gave us agency to make choices, and the Holy Spirit to help us choose the right.

February 2012 Singing Time Schedule

2012-01-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

I thought as part of my "Staying Organized" series (to find all that, under "labels," over on the right click on "Staying Organized"), I'd start posting my monthly schedules that I prepare and print out for myself, our pianist and primary presidency members (5 copies total). I get the following month's schedule ready to pass out the last Sunday of every month.

Also, since February's song is a hymn, I made 2 copies of it - one for me to go into my binder (find my binder details HERE) and one for the pianist.

Singing Time Schedule

February 2012

February 5th:

Reverence song: I Need My Heavenly Father p. 18

Scripture song: The Books in the Old Testament p. 114

Birthday song: Feliz Cumpleanos p. 282, vs. 1

Welcome song: Hello Song p. 260

Singing Time: Choose the Right Hymn #239

February 12:

Reverence song: Hum Your Favorite Hymn p. 152

Scripture song: The Books in the Old Testament p. 114

Birthday song: Feliz Cumpleanos p. 282, vs. 1

Welcome song: Hello Song p. 260

Singing Time: Jesus Said Love Everyone p. 61, Reverence is Love p. 31, Love One Another p. 136, I'll Walk With You (3rd verse only) p. 140, I Love To See The Temple p. 95, We Are Different p. 263, Love is Spoken Here p. 190, Where Love Is p. 138, I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus p. 78, Teacher, Do You Love Me? p. 178

February 19th: STAKE CONFERENCE

Reverence song:

Scripture song:

Birthday song:

Welcome song:

Singing Time:

February 26th:

Reverence song: I’m Trying to Be like Jesus p. 78

Scripture song: The Books in the Old Testament p. 114

Birthday song: Feliz Cumpleanos p. 282, vs. 1

Welcome song: Hello Song p. 260

Singing Time: As a Child of God vs. 3, 2012 Outline & Choose the Right Hymn #239

As a Child of God - January CD Challenge

2012-01-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

I can't decide what to focus my singing time this Sunday. I have 3 options:

1. To introduce Choose the Right as we have Stake Conference in February

2. To do a review game I was intentionally planning which would incorporate all the "outline" songs from the past 6 years (only with Sr. Primary...Jr. Primary we'd just sing our Wiggle Worm songs - find those HERE)

3. To review As a Child of God and pass off our January "CD Challenge" with as many kids as I can

I think #3 is going to win out - of the three, it's the least amount of effort involved. The last week of every month I usually like to do a review game and review all the program songs we've learned for the year. Well, since it's January and we've only learned 1 so far, there's not much to review anyway.

Plus, I've had quite a few kids (mostly Sr. Primary) tell me they are planning on performing As a Child of God on an instrument in Primary to complete our January CD Challenge (it's HERE if you don't know what that is). Yay! I want to have ample time for their performances. I've even been practicing this song on the piano so I may start off by performing first...SCARY !! :)

Plus, plus, I have several kids who, I know, will never complete challenges at home. So in effort to try to get everyone to achieve the monthly challenges, I am going to try to get every child to pass off the challenge the last week of each month. So with January's challenge, if kids want to come up and sing As a Child of God as a solo or a duet with me or a friend, they can pass off this month's challenge.

I also figure that March's song is the same one we learned last year so we all know it and I'll only need to quickly review it...I'll just carry February's song Choose the Right into March.

Teaching Music by Rote, by Sister Pat Graham, Page 3 (Choose the Right)

2012-01-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

I obtained permission from Sister Graham to post her handout here online for those of you who couldn't attend her workshop last Saturday. She hopes her handout makes sense without the demonstration!

The handout is 3 pages which includes general teaching tips and ideas for teaching January and February 2012 songs (As a Child of God andChoose the Right). She referenced us to her A Songbook Companion book for help with the rest of this year's program songs.

You can find out more about Sister Pat Graham by going to her website:

grandmamusic.blogspot.com

page 3:

CHOOSE THE RIGHT, Hymn 239 February CSMP 2012

Suggested song presentation, Pat Graham; p. 26 CSMP booklet for additional questions, ideas

Message: We will be blessed when we make correct (right) choices.

Materials: dictionary (right, confide);

Key Words: CTR, CTR, wisdom, mark the, way, light, CTR, bless you, evermore

Attention Getter: I am thinking of a word that is the opposite of wrong (right). The dictionary says "right" means anything correct, just or honorable.

When I place a choice before you and the choice is a WRONG choice, raise your LEFT hand. Raise your RIGHT hand if you choose the right.

You choose to say your morning prayer.
You choose to say bad words when you are angry.
You choose to pay your tithing.
You choose to sleep in and miss church.
You choose to obey your mother and be home on time.

Choosing to do the right is not always easy, but we receive blessings when we try. Count HOW many times you hear "right" in this hymn: (6) Must be important!

VERSE Questions:

Who can help guide you to choose the right? (the Holy Spirit)

WHOSE light is forever shining o'er you? (the Holy Spirit)

Did you hear a short way to sing "over"? (o'er) One syllable/one note (pitch)

When can you trust your heart (your feelings)? (When you are in the right).

CHORUS

Discuss the "light of wisdom"--people are in the "dark" until they have knowledge

Key words on cards: CTR, CTR, WIDSOM, MARK THE, WAY, LIGHT, CTR, BLESS YOU, EVERMORE

Invite children to stand in order/post words in order as you sing until correct.

Listen for four words that have two pitches (mark, the, bless, you) [which ones go up and which ones go down?]

[just ignore that the notes for "the" and "you" are backwards - oops and I'm too lazy to go fix it. You get the idea, right??]

REVIEW:

Boys sing only "Choose the right" (stand?) Girls sing the rest/switch

Younger children, chorus sing "Choose the right," teachers the rest

Lights on = sing words; lights off = clap rhythm

Testimony: Mor 17:16-17; 2 Ne 2:27-28 I am glad that Heavenly Father gave us agency to make choices, and the Holy Spirit to help us choose the right.

Teaching Music by Rote, by Sister Pat Graham, Page 2 (As a Child of God)

2012-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

I obtained permission from Sister Graham to post her handout here online for those of you who couldn't attend her workshop last Saturday. She hopes her handout makes sense without the demonstration!

You can find out more about Sister Pat Graham by going to her website:

grandmamusic.blogspot.com

page 2:

AS A CHILD OF GOD, booklet CSMP Jan 2012

Suggested song presentation ideas Pat Graham

Message: Because I am a child of God, I have the power to choose and the Holy Ghost to help me.

Materials: Four melody charts (one for each phrase line):

Draw rhythm for dotted quarter eighth quarter [see right above]

Key words: choices bless, family, light, Holy Ghost, right

Attention Getter:

Help me think of things with power: Kings, rulers, rockets, electricity, lightning. listen to find out what important power I came to earth with. (sing 2 lines)
Take a deep breath and hum the melody (pianist plays the first phrase)
What if I sing the words--could you still hum the melody?

Verse Questions:

What did I come to earth with? (power to choose/another way to say free agency)

Who will good choices bless? (me, my family)

What words go on this rhythm - clap long short long? (choices bless, family)

Show two melody charts--which one is first? Put in order and sing again.

Have a child put key words in place

Chorus:

Listen for two rhyming words. (light, right)

What words are on this rhythm: long short long (Holy Ghost)

How does the Holy Ghost help me? (to know what is right)

Show last two melody charts, put in order, add key words and sing again.

Sing each phrase/chart in one breath - make a large arch with arm while singing

Review

Charts out of order, have a child re-arrange (form A B C D, no matches). Sing again and have children pitch-lead to check if charts are in order.
Body pitch-lead

Testimony I am grateful for the blessing of choice (war in heaven, etc.) I want to use this power wisely.

Teaching Music by Rote, by Sister Pat Graham, Page 1

2012-01-23T19:47:00.001-08:00

I obtained permission from Sister Graham to post her handout here online for those of you who couldn't attend her workshop last Saturday. She hopes her handout makes sense without the demonstration!

The handout is 3 pages which includes general teaching tips and ideas for teaching January and February 2012 songs (As a Child of God and Choose the Right). She referenced us to her A Songbook Companion book for help with the rest of this year's program songs.

You can find out more about Sister Pat Graham by going to her website:

grandmamusic.blogspot.com

page 1:

Teaching Music by Rote (Repetition) Pat Graham

The importance of listening and singing experiences (SING, SING, SING!) (all ideas in A Children's Songbook Companion)

THREE PRINCIPLES:

1. WE LEARN THE SONG FIRST BY HEARING IT

Singing is reproducing the song with our voice after we know it thru our ears.

4th Art of Faith CS 124; As a Child of God, CSMP Booklet (Hear, get through, understand)

2. AN INVOLVED CHILD IS NOT BORED/DISRUPTIVE

Involving the child becomes the CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TECHNIC

The Lord Gave Me a Temple CS 153, June - envelopes, key words; Choose the Right, Hymn 239

INVOLVE/CHALLENGE THE CHILD WITH:

A. DISCOVER QUESTIONS - everyone can answer if they listen to the song.

Words How many times does the song say ________ Stand for the Right 159 Mar The song says there are two reasons we should __________Follow the Prophet
(DEFINE) What word does the song say that means "awesome"? I think the World 230
What 3 things begin with B (key words) Are words in order?
What am I singing about? Who am I singing to?
Rhythm What words occur on this rhythm? (short long, short long, sl, sl)
Melody When you hear this melody raise your hand The World is So Lovely 233
What word is on the highest note in the song? My Heavenly Father Loves Me 228 pictures, order, clothesline

B. SOMETHING TO DO (repeat with MOVEMENT) Brain buttons

Actions - Search, Ponder and Pray, 109; ASL; Hymn 306 As I watch the rising sun (fist/folded arms),

Beat - pat the beat on your lap as you listen; I Hope They Call Me on a Mission 169 (Left Long-short, Right long-short) brush hands; sway; fists; touch pinkies; march in place; conduct beat pattern (MTC Ghana)

Melody - make your hand go higher as you hear the melody go up, lower your hand as the melody goes down. (pitch/bodylead) Choose the Right Way 160

Phrase - copy my hand and make an arch with each phrase of the song When I Am Baptized 100 "Rainbow Song" (sing the phrase in one breath?)

3. YOU CAN MAKE THE SINGING BEAUTIFUL-Finishing touches

A. Reason to watch you - fermata (hold) Cut offs (light, right, 1 person "t"), Careful r's (earth) s's (no snakes-choose) Dynamics - volume (f/loud, p/soft), tempo, natural rit/slowing at end

(give feeling, emotion )Picture a Christmas

B. Teach choir skills - stand together, straight arms, breathing; no gum; Help find "singing voice," (invite children to echo you with toy mic) "this is my whispering/speaking/shouting/singing voice"

The Power of Music, Part 1

2012-01-23T19:43:00.000-08:00

I was just really touched by these 3 videos (see the other 2 below) and thought I'd share. There really is power in music!

The Power of Music, Part 2

2012-01-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

The Power of Music, Part 3

2012-01-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

Choose the Right, Chorus

2012-01-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

We have Stake Conference in February so I'm contemplating introducing the chorus of Choose the Right on the 5th Sunday this month instead of the review activity I was planning on. Here's my rough idea for those of you looking for something. I'll firm up the details next week as this week I'm finishing up the 3rd verse of As a Child of God in ASL (find that HERE if you missed it).

I'll find pictures (maybe GAK?) of ways we choose the right each time the phrase "choose the right" is sung. That way we can discuss a little bit about how we choose the right and how it makes us feel, why we choose the right etc. I'll use the chalkboard to hang the pictures, write a few keywords (or draw some pictures for Jr. Primary) like "wisdom" "light" and "bless."

Then our primary learned the sign for the word "evermore" when we learned Beautiful Savior last year so we'll sign "evermore" at the end (if you want to learn what the sign is, look up Beautiful Savior in ASL on the church's music website HERE. It's the last word of that song too).

Then for the 1st verse I still want to incorporate my footsteps I used a few years ago (find it HERE). I'll have the footsteps lead up to the chorus. I think there are even more than 26 words in the 1st verse so I'll just combine phrases. For instance, one footstep will be "choose" and the next will be "the right" then "when" then "a choice" then "is placed" then "before you" and so on.

Just teaching the chorus and 1st verse could take 2 singing times so plan accordingly. I usually only teach the 1st verse of all the hymns we learn. Come program time, you can have the congregation sing the 2nd and 3rd verses as the closing hymn or a small group of Primary children sing it if you really want it sung.

I don't know about you but these hymns are always a challenge.

A Children's Songbook Companion

2012-01-15T13:59:00.001-08:00

If you are a new chorister and don't have this book, GET IT!! It's not published by the church but was originally intended to be. Our Primary owns a copy so I'd suggest asking if there's money in the budget to buy a copy that will stay with your calling. You can find details about purchasing this book HERE. Just scroll down a little bit and it will be on the right.

I speak often of Sister Pat Graham (her workshop is coming up the end of this month, find details HERE) and she's one of the authors of this book. She also wrote 5 Primary songs in the Primary Songbook and was on the committee that put the book together. She's an amazing and talented woman when it comes to teaching music to children.

I use lesson plans from this book quite often and try not to infringe on copyright material by not posting specifics about lessons. So if you ever want to get the full version, you'll need to arm yourself with a copy!

Primusic on Yahoo Groups

2012-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

Most of you readers probably found my blog from Yahoo Groups. I've failed to mention, however, what Yahoo Groups is in detail to anyone who happened upon my blog by random googling on the Internet (thank you Emilee for bringing this to my attention). Let me explain what this FABULOUS resource is...

Someone (a brilliant someone mind you!) a few years ago created an online group forum through Yahoo Groups where choristers around the world can login and trade lesson plan ideas, ask each other questions, vent, address music issues and teaching techniques with each other. These other Primary Music Leaders are seriously your BEST resource. Their ideas are wonderful, up-to-date as far as program songs go and their advice, help and friendship is virtually endless!

Joining this group is easy and you will be glad you did! Here are the steps to joining:

Go to groups.yahoo.com.

Near the top (in green) under the header it says "New to Groups? Sign Up." Click on "Sign Up."

After you create your groups account, you will be able to search and sign up for different "groups" which are online forums that people create who have similar interests...your interest at this time being Primary Music Leaders. This group is called "Primusic."

Once you've signed up for Primusic on Yahoo Groups, you will begin receiving emails whenever anyone posts or comments on this group. I have my Yahoo Groups email settings so I only receive ONE email a day which contains all the comments/posts made on that day. Otherwise, my inbox would be SLAMMED with individual emails and I'd feel very overwhelmed. I also have it so these emails go my other email account that's not Yahoo.

What I like to do with these "Primusic Yahoo Groups" emails is read them every day and collect ideas for my upcoming lesson plans (obviously, I don't use everything or I tweak this and that, or an idea posted leads to something of my own). If there's something that I like or catches my eye, I'll save it somewhere - sometimes as a draft post to this blog, sometimes I'll just move the email to my "Primary" file I created in my email so I can reference it later, or sometimes I'll copy and paste specific information into a Word Document and save it that way. The options are endless. You can also go back to yahoo groups and search for ideas, questions or comments that others have previously posted.

When you do sign up, feel free to introduce yourself to the group by posting! Many wonderful, welcoming Primary Music Leaders will rush to your virtual side for any support or help you may eventually need!

Choose the Right

2012-01-10T21:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't firmed up February's singing time for Choose the Right, but I'm contemplating teaching it the same way I taught Come Follow Me a few years ago. Find it HERE. I'll obviously make a few modifications but I already have the footsteps made so work already done! Love it!!

If you have any ideas on how to make it a little more appropriate for this song, please leave comments!!

Staying Organized, Part 3

2012-01-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd focus my Staying Organized series on how I schedule my weekly singing times. Someone asked this question on Yahoo Groups so I thought I'd share what I like to do.

Obviously I use the songs scheduled in the outline as my guide but I feel there is more to singing time than just drilling to death the 8 program songs - the poor kids get bored (okay, okay, it's mostly me!). I like to be able to incorporate songs around the holidays, seasons, and other events. So my kids may not know EVERY word to EVERY verse in EVERY song in the program, but I'm okay with that. As long as we have fun, learn the gospel, and feel the spirit through music I'm completely happy.

