Choose and Review: Bag It

This month's theme is "The first principles and ordinances of the gospel make it possible for me to live with God again." Select a song to correspond with each of these principles and ordinances (as described in the 2011 outline): faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. Now place a picture, preferably church-produced, or object representing each of the principles and ordinances in a bag. Invite the children to select an item. Discuss the item and its relevance and then sing the corresponding song. You can add a few extra songs by choosing some additional items/pictures to place in the bag. These can correspond with supporting gospel principles.

If I were doing this activity this month, I might take it one step further and use pictures from scripture stories. This is a great way to review some of the stories and support the theme for the year. There are so many scripture stories to choose from, but here is an example from the Book of Mormon:

Faith: GAK 313/2000 Stripling Warriors Sing "Faith"
Repentance: GAK 311/ Anti-Nephi-Lehies Sing "Help Me, Dear Father"
Baptism: GAK 309/Alma Sing "When I Am Baptized"
Holy Ghost: GAK 316/Jesus teaching in the Americas Sing "The Holy Ghost"
Scriptures: GAK 325 or 326/The Gold Plates and Scriptures Sing "Scripture Power"

Repeat: Remote Control

I recently found this fun idea on Sugardoodle and thought I would pass it along. It works great as a repeat or choose and review activity.

Arrange "buttons" on the board to look like a remote control. Invite a child to come up and select a button to practice singing the song.

• Pause: The children "pause" on the word they are singing each time the button is held up


• Play: The children stand and sing. When the play button is pointed to the left, they lean left. When the play button is pointed to the right, they lean to the right.


• Fast Forward: Sing fast.


• Stop: The children stop singing when the button is held up. You can set a limit on how many times the child can stop the primary during the singing to help maintain reverence.


• Refresh: Sing the way they just did. For instance, if they just sang the 'fast forward', they will do that again.


• Record: If you have the ability, record the children as they sing and play it back for them to hear.


• Info: The children have to answer a question regarding the song and then sing the line the answer comes from.


• Volume: The button is lower or raised to control how loud the children sing. There is also a mute button that indicates only the piano plays while the children think of the words in their heads.

If you wanted to use this activity for a choose and review, you could just put the name of a different song on the back of each button.

Go to www.sugardoodle.net to find this idea in its entirety and download the remote control buttons to print out. You will need to look in the Primary Music Leader heading.

Happy Singing!

Tools: Hula Hoop

One quick motivational tool is a hula hoop. There are a few ways to use the hula hoop:

1. Highlight the similiarities between the shape of the hula hoop and the shape of their mouths when singing certain words/vowels.


2. Invite a child to come to the front. Hold the hoop and each time the child walks through the hoop the children start or stop singing. Place it on the floor and each time the child steps in the hula hoop the children stop singing.


3. Challenge the children to push their sound through the hula hoop. Use this activity to focus on the mechanics of singing as well as the importance of strong and focused singing, as opposed to screaming or yelling to produce a bigger sound.

Any other ideas?

Repeat: What's Missing?

This idea is one I have seen in the Friend and on the Children Sing blog. I love it and think it works great for teaching,repeating, or choose and review. Today I want to focus on using for a repeating activity. Pick an item to correspond with key words or phrases from your song. Place these items on a tray or table. Begin the activity by discussing the items and then invite the children to decide which item goes with which key word or phrase. Invite the children to sing the song through either as you discuss each item or in its entirety after they have all been discussed.

For the second phase of this activity send one child out of the room and invite another child to take something off of the tray/table. The child who left has to come back in and figure out what item is missing. You can give the child time to decide by having the primary sing through the song before he/she gives their guess. You could also just give the child a set amount of time to decide and then sing through the corresponding phrase once the child has correctly guessed the missing item. It all depends on how much practice the kids need on this particular song.

Repeat: Eraser Pass

In this method of reviewing a song, the children are first challenged to erase all the words on the board that are not contained in the song. Before Primary place all the key words on the board in rows. Next to each word place two addtional words; one similar and one opposite. Be sure to switch up the order of the words so the kids don't catch onto any pattern.