I've mentioned HERE in my Singing Time Schedule that I like to look at my schedule one month at a time. Every month I try to follow this flexible plan when deciding on each weekly singing time activity:

Two weeks a month are focused on learning that month's program song
One week a month is centered around a holiday, season or event that occurs that month (I won't touch the program song that week at all!)
One week a month (usually the last week) I review of all the songs we've learned that year for the program with a review game

If there is a 5th Sunday, I also take that into consideration and adjust my weeks accordingly. And some months, we only have 3 weeks (usually due to General/Stake Conferences). So this way I can plan ahead as needed.

Here's an example of my January schedule:

Week 1: I taught Here we are Together to introduce all the new kids/teachers in Primary

Week 2: Teach As A Child of God vs. 1

Week 3: Teach As A Child of God vs. 2

Week 4: Teach As A Child of God vs. 3

Week 5: Review all the past songs found in past outlines just for fun (since it's January we we've only learned 1 song so far this year) but we'll still sing this year's song during this week's review.

February schedule will look like this:

Week 1: Teach Choose the Right vs. 1 and chorus

Week 2: Do a singing time around Valentine's Day holiday

Week 3: Teach Choose the Right vs. 2 and vs. 3 - Just found out we have Stake Conference that day so guess what? I'm just not going to teach the 2nd and 3rd verses!!

Week 4: Review As a Child of God and Choose the Right with a review game

And so on, through the whole year. The real fun comes when the program is over though and you can do fun seasonal and holiday things for a few months!!

This set up has worked great for me. We learn the program songs but also get to sing a lot of other songs in the songbook as well. Come program time, there are usually a few songs that we still need words for or maybe we didn't get to all the verses but I'm okay with that. I mean, come on, even the Mormon Tabernacle choir gets to use their music when they perform - why can't the Primary?

Follow by Email

2012-01-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

So I'm still semi-new to the whole blogging thing (at least one that has more than 5 readers who aren't related to me!). Anyway, I've added the "Follow by Email" feature which can be found if you scroll down a little bit on the right side. I have had a few requests to add it so there it is. If you want to use this feature, you will receive an email every time I post something.

I do want to thank everyone for all their nice comments, suggestions and feedback. And mostly just thanks for reading! If you have anything else you'd like to see, just let me know.

I sure enjoy having all these chorister friends! You guys are the best and help me out tremendously in what could be a VERY challenging calling!

2012 CD Challenge

2012-01-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

I want to help encourage the use of the CD our Primary gave out as our Christmas gift last month (details on the CD are HERE). So I've created a "2012 CD Challenge." Essentially, every month, there will be a new activity the kids will need to complete that involves using their CD at home and reporting back to me. I'm planning on introducing the challenge this Sunday.

Here's how it will work:

I made 2 simple charts (one for Sr. and one for Jr.) and taped them inside a manilla file folder (easy for me to transport as opposed to a huge poster):

Here's the chart I made:

(Just click on the picture and that will enlarge it. Then right click on it, copy and paste it into a Word Document. Enlarge the picture to fill your whole page.)

Then I will write all the kids' names down the left side of each chart. Across the top I listed the 8 months we'll be learning a new song (January - August), and then each week that we'll be reviewing for the program (for us, that's 3 weeks in September). I'll keep the file in the back pocket of my binder so I'll be able to access it at home or at Primary:

(See my binder details HERE if you missed that.)

For each challenge the kids complete, I'll mark it off. When kids finish all the challenges, they will get a "reward" at the end, after the program (I haven't figured out the reward yet - SUGGESTIONS?). I'm considering doing a "music party" after the program that someone on Yahoo Groups mentioned and hand out all the "rewards" at the party.

Here are my monthly challenges:

January - Using your 2012 Primary Songs CD, teach As A Child of God to your family during Family Home Evening or anytime when your family is together - OR - learn As A Child of God on a musical instrument and perform it in Primary the last Sunday of January (music can be found in the January 2012 Friend).

[I'm hoping that we'll maybe get a few musical numbers from the kids that would work in our program!!]

February - Listen to Choose the Right on your 2012 Primary Songs CD this month. As you listen, write down how many times the words "choose" and "right" are sung.

March - Listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD as you go to sleep this month. Sing along to Stand for the Right each time it is played.

April - After listening to Had I Been A Child on your 2012 Primary Songs CD, read 3 Nephi 17:11-13 and 17:21-24 (if you don't know how to read, ask someone to read it to you). Imagine yourself with the Nephites when the Savior came. Draw a picture of you with the Savior or write what it would be like if you were there. Listen to Had I Been A Child again, singing along with the CD.

May - Sing When I am Baptized to your mother, grandmother, or any other special woman you know (primary president, primary teacher, etc.)

June - Sing Nephi's Courage to your father, grandfather, or any other special man you know (bishop, home teacher, etc.)

July - Listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD in the car this month. Sing along to Every Star is Different each time it is played.

August - Draw a picture of how you choose the right while listening to I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus. Give your picture to a member of the Primary Presidency.

[This one may be completed the last week in August during Sharing Time, but I won't tell the kids that! We are going to try to have the kids draw pictures of how they "Choose the Right" and have those be the covers of the Sacrament Meeting program we hand out to all the members.]

Then here are my 3 review challenges the 3 weeks before our program:

Review Week 1 - Listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD and write down the 8 songs we learned this year that we will be singing in our Program.

Review Week 2 - As you listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD, write down what the songs teach about choosing the right.

Review Week 3 - As you listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD, write your testimony.

Each month, I'm going to pass out a half size sheet of paper listing that month's challenge and a spot for the child to write their name along with a parent/guardian signature. The kids can then return it the next Sunday, take it to my house during the week, or have their parent/guardian tell me it was completed. Here's how it looks:

Here's the information on it:

_____________________________________________

2012 CD Challenge !!

To help encourage the use of the 2012 Primary Songs CD the Primary gave to each family in Primary, every month there will be a new challenge the kids will need to complete that involves using their CD at home and reporting back to Sister Hill. Children who complete each challenge by program time in September will receive a special REWARD!

January’s challenge:

Using your 2012 Primary Songs CD, teach As A Child of God to your family during Family Home Evening or anytime when your family is together .

Learn As A Child of God on a musical instrument and perform it in Primary the last Sunday of January (music can be found in the January 2012 Friend).

please return the completed portion below to Sister Hill

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I, ________________________, COMPLETED THE JANUARY CD CHALLENGE!

(NAME)

_______________________________

(PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE)

______________________________________________

I will allow PLENTY of make up so if a child didn't complete a certain month on time, they can always catch up. I want this to be a fun experience for everyone. If at our "music party" there are kids who didn't finish, I may see if some of the Primary Presidency can help kids finish so everyone can get a reward (like run a few kids out to their car and listen to that month's song ;)!

**If you have any more "challenge" ideas for the month I'm missing, or a "reward" idea, PLEASE leave a comment!! I could really use your input. UPDATE: Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!! I've incorporated them above.

As a Child of God

2012-01-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

I'm going to teach this song using ASL. A Yahoo Groups member posted a FABULOUS YouTube video HERE using simplified signing, perfect for little hands!

I will go over this video several times so I know it VERY well. I also learn everything backwards (or I mirror what I see). That way when I teach it, the kids mirror me and they learn it correctly.

We'll learn one verse per week over the next 3 weeks.

So after I've learned the signs, I write myself notes. This way, if I get totally stuck in the middle of teaching, I have something to reference. My notes may not make sense to anyone but me because I am telling myself how to sign something. I like to write the word to be signed and a description (which necessarily isn't the actual sign to that word). The word being sung and the description may not always match due to translation.

When I start teaching the kids, I tell them to mirror me while I do something funny (wax on, was off, pat your head and rub your stomach, etc.) and explain I want them to mirror everything I do.

I'm also going to bring the Primary CD with the song on it. To start out, I'll tell the kids I want them only to watch me sign to the song. Once I've done that I'll go over each sign individually, gradually adding on while we sing and sign.

Then I'm planning on signing in our Sacrament Meeting program after I approve it with the Bishop of course!!

Pat Graham Primary Music Leader Workshop

2012-01-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

If you live in the Salt Lake area, I'd HIGHLY suggest attending this workshop! I went last year and it was FABULOUS. She had tons of great ideas for teaching the program songs that came with handouts. I used several of her ideas in our primary last year (if you can't make it, I'll try and post her information).

Here's the information that was posted on Yahoo Groups:

WHAT: Pat Graham workshop for Primary Music Leaders

WHEN: Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

WHERE: Day Murray Music, 4916 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107

RSVP: Call Day Murray Music 801-266-3537 to register. There is a $10.00 fee.

Find Pat's website HERE if you want more information on her.

I just called and registered, but I'd hurry as it probably will fill up fast. The woman who I spoke with recommended you try and carpool as parking is VERY limited.

Our Primary President also said it would be fine to have the $10.00 fee come out of our Primary budget. You may want to check that out as well...it really is money well spent!

Hope to see some of you there!!

Staying Organized, Part 2

2011-12-30T12:34:00.000-08:00

As promised (and I know everyone's totally excited, right?), here's how I keep myself together for singing time in Primary....my Singing Time Binder.

I'd be lost without it. It's funny though because it's not very full and it's not huge (it's the 1/2 inch size). It contains only the essentials. The rest stays home in my files (maybe I'll do a staying organized part 3 with my filing/storage system...it would be good motivation to get it more presentable. Anyone interested?).

So here's a look into my infamous binder...

As I said in part one, the front cover contains my "Singing Time Schedule." You can find that HERE if you missed it.

On to the inside:

The first pocket is where I keep my lesson plan notes (if I feel that I need it jotted down because it's a little complex). I also keep anything I need give to others like my monthly schedules, copies of music for the pianist, my tithing envelope ;), etc. My goal for this pocket is for it to come home empty each week!!

Next up is what I keep in the rings...

I've mentioned before, I post the words to almost EVERY song we sing in Primary. This includes our reverence song, birthday song, welcome song and scripture song. I also post words to the song I'm teaching for singing time (these words, however, are not always displayed depending on our activity).

I try to put one verse and the chorus per page. The easiest way to do this is to use the words from the Church's Music Website found HERE and then copy and paste them into a Word document, make it landscape, center it, enlarge it as big as you can, decrease the margins and print using your low-ink printer settings. On the back, write with a pencil the name of the song, what verse and its page number. Throw it in a plastic cover sheet and into the binder.

To use it, I simply place it over the back of my music stand and raise the stand up so the whole primary can see it. If the kids complain that they can't see it, I just tell them to move closer to the front. I've had SO many teachers thank me for posting the words to the songs! They said they like to sing but are often just unfamiliar with the words. The same goes for the older kids who can read (they've just never verbally come and thanked me - maybe one day!).

When you are finished, file the pages in order by page number so you can use them the next time you sing that song. I've done this for 4 years now and by only printing about 4 songs per month, I've probably printed about half the songs in the songbook.

So behind my plastic cover sheets containing words to songs, I keep copies of the songs from current and past years' outlines:

(Scripture Power, I'll Follow Him in Faith, If the Savior Stood Beside Me, The Family is of God, My Eternal Family, I Know That My Savior Loves Me, If I Listen with My Heart, As a Child of God). I can't tell you how many times these have come in handy. Like the pianist needing a copy for prelude, the person doing sharing time wants to sing one, etc. You can find all of these HERE if you need. I'm going to sing all these songs for my 5th Sunday singing time this month! More to come on that.

Then I also have other items I like to have handy:

A list of all the songs in my Wiggle Worm jar:

A list of all the songs on the 2012 CD that I made:

This comes in handy when I'm putting together my Singing Time Schedule. I can quickly glance and see what songs correspond with this month's theme and stick them in as our reverence songs.

I keep a calendar handy (thank you Costco for the free calendar you gave me when I printed my family Christmas cards!!):

Again, useful for putting dates into my Singing Time Schedule, looking ahead to coordinate with counselors, scheduling a substitute, figuring holiday dates, etc.

Then the back pocket:

Here's where I keep my "Hot 'N Cold" note. I can rely on this little guy in times of need (like the Bishopric member who did sharing time only took 5 minutes, my singing time activity is falling apart, I have extra time, etc). You can see how I use it HERE.

Then the back cover:

This is where I store the current Outline for Sharing Time. It's just always handy to have.

And that's that! I would strongly suggest choristers arm themselves with a handy, dandy binder. I even put one together for my pianist...her front and back covers are the same as mine and the inside contains any music we sing/have sung that's not in the Children's Songbook.

Here We Are Together

2011-12-29T13:13:00.001-08:00

I'm not quite ready to introduce As a Child of God yet...I'm still in vacation mode and I'm assuming the kids will be too! So instead, I thought it would be a perfect week to sing Here We Are Together and introduce all those cute Sunbeams into Jr. Primary, all the graduating Jr. Primary kids into Sr. Primary, and introduce all the kids to their new teachers.

I'm going to pass out 1" x 3" white labels and markers to all the kids and teachers. They can then write their name on the label and wear their name tag (teachers will probably need to help a few of the younger kids).

Then we'll sing Here We Are Together and go around the room and have each child stand and sing their name during part of the song (with maybe a test at the end for anyone who thinks they can say/sing everyone's name - name tags removed of course!). I'm also going to bring my yellow dice I made HERE so we can sing it a few fun ways each time.

If I have extra time, I'll pull out my wiggle worm jar found HERE and get the Sunbeams familiar with all that it entails!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Staying Organized, Part 1

2011-12-23T13:47:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd share how I keep myself organized in Primary. It's very simple but works for me, any substitutes, my pianist and those conducting Primary.

First up is my "Singing Time Schedule."

I create a monthly schedule that I keep for myself and give to those involved with Primary music on Sunday.

I save a template on Word entitled "Singing Time Schedule" that I can quickly change for the next month's schedule. Here's what it looks like:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Singing Time Schedule

_____(month)____ 2012

___(date)____:

Reverence song:

Scripture song:

Birthday song:

Welcome song:

Singing Time:

___(date)____:

Reverence song:

Scripture song:

Birthday song:

Welcome song:

Singing Time:

___(date)____:

Reverence song:

Scripture song:

Birthday song:

Welcome song:

Singing Time:

___(date)____:

Reverence song:

Scripture song:

Birthday song:

Welcome song:

Singing Time:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Obviously, it's all tentative and if I need to make changes, I do. I just make sure to give notice to those the change will involve.

For our reverence songs, I like to pick songs that go along with that month's Primary theme.

For our scripture song, our Primary is trying to learn/pass off the 13 Articles of Faith; books in the Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament and Latter-Day Prophets. I change this song as soon as I feel the Primary can sing the song without words or pass it off - which usually is every 4 to 6 months.

For the birthday songs, I just go in order that they are listed in the Primary Songbook and change the song each month.

For the welcome song, I don't change it. We tend to not have many visitors so it really doesn't get sung that often.

Singing time is what I plan on teaching during my singing time. I like to map out my month this way. It helps me figure out how many Sundays I have to learn a new song (some months there are 5 Sundays) and its verses, if we have General or Stake Conference, holidays where I want to sing holiday songs, etc. Then I don't actually plan the details of my singing time until the week before.

I make sure to include page numbers so we can all quickly get to where we need to be.

I print and distribute a copy to me, our pianist and 3 Primary presidency members (5 total) the last Sunday of each month. So since this Sunday is the last week this month, I'll be handing out next month's schedule on Sunday.

Then I put my copy in the front cover of my "Singing Time Binder" that goes with me every Sunday.

More to come on my "Singing Time Binder" in Part 2!

Christmas Sing-a-Story

2011-12-12T20:39:00.000-08:00

If anyone is in need of a quick singing-time this week, there's a great idea in A Children's Songbook Companion book. Page 39. It lists 5 pictures that you'll need that go along with 5 scriptures and 5 songs. It's a great way to sing more of the beautiful Primary Christmas songs!

This is what the counselor in charge of sharing time is going to be doing on Sunday and she asked if I'd help out with the singing parts. She'll pull out a picture, have a child read the corresponding scripture then we'll sing the song.

Laughing Moment

2011-12-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

I just had to share a funny thing that happened yesterday as I was teaching Christmas Bells to my Jr. Primary...