Before you begin this activity you need to lay out the ground rules. The children must continue singing the song over and over until only the key words are left on the board. They are not allowed to talk. You will select two people to have an eraser and once they have erased one word, they quietly hand the eraser to the next child. This contines until the end. To create more of a challenge you can ask the kids to guess how many times it will take them singing through to complete the challenge. They could also set a goal.

If you want to add to this activity you could sing another marathon session of the song and challenge the children to begin erasing all the key words. Continue singing through the song until all the key words are gone.

I would definitely use this activity in conjunction with some other activity since it will definitely not take you the whole time.

Teaching: Key Word Scriptures

This teaching method would definitely work best in Senior Primary, though it could be modified to meet the needs of the little ones. The idea is pretty simple. Pick one key word from each phrase in the song you are teaching. Write out the phrases for the children to see (on posterboard, whiteboard, chalkboard, etc.), leaving a blank in place of the key words you have chosen. In place of those key words you will write a short scripture that contains the word. You can find scriptures for each word by doing a search on lds.org. It would work best if you can find a scripture that contains the word a few times and speaks to the meaning or context of the word to add extra meaning and application to the activity.

The goal will be for the kids to determine what word should go in the blank. As they are searching for each key word, you can sing through the particular phrase over and over making sure to hum in place of the key word. You can instruct the children to sing along with you once they have found the word....humming the key word. This is a great way for the kids to let you know they have found the answer. Once it appears the children are ready you can invite them to whisper the word in unison.

Here is how I would use this method for the song "Faith" if I were teaching it as my chosen song this month:

Phrase #1: Sun (Ecc. 1:5)

Phrase #2: Lord (1 Sam 12:18)

Phrase #3: Seed (Mark 4:31)

Phrase #4: Heart (Psalms 57:7)

Phrase #5: Right (1 Kings 15:11)

**Another way you could work this method is to pass out the scripture references to 1 or 2 classes each and ask them to find the words. One class could be in charge of writing the word on the slip of paper and another in charge of drawing a picture or deciding on an action to go with the key word.

**Junior Primary modification: Have pictures on display that correspond with each word and challenge them to listen to the scriptures and pick the correct picture. Once the picture is chosen, the kids could learn/practice the applicable phrase.

2011 Challenge: Mini-Lesson

Another way you can encourage, promote, and teach about the Spirit and singing is through a mini-lesson during your singing time. I have seen it done and done it myself in a few different wards. It has always been successful and I like it because it only takes a few minutes. Here is the basic outline:

1. Read D & C 25:12


2. Briefly discuss the meaning with the children. Emphasize the importance of singing and its ability to invite the Spirit, bear testimony, show love and reverence (respect), and praise God.


3. Encourage the children to remember this as they sing each Sunday. Introduce the idea of Sunday singing or testimony singing.


4. Bear testimony of music and the Spirit

Like I said, very simple and quick. Even the smallest children can understand this thought and it is something you can refer back to when the kids are having a hard time keeping still and singing.

Teaching: Hand Signs

Teaching a new song can be a challenge....especially when you have 50-100 little ones and "big kids" squiggling around in their seats or talking while you try to teach them. No matter how many ideas I see or come up with this is THE ONE that always works. It also is the one that ALWAYS works best. I always have high hopes of finding something different and better; I hate the idea of always introducing and teaching a song in the same way. After more than a decade, I have decided, though, that "they" might be right when "they" say: if it isn't broken, don't fix it. I will add that I like to use this idea in conjunction with other teaching methods, though. I usually use this idea, along with directed listening, to introduce the song and get all the words "out there" and then move on to another teaching method to really get into the song and its meaning.

This is a basic idea. Come up with a hand sign to go with each key word or small phrase in the song. You can also learn the actual sign language and teach that to the children. Either way, this method works because it gets their bodies moving, keeps them thinking, and solidifies the words with an action. I think this method is a step above the "picture method" for initial teaching because the kids can practice and use the actions anytime, anywhere; they don't need you to continally supply the pictures.

There are ways to add a little variety to this method. If you are like me and need to switch things up, try using different motivational tools or challenges for the kids as they are learning and reviewing the words and hand signs. Some examples:

• Sing each small phrase and challenge the kids to come up with an appropriate action


• Take pictures of different children doing each action as you sing through the song. You can use this in the following weeks as a "homemade" flip chart. The kids will love it!


• Hum the key words as you sign them, sing all the other words


• Only sing the key words you sign, hum all the other words


• Place a bunch of "directed listening" questions in a can and let the kids answer the questions as they learn and practice the words and sigsn for each phrase


• Play "around the world" by letting the kids face a different direction for each phrase they learn/sing. This means you will be moving around a lot!


• Have a singular goal to measure how much of the song they have learned. This can be a picture they color in as each phrase is learned, filling a vase with colored water, etc.

Last note on this topic: I have learned that kids don't get bored with this idea. You might, but they dont'.

Happy Singing!

Game: Dot To Dot

This classic activity can be adapted to your singing time to provide great fun and learning! First you will have to create a dot-to-dot picture or use one that you might find in the friend. I would suggest choosing a picture that fits with the prinicple(s) discussed in the song you are reviewing and can be completed in 1 or 2 Sundays. You can use the site http://www.picturedots.com/ to create a puzzle out of any picture you can find on the internet. Each dot on this picture will be numbered so the kids know where to go next. Each dot/number will also be assigned a particular word in the song that you want the kids to practice saying and singing.

To play the game, invite a child to come up and make the line from #1 to #2, and so forth. Each time the line is made, the children will discover what the word is. Discuss the word and its meaning. The children will then have to sing the song and stop at the word you just discussed. The key is to challenge them to watch you for the cut off because you will want to direct them to hold that word/note out for 3 or more counts. This is a great opportunity to use a puppet to highlight watching....have the kids watch the mouth of the puppet to know when their mouth should be opened or closed. You can make a game of it if you like. The goal is just to get the kids to really practice singing those difficult words and cement them in their brains.

If I were using this game for Praise to the Man, I would choose words such as: annointed, commune, crowned, dispensation, etc. To add a little excitement you might also want to include some fun motivational tools for the children to use each time they sing the song. Just be careful that the motivation does not overshadow the words they are working on.

This game is very effective for repeating songs, but if you want to use it as a choose and review, you can just pick words from different songs and follow the same rules. If you do this, I suggest choosing songs that all revolve around the theme for the month and select key words that support and review that theme.

Happy Singing!!

Games: Crossword Puzzle

I was reminded of this fantastic game last Sunday when I saw the chorister in my ward using it. Create a crossword puzzle for the kids to fill in as they either repeat a song or choose and review a list of songs. You can create a crossword puzzle using www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/.

If you are reviewing a song, you can use definitions of key words as your clues. This works great for challenging songs like "Praise To the Man". Each time they successfully answer a clue you can write the word on the puzzle and then have the kids sing the phrase that word is found in. You can also have the kids sing through the entire song, or a portion of it omitting that particular word. Be sure to review the meaning with the kids as you review different challenging words.

If you are using this game as a choose and review, you can have each clue describe a particular gospel concept or principle and then sing a correlating song. This idea could work great for a 4th or 5th Sunday. If I were using it for the 5th Sunday in May I might choose words that remind us of the restored church. Such words might be: prophet, sacrament, priesthood, Book of Mormon. This is a great way to review the principles the kids learned during the month.

Choose and Review: Memory revisited

I just saw our ward Primary Chorister use this technique this last Sunday. She had the kids play the typical Memory game with GAK pictures. As is always the case, she had a song selected for each match the kids found.

I really liked what she did after each match. She challenged the class that found the match to describe what was happening in the picture. Each picture depicted a scene from the last week of Jesus' life. When all the matches were found she challenged the entire primary to put the events in order.