I was reviewing the words quickly before I passed out the bells. I'd start a phrase and have the kids finish it. For instance, I said "Christmas bells are....." and they'd shout out "ringing." So I came to the part that says "Jesus is....." and this little sunbeam yells out "BORING!" Me and a few other teachers were dying! I guess it does kind of sound like that because it is sung on 2 notes. Gotta love kids' honesty.

Anyway, I LOVE my calling!!

Christmas Bells

2011-12-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

The other song we are singing for Sacrament Meeting is Christmas Bells with the handbells.

Our primary owns the Kidsplay set. I purchased them from music123.com HERE.

I'll have the kids sing the melody with the piano the first time with no bells. Then the second time, I'll have my bell ringers do the obligato part with the piano (no singing). Then the last time, we'll do it all together - piano, singing on the melody, bells on the obligato. The Primary President is going to help me out with leading the singing while I lead the bell choir.

I picked a class to be my bell ringers - the 2nd oldest class in primary. I figure, I need the oldest kids' voices and those 11-year old boys can be a little out of hand with the bells. The class just younger is perfect.

To use the bells in Sacrament Meeting, I post the following charts:

Page 1:

Page 2:

I print each page on a piece of card stock and put it in a plastic cover sheet. Then I tape the sheets over the back of my music stand. Page one tapes to the top of the stand and the top of page two gets taped to the bottom of page one. When it's time for this song, I'll raise my stand up higher (I usually sit on the front pew) and using a wooden dowel, point to the notes when they need to be played.

The little black lines on my chart in the lower right hand corners near each note give me my counting. It may make sense to no one but me but that's just how I do it. One black line represents one count. So if there are 1 1/2 lines, that note gets 1 1/2 counts. If there are 2 lines, that note would get 2 counts, etc. I just have to make sure I come in at the right time!

For singing time this week we'll just pass the bells around and let everyone get a turn while the non-ringers sing. Next week we are practicing in the chapel and that's when I'll work more directly with my little bell choir.

And that covers Christmas! See you all next year with our new songs!

Picture a Christmas

2011-12-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

This is one of the songs we are going to be singing in sacrament meeting Christmas day. To teach this song I like to pull out my favorite...CHALK! It's my nice, colored chalk that I always use.

I've done Pictionary in the past but I think this time I'm just going to do all the drawing in both Jr. and Sr. Primaries.

I start with a big brown frame around the chalkboard for "picture" and explain how this song uses this word a lot, and I am going to draw a picture of Christmas as it is close to the title of this song, Picture a Christmas.

Then I go right to the chorus and draw a picture of baby Jesus in a manger in the middle of the chalkboard. Nothing fancy - wrap him in some swaddling clothes and you are good to go! Then underneath him I write the key words in the chorus "Think" "Sing" "Remember" "Picture." Sing the chorus a few times.

Then I just go through the whole song gradually drawing then singing the things it talks about:

stable

night (draw a moon)

angels

stars

(CHORUS)

Joseph

Mary

shepherds

Easy! This song is one of my Christmas favorites for Primary!

Music CD for Primary

2011-12-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year, our Primary is giving out CD's with 2012 program music on it. Making the CD's fell into my lap. I know a lot of other choristers are probably doing this so I thought I'd share how I made mine...

I selected 36 songs to put on the CD. I know there are only 8 required program songs in the outline but only 8 songs on a whole CD seemed like a waste. So I went through the outline and picked 3 songs for each month that went along with that month's theme. We'll sing the extra songs as the opening songs during that month.

Here's what I picked:

January:

As a Child of God 2012 Outline

Dare to Do Right p. 158

I Am a Child of God p. 2

February:

Choose the Right p. 239

I Need My Heavenly Father p. 18

Hum Your Favorite Hymn p. 152

March:

Stand for the Right p. 159

Latter-Day Prophets p. 134

Follow the Prophet p. 110

April:

Had I Been a Child p. 80

Jesus Once Was a little Child p. 55

Jesus Said Love Everyone p. 61

May:

When I am Baptized p. 103

I Like My Birthdays p. 104

The Holy Ghost p. 105

June:

Nephi’s Courage p. 120

Seek the Lord Early p. 108

The Word of Wisdom p. 154

July:

Every Star is Different p. 142

The Wise Man and the Foolish Man p. 281

Remember the Sabbath Day p. 155

August:

I’m Trying to Be like Jesus p. 78

Listen, Listen p. 107

I’ll Walk With You p. 140

September:

Keep the Commandments p. 146

The Commandments p. 112

Teach Me to Walk in the Light p. 177

October:

The Priesthood is Restored p. 89

Love is Spoken Here p. 190

A Young Man Prepared p. 166

November:

I Want to Be a Missionary Now p. 168

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission p. 169

We’ll Bring the World His Truth p. 172

December:

This Is My Beloved Son p. 76

Beautiful Savior p. 62

To Think About Jesus p. 71

The bolded songs are our program songs that we'll learn this year. I may do a few songs in small groups with the last 3 months of the year but I'll see...I have a little while to decide ;).
Once I decided on what songs to put on my CD, I used iTunes to create my playlist. I own the Primary Songbook on CD which is where I got these songs with the exception of "As a Child of God" and "Choose the Right" which I downloaded from the church's website. You can also download all the songs from the church's website as well.
Then I just burned CD's - one for each FAMILY in our primary (30 for our Primary) and wrote with a Sharpie on the actual CD's "2012 Primary Songs." I bought my CD's at Wal-Mart. The type I got is the CD-R and not the "music" kind as I couldn't get those to burn. Weird. Then I bought jewel cases for the CD's.
For a cover, I made this:
The picture is taken from the Church's Nursery Manual "Behold Your Little Ones" (it's HERE if you need it).

Once cut out around the edges and not down the middle, the cover just folds in half and fits inside the front portion of the jewel case. I made enough copies at the library for each CD (that's why I chose the picture I did - it photo copies well in black and white and it's already church approved!).

And I'm sorry but all I have is a JPEG version of the cover so you may have to create your own. If you can get it to work, please use it though!

Then to dress up the CD, the primary presidency is going to wrap each CD in tulle and tie on some treats (enough for all the primary kids in the family) with ribbon. So a family with 4 kids in Primary would get 1 CD with 4 treats if that make sense.

We'll distribute them the Sunday before Christmas because our stake only has one meeting Christmas Day as I'm assuming a lot of other wards are doing.

My plan is to do some activities using these CD's to help the kids review for the program at home. I'll probably introduce the activities in September...more to come on those.

Music CD for Nursery

2011-12-01T12:44:00.001-08:00

I don't know if many of you know about this valuable resource...

You can purchase it from the Church's Distribution website HERE for only $0.75 !! It's a great addition for getting more music in nursery. I am considering implementing it into my nursery singing time starting this next year. I may pick one week a month where we pull out this CD instead of my usual prop/action songs (those are posted under the "Nursery" label near the top right if you don't know what those are).

Or, I just let our nursery leader know about the CD and she may just use it on her own without me - something else to incorporate into their 2-hour routine.

It also may come in handy if you are in need of a substitute one week, or just a break! Some weeks when we are practicing in the chapel for an upcoming program and I can't do singing time in nursery, I'll use this.

It may even be a cute (and very inexpensive) Christmas gift for the Nursery age kids!

I'm also thinking those new Sunbeams in Primary starting in January may find this a fun introduction to Primary singing time as well! It lets you move and wiggle while listening to music.

The possibilities are endless! Does anyone else own this CD and have any more ideas on how to use it? Leave a comment if you do!

Missionary Sunday

2011-11-23T10:25:00.001-08:00

My lesson this week also comes from a Yahoo Groups member who posted this a few weeks ago. I absolutely loved the idea so I'm doing it this Sunday. I'm only doing this with Sr. Primary. My Jr. Primary lesson is at the bottom of this post.

I asked our ward mission leader to come in and pose as our investigator. He will ask the questions listed below and the children will answer with a primary song they find in the Primary Songbook (and since he sings with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, it's a perfect fit!). I found about 15 Songbooks from various ward members, our Primary closet and the library so there will be about 1 book for 2 children. They can flip to the back and look under "topics" for help. Then they'll be able to use their books as they sing to our "investigator."

After each song our "investigator" will summarize by saying things like, "I never knew that we all lived with Heavenly Father and Jesus before we came here! That's great!" And compliment the children afterwards, pointing out that just from the primary songs they know, the children could be really great missionaries NOW.

Here are the questions and the most likely answers the kids will come up with. Obviously, answers will vary...

Q: What church do you belong to?

a: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST #77

Q: What is your relationship to God? What do you know of Him?

a: I KNOW MY FATHER LIVES #5

Q: Where did we live before we were born?

a: I LIVED IN HEAVEN #4

Q: What is Faith?

a: FAITH #96

Q: Where did the Book of Mormon come from?

a: THE GOLDEN PLATES #86

Q: As I read the Book of Mormon, how will I know it's true?

a: SEARCH, PONDER, AND PRAY #109

Q: After I get baptized, what else do I need to do to live with Heavenly Father again?

a: KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS # 146

Q: Thanks for sharing your testimonies with me. Is there anything else you would like to tell me before I go?

a: I AM A CHILD OF GOD

For Jr. Primary we are just going to sing I Hope They Call Me on a Mission. While we sing, I have a Pin-the-Tie-on-the-Missionary game (runs just like pin the tail on the donkey). I purchased my game several years ago but if you want to make one, just draw a missionary on a poster board, cut out a tie (or a few), bring some masking tape and a bandana and voila! Easy!

Now on to Christmas!!

Deseret News Article

2011-11-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

There was an article in the Deseret News about being a Primary Chorister HERE.

It's a fun read if you are interested!

Turkey Toss

2011-11-18T13:08:00.001-08:00

A previous chorister made these cute turkeys that tape onto balloons...

So not to let someone else's work go to waste, I am using them this week. They could easily be replicated. Here's how they look torn apart (there are 12 turkeys):

(notice the feet are weighted by pennies that are taped onto the bottom side to make them stand up)

In addition to the turkeys & balloons, you'll need a marker, masking tape, bean bags (or small, soft balls), Primary Children's CD & CD player (optional) and words to 12 songs on thanks (also optional), and a table, preferably a big one.

To set up on Sunday, I'm going to blow up 12 balloons, number them from 1 to 12 with a sharpie marker, tape the turkeys together and place them on a table in the back of the Primary room. I'm also going to make an aisle down the middle of the rows of chairs so there's room to toss bean bags.

I chose 12 songs on thanks. I specifically chose ones that we really don't know and never sing. I figure we'll sing along with the CD and have the words up front. I just want to familiarize the kids with some new songs (I don't really know these either!). I also chose songs that are on the first disc so I don't have to shuffle 5 CD's around! But you could really choose anything that you want. There are TONS listed in the back of the primary songbook under "Gratitude." You could also make a playlist on an iPod and bring speakers.

Here's my song list:

1. Thanks to Thee p. 6 Track #4

2. I Thank Thee, Dear Father p. 7 Track #5

3. Father We Thank Thee for the Night p. 8 Track #6

4. Can a Little Child Like Me? p. 9 Track #7

5. Thank Thee For Everything p. 10 Track #8

6. I'm Thankful to Be Me p. 11 Track #9

7. Children All Over The World p. 16 Track #13

8. A Song of Thanks p. 20 Track #16

9. Thanks to our Father p. 20 Track #17

10. For Health and Strength p. 21 Track #18

11. For Thy Bounteous Blessings p. 21 Track #19

12. Thank Thee, Father p. 24 Track #24

So to play, for Sr. Primary, I'll invite a child up to come throw a bean bag at the turkeys (they get 3 shots and if they miss, it will be another child's turn). When a turkey is knocked off the table, we'll sing the song that matches the number on the turkey with my list above. So if turkey #6 is knocked off, we'll sing song number 6 on my list which is I'm Thankful to Be Me. I'll post the words to that song and play it on the CD. Then we'll repeat until all the turkeys are knocked off.

For Jr. Primary (we have a really young Jr. Primary) I'll just play a song on the CD player and invite the teachers to sing with me while a child tries to knock down as many turkeys as they can before the song ends. After their turn we'll put all the turkeys back on the table for the next child and next song.

VARIATIONS: You could print and cut out 12 turkeys and tape them to the chalkboard. Number them 1 to 12 on the back and have bean bags tossed at them. If a turkey is hit, take it down and sing the corresponding song. Or, make one big turkey and tape it onto a round laundry basket...same idea. When a shot is made, you listen/sing the songs.

Hopefully this all makes sense! Questions? Leave a comment.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving Ideas

2011-11-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

This was posted on Yahoo Groups by Lara in Idaho and had TONS of ideas for singing time this month...if you missed it, here it is again! Thanks Lara for posting this!!

Here are some November ideas I've done, many taken from this site. I'm also trying the "Disguise the Turkey" that was discussed here a week or two ago.

We like to do "For Health and Strength"

Have 5 kids come up front and act out each part:

For health- run in place
and strength- flex muscles
and daily food- hold loaf of bread / bag of carrots, etc.
we praise thy name- fold arms, bow head
O Lord.- picture of Christ

Then do as a round.

We also do "Early to bed and early to rise. As an attention-getter, I brought a $100 bill in and showed the kids to introduce the song and explain that it was Benjamin Franklin who said this and said many wise things like a penny saved is a penny earned, etc.

Early to bed (Pretend to sleep)
And early to rise (Pretend to wake)
Makes a man healthy (strong muscles)
And wealthy (Pretend you have money in hand)
And wise. (Point to brain)

And It's Autumntime: get silk leaves at the Dollar Store and give each child several leaves and let them drop them to the ground in the song.

Children All Over the World:

All over the world at the end of day, -outline "earth", ASL day/night
Heav'nly Father's children kneel down and pray, -picture of child kneeling
Each saying thank you in his own special way, -ASL "thank," make an "O" with hands
Saying thank you, thank you in his own special way.-ASL "thank," make an "O" with hands
"Gracias." (grah-see-ahs) "Malo." (mah-loh) "Wir danken dir." (veer don-ken deer) -use posters
All over the world tender voices hear. -pan arm all over the room, ASL "voice," point to ear
Some say "tak," (tahk) others "merci," (mare-see) -use posters
"Kansha shimasu," (kahn-shah shee-mah-sŭ) we thank thee.-poster
Our Heavenly Father hears them; -point to ear
He understands each tongue. -point to and stick out tongue
Our Heav'nly Father knows them; -point to temple/forehead
He loves them, loves them, ev'ry one. -"love," pan the room with arm
I made posters of a child in each of the countries and cut out the faces so the kids could put their own heads in the posters. Certainly more work, but the kids love it and learned the song quickly. I can email you the pictures that I used and how I did it, but they could be easily drawn, probably faster.

Thanksgiving Sing-A-Story

Make a large picture book using a posterboard for each cover and butcher paper pages inside. Write Harvest Time on the cover and draw some pumpkins & cornstalks. Display the pictures listed below and read the story to the children. Let them fill in the blanks by choosing the picture that best completes the statement. After they fill in the blank, they sing the song and you tape the picture into the book. There are more songs than you may have time to sing.

I made pictures on my computer and had the kids paste them on the board as they filled in the story.

Suggested pictures and songs:
1. Mayflower........ (story only)
2. Cabin.............. "Home" - pg 192
3. Fruits and vegetables...."The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden" 237
4. Fall leaf............."Autumn Day" 247
5. Pilgrims...........(story only)
6. Feasting ....... "A song of Thanks." 20
7. Indians........."Book of Mormon Stories" 118
8. Turkey ........"Thanksgiving Round" 21 (I used ³For Health and Strength)
9. Prayer........."Thank Thee, Father" 24

1. The pilgrims came to America on the (1).
2. They needed a place to live so the pilgrims built a log __(2)_.
3. They worked very hard planting and harvesting __(3)__.
4. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in the __(4)__.
5/6. The __(5)__ set aside this special day for __(6)__ and thanking God.
7. More than eighty friendly (7)__ came to the feast.
8. The Indians brought wild (8)__ and venison to share.
9. Three days were spent in feasting and __(9)__.