I thought this singing time was a great example of encouraging application and understanding, as we are asked to do by our leaders. I also thought it was a great example of a successful activity that does not require the "fluff" we sometimes feel we must add to our singing times. I think it is always important to remember that we are trying to help the children to feel the Spirit, and build their knowledge and testimonies of the Gospel. This activity did just that while allowing the children to review the songs they have been learning this year and those that support the Easter season.

Choose and Review: Picture Display

In this choosing method the kids get to pick objects that are set out on a table, placed in gift bags, spread out around the room....basically put out in whatever fashion you choose. Each object represents a song that you have chosen to sing that day. You can also assign a scripture (found at the bottom of each song) and/or GAK picture to go with each object to add even more meaning. All you do is have a child choose an object and then you either tell them the song they will sing or challenge them to guess the songs from the scripture you read or possibly clues you give them.

If I were using this idea on Sunday, I would center it around the Easter theme. Here is a sample of possibilities:

1. Nails: Did Jesus Really Live Again? 3 Nephi 11:11, 14


2. Rock: He Died That We Might Live Again John 15:13


3. Bell: Hosanna D & C 19:37


4. White Robe: Easter Hosanna 3 Nephi 11:8


5. Heart: I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus John 13:15


6. Star/Flower: When He Comes Again Matthew 16:27


7. CTR Ring: The Church of Jesus Christ D & C 115:4-5

Depending on the song, I would also provide a motivational tool while the children sing to keep them focused. I would probably refrain from these tools on a few of the songs that call for more reverence and respect.

I would also be prepared to help the children remember the words on some of the songs they may not sing as often. In the case of "Hosanna" and "Easter Hosanna" I might just have the kids sing the chorus or the bell part while they listen to the other words. The most important part of these songs is the message and Spirit that they will surely feel whether they are singing or listening. It is also a great way to expose them to some of those songs that they don't get the opportunity to learn or listen to as often.

Misc Ideas: Asking Questions

I love asking the kids questions and soliciting participation throughout singing time. It is one way to keep the kids focused, excited, and involved. It took me a few years, though, to figure out that if I just asked the kids a question, they would all shout out their answers. In Junior Primary that answer is almost always "Jesus!"...luckily they are correct a lot of the time. I finally learned that I needed to give them more directions and expectations before the question was asked. I needed to give them a way to let me know they had an answer without allowing them to say it aloud.

I learned to make it very clear how I wanted them to show me they wanted to answer. I also learned to preface any question with the direction to "keep your mouths closed" and "think the answer in your brain". I then would give them a way to use their "helper hands" (I love those things!) to show me they had an answer. Some examples of where to put their helper hands are: nose, ear, head, tummy. Basically I tried to pick a body part that would be easy to touch and not cause them to move too much and be distracted. I also found that it worked really well to direct all helper hands to the mouth the first few times of doing this. This helps to remind them to have closed mouths and only think the answer. If you think Senior Primary is too old for "helper hands", just omit that title for their hands.

Once the kids are showing you they are ready to answer it is time to pick one (or more) kids to say their answer aloud. I usually do this (especially when first introducing this technique) by saying, "Mary, your helper hands are telling me that you have an answer". This helps to reinforce the idea and praises the reverent behavior instead of reminding another child to not shout out their answer. Those kids who always shout out the answer will eventually pick up on the expectation and thier teacher will usually help them remember as well. The final piece to this technique occurs after you have chosen one or more children to give the answer(s). You have to thank all the children for thinking and saying their answers and invite them to put their helper hands back in their laps.

I use this technique all the time and have found that it helps to promote and increase reverence and participation much more than saying "shhhhhhhh","don't shout out the answer", "quietly raise your hands if..." and other such phrases commonly used in sharing and singing times. In print the idea of helper hands may seem silly and simple, but I promise it works. I have gotten to help out in many primaries and have had reverent participation and success with it. Give it a try!

Happy Singing!