---------------------------------------------------------
(I just used large sheets of paper, wrote the "story," left a space for the pictures, made a brown poster board for covers, laminated all of it, and bound it with rings. I also re-titled it "The First Thanksgiving." )

Previously, I used these songs:

1. Mayflower........ "Nephi's Courage" p. 120 (2nd verse only) (Who else built a boat and traveled to a new land?)
2. Cabin.............. "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" p. 281
3. Fruits and vegetables.... "Faith" p. 96 ("Faith is like a little seed...")
4. Fall leaf............. "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" p. 228
5. Pilgrims........... "The Things I Do" p. 170
6. Feasting ....... "For Health & Strength" p. 21
7. Indians........."Book of Mormon Stories" p. 118
8. Turkey ........ "Thanks to Our Father" p. 20
9. Prayer......... "My Blessings" (The Friend)

In between reading & singing, we discussed each "page" or song and how it related to the First Thanksgiving, or its spiritual significance. Also, obviously you will want to choose songs that your kids know. Or you can use a song they are unfamiliar with and play a game with it, do an activity like musical instruments or scarves or wind wands to the CD, etc.

-PIN THE FEATHER ON THE TURKEY, each feather is a song to sing, or a phrase to repeat if you're learning a new song.

Do "I am Glad for Many Things" as a "fill in the blank." Laminate it and use dry erase markers or just write it on the board in a pinch: If this doesn't come through well, I can do it as an attachment later.

I am glad for
,
,
,
I am glad for
that are mine today.

Thank you,
thank you,
my heart sings, my heart sings, my heart sings,
Thank you for the
that are mine today
-

"I am glad for Many Things" (CS, 151) - if you read the words it's very appropriate for Thanksgiving. Then after they know it well I was thinking that I would have a turkey with feathers made out of paper sticking out of it and the children could take turns selecting a feather. On the feathers would be things that we are grateful for (alternatively, you could have the children come up with their own things they are grateful for). Then we would sing it using the things that they are grateful for in place of the words, "many things". Here's a few examples I thought of:

I am glad for "my family"
I am glad for "food to eat"
I am glad for "clothes to wear"
I am glad for "teachers dear"
I am glad for "grandparents"
I am glad for "eyes to see"
I am glad for "ears to hear"
I am glad for "health and strength"

You can change the last phrase to be "that are mine today" or "that is mine today" depending on what works better.

-Bring an object to be passed from child to child. Like a small pumpkin or turkey stuffed animal (you can adapt your object to a theme). While singing the song pass the object, when the song ends the child holding the object shares something they are thankful for.

- Divide the Sr. Primary into groups of 5. Each group has to answer the following:
1. What is your favorite temple?
2. What is a gospel principle that brings you blessings?
3. Who is your favorite Book of Mormon hero?
4. Who is someone you look up to in our ward?
5. Who is your favorite person in the Bible?
Once they have their answers, each group will come up and sing the 2nd verse of "I Am Glad for Many Things" using their answers to fill in the blanks.

An example might be:
Thank you for the Spokane temple, ti-i-thing, and Nephi. Thank you for our Bi-i-shop and No-o-o-o-ah!
Each group will have different answers so it will be fun to hear what they are thankful for. In order to modify for Jr. Primary just ask the children the questions and write their answers on the board. After singing their verse, repeat the process using other children's answers.

We're going to learn the 3 "round" songs she has posted here. For Sr. Primary we'll try to see how many groups we can get going. Our Jr. Primary is very young so we'll only do For Health and Strength and have the teachers help us with the rounds. I'll also use the bells for the Jr. Primary. There are 7 notes in this song. I'll have the bell notes in order, have 7 kids come stand up front and I'll stand behind them. I'll touch their heads when their note is to be played. Does that make sense? We'll probably do some of the actions listed above as well.

Children All Over The World

2011-11-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

I thought we'd sing songs on thanks this month. So this week I'm going to teach the kids Children All Over the World.

I'm going to just use the idea posted on Sugardoodle HERE using the Children's Songbook Companion book and posters. Hopefully the posters aren't too much work! I better get busy!! Once I'm done and they look decent, I'll try to upload a few pictures!

~Camille

UPDATE: Here are the posters I made. I won't lie, they were kind of a bear to make but that may be just because I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. I still would like to add a little color but am unsure of the easiest way to do it. I may just do a little color per poster with a fat marker.

Danish:

Tongan:

German:

Japanese:

French:

Spanish:

The Songbook Companion also suggests making word cards with the phonetic spellings for "thank you" in the six languages. I put the word cards on strings to be hung around the child's neck when they are holding up their poster costume.

Then while you are teaching the song, there are several questions you can ask to create repetition:

"What do these words mean? [thank you]

"Listen and count how many foreign languages are sung" [6]

Help children practice pronouncing the six words. Sing them several times

"Where are tender voices heard?" [all over the world]

"What do Heavenly Father's children all over the world do at the end of day? [kneel and pray]

What does each child say in his own special way? [thank you]

Who hears them? [Heavenly Father]

What else do we learn about Heavenly Father [ that he knows, loves, and understands the language of every person]

Hope that helps!

Saturday

2011-10-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

I was shocked to find out our Primary doesn't know this classic song! So, I thought it would be a perfect after-program time to learn it! I've been throwing a few ideas around in my head on how I want to teach it. I have picked one and decided on...the easy route! But I'll post my other ideas for anyone who's feeling more ambitious than I am this Sunday!

So when I go simple, I always resort to my colored chalk! For whatever reason, kids LOVE to draw on the chalkboard! I purchased a nice set of colored chalk from a craft store. It's a lot nicer than the Crayola colors you get. And the kids really enjoy the variety in the colors. I just have to be careful because it is a little messier. I bring a wet rag so they can wash off their hands when they are finished coloring.

Anyway, I'm going to write the first 2 lines on the chalkboard near the top:

Saturday is a special day.

It’s the day we get ready for Sunday:

Then I'll divide the board into 6 squares and play Pictionary. A child will come and I'll tell them to draw #1 (see below) in the first square. Once it's guessed, we'll sing from the beginning of the song through that phrase. Then we'll move on to #2. For the extra phrasing (i.e. "so we won't have to work until Monday") I'll probably just write in a key word like "MONDAY." Then the whole song will be learned. If we have extra time, we'll gradually erase all the pictures as we sing.

1. We clean the house,

2. and we shop at the store,

So we won’t have to work until Monday.

3. We brush our clothes (we changed it to WASH our clothes - much better!),

4. and we shine our shoes,

And we call it our get-the-work-done day.

5. Then we trim our nails,

6. and we shampoo our hair,

So we can be ready for Sunday!

(For Jr. Primary, I do the drawing while they do the guessing! Maybe I'll let them erase!)

Then here are my other ideas for this song:

Bring props for the 6 things the song talks about. For "brush our clothes" (what is that anyway? Something we don't do anymore because I know I don't!) I was thinking of bringing a lint roller. Then put the items out of order on the floor in a line. Sing the song and one by one get the items in the right order. If you have extra time, mix up the items again and pick maybe 2 kids to come put them in order before the rest of the primary finishes singing the song. Then sing the song again to make sure they are all in order. Then repeat until time runs out.

My other idea was similar to bringing the items but instead you have pictures of everything posted on the chalkboard or have kids holding them. Mix them up and get them in order. Definitely the most work of the 3 ideas!

Anyway, happy singing this week!!

Oh, What Do You Do In the Summertime?

2011-10-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Our program is over so I just want to have fun for the next 2 months before we start Christmas songs in December. I thought for October I'd just pick random songs I want to teach the kids and then for November we'll do some songs on thanks.

So, this week we are singing Oh, What Do You Do In the Summertime? as I wanted to sing it this summer but we never got to it. I may change the lyrics to say "Oh what did you do in the summertime!"

I'm just going to bring a laundry basket full of items the song talks about:

Do you fish in a stream - fishing pole

or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by - pillow

Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool - goggles, towel, flippers

or swing in a tree up high - rope with a big knot like a rope swing

Do you march in parades - drum with drumsticks or any band instrument

or drink lemonades - pitcher with a cup and a lemon

or count all the stars in the sky? - paper stars glued on popsicle sticks

For Jr. Primary, as we learn each line, I'll pull out the corresponding item and a child will come hold it. Then whenever we sing that phrase, they will act it out with their item. I'll probably rotate kids with items so everyone will get a turn to hold something.

For Sr. Primary I will play charades. I'll have the items pulled out (randomly or in order depending on how well the kids know the song) and pick a child to come act out a phrase and have the Primary guess. If they have trouble guessing it, we'll sing the song for clues. Once guessed, we'll sing the song using the props.

Primary Singo

2011-09-01T14:46:00.003-07:00

Our program is the last Sunday in September. We are practicing in the chapel the 2 weeks beforehand so that basically leaves me this Sunday to review. And, since I'm all about not re-inventing the wheel so-to-speak, I'm pulling out my Primary Program Singo cards I made last year! Yay for work already done! You can find them HERE if you are interested.

Since I don't have the whole time and this is a long activity, we'll just recite the 12 articles of faith as they are called instead of sing them (I like to get the words from the library so we can all read along for Sr. Primary). We'll also be cutting ribbons from our ribbon review box. It is going really well!!

And, this year our Primary has 10 songs for the Program instead of 12 as in past years. So I'll just improvise when November & December program songs are called.

When a child gets Singo, I have a bunch of "Good Job" stickers to pass out!

For Jr. Primary, I pass out sheets just to the teachers so they can man them.

Ribbon Review Box

2011-08-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is a fun motivator as the program draws near....

PREP:

Any treat that will last from now until the program. I bought Rice Krispy treats from Costco - a great non-messy treat!

If you have a Jr. and Sr. Primary, you will need 2 shoe boxes each filled with treats. If you don't, just wrap the box of treats with brown paper (I just used a paper bag from the grocery store).

Add different colored ribbon to each box - one ribbon for each song on your program and label them with each song using a piece of paper.

You'll also need a pair of scissors

ACTIVITY:

Each week as you near the program, cut a ribbon or two as songs are performed what I like to call, program worthy. To me, that means:

1. Everyone knows the words and sings them out very well

2. Eyes are on you

3. Hands are at their sides

4. Feet are still

5. Bodies are standing tall

6. The spirit can be felt

You could even post this list on the board somehow so they know exactly what needs to be done.

Try to strategically time it so you cut the last ribbon the week before your program so they will get their treat the Sunday after they perform. It also doubles as a great "Thank You" to the kids for doing so well in the program.

I Love To See The Temple

2011-07-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

I switched months and am teaching this song in August but I thought I'd hurry and post it for everyone wanting to review it this week.

Thank you to the Yahoo Group member who posted this a few weeks ago! I fell in love with the idea.

Game: Pin Moroni on the temple

PREP:

Download this image of Angel Moroni HERE and enlarge it so it's maybe a little bigger than 1/4 of the page. Print it on yellow card stock and laminate it.

Download this image of the Salt Lake Temple HERE (you could find a picture of your local temple as well) and blow it up to fit the entire page. With this as your guide, transfer the image onto a poster board with a Sharpie marker. I did mine by hand (it's obviously not perfect so I'm hoping the kids won't judge me!) but I'm sure you could take it in somewhere and have it printed.

Bring a blindfold (I just cut a long piece of felt as that's what I had) and masking tape. I also like to post the words - mostly for teachers. Towards the end, I'll take them down.

Before Primary, hang the poster board somewhere where it can be about eye level with the kids. Then you'll need some sort of aisle or space for a child to walk blindfolded.

ACTIVITY:

Sr. Primary: Play the game similar to pinning the tail on a donkey. Blindfold a child and give them Moroni to tape on the temple. Spin the child and set them off in the direction they should go down the aisle. The Primary sings louder and softer to direct the child the temple. If the blindfolded child is headed off course, the Primary sings softer. If they are on the right course, the Primary sings louder. Repeat until each child gets a turn or time runs out.

Jr. Primary: Play the exact same way as Sr. Primary but omit spinning. Those little ones will have a hard enough time without being dizzy!

Review Games

2011-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post 2 simple review games. As it's almost Program review time, these may be helpful in reviewing your 8 songs in the upcoming weeks!

Here's what I'm doing this Sunday...

Hot 'N Cold Review Game:

I made this musical note and laminated it. When we play, I put a piece of tape on the back so it can be stuck around the room.

To play, a child goes out into the hallway. Meanwhile, another child hides the note somewhere in the Primary room. The child in the hallway is called back in. In order to find the note, the Primary sings softer and louder to guide him/her to the note. Loudly being they are close, and softly being they are far away.

I don't know what it is about this game but the kids love it and will sing any song over and over again until each child has had a turn or you run out of time. So we'll be reviewing our January - July songs on Sunday with this game.

Here's a second game that I played with my Primary a few weeks ago...

Word Quing Review Game:

I picked up a free crown from Burger King and covered it with tin foil, some jewels and the words "Word Quing" (a mix between King and Queen - get it?) Really simple. To store it, I just folded it in half and put it in my files. It has a crease on the sides but it still works ;).

I play 2 different ways with Jr. and Sr. Primary.

For Sr. Primary, I write the words of a song on the chalk board. I pick a child to come be my King or Queen. The child stands so they cannot see the chalkboard. I choose a word from the song and circle it. The Primary then sings the song but the word that is circled, we do not sing. Our King or Queen has to figure out what word we did not sing. Once the word is determined, I erase that word. I repeat with a new King/Queen, new word, erasing until most of the song is erased.

For Jr. Primary, since they cannot read, I just send a child out into the hallway while I tell the rest of the Primary what the word is. I will usually have words on the board for the teachers. But instead of not singing the specific word, we sing it very loudly. Makes it easier for the King/Queen to figure it out. And we repeat until most of the kids have had a turn.

Pioneer Day Sharing/Singing Time

2011-07-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

This year, I've teamed up with a presidency counselor and we are doing a joint singing/sharing time all based around Pioneers. I think it should be really fun. Here's our simple outline (I've gleaned ideas from several Yahoo Group members so not all the ideas are mine!)...

Set up the Primary Room so the chairs make one large circle. My counselor is bringing in a fake fire to place in the middle (a lantern with split firewood leaned up against it is what we are doing). You can also take it outside with blankets but we just thought we'd have more control and reverence if we stayed indoors.

Wear a bonnet, apron, Pioneer clothes, etc. (optional). Most of our Primary Presidency has something so we will all be wearing something.

There are several Pioneer pictures in the GAK that we will hang on the chalkboard.

Opening Song: Little Pioneer Children p. 216

Opening Exercises (prayer, talks, birthdays, etc.)

Story about Pioneer Children: My counselor is taking care of this one. Any story will do. She will also try to find some pictures to go along with her story.

Make homemade butter: Pass out 35mm film canisters filled with a little cream and a pinch of salt to each child (I will have these all prepared ahead of time). The kids will need to shake them. Apparently you can get film canisters at Wal-Mart? I'm off to look this week. I may also try the prescription bottles from a Pharmacy as I'm worried about those Sunbeams opening up the film lids and getting cream everywhere - YIKES!

**UPDATE** I called Walmart's photo center and they didn't have any canisters. I then called Walmart's Pharmacy and they will sell me empty medicine bottles for 10 cents a piece. She would have given them to me but then I told her I needed 40. **I just got back and they ended up giving them to me for free when I told them they were for the kids at church!**

Pioneer (Cake) Walk: (The kids can shake their cream while they walk) I did this last year and you can find my details HERE. I'm only doing 2 songs: The Oxcart and Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked. For a treat, I'm passing out Salt Water Taffy. We'll stop as soon as each child has a piece of candy or two. To make it go faster, I'll call out probably 2 or 3 numbers at a time.

Story about the boys at Sweetwater River: My counselor is taking care of this one with pictures as well. She's also bringing in a big tin full of ice water so any kids who want to can put their feet in the cold, icy water.

Sing We Are All Pioneers: While we sing, the teachers & extra presidency members will butter crackers with the butter the kids made (you'll need a few knives).

We are all pioneers: My counselor will discuss how we are all pioneers even today, and how it's important not to forget the Pioneer heritage and all they sacrificed for the gospel. And just like the pioneers, we make sacrifices too.

Closing song: To Be a Pioneer p. 218

Closing prayer

Here's a quick list of items you'll need to bring/buy:

Pioneer clothing (optional)

Pioneer pictures (optional)

Knives (plastic for me!)

Cream

Salt

Canisters/medicine bottles

Crackers

Salt Water Taffy

Tin

Ice

The Lord Gave Me a Temple, verse 2

2011-07-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

This would work with any song really...

PREP:

Bring colored chalk and an eraser! That's all!

Before Primary, write the 2nd verse on the chalk board but only use about 1/3 of the top.

ACTIVITY:

Sr. Primary...

You'll be playing a form of Pictionary. Choose a child to come and choose a word to draw. Make sure they don't say it out loud.

As the Primary sings the verse, the child draws a picture their chosen word on the board. If children singing know what is being drawn, they can raise their hand.

Once you finish singing the verse, have the Primary guess which word the child drew. Once guessed, erase the picture and the word that was drawn.

Repeat with a new child and a new word until most of the words are erased and the song is learned!

Jr. Primary...

Have the Jr. Primary help you draw out the verse in pictures. Sing a line then ask what can be drawn. For instance, the first line of the 2nd verse reads "If I keep my body clean and pure and habit free," You could draw a body, a hand with a rag cleaning for "clean" and a cigarette crossed out for "habit free". Then sing the line using the pictures.

Gradually add on until the whole song is on the board in pictures. Good luck drawing "resurrection morning" though!! ;) Haha.

The Lord Gave Me a Temple, verse 1

2011-06-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'm switching around my July and August months for 2 reasons...

1. The kids already know I Love To See The Temple very well so I'll use August and September to practice for our program. Our program is the last week in September! Yikes!

2. I'm due to have my 4th kiddo here the middle of August so the Primary Presidency said they would fill in for me but would be very appreciative if they didn't have to teach a new song that month - just review/practice for the program.

And since my ambition is slim to none lately, my singing times have been on the VERY SIMPLE side to say the least! July will be no different. But, here's what I have planned if anyone is interested...

PREP:

Bring colored chalk & an eraser - that's all!! ;)

ACTIVITY:

For Sr. Primary, I'll have them do the drawing but for Jr. Primary, I'll probably do it.

Draw a simple outline of a temple. Use half the chalkboard.

Sing the first line of the song "The Lord gave me a temple to live within on Earth." Ask if any of the kids live at the temple and which one. Then ask what this line is talking about (our body is a temple). Sing the line together.

Sing the next line "once in heaven I was spirit but I left my home at birth." Draw a spirit using the other half of the chalkboard - I would draw the outline of a body using dotted lines. Sing the line together.

Sing the next line "I'll make my temple brighter." Ask what this phrase means and how we can make our temple brighter? Draw the answers - eat healthy foods, exercise, sleep, scripture study, etc. Sing the line together.

Sing the next line "I'll keep my spirit free." Ask how we do this. Draw the answers - Word of Wisdom items (coffee, drugs), addictions, too much sugar or sleep, etc., and draw a red circle around each of them and cross them out similar to a "no smoking" sign. Sing the line together.

Sing the next line "My body is the temple my Father gave to me." Fill in the body by tracing around the dotted lines, add facial features, clothes, etc. Sing the line together.

I found this on Yahoo Groups from a few years ago and may incorporate some of what this Sister talked about...

"When I taught this we talked about how we keep our bodies clean through healthy eating, etc. and how using drugs or drinking can put our spirits into bondage and therefore they are not free. We also talked about our spirits and how our bodies house them. And we also talked about how we should treat our bodies with respect the same way we do the temple. And we talked about how we can enter the temple by keeping the word of wisdom, for one thing, to receive the blessings promised us. And in the end how we will be resurrected in the first resurrection and live with Jesus if we keep ourselves clean and pure."

Father's Day

2011-06-18T19:43:00.001-07:00

This is really last minute...sorry, been one of those weeks! But you can pull this together quick if you still need an idea...

Get a picture of a dad or grandpa (or both is really fun). Play hot potato with it as you sing your favorite dad and grandpa primary songs. When the pianist randomly stops, the child holding the dad or grandpa gets to name their favorite thing about their dad or grandpa.

For older children, you can also add the words to the chalk board in chalk. When the music stops, in addition to naming their favorite thing, they can come erase a word from the song.

Search, Ponder & Pray

2011-06-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

For our song this month, the Primary Presidency wanted something to do with this year's theme so they asked if we could sing Search, Ponder and Pray.

I guess I'm a huge fan of Pat Graham and her ideas as I'm using them again! They are simple and right up my alley. I'm using her teaching suggestion for Search, Ponder and Pray found in her book, A Children's Songbook Companion. I'd post it here but I don't want to infringe on copyright.

If you are looking for ideas for whatever song you are singing this month, I'd suggest you somehow get your hands on a copy of the book. Sister Graham does have a website found HERE and you can purchase the book directly from there (scroll down a little and it's on the right). Before you buy it, check and see if your primary has some budget money for it! If that won't work, maybe the library would have it.

Anyway, that's about all I have for this month except for Father's Day Sunday which I'll post later on.

January - May Review

2011-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm taking bits and pieces of all my past lesson plans and putting them into one. I figure I'd prefer not to re-create the wheel if I don't have to.

I'm bringing out my Review Dice found HERE but only using one. The pink one with the songs. There are 5 songs (January - May) and then I added Wiggle Worm songs to make 6 songs for 6 sides.

A Primary child will roll the die. As each song is rolled, here's what we'll do:

January song: If I Listen with My Heart: I'm going to do the head pitch leading thing with the roller coaster idea I mentioned last week found HERE. I have some PVC pipe and I'll have 3 kids come up and do the roller coaster ride while the kids sitting tell them to go up or down with their hands (with my help of course!) as the notes go up and down. One verse and the chorus per roll.

February song: I Will Follow God's Plan: I am using my "key word" pictures found HERE. Before Primary I'll hang all the pictures in order on the chalkboard. To play, I'll send a child into the hall. We'll remove a picture and have the child come back into the room. We'll sing the song and the child will have to guess which picture is missing. Pick different pictures to remove each time you sing it.

March song: Stand for the Right: I'm pulling out our hand bells and using my bell chart found HERE. When we sing all the"Be True" words, we ring the corresponding bell.

April song: Beautiful Savior: We learned sign language for this song so we'll just practice our signing. One verse and chorus per roll.

May song: Praise to the Man: I'm going to pull out a few instruments I used found HERE and make a small band up front (maybe 4 or 5 kids). The band will need to bang out the rhythm of the song as we sing it. For Sr. Primary I may have 2 kids do the rhythm while the other kids do the beat. One verse and chorus per roll.

Wiggle Worm songs: We'll sing a song picked from our jar found HERE.

My hope is that each child will get to do a few things a few times. To pick primary kids, I'll probably just go down the rows so it goes quickly. I want to keep it moving so we keep singing and reviewing!

Praise to the Man, Week 3

2011-05-19T14:22:00.001-07:00

This week I started a lesson plan then my family decided to go out of town. My sub wants to do her own thing so this is only half done. If it can help someone out though, great...

Most of these ideas again were taken from Pat Graham's workshop a few months ago.

For Sr. Primary:
PREP:
Bring the envelopes with the "key words" from my week 2 post. You will only need one envelope per verse.

Chalk

Tape/magnets

Bring these definitions to the key words (You'll need to finish defining them, sorry. If someone does define them, would you post in the comments to help someone else out?):
vs. 1:
praise: honor
man:
communed: talked
Jehovah: Jesus
Anointed: set apart
Prophet & Seer: speaks with God
Blessed:
Last Dispensation: divinely appointed time
Extol:
Revere:

chorus:
Hail: to cheer, salute
Ascended: go upward
Traitors: a person who betrays
Tyrants: any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively
Vain: without effect or avail
Mingling: to unite
Plan:
Brethren:
Conquer: defeat
Hero:

vs. 3:
Great:
Glory:
Endless:
Priesthood:
Keys:
Hold:
Faithful:
True:
Enter:
Kingdom:
Crowned:
Midst:

Before primary, write out a short definition for each word on the chalk board, in order. Leave space to hang up the "key words" above each definition. Only post the chorus definitions once.

ACTIVITY:
Pass out a "key word" to the Primary. Make sure they are out of order (omit the fermata, "stairs" and chorus for the 3rd verse). You may want to do one verse/envelope at a time depending on how many kids you have.

Tell the primary you have the song written out on the board and you want them to sing along! Try singing your definitions you wrote out just for fun. Then tell them you need help with the actual words. You posted the definitions and the kids have the key words.

So read the first definition. The Primary child who has it comes up and tapes it above the definition. Complete each phrase this way. After each phrase's key word is hung up, sing the phrase until the song is completed.

If time permits, do some pitch leading with their heads (I've described it below).

For Jr. Primary:
Pat Graham suggested the following:

"Sing each phrase slowly several times and then invite children to echo you. Reasons to repeat: clap rhythm of melody, *pitch lead [with their heads], march in place. Color picture of Joseph Smith while you sing many times (FRIEND, April 2008, p. 35)."

*Sister Graham demonstrated pitch leading with heads and it was really fun. I actually did it last week with the Jr. primary as we sung the chorus and it was a hit! As the notes of the song go up or down, your hand goes up or down. As your hand goes up or down, the kids follow you by having their bodies move up and down by standing on their tip toes or bending down.

Someone on Yahoo groups mentioned a "Roller Coaster" similar to the pitch leading. The same idea but a great visual.

Anyway, good luck this week. Next week I have the whole time so I'm reviewing January - May songs.

Praise to the Man, Week 2

2011-05-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

This week I'm going to focus on teaching the words to this song. My plan for Sr. and Jr. Primary will be completely separate as Sr. Primary can read and most of Jr. cannot. Pat Graham introduced this Sr. Primary activity at her workshop a few months ago.

PREP:
For Sr. Primary: Print off the following pages (they are vs. 1 and 3 of the song's "key" words). Enlarge the picture so it fits a full page. Depending on the size or your primary, you may need more than 1 copy of each. I printed off 2 copies of each verse for my primary of 15 - 20 kids. I also printed off another copy that I will keep as my key and not cut out. So I printed 6 pages total, 3 of each verse if that makes sense.
(I'm sorry if it's blurry. If that's the case, you may need to type up or write out your own.)

Cut out each word into word strips and place into envelopes by verse. Label your envelopes as "vs. 1" and "vs. 3." Use multiple envelopes if you made multiple copies. I have 4 envelopes with 2 for each verse. Make sure the fermata and the "stairs" are cut out on their own. You will also want to keep the words "last dispensation" in the 1st verse together as they go together.

ACTIVITY:
Divide the primary into groups of about 7-8 kids and give each group a "verse 1" envelope. They will probably need to do this activity on the floor.

You and the teachers sing verse one with the piano. Pass out hymnbooks to the teachers if need be. The groups will work on getting the word strips in order while you sing. Hopefully you will be singing the verse multiple times before they get it together. Make sure all groups have finished. Once in order, everyone checks their answers by singing the verse.

Explain what a fermata is, where it's found in the song and how it's used. Practice having them follow you on the fermata as you hold the note. Then explain the "stairs." When the word "vain" is sung, there are 4 notes sung on that one word, similar to stairs. Maybe have them use their hands to make the steps. Repeat the chorus as needed.

When verse 1 is completed, start verse 3. And have it run the same way you did verse 1. Maybe switch up the groups if you want to. The chorus is exactly the same so it should be easier and a faster round.

You can also give the kids a hint if they are struggling. The chorus is all in CAPS where the verses are all in lower case.

Okay, phew. Are you with me? It actually is really simple but I tend to talk things out way too much! Now on to Jr. Primary. Leave a comment if you have questions.

I'm just planning on putting up a flip chart on the chalkboard. You can use this one HERE from jollyjenn.com if you like.

Then I'm just going to pass out any sort of "musical instruments" I can find. Just get creative. The more random, the better! I raided our Primary closet and found some tambourines and a few shakers and other things. But I'm also going to bring the things pictured here:

(the eggs and bells are what I use in Nursery. You can find how I made them HERE if you need to. And then I have a huge collection of these lovely 32 oz. yogurt containers with lids. I'll use the mallets to bang on them and make drums.)

I'll let the kids come up and choose something. We'll go over a flip chart page while they bang out the beat of the song. Then we'll trade instruments so everyone can try something different. I hope it won't be too chaotic!

Mother's Day Activity

2011-05-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

For mother's Day I'm going to to tweak the activity I did last year found HERE. It worked well but it was a little difficult for the Jr. Primary. So this year, I think this will better suite them. I'm sure Senior Primary will enjoy it as well.

Any Mother's Day song will work for this activity. Sing one or a few, it doesn't matter.

PREP:
Bring a basket full of "mom" items (see the list in the link above).

ACTIVITY:
The activity will run similar to "hot potato."

Pick a "mom." Either a primary child (boy or girl), or you could honor your primary president, or find someone's mom to come in. I suppose you could have yourself be the "mom." Make it as simple or as extravagant as you like.

Pick a primary child to come get an item from the basket and have them go sit back down with the it.

Start your song with everyone singing and have the item passed along to each child. Have the pianist randomly stop. Whoever has the item has to tell you the next word. If they can do it, they can come "dress mom" with the item. If they can't tell you the next word, the item continues to get passed around until the pianist stops again and someone else can do it (I'll be real lenient with Jr. Primary, maybe have everyone tell me the next word).

Repeat until your "mom" is "dressed" and your song(s) are well learned.

Optional:
You may want to have a practice round before you actually do the activity and have words posted. That way if they are singing an unfamiliar song, they have a little help beforehand.

You could also do this as teams - Sr. Primary may like that. Boys vs. girls, January-June birthdays vs. July -December birthdays, etc. Each team picks a mom, each team gets an item to pass and when the music stops, the first kid on the team who has the item and gets the next word correctly gets to dress their mom. The mom with the most items at the end wins.

If you can think of more items, please post them in the comments! I'd love more items that can be worn and not have to be held. Makes for a funnier dressed mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

Praise to the Man Week 1

2011-04-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

Most of my singing time idea is taken from Pat Graham's workshop a few months ago. I've modified a few things.

I thought since this song is a tough one, this week my focus will be merely introducing the song. Then in the next few weeks (we'll break the following week to honor Mother's Day) I'll work on reinforcing the words with the Sr. Primary and focus more rhythm/beat with the Jr. More to come.

Prep:
Download the 2 following songs from iTunes:

Scotland the Brave by The Drums & Pipes & the Cape Town Highlanders

Praise to the Man by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Either burn them onto a CD to be played on a CD player or bring an iPod with speakers.

Copy and paste this picture into a Word document, enlarge it as big as you can and print it off:

http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/nf/ClipArt/Image/0,,_1581695,00.html (it's a picture of bagpipes being played).

Find a picture of Joseph Smith either from the Library or the GAK.

Get enough Hymnbooks for each Primary child to use.

Activity:
Play Scotland the Brave for the Primary to listen to.

Ask them if they know what instrument is being played. Once guessed, pull out the picture of the bagpiper, pass it around for everyone to see and hang it on the chalkboard.

Then ask if they recognized the tune of the song. If not, play it again. If still not (hopefully this will be the case), play Praise to the Man.

Ask if they recognize this song. Explain it's a hymn and we are learning it this month. The tune to this song is similar to the bagpipe song.

Now play the song again and ask who the song is about and who we are looking up to. Once guessed, pull out the picture of Joseph Smith and hang it on the chalkboard. Briefly give a little history about how this song came about. Wikipedia has a little info:

"Praise to the Man" (originally titled "Joseph Smith") was a poem written as a tribute to Joseph Smith, Jr. by Latter Day Saint leader and hymn writer William W. Phelps. The poem was composed soon after Smith's death, and was later set to music and adopted as a hymn of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was first published anonymously in the church newspaper Times and Seasons in August 1844, approximately one month after Smith was killed.^[1] The hymn is still used within the LDS Church and is hymn #27 in the current LDS Church hymnal. The LDS hymnal now uses a melody based on "Scotland the Brave" in honor of Phelps's Scottish heritage. The tune is modified to match the syllable count of the text."

Pull out the Hymnbooks and sing through the 1st and 3rd verses with the kids. Using just the piano instead of the CD to sing along to may be easier. I think the Jr. Primary, even though they can't read may enjoy holding a Hymnbook even if it's closed. Have them all stand and try to sing and act like the Mormon Choir Tabernacle Choir.