Choose and Review: Spell It Out

Assigning songs to specific letters of a particular word is a great way to incorporate a variety of songs in your singing time and create a complimentary singing lesson to the sharing time and theme of the month. In April the theme is: Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Of course theme lends itself to words like "Jesus", "Savior", "Redeemer", and "Christ". I took a look at the different weekly themes and found that in Week 2, sharing time focused on "Jesus Christ is the perfect example for me". I decided to go with that idea and chose to use the word "PERFECT". Of course you can use any type of letters you want. I have some magnetic letters pictured, but you can also use larger letters made out of paper, posterboard, or even fabric....whatever you have at home. Here is how this singing time might look:

1. Place your letters around the room before the children enter the room in whatever fashion you wish.


2. Use an attention-getter to introduce the theme for the day. In my case I might go with the idea given in the 2011 Outline for Week #2. It suggests singing "Do As I'm Doing" to introduce the idea of following Jesus because he is the only perfect person that ever lived.


3. Invite the children to look around the room and search for the letters you have left out and explain that each letter represents one way we can follow Jesus' example.


4. Invite a child to select a letter. Once selected, reveal the word it stands for. Briefly discuss this word and then sing an applicable song. This is where you have the freedom to choose songs you want the children to work on or songs you feel they don't sing as often. It's up to you!

• P = Prayer, "A Child's Prayer/If I Listen With My Heart/I Kneel To Pray


• E = Example (to others), "Dare To Do Right"


• R = Read (read the scriptures), "Scripture Power"/"Book of Mormon Stories"


• F = Faith, "Faith"


• E = Everyone ( love everyone), "Jesus Said Love Everyone"/"Love One Another"


• C = Caring, "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus"/"I'll Walk With You"


• T = Teacher, "Called to Serve"/any of the Articles of Faith

5. Once all the letters have been selected you have two options. For Junior Primary you can either challenge them to figure the word out or spell the word for them and then discuss its relevance to Jesus. In Senior Primary I would challenge them to spell the word and then tell you that it has to do with Jesus.

6. Close with a scripture and your testimony

Modifications/Tips/Tricks:

• As always, you can try to involve more children (especially in JP) by challenging them to find a particular letter. They can use their "helper hands" to point to the letter once they find it and then you can go get it. If you use a different color for each letter, you can help the little ones by challenging them to find the "Red E" since they may not know their letters just yet.


• You can give the Senior Primary a little more freedom with the songs if you choose. Once the letter is found and selected invite the children to think of a song that applies to the word you discuss for that letter. You can also challenge them to come up with a word for each letter. This method also encourages understanding.


• To encourage application, invite the children to think of one way they can follow Jesus for each word you discuss.


• If you need to extend this singing time, you can assign a scripture to each word to help explain and discuss the concept further.


• You can use a variety of motivational tools for each song the children sing. This can help to keep their attention and excitement. Tools can include: slinky, glowing bulb, singing signs designating who sings, stop/go. Keep in mind that the tools should not distract from the message and spirit of the song.

Misc Ideas: Week-By-Week Singing

There are many ways to organize your singing times and I have learned it is best to do what works best for you. Here is one idea you can try out:

Week #1: Teaching
-Devote this week to introducing and teaching the song for the month

Week #2: Repitition and Motivation
-Devote this week to finding fun and creative ways to motivate the kids as they repeat what they learned last week. You can even throw in a few other related songs to mix it up. This is also a great week to teach and additional verse.

Week #3: Monthly Theme
-Devote this week to variety. A great way to select additional songs to sing with your monthly song is to plan your singing time and game/activity around the month's theme and the sharing time outlined in the Primary Outline. This could also be a great week to try a combined sharing/singing time with the presidency member.

Week #4: Games
-Devote this week to a game. Sing through 6-8 songs, moving quickly from one to the other. You can include the moth's song if you feel the kids could use the practice, but this is not a necessity. This is a great week to play a game as your choosing technique. You can also do a CSMP review, songs specific to an applicable holiday/season, a list of "forgotten songs" (those songs the kids don't sing very often, but learned once-upon-a-time), or a list of past program songs.