General Conference Singing Time

2011-03-24T14:13:00.001-07:00

Every month I like to take a week and do nothing that relates to program songs. Instead I do something that relates to a holiday that month, the new season, or for this month, General Conference.

I just feel like we (okay, mostly I) get caught up in making sure the kids know EVERY word to those program songs and then never learn any other primary songs. This way, at least once a month, we sing something different and I feel the kids appreciate the variety and change just as much as I do.

With that said, here's what I'm doing this week to prepare the kids for General Conference (as a side note, I pull these out before every General Conference and do some sort of review):

We'll be singing Latter-Day Prophets and The Books in the Book of Mormon tune (singing all 15 of the CURRENT 1st Presidency & apostles last names instead of singing the actual words to this song. Make sense?).

I inherited a binder that a previous chorister made for Latter-Day Prophets. But it's very simple to put together. She put all the prophets pictures in order in plastic cover sheets. Then typed out their names in large font and taped them to the bottom of each picture. She did throw in the few extra words found in the song but like I said, it's really simple. And that's it.

If you don't want to purchase all the pictures of the Letter-Day prophets you could probably hit up the library for all the prophet pictures and write their names on the chalkboard. Or, in the back of the Gospel Art Kit are all their pictures only they are smaller in size. We'll probably sing it once or twice. I'm not going to spend much time on this one.

Then for The Books in the Book of Mormon (current 1st Presidency & apostles' last names substituted), I purchased their pictures at the Distribution Center. They were $0.50 each so $7.50 total. Again, you could hit up the library. I was just worried about them not having each picture (especially the newer apostles) so I got my own. You may be able to print pictures online somewhere but I don't know where to direct you - sorry. Please leave a comment if you know where someone can go!

UPDATE: If you need help with the song, try humming The Books in the Book of Mormon tune (Children's Primary Songbook pg. 119) while you sing the following: Monson, Eyring, Uchtdorf, Packer, Perry, Nelson, Oaks and Ballard, Scott, Hales, Holland, Bednar, Cook, Christofferson (sing his name quickly!), Andersen.

I put them in plastic cover sheets and will hang them on the chalkboard in order (1st Presidency is first then the rest of the apostles in order).

Under their pictures I'll write their last names with chalk. On the back of each picture I purchased is a write-up that gives their brief history. I will discuss with the kids a few BRIEF key points about each man. I don't like to do much talking as singing is more fun! If you use the library's materials, you may have to do some web searching for this information.

We'll discuss each one in order, starting with President Monson. Once we've talked about him, I'll erase his name and we'll sing the song. Eventually talking again, BRIEFLY, about each apostle, erasing the last name and singing the song. So hopefully by the end, they know each one's last name and their order. I may challenge the kids when we start to see if anyone at the end of singing time can state each apostle in order.

Then I noticed in the March Friend, a cute little activity for General Conference that I will probably make copies of and pass out to the kids. It's found HERE. If you download the whole Friend HERE (click to the right of where it says "March 2011" and download the Adobe file), it's on Page 40 and 41. I'll probably hand out both those pages so they have some directions of what to do.

So after this Sunday, make sure you go and enjoy the next week off!! Hooray for General Conference!

Review Dice

2011-03-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

I actually reviewed last month with these and am now just posting them...but these will work for any reviewing, any time. And I must say, the kids LOVED them.

I made 2 dice using 2 poster boards. They measure about 9x9x9 inches. Here's how I cut into my poster board:

I did try to go the easy route and buy boxes from the post office that were 8x8x8 but I couldn't find any so this was what I resorted to. If you have better luck at the post office, I'd recommend that. But these weren't too bad. I just taped the edges really well so when it was the 3-year old's turn to roll it and it ended up being chucked, it wouldn't fall apart.

Then I just taped my songs/pictures to the top of it with scotch tape. They come off so I can put whatever I want on these dice and use them over and over again for future use.

One dice is what song to sing and the other dice tells you how to sing. I got my pictures from searching the Internet. Here's what I came up with:

Swimmer: Plug your nose while you sing (that was pretty funny!) and swim with your other arm
Cowboy: Sing with some nice "twang" and put your thumbs in your pocket while you kick the dust. Make sure to start and end with a "yee haw!"
Opera Singer: Spread out and be very flamboyant with your arms. Lots of vibrato and loud singing.
Drill Sargent: Everyone stands at attention while they sing. No smiling, laughing giggling. You walk back and forth looking for anything out of place. Start and end with a "yes mam!"
Granny: Wiggle your throat with your hand to make your voice shake. Bend over and pretend to have an aching back.
Police Officer: Make stop and go signs on sticks (below). You direct "traffic" and tell everyone when to stop and start singing.
To store these, I simply cut the tape and flattened them to fit into my files.

Beautiful Savior

2011-03-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

I'm going to jump ahead this Sunday and start our April song, Beautiful Savior - 1st and 2nd verses. The kids learned Stand for the Right so quickly last week that I think they'd be bored again if we all we did was review it. We probably will quickly sing it with my visuals from last week just to refresh.

My schedule for the rest of this month is to start the April song this week (since General Conference will be cutting me short next month), the following week, review January - March (maybe April) songs with a game, and then the last week I will do something with General Conference (more to come on that).

I'm also planning ahead so IF we are asked to sing in Sacrament Meeting for Easter I'll be ready. We will sing Beautiful Savior as it fits well. I'm all about killing 2 birds with 1 stone!!!

For this song, I'm using sign language to teach the kids. If we have time next month, I may pull out the bells for the descant part on the 3rd verse but we'll see.

Now, I'm no signing expert but here's how I do it:

Go HERE on the Church's ASL signing website and review Beautiful Savior a million times! Okay, maybe not a million but you have to know the signs VERY well before you can teach them. I like to learn everything backwards (or I mirror what I see). That way when I teach it, the kids mirror me and they learn it correctly.

I also use this website HERE which is an online ASL Dictionary to help me break down certain words or signs. The woman on the church's website can go fast so I'll use this website to look up the actual word and go over it several times. It really helps me, but then I can be slow sometimes!

Then I simplify the signs by cutting confusing or more difficult signs out. I know, it's not totally correct but I'm trying to cater to kids.

After I know what signs I'm going to use, I write myself notes. This way, if I get totally stuck up front in the middle of teaching, I have something to reference. Now, my notes may not make sense to anyone but me because I am telling myself how to sign something. I like to write the word to be signed and a description (which necessarily isn't the actual sign to that word). The word being sung and the description may not always match due to translation (see in my notes below the words "world" and "love" for an example) but it's how I remember what to do on what word.

When I start teaching the kids, I tell them to mirror me while I do something funny (wax on, was off, pat your head and rub your stomach, etc.) and explain I want them to mirror everything I do.

Here are my CRAZY notes if anyone's interested (and please try not to laugh!):

Fair: left hand circles face, fingertips open at the beginning of the circle and close at the end

Sunshine: left hand fingertips together, wrist makes a circle near temple (sun), then fingertips spread and hand lowers (shine)

Fairer: left hand circles face, fingertips open at the beginning of the circle and close end

Moonlight: left hand makes a “C” with thumb and forefinger. Start at chin and take up to temples (moon), then fingertips spread and hand lowers (light)

And: left hand starts at right shoulder, and draws across the body toward left shoulder. Fingertips form a “C” shape and close at left shoulder

Stars: both pointer fingers point upward (4 times)

Heaven: left hand is drawn slowly over head sort of like a rainbow

Jesus: left middle finger touches right palm then right middle finger touches left palm

Shines: both middle fingers touch and pull apart, shaking

Brighter: Finger tips together of both hands, they quickly touch and then all fingers expand and spread to form small circles like fireworks

Jesus: left middle finger touches right palm then right middle finger touches left palm

Shines: both middle fingers touch and pull apart, shaking

Purer: Finger tips together of both hands, they quickly touch and then right palm faces up, left hand pointer and middle fingers are extended with thumb in between. The left hand is drawn outward across the right palm

And: left hand starts at right shoulder, and draws across the body toward left shoulder. Fingertips form a “C” shape and close at left shoulder

All: left hand, thumb extended starts at shoulder and is drawn upward

World: (I think this is the sign for love) fists closed, arms crossed over chest

Love: arms uncross, extend outward, palms up and move outward across chest

Fair: left Hand circles face, fingertips open at the beginning of the circle and close end

Meadows: left hand, palm brushes chin twice then palm down and hand makes 2 small circles

Fairer: left Hand circles face, fingertips open at the beginning of the circle and close end

Woodlands: left elbow touches top of right fingertips, left hand straight up and moves back and forth

Robed: left hand with fingertips together touches right cheek then left cheek

Flowers: both hands, fingertips together, then all expand and move outward waving

Blooming springs: left hand “grows” out of right hand 4 times

Jesus: left middle finger touches right palm then right middle finger touches left palm

Fairer: left Hand circles face, fingertips open at the beginning of the circle and close end

Jesus: left middle finger touches right palm then right middle finger touches left palm

Purer: Finger tips together of both hands, they quickly touch and then right palm faces up, left hand pointer and middle fingers are extended with thumb in between. The left hand is drawn outward across the right palm

Makes: both hands, palms toward your face, hands drawn downward across face

Sorrowing: left hand extended, bent at elbow, palm toward you

Spirit: both hands palms at chest, make 2 small circles up and outward

Sing: right arm extended, bent at elbow, palm facing up. Left hand sweeps across right arm similar to conducting music:

Stand For The Right

2011-03-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

For this song, I'm going to be using our Primary's handbells (Kidsplay brand and the set of 13) on all the "be true" notes. If you don't have handbells, you could improvise but I can't think of substitutions - any suggestions? If you don't have bells or any substitutions, you can do everything and just omit the part that involves the bells. The only problem is that's the fun part!!

PREP:

Find a picture of President Monson. I'll be hitting up the library!

Type or write the word "WORDS" as large as it will fit on a piece of paper. Do the same for the word "STAND."

Find a picture that depicts "work." I have a collection of pictures the church put out maybe 20-30 years ago so I found a picture of children raking leaves with their grandfather (for work). There is also some clipart found HERE on Sugardoodle as well you could print out.

Find a picture that depicts "play." Again, I used my collection of pictures and found a picture of 2 children playing with some blocks. Sugardoodle has some HERE.

(you could also take 2 blank pieces of paper and before primary, ask one child to draw "work" and another to draw "play" with a pencil then you go over it with a sharpie. Pat Graham at her workshop suggested this).

Bring a black piece of paper (for the word "darkness").

Bring a white piece of paper (for the word "light").

If using the bells and you have the same kind that we do, you can print off the following notes (when you print them, make sure to write page 1, page 2 and page 3 on the back so you don't get them out of order!):

Page 1:

Page 2:
Page 3: Bring a stick (mine is just a long craft dowel) so you can point to the pictures and notes as they are to be sung/played. If you don't have one, find a branch outside - the kids will get a kick out of that I'm sure!
-
ACTIVITY:
To introduce the song, pass out all of the pictures EXCEPT the notes (because that will make sense to no one but you). Have the pianist play while you sing the song and ask anyone who wants to try to sing along to do so (especially teachers!). The kids with the pictures will come up front and put them all in order (prophet, words, work, play, darkness, light, stand). Once in order, hang them on the board but leave space to hang the "be true" notes.
-
Sing the song through and ask them to count how many times the song says "be true." (4) Whenever the word "stand" is sung, have everyone stand.
-
Then put the 3 pages of "be true" notes in place on the board. Page 1 will go between "words" and "work." Pages 2 and 3 will go between "light" and "stand."
-
Pass out the 5 bells needed (A, B, C#, D, G) randomly and have your "bell choir" come up front so they can see.
-
Sing through the song pointing to each picture. When you get to the bells, your bell choir rings the corresponding bell as it is sung (one at a time - does this make sense?). Make sure everyone stands when "stand" is sung.
-
Pass the bells to the next child and repeat so everyone will be able to ring a bell.
-
Whenever we use the bells, we can sing a song a million times and no one ever gets bored!!

I Will Follow God's Plan

2011-02-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

I'm finishing up teaching this song this week.

prep:

Click on each of the following 20 words/links. Copy and paste each picture into a document. Enlarge each picture so it fits the full page landscape. Print on individual sheets of cardstock:

gift

plan

purpose (I typed the actual word "purpose")

*these words are repeated twice and I just used the same picture for both so print 2 copies.

Most of my pictures I found on Sugardoodle.net with the exception of a few that I got from the Internet.

Place each picture in a sheet protector or laminate (optional, but recommended if you want to add them to your files for future use!).

activity:

For Senior Primary:

I'm going to pass out the pictures randomly to the whole primary. I'll tell them that these pictures correlate to key words in our song. We need to get the pictures in the order they are sung in the song. We'll try to see how many times we have to sing the song before they can get them in order. I may or may not post the words - depends on how hard this ends up being! The kids will then come up front with their picture and stand in order. We'll keep singing until it's right.

If time permits, I'll then hang all the pictures randomly on the chalkboard. I'll send a child into the hall. We'll remove a picture and have the child come back into the room. We'll sing the song and the child will have to guess which picture is missing. We'll repeat until time runs out.

For Junior Primary:

It will run very much like Sr. Primary but I'll help out a lot more. I'll pass out the pictures, we'll sing a phrase, find the picture(s), post it on the chalkboard and continue until we've hung all the pictures.

If time permits, we will also play the send-the-child-into-the-hall game. I'll probably just keep the pictures in order to make it more simple.

Next week I'm planning on doing a game to review January and February's songs. Now all I need to do is find a game. Hmmmm....more to come when I figure that one out.

Valentine's Day Activity

2011-02-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

I like to take a break around Valentine's Day from the weekly drilling of all the new program songs. So I play "Name that Primary Song about Love" each year (it's essentially "Name that Tune").
prep:
I picked 10 songs that have the word "love" in the song:

Jesus Said Love Everyone p. 61
Reverence is Love p. 31
Love One Another p. 136
I'll Walk With You (3rd verse only) p. 140
I Love To See The Temple p. 95
We Are Different p. 263
Love is Spoken Here p. 190
Where Love Is p. 138
I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus p. 78
Teacher, Do You Love Me? p. 178

Type up a list for you and your pianist.

I also typed up all the words to each song (see photo above). You can go HERE for the church's music, text-only, website. Search the songs, then copy and past the words into your document. Enlarge the font to make the verse fit to one page and make sure it's landscape.

I'm assuming a lot of these will be unfamiliar (which is fine with me - I love the variety :). I hang my binder over the back of my chorister stand and raise it up high so everyone can see the words as we sing. (Just a note - I post words like this almost every week; opening songs, my singing time songs, new birthday songs, etc. It helps SO much!)

Then I wrote out all the songs on heart shaped cut-outs (see photo above). I laminated these so they last every year. I don't know about you, but it's SO nice and convenient to go to your files and pull out LAST YEAR'S work!!

I'm bringing a red table cloth (which is totally optional) and a Valentine treat (again, optional).

Then I made a little sign that says "Name That Primary Song About Love" which I laminated because I use it every year (optional again!).

Make it as fancy or as simple as you like. You could even just write everything out on the chalkboard to really simplify this game. Draw your hearts and write the names of all the songs. Put "Name That Primary Song about Love" at the top.

Then you'll need a ringer, bell, or something to ding for the game. I've used a desk bell or a Taboo game buzzer in the past. This year I'm just going to use our Primary's handbells as my ringers.

activity:
Before Primary, post your game sign and hearts on the chalkboard. I like to hang the hearts so the words face out. Cover a small table with your table cloth and put out whatever you are using for your ringer.

For Sr. Primary:
I'm going to divide the kids so it's boys vs. girls (because this day deals a lot with boys and girls :). I don't think we'll keep score (maybe, if they protest) but a boy and a girl will compete against each other each round.

A boy and girl come up and face each other at the table, hands behind their back. The pianist will play the first song on the list. The first one to ring the bell with the correct name of the song wins that round. For hints, the names of the songs are all posted on the chalkboard.

Then I'll pull out the words to the song and we'll sing the song, then move on to the next song on the list with new contestants. I'll pass out my Valentine's treats at the end to my best singers (which will be everyone, of course!).

For Jr. Primary:
No teams, I'll just draw names and have probably 2 kids come up for each round (so everyone can have a turn). I'll pull out the words to the first song on the list but make sure the 2 kids up front can't see them.