Week#5: Choose Your Own Adventure
-This is a great week to do whatever you feel would most benefit the kids...sometimes they many need some more CSMP practice and other times they may just need a break from those songs. Happy Singing!!

Teaching: Pick It

This is another "classic" teaching technique that I love to use because it helps keep the children interested and involved throughout the teaching process.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Select objects and/or pictures to match with the phrases and key words in the song. An example from "Search, Ponder, and Pray" could be a heart and scriptures for "I love to read the holy scriptures". You could also use a GAK picture for that phrase.


2. Place the objects/pictures around the room before the children enter.


3. Introduce the song with an attention-getter


4. Sing through the entire song so they are at least a little familiar with it. Guide their listening by challenging them to look around the room as you sing to determine what object/picture matches different words in the song.


5. Sing through each line seperately and invite the children to pick the object/picture that matches


6. Once the correct item is chosen, the children can sing through that particular line. This is also a great time to talk about what each line means and highlight any difficult words or melody lines.


7. Place all the items in order at the front of the room as they are chosen so the children can build the song as the time progresses. You could also have different children hold the items, though I find this is sometimes a distraction.


8. Challenge the children to sing through the entire song using the items. This is another great opportunity to use a motivation tool to measure their success.


9. Bear testimony of the gospel principle the children have just sung about.

Modifications/Tips/Tricks:

• Instead of placing the objects/pictures around the room give one to each class. Ask the children to stand when they think their class' item belongs with the words you sing. You can even have that particular class sing the phrase with you once before the entire primary sing it.


• When it is time for the item to be found, invite all the children to create "magnifying goggles" around their eyes with their hands. This works best in Junior Primary and gives these little ones something to do with their hands. It will also keep them focused.


• In Junior Primary ask the children to use their "helper hands" to point to the correct item once they have found it with their "magnifying goggles". This ensures they are all working on the task and they can all get satisfaction when they are correct. Once they are pointing to the item, you can go pick it up and talk about the words.


• Number the items around the room for the Senior Primary so they can be chosen by the whole group instead of one child. Simply ask them to use their fingers to indicate which numbered item matches the particular phrase.


• If you do decide to choose one child to find an item, invite the rest of the primary to help him/her out by pointing to the correct item.

Teaching: Switcheroo

At its core, this technique consists of writing all the words, or the key words, on the board or a poster for the children to view. Assign each row of children to a phrase in the song and after singing through the song once or twice, the children will switch rows. This will continue until each child has sung each phrase of the song.

A more detailed plan for this idea is as follows:

1. Introduce the gospel principle associated with the selected song through scriptures, a quote, an attention activity, or other interesting method.


2. Sing through the song directing the children's listening to key words, ideas, phrases


3. Display the prepared phrases


4. Assign each row of children to a particular phrase.There are a couple ways you can designate which row sings which phrase: Assign each phrase a number, Write each phrase in a different color, Assign each phrase a shape


5. Each time you switch rows and phrases, take the time to highlight one particular phrase and briefly explain


6. Conclude the singing time by challenging the children to sing all the phrases. This is also a great time to introduce some tool of motivation, such as the slinky, to measure their success.


7. Bear testimony of the gospel principle addressed in the song

Obviously, this idea would work best with Senior Primary since they can read the words. I have attempted it with Junior Primary using objects, but it didn't go quite as planned and I didn't feel it was very effective. If you have a large primary, you can also break the phrases down if needed to allow for more rows of children.

Extension Activity: If you write the words/key words on a posterboard for this activity you can bring that poster back in the following weeks to use for repeats and reviews. You can start covering up certain words as you challenge the children to memorize the words.

Tools: Primary 5

I would be surprised if there is any Primary in the Church that does not struggle with reverence. The reality is that these little children have bodies that want to and need to move and be active. Learning and mastering reverence is, therefore, a marathon and not a sprint!

I have seen a lot of ideas, tips, and tricks used in the various primaries I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 14 years. I have only seen one thing that consistently works: Primary 5.

The basic idea is that when the children are getting loud and forgetting to be reverent, whoever is up front will say "Primary 5" and slowly begin counting down from "5". The children will know that this means it is time to settle down, relax their bodies, and quiet their mouths. The key to this technique is making sure the children understand it. Here is what each number of the "5" mean:

1- Quiet hands in our laps

2- Mouths are closed

3- Feet/Legs are still

4- Ears are listening

5- Eyes are looking at whoever is teaching/talking

To introduce and teach the idea to the children you could use:

• a posterboard with the outline of a hand and pictures representing each body part on the different fingers


• a glove with minituare representations of each body part on each finger (Mr. Potato Head parts work great for this)


• Brother Potato Head (Junior Primary always loves when he comes to visit!)


• Helper Hand (pictured above)

Surprisingly, the children respond really well to this technique and do not require any reward to be attached to their obedience. I have seen primaries reward the children by putting a handful of candy into a jar each time they followed the "Primary 5". When the jar was full, the candy was distributed. Although the children loved this, they did not respond any differently to the call of "Primary 5" when the incentive was discontinued. My conclusion is that the children can respond to the expectations made for them without an external reward.

Ramblings on Lessons Learned

I had another opportunity to step in for a chorister this last Sunday and was reminded, yet again, that there is always more to learn in this calling. I was asked to review the 2nd and 3rd verses of "If I Listen With My Heart" with the children to help solidify the words. (Anybody else noticing how difficult this song can be for some of the kids?) I won't go into exactly what I did. Instead I want to list a few things I thought of as I planned and was reminded of as I taught.

*Sometimes it is best, especially in JP, to only focus on 1 verse of a review song. This helps the kids to really solidify the words and also allows for some additional songs that add the variety those little minds can benefit from.

*KISS: Keep It Simple Silly! I am guilty of planning elaborate singing times only to discover that something much simpler could have accomplished the same goal....and most times would have done so in a better way.

*I need to work harder at giving the kids a specific goal or directive when they repeat a song we are reviewing. Instead of just telling them I couldn't completely understand the words or hear them, I should challenge them to sing one particular work a little louder than the others (ie. "prophet"), or to complete some other task that will keep their focus and limit the chance things are getting monotonous.

*It is always a good idea to invite the teachers to take a break from singing so I can hear how well the children really know the words.

*There should never be a Sunday that is devoted to just singing "fun songs". We should always have a gospel theme associated with our plans. Each and every song in Primary is inspired and can help teach these children gospel truths that will strengthen their testimonies.

*It is always a good idea to get the little bodies in JP moving. This can be as simple as having everyone use their "pointer finger" to help you find a requested picture or object. It is amazing the attention and participation that you can get when you invite all the kids to help from their chairs, instead of just one.

*SP loves to be challenged. These kids are smart and we should not underestimate their musical ability and gospel understanding.

2011 Challenge: Spiritually Prepare

**My challenge this year to all the choristers in the stake is to make an effort to invite the Spirit into Primary each Sunday. This post is the second in a series of thoughts on how we can accomplish this.**

As I considered how we can successfully invite the Spirit into our Primaries, my mind was drawn to the recent Regional Training. I feel it is important to remember that before we can help the children in Primary feel and recognize the Spirit on Sunday, we must be prepared and worthy of it ourselves.

In the Regional Training in January both Jim L. Wright of the Seventy and Sister Wixom, the General Primary President, spoke about the importance of living the gospel principles we teach the children each week. As we do this, we are inviting the Spirit into our lives and preparing ourselves for Sunday. Regarding this topic, Brother Wright reminded us that we need to work daily to develop our personal commitment and testimony to follow Jesus and love Him. Sister Wixom followed up with some thoughts on how we can spiritually prepare ourselves to teach the Primary children. Her ideas were not new: we should pray and read the scriptures each day. These simple actions, though, will reap great rewards in our lives and, in turn, in the lives of the children we serve. We will have a greater outpouring of the Spirit in our daily lives and thus be worthy to invite that Spirit into our lessons.