Then the primary will sing the song and the 2 kids up front get to ring their bell every time they hear the word love. I'll probably have the primary "help them out" by singing the word "love" loudly for them.

No competition for the little kids. They'll just have a great time with those bells! Then treats at the end.

variations:
You can hang the hearts so the words are hidden then someone comes and picks the song to be sung (make sure they don't look at the back). Take it over to the pianist and that's the song to be used for that round.

If you are unfamiliar with some of these songs, you can make a play-list on an iPod or CD and use that to help. You could even have the primary just listen to the iPod/CD to make their guess and then sing along with the CD when you go to sing the song.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Wiggle Worm Jar

2011-01-31T14:41:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but 20 minutes working on ONE song can occasionally get long and boring. Especially for those little ones who just came from sitting in Sacrament meeting! To break up the time and get our wiggles out, I pull out my wiggle worm jar every week...I use this jar for about the first 5 minutes of singing time. I tell the kids I need my best wigglers to pick our wiggle songs. They know the drill and go to town wiggling. I then get to pick the wiggliest one (haha, so fun)! They come and choose a worm and we sing the song (with actions if it applies). My original plan was to only do this in Jr. Primary but I have found that Sr. Primary enjoys it just as much. My 11 year old boys crack me up wiggling!!

Anyway, so we sing about 3-4 songs from the jar each week. I like it because we get to sing other songs that we otherwise would never, ever get to sing! It's also a great tool for a last minute substitute or if your singing time wasn't long enough and you need to kill a little time. I keep the jar in our Primary closet so it's always available (and it's one less thing to tote to church)!!

I've tried to pick "classic" songs that everyone SHOULD know but some of them are not very familiar still. So I do have words printed out on a sheet of paper if I feel the kids don't know the words to a particular song (like the song Saturday).

I made my worms using various colored card stock that I cut into strips. I then wrote out the names of Primary songs and their page numbers on the slips of paper. I laminated the paper (I used packing tape for these!) and folded them accordion style. I then got some pom poms and google eyes cheap from Walmart and hot glued on the pom poms, eyes and noses to make a head/face. Then I attached the head to the laminated paper so they somewhat resemble worms.

For my jar I just covered up a plastic jar I found around my house. Nothing fancy!

Here are the songs I used:
A Happy Family p. 198
Book of Mormon Stories p. 118
Daddy's Homecoming p. 210
Do As I'm Doing p. 276
Follow the Prophet p. 110
Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes p. 275
I Hope They Call Me on a Mission p. 169
If You're Happy p. 266
My Hands p. 273
Once There Was a Snowman p. 249
Popcorn Popping p. 242
Saturday p. 196
The Church of Jesus Christ p. 77
The Wise Man and the Foolish Man p. 281

I want to make worms for more songs but I ran out of supplies. So we'll sing these until we get tired then I'll add more later. Also, a lot of my songs are ones we sing in nursery. If a nursery song is picked and I have my nursery props (see previous nursery post HERE), I pull those out - like Follow the Prophet. I pull out my President Monson stick and we follow the leader around the primary room while we sing.

If I Listen With My Heart - 3rd Verse & Review

2011-01-27T15:36:00.001-08:00

I was able to attend the Pat Graham workshop last Saturday (fabulous!) and am going to use one of her ideas...I only changed a few things for Jr. Primary because they cannot read.

She posted the following diagram on the board as she was "teaching us" this song. She had us help her fill in the part that says "3 key words here" with key words from the first verse of IILWMH for each phrase.

Hint: If you are unsure of the phrases, just follow the punctuation (2nd verse, not so much however)

She told us this is the pattern she found in the song. Phrase 1 and 2 and 4 have a very similar melody. Phrase 3 is a little different. If you sing it to yourself and follow the pattern above, it may make some sense.

Since I'm working on the 3rd verse this week, I'm going to have the Senior Primary help me fill in 3 key words for each phrase and then we'll sing that phrase and go on. If we have time, we'll review the first and second verses the same way. Maybe have the kids themselves come write them on the board - they love that!

Pat also suggested as you sing each phrase, you move your arm in the air to the pattern of the line (move it like a rainbow going across the sky). For the 3rd phrase you'd have 3 smaller movements to follow the pattern.

The circles above the 3rd phrase represent getting loud and softer. Pat suggested to start out singing phrase 3 quietly (small circle) then gradually get bigger (bigger circle). But she thought singing the last word (which is "peace" in all 3 verses) loudly didn't quite jive so instead, get quiet again. And have the kids watch you closely while you direct it.

Then she also suggested to try having the kids only breathe at the end of each phrase.

So that's all for Senior.

For Jr. I'm using the same pattern on the board only I'll omit the key words and use 4 objects to represent my key words for each verse. I'll have 4 kids (or maybe teachers) come up and hold the items up high as we sing each phrase:

Verse 3 objects: feel (a piece of fabric or anything that has great texture), comfort (blanket or comforter), speaks (I'm struggling with this one - HELP!), heart (I have a heart shaped beanbag but a cutout of a heart would do)

I also have my heart sticks that I've used all month (see previous post) and we'll use those to make our "rainbow" patterns in the air. We'll also work on trying to only breathe at the end of the phrase.

If we have time, I want to review the 1st and 2nd verses as well. Here are my objects for those verses:

Verse 1 objects: child (doll), walk (I'll have a child come hold his/her shoes), scriptures (I'll have a child come hold his/her scriptures), heart (heart shaped something)

Verse 2 objects: hear (2 big ears cut out so a child can hold them up to their ears), earth (a ball), prophet (picture of President Monson), heart (heart shaped something)

I dont know if this will make sense if you didn't actually see it done at the workshop but it really is a great visual. I feel like I know the song so much better with the melody pattern on the board. Leave a comment if you have questions or if you can help me out with a visual for "speaks." I'm totally stuck!!

Good luck this week!

If I Listen With My Heart - for Sr. Primary

2011-01-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

For Senior Primary, I also used what was in the 2011 outline found in the back "How to Use Music in Primary" under the "Direct the Children's Listening" section. It says:

"As you teach IILWMH, write one of the following questions on the board:
1. Where can I hear the Savior's voice?
2. Who teaches us how to live righteously?
3. Who speaks quietly to us?
Invite the children to listen for the answer as they sing and to signal (by folding their arms, standing up, or touching their ears) when they sing the answer. have the children sing the answer with you a few times. Write another question on the board and repeat."

I posted on the chalkboard 3 pictures (one for each verse): A picture of a child reading the scriptures for the 1st verse, President Monson's picture for the 2nd verse, and a picture of a child receiving the Holy Ghost for the 3rd Verse.

Then under each picture I typed up the words so each verse to fit on one sheet of paper and then hung the 3 verses under its corresponding picture.

I used a CD player and had IILWMH on CD which contained the words being sung. Then I wrote question #1 on the board while we listened to the first verse. I had the kids raise their hand once they figured out the answer and we answered it all together. Then we sang verse one.

I repeated the 2nd and 3rd verses the same way. Then we just sang the whole song through. I had them repeat the chorus a few times until they could sing it without using the words on the board (if they could do it, they turned around to face the back wall) since it is repeated 3 times and fairly short and simple.

Next week I'm going to do a word scramble for the 1st and 2nd verses for Sr. Primary. To make the word scramble, simply copy and paste the 7 documents below into Word or whatever program you use, then cut out each word and use tape, magnets or plastic tack to put them up on the chalk board.

(Print this one twice as it's the same for the 2nd verse)...

To make it simpler, I'll scramble each phrase (each document is a phrase) but each phrase will be in order . For example, the phrase "If I had been a little child when Jesus lived on earth" will be row one and the words within that phrase will scrambled. Row two will have the next phrase scrambled: "I would have liked to walk with Him and listen to His words" and so on. There are 8 phrases in the 1st and 2nd verses so there will be 8 rows.

We'll start out by singing the 1st and 2nd verses using the words I typed up last week (see above) and I'll tell them they need to try to memorize the order. I'll remove the words and we'll work on the first phrase. I may time it and see if 2 or 3 kids can get phrase 1 in order in 1 minute. Then I'll bring the words back out and we'll check the answers. If it's wrong, we'll correct it and re-sing it. If it's right, we'll move on to the next phrase.

I will also post the corresponding pictures that I used last week (see above) just so they can get a broad idea of what the verse is about.

I hope all that makes sense. I'd take a picture of some of my visuals but I left them at church last week! Bummer. I hope they are still there because I need them again!! If you have questions, leave a comment and I'll try to respond.

If I Listen With My Heart - for Jr. Primary

2011-01-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

In the 2011 outline in the back under "How to Use Music in Primary," there is a section that says "Involve the Children." It lists an idea that I used last Sunday that worked really well for the Jr. Primary. It says:

"Before singing IILWMH give each child a paper heart and ask them to write "listen" on one side and "hear" on the other side (I did this beforehand and glued them onto sticks see below). Explain that these words are repeated several times in the song. Ask the children to show the correct side of the heart when they sing that word. Hearts are available at sharingtime.lds.org"

So we just went over the short chorus of the song a million times because it says "listen" and "hear." I called up a child to come up front and help us with the task. Everyone got a turn. They loved having something to hold.

Then this week, I think I'm going to bring pictures that correlate to the words in the 1st verse (Christ with children, Christ walking, a child reading the scriptures, another picture of the Savior) and we'll point (using our heart sticks of course!) to the right picture that matches it. Maybe I'll eventually scramble the pictures so they are out of order or I'll move them around the room so the kids have to turn around and point, etc.

I'm convinced that the best thing to do for young kids is give them something for their little hands to do. Either actions or something to hold.

I hope this may help!
Camille

Nursery - I Love To See The Temple

2010-10-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

I've added one more song to my list of nursery ones making it a nice even dozen (you can find that list HERE). It's I Love to See the Temple. I just feel like this is a great song to get kids motivated to go to the temple - and why not start young right?

I found 6 pictures of temples in the Temples magazine and a few more I purchased at the Distribution Center so now I have 11. I picked the ones that would fit nicely in 8 x 10 plastic sheet protectors. Then I placed black card stock behind them for some support and to hide the other side. I have the kids hold them while we sing the song and we sing this one very first.

If you haven't noticed on my list, I alternate between songs with an object to hold with an action song. That way we get all the props put away and do another song with movement before another prop song. It's worked out nicely.

Primary Program Singo

2010-08-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

Since it's the 5th Sunday, I have the whole time. We'll be playing Primary Program Singo (similar to Bingo). I've made the Bingo cards generic so you can use them every year! Make sure to bring your 2010 Outline for Sharing Time booklet, it will help you out a lot with this game.

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At the bottom of the post are 25 DIFFERENT Singo cards I've made (calling card sheets are in the post below this one). Feel free to copy them and print onto cardstock to make your own (I hope you can get it to work!). I put my Singo cards in plastic cover sheets. Then I cut the calling cards and laminated them. In each plastic cover sheet, I threw in 25 small squares of colored cardstock so the kids can cover the items as they are called. When we are finished playing the game all their game pieces will go back inside the cover sheets - keeps it easy. Hope that makes sense.
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On the cards there is a free space in the middle that everyone covers up and the other items fall into 3 categories (not all cards have everything):
January - December Themes (12 total)
January - December Songs (12 total)
13 Articles of Faith
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When a song or Article of Faith is called, we'll sing it. I'll pick a child to come be the leader with a special conductor stick (I have a Star Wars Light Saber that I know will be a hit). I know that for the months September - December there are not planned songs but our ward, for program purposes, picks songs that go along with that months theme. So for the program, we'll have these additional songs:
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September - Keep the Commandments p, 146
October - I Hope They Call me on a Mission p. 169
November - Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam . 60
December - Hosanna p. 66
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These are pretty easy songs that we'll be able to go over a few times when we review these next few weeks. If your ward isn't doing this, you can still sing these songs when they are called as they do go along with that month's theme. If your primary doesn't know them, try posting the words up front or pick something else they will know. And for convenience sake, write these songs with the page number in your 2010 Outline in the right month. You may also want to fill in the songs you picked for May and August too!
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When the monthly themes are called, either me or a child will read the monthly theme in the microphone (it's the scripture or Article of Faith listed in the 2010 Outline for Sharing Time for each month).
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When a child gets 5 in a row, they yell "SINGO" and get some reward - candy, their teacher has to wear a crazy hat, whatever you want. You can go for blackout too if you have time.
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Now, if you have a primary bigger than 25, here are my suggestions:
1. Partner up. Put an older child with a younger one.
2. Each class gets one to do together and have the teacher hold the Singo card (great for Jr.)
3. Make two big ones on the chalkboard and have teachers vs. children (also great for Jr.). If you do this option, just print out all the calling cards, hang them on the chalkboard and draw the bingo card lines. Make sure you have 48 cards printed and then just write "FREE SPACE with chalk in the middle.
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Here are all the cards. Let me know if you have questions.

The calling cards are in the post below...

Singo Calling Cards

2010-08-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

In making up the calling cards, I discovered I missed Article of Faith #6 (there should be 37 items total). Woops - none of the Singo cards have it. Oh well. I'm sure the kids won't be too disappointed :).

Cut these all apart and put in a bag to be called out.

To Think About Jesus (second verse)

2010-08-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

I'm going to continue on with the sign language for the 2nd verse. I will re-post everything from verse one and then add on with verse two.

Prep:
1. Bring 3 pictures found in the GAK (Gospel Art Kit):
The Ten Lepers GAK 221 (there's no image online for copyright purposes I suppose)
Christ and the Children GAK 216
Passing the Sacrament GAK 604 (the photo I have is of a young family with kids (pg 108) but this online version would work I suppose)

2. Learn how to sign these key words (in addition to some in the first verse as there are a lot of repeats):
miles
walked
dust
helped
love
tall
seat
listen
quiet
feet

Use THIS online ASL Dictionary link (to search for the actual word, click on the letter it starts with under "Main Dictionary" and then scroll down under "Choices" to find it)

3. Here are my notes for the 2nd verse:

Think - left hand circles temple but doesn't touch it

Miles - hold out right arm, drag 3 fingers from left hand up right arm starting at wrist and ending at upper arm

Walked - hands at chest level, palms down, swing hands front and back similar to walking

Dust - left hand at chin, palm down, fingers extended and wiggle fingers

Children - both hands at chest level, palms open and facing down, "patting" motion starting in the middle and going outward

Helped - right hand palm up, place left hand on top in a fist with thumb extended up. Lift both hands together upward

Love - cross arms across chest

Not (for shouldn't) - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

Sit - forefinger and middle fingers extended on both hands, thumb holding the other 2, and cross them together like the left finger are sitting on the right

Seat (for chair) - similar to "sit" except the left hand 2 fingers are bent over the right hand, straight, fingers

Listen - touch left ear lob with left hand twice

Feet - right hand palm down, fingers extended away from body, left hand points down 2 times, once by the pinky and another forefinger of right hand (like pointing at each foot)

Not (for shouldn't) - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

Children (for small) - both hands at chest level, palms open and facing down, "patting" motion starting in the middle and going outward

Think - left hand circles temple but doesn't touch it

Jesus - middle finger of the left hand touches the palm of the right and then the middle finger of the right hand touches the palm of the left

Not - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

All - left hand in fist near right shoulder. Then make an "L" shape with forefinger and thumb and cross your body

4. Bring magnets and chalk

Activity:
1. Post the picture of The Ten Lepers on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
think
miles
walked
dust

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word.

2. Post the picture of Christ with the Children on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
children
helped
love

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word.

3. Post the picture of Passing the Sacrament on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
shouldn't*
hard
sit
seat**
listen
feet

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word. *Sign the word "not" /**sign the word "chair"

4. Post the picture of Christ with Children from around the World (from the 1st verse) on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
shouldn't
hard
small*
think
Jesus
not
hard
all

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word. *Sign the word "children"

To Think About Jesus

2010-08-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

I wanted to teach this song in sign language but when I went to the church's signing website to learn it, it wasn't there so I improvised. I'm no signing expert so I apologize now to the signing community!

Prep:
1. Bring 3 pictures found in the GAK (Gospel Art Kit):
The Crucifixion GAK #230
Jesus Praying in Gethsemane GAK #227
Christ and Children from Around the World GAK #608

2. Learn how to sign these key words:
not
hard
sit
think
Jesus
cross
pain
me
children
all
Use THIS online ASL Dictionary link (to search for the actual word, click on the letter it starts with under "Main Dictionary" and then scroll down under "Choices" to find it)

When I teach sign, I learn it all backwards or mirror what I see, using mainly my left hand. Then I have the kids mirror what I do so they learn it with the right hand or correctly. I even tell them to mirror me and we practice before I start. When I move my left hand up or down, they move their right hand up or down, etc.

3. I like to make notes to take with me in case I draw a blank which happens a lot. Here are my notes that I have printed out in a Word document...they may not make sense to anyone but me!

Not (for shouldn't) - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

Sit - forefinger and middle fingers extended on both hands, thumb holding the other 2, and cross them together like the left finger are sitting on the right

Think - left hand circles temple but doesn't touch it

Jesus - middle finger of the left hand touches the palm of the right and then the middle finger of the right hand touches the palm of the left

Cross - left hand is in cupping shape facing out, make a cross shape going down first then across right to left

Pain (for suffered) - forefingers extended but curved like a hook then twist hand sin opposite directions, not touching

Me - point to chest with left hand

Not (for shouldn't) - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

Sit - forefinger and middle fingers extended on both hands, thumb holding the other 2, and cross them together like the left finger are sitting on the right

Not (for shouldn't) - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

Children (for small) - both hands at chest level, palms open and facing down, "patting" motion starting in the middle and going outward

Think - left hand circles temple but doesn't touch it

Jesus - middle finger of the left hand touches the palm of the right and then the middle finger of the right hand touches the palm of the left

Not - shake your head like "no," left hand in a fist with thumb extended, bring it out from your chin

Hard - make the "H" sign (first 2 fingers extended, thumb holds the other 2) with left hand and make a fist with the right. Hit fists together

All - left hand in fist near right shoulder. Then make an "L" shape with forefinger and thumb and cross your body

4. Bring magnets and chalk

Activity:
1. Post the picture of the Crucifixion on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
shouldn't*
hard
sit
think
Jesus
Cross

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word. *Sign the word "not"

2. Post the picture of Jesus Praying in Gethsemane on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
suffered*
me
shouldn't
hard
sit

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word. *Sign the word "pain"

3. Post the picture of Christ and Children from around the World on the chalkboard with a magnet. Write the following words underneath the picture with chalk:
shouldn't
hard
small*
think
Jesus
not
hard
all

Teach the Primary how to sign each of these key words one at a time and sing the song as you learn each sign, gradually add each word. *Sign the word "children"

**Thank you to a Yahoo Group Member where I adapted my version from

Pioneer Walk

2010-07-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

For Pioneer Day weekend, I'm planning a "Pioneer Walk" which will run very similar to a cake walk. I picked a few of the Pioneer songs that I know but you don't have to use the ones I do - any one or all of them will work.

PREP:

1. Take the 26 footsteps made HERE and number them 1 - 26 with a dry erase marker (if you have more children in primary you may want to make more)

2. Make caller cards numbered 1-26 (or up to how many footsteps you use). I made these below on cardstock and cut them out (pictured above). Feel free to copy and paste them to make your own if it will work! Then I put them in a bag.

3. Print out the words of the Primary songs you will be singing (this is optional but it helps if songs are unfamiliar which I am expecting most of the Pioneer songs to be). You can copy and paste text from the church's website text only if you like.
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Here's what we'll be singing:
Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked p. 214
Little Pioneer Children p. 216
To Be a Pioneer p. 218
The Oxcart p. 219
The Handcart Song p. 220
Covered Wagons p. 221
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**I have words posted in Primary a lot (for instance, if there's an opening song I know we're not really familiar with then I post words). What I do is print the words on a regular sheet of paper printed landscape as big as I can fit it onto the page (see in the picture above). Then I put the page in a page protector and into a small binder. I then put the binder over the back of the conductor's stand so the words face out to the kids. I'll turn the pages as needed. I try to at least fit one verse and chorus to a page if not more. So with all these songs, I came to about 9 pages with a few of them having multiple verses.
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4. Now there are a few options for this step: I made a playlist on my iPod with the 6 songs listed above that I'll play on my iPod speakers. If you don't do the iPod thing, you can use the Primary CD with a CD player as the Pioneer songs are in order, or just have the pianist play them all and have everyone sing. I'm just worried that with this activity, I'll be the only one really singing as the kids will be a little involved with the cake walk. I do feel that if they listen to the music (since we don't have to learn these for the program!) we will still be getting familiar with all these Pioneer songs. I'll still try to encourage everyone to sing along.
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5. Bring some "Pioneer candy." I just found some hard candy - Jolly Ranchers and Life Savers but you could use whatever - Werther's, or I know there's real pioneer candy out there but I went for cheap and easy. I usually don't do treats so the kids will enjoy the change! I am bringing a basket to put it all in to make the look of it a little more authentic ;)
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6. Pioneer clothes for you as the caller. This also is optional. I have a bonnet and a simple apron that I'll put on
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Okay, phew, that's all the prep - are you still with me??

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ACTIVITY:
1. Place the 26 (or more) footsteps around the room in a large circle, out of order and numbers facing up.
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2. Have all the kids go stand on a footstep.
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3. Start your music (either your iPod, the CD or the pianist) and have everyone walk on the footsteps. Try to have everyone sing along with the words you have posted (especially the teachers just sitting!).
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4. Stop the music randomly throughout the song(s) and call out a number. The child standing on that number, gets a piece of candy.
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5. Put your number back into your caller bag (as you may call it a few times!) and repeat #3 & #4 until you've sung all your music, all your candy is gone, or you're out of time!

Singing Time in Nursery

2010-07-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

There are 11 songs that we sing in our Nursery - the same 11 every week. We do them in the same order, with the same actions or item. I feel the repetition is great for the little kids as they know what to expect, how long it will last (about 20 minutes) and what to do. I have the list of songs printed out (with the page numbers and actions/items) so I remember what goes where - it can get a little chaotic!

We are also able to use the primary room for Nursery singing time. It's been great having the kids get familiar with the primary room, sit in the chairs, sing with the piano and leave all the toys and playtime behind in the nursery room. Our pianist has the same list of songs as I do.

If you can't get into the Primary room because it's occupied, I'd HIGHLY suggest going into a separate classroom. Set up the chairs in a nice U shape with you sitting at the top and a few chairs for the teachers in between the kids.

To get the kids to the primary room all together and somewhat reverently, I sewed what the kids have named "The Dragon." They each put their hand in an elastic band (sewed onto some ric rac) and we walk:

Here's our list of songs and the actions and or items we use to go with each song (the actions just follow along with the words in the song, nothing fancy!):

1. Book of Mormon Stories p. 118 (actions)

2. Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam p. 60 (sunbeam sticks - I found foam cutouts of a sun (at Roberts), put contact paper over them and taped them to popsicle sticks. When we sing the word "sunbeam" we stand up and raise the stick)

3. Popcorn Popping p. 242 (actions)

4. If You're Happy p. 266 (bells - I put 2 small bells on pipe cleaner and made them into a circle by wrapping the ends around each other. So they don't poke, I put a dab of hot glue on the ends. The kids put them around their wrists and we clap while we sing "if you're happy and you know it clap your hands." We also like to put them around our toes and "shake our toes" so we sing it twice)

5. Daddy's Homecoming p. 210 (actions)

6. Do As I'm Doing p. 276 (egg shakers THESE ARE THE FAVORITE !!- I filled plastic Easter eggs with a few dry beans and hot glued them together. We can shake them high and low, fast and slow, etc. as we sing and there's enough for each child to get 2)

7. Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes p. 275 (actions - we do the first time normal speed and then we like to do it really fast and race the piano)

8. I Hope They Call Me on a Mission p. 169 (I made simple name tags on white card stock that say "MISSIONARY" and "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," with a black background, and laminated them. I pin them on each child with a clothes pin. We stand in place and march while we sing)

Here's the document if you can copy and paste it to make your own:

9. Once There Was a Snowman p. 249 (actions - we also sing "Once I Was a Baby" to the same tune with actions and you work your way backwards with actions)

Here are the words:

Once I was a baby, baby, baby,

Once I was a baby, small small small

Now I'm getting bigger, bigger, bigger

Now I'm getting bigger, tall tall tall

10. Follow the Prophet, chorus only p. 110 (prophet sticks - I got 5 x 7 pictures of President Monson, glued them to cardboard and laminated them. Then I taped them to small dowels. Then we march around the room).

** If I could do it over again, I would have done one picture of all the Latter-Day prophets so they don't get outdated when we get a new prophet.

The original idea was to just have one stick and everyone else follows the leader but it led to fighting over who got to be the leader so I just made one for everyone!

11. I am a Child of God p. 2 (sit quietly in your chair with arms folded)

Then everyone gets a sticker and we go back to class with "The Dragon"

Come Follow Me

2010-07-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

PREP:
Make 26 footsteps using the image above printed in various colors of card stock. Cut them out and laminate them.

Write in dry-erase markers the 26 words found in "Come Follow Me" (first verse) on each of the footsteps. I like to use the dry-erase markers so I can use these for other games/activities.

Bring a picture of Christ to Primary and place it up front somewhere.

Activity:
Pass out footsteps to the primary kids randomly.

Call out the first word (which is "come"). The child with the first footstep places it at the back of the room. He/she will then step on the footstep as the rest of the Primary along with the piano sings the first word, singing as they step.

Call out the second word (which is "follow"). The child with the second footstep places it next to the first footstep like it is "stepping". He/she will then step on both footsteps as the rest of the Primary along with the piano sings both words, singing as they step.

Repeat until all 26 footsteps are placed and you are eventually led up to the picture of Christ.

More activity ideas for future weeks using the footsteps:
The next week put all the footsteps in order, leading them up to Christ (exactly how the kids placed them the week before). Pick children randomly and they get to choose the rhythm of the song by how they step on the footsteps. So if they step on each quickly, each word will be sung quickly. Or if they step quick, quick slow, slow, etc...that's how you sing each word. Each word matching as they step (does that make sense?) The more strangely they step, the better!

It may help if the piano just plays the top hand melody to help match with the stepping!

Stay tuned and I'll post an activity using these same footsteps for a fun Pioneer singing time around the 24th weekend!

*Thank you to Primary Singing Ideas for the footsteps clip art!

The Holy Ghost

2010-06-03T14:49:00.001-07:00

PREP:
Find a box with a lid that removes easily, wrap it so the lid can be easily removed on and off (the picture above is just a gift box that was already decorated)

Write or type the following questions, quotes and wordstrips on sheets of paper and place in the box (in order with #1 being on top):

1. This is a gift that Jesus promised to send when he was on the Earth

2. This gift can also be known as a comforter

3. We receive this gift when we are confirmed

4. "I claim that the gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon a man." President Wilford Woodruff

5. Find a GAK picture of child being confirmed

6. Wordstrips from here: http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6190 (cut each line so each line can be posted individually)

I also added some tissue paper in between the sheets to make it more like a real gift you'd give

ACTIVITY:
Write “The Greatest Gift” on the top of the chalkboard with chalk

Ask the primary if they could have a choice of any gift in the world, what would it be? There are many great gifts that we could receive in this life. Take answers.

Tell them Heavenly Father has given us the greatest gift (show show the present). Let’s open the present to help us figure out what that gift is.

Have primary children come up and post #1, #2 & #3 sheets of paper on the board with magnets. Let the primary answer the questions.

Have a primary child come post President Woodruff’s quote, #4

Have a primary child come post the GAK picture of the child being confirmed #5

Tell them we are going to learn a song about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Sing through it once clapping the melody and then explain that just as the beat in the song is constant, the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion.

Have primary children post the first few word strips and sing each line as each is added.

After the first section tell them, The Holy Ghost is called the comforter and he can give you comfort when you are sad, lonely or worried.

Have the primary children post the next few word strips and sing each line as each is added.

After the second section explain, Sometimes we say the Holy Ghost "whispers." We hear his voice with more than our ears. We "hear" him with our minds and our hearts

Have the primary children post the next few word strips and sing each line as each is added.

After the third section say, Heavenly Father promises this great gift to all who are baptized and keep their baptismal covenants.

Have the primary children post the next few word strips and sing each line as each is added.

After the fourth section, ask and explain why is it important to have the Holy Ghost as a companion? The Holy Ghost will guide you and help you choose the right. You must learn to choose the right in order to be worthy to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.

**Thank you to Primusic Yahoo group member for posting a version of this and for the wordstrips posted on sugardoodle.net

Mother's Day Review Activity (any song)

2010-04-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

PREP:
Bring a basket full of "mom" items like:
apron
scarf
yellow gloves
high heels
perfume
hair ribbons
curlers
make up
coat
sweater
brush
nail polish
belt
necklace
earrings
nylons
nail filers
bracelets
cookbook
glasses
sunglasses
dress
car keys
purse
wallet
rings
socks
watch
etc.

On the board in white chalk write out your Mother's Day Song with most of the words missing with lines instead of the missing words. For example (this is for the song Grandmother):

You _______ ______ a __________. You ______ ______ a _______. You _______ when you ________ me _________. I _________ every ________ in the ________ _______ _________ had a _____________ just ________ you.

ACTIVITY:
*Divide the primary into 2 teams and each team picks a "mom" (boy or girl) to come up front. *Assign each team a chalk color (other than white)
*Sing the song through for a first review
*Give the teams 30 seconds to fill in as many blanks as they can before the other team fills them in.
*After a child fills in a blank, he/she must place an item on their team's "mom" and then sit down
*Only one child can go up at a time per team
*The same child cannot fill in 2 blanks in a row
*Words must be filled in order - no skipping blanks
*After 30 seconds, sing what was filled in and make sure the "mom" has the correct number of items. For instance, if in the 30 seconds time the red chalk team filled in 4 blanks with their red chalk, there should also be 4 items on their "mom"
*Sing the song through again to review
*Repeat 30 second intervals until the blanks are all filled in and the "moms" are dressed.
*You can then go on to another song or erase all the blanks and start over with a new mom to dress, etc.

VARIATIONS:
*Could be done without teams and just one "mom" to dress
*Bring in the Bishop or someone's mom to dress make it even more fun!
*Some of the items (like nail polish, make up, etc.) can't be "worn" so tie string around them to hang around their neck or arms.

I hope this can help someone! If you have questions, leave a comment and I'll try to respond.
~Camille

I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ

2010-04-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

I'll start by explaining to the Primary how this song is about our testimony and how we must "seek" it out. That will lead into our treasure hunt sort of activity - seeking the clues for the next phrase.
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Here are the clues and where to hide everything:
Clue #1 goes on the boy& girl and says: "This is how the neighborhood knows what church I belong to"
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Clue #2 goes behind the 1st phrase and says: "I see my reflection here & know I am a child of God" (tape outside on the building's name plate)
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Clue #3 goes behind the 2nd phrase and says: "I can read all about Heavenly Father & Jesus in lots of books located here" (place in a bathroom mirror - our ward has a family bathroom that I'll use).
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Clue #4 goes behind the 3rd phrase and says: "The prophet helps me gain a testimony" (place in the library with the librarian or tape to the door).
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Clue #5 goes behind the 4th phrase and says: "Ward members (including me) can bear their testimonies here" (place behind a picture of President Monson in the Primary room).
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Clue #6 goes behind the 5th phrase and says: "My Bishop has a strong testimony" (place on the podium in the chapel).
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Clue #7 goes behind the 6th phrase and says: "Primary music helps strengthen my testimony & to do what is right" (place on the bishop's office door or with the Bishop).
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Clue #8 goes behind the 7th phrase and says: "Light shines in this door each morning just like I should share my light each day" (place on the piano in the Primary room)
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Clue #9 goes behind the 8th phrase and says: "Missionaries from our ward need strong testimonies while on their missions" (place on a door or window in the building that faces east)
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Tape the last phrase near the ward missionary plaques in the foyer.
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I'll have small groups of kids go to get each clue (while we wait for the groups to come back, we may review the previous program songs so we don't waste time). When the groups get back, they will hang up the phrase around the boy and girl then we'll sing what's been hung up.
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Next week I'll use the same pictures and just have the phrases out of order - they will have to put them in the right order and we'll sing it as we go. -
I hope this helps someone!!
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Camille