One of the purposes of Primary (found in the Handbook) is to "help the children feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost". We cannot teach what we ourselves do not know. We cannot teach the children of the Spirit, if we are not familiar with the Spirit. When we have prepared ourselves spiritually throughout the week, we will be able to invite the Spirit into our lessons and allow the children to begin to feel and recognize the Holy Ghost in their own lives.

MIA

I have been missing-in-action. I had a baby about 3 weeks ago and now have 4 kids under the age of 5. I love it! Of course, this also means it is a bit crazy right now. I decided to take the month of March off.

I will be back at it in April....

Happy Singing!!!

Nursery Music

There are 8 wards in my stake, each with 2-6 Nurserys. This is on top of the 100-200 kids in Junior and Senior Primary. As a result, the Primary Chorister does not have the time to take care of music in Nursery. I still think music is a vital and essential part of Nursery. Why?

1. I think the kids can not only learn new songs, but also learn Gospel principles through song


2. They can feel the Spirit as they sing or listen to the songs


3. Music time is a great break for the kids and teachers


4. Music time can help those kids who are having a difficult time transitioning into Nursery (I've seen this with all three of my boys).


5. This is a great time to start teaching the children those "core" Primary songs they will sing at church and home for the rest of their lives


6. Music time adds to the necessary structure and routine in Nursery


7. It's FUN!!!


8. There are more reasons....those are just my top 7 :)

So....as the Stake Primary Music Leader I feel it is my responsibility to help support and encourage each ward to devote time each Sunday to music in Nursery. To this end, I have created what I call a "Nursery Orientation" folder. In it, I have included basic information on singing with the children, as well as several ideas on how to accomplish it successfully. I am also providing each ward with a new "Nursery Music Bag" to keep all music supplies in (comes in handy for subs) and a 'Gone Fishin' game I created (click on the picture above) that can be used to guide the music time and help the children participate and stay focused and engaged. I am hoping this will help those in our stake who have been called to be the Nursery Music Leader and those wards who have the teachers or volunteers lead the music.

I have added three new files on my sidebar that have all the documents and pictures I used for the orientation folder and games. I realize that there are so many different ways to go about music in Nursery.....the important thing is to include it as part of the routine. The children and teachers will benefit from this important activity.

**Sidenote: I think the wiggle worms idea on the "Primary" blog (on sidebar) would also work great in Nursery...check it out!!!

**For any interested in the 'Gone Fishin' Game (simple, but effective):

• Laminate 9 large fish
• On the back of each fish: designate a theme and a few songs that can be sung with that theme. I did this to help those who are "filling in" or are not sure what to sing. A chorister could easily decide what song to sing with each theme. I taped this info on in case a chorister wants to use the fish in an alternate game or select their own themes/songs. Check out the 'Gone Fishin' documents for the picture, themes, and songs
• Follow the directions included in the game (just click on the picture above to read those)

Teaching: Treasure Hunt

Here is the map I referred to in one of the learning/teaching ideas listed in the previous post.

I like to use this treasure map for both learning and reviewing in Primary. I can't claim responsibility for the idea, as I got it from another chorister years ago. Basically this is a map of my Primary room that I have labeled with different Gospel, LDS or Book of Mormon terms. Here is the key:

• Chairs: Waters of Mormon


• Aisle: Bridge of Friendship


• Podium: Mount Reverence


• Window: Light of Faith


• Talk/Scripture Chairs: Hills of Truth


• Table up front (or the chairs where the presidency sit): Island of Love


• Piano: Songbird Tree


• Extra Chairs on side of room: no name, just made it look like a forest


• Cabinet in back: Bishop's Storehouse


• Back Door: Volcano of No Return (this one is completely made up)


• Chairs where guests/parents sit when they visit: Watch Tower

I try to make one map per class and then they can share. The first time the kids see this map, I do not tell them that it is our primary room. Instead I just tell them that it is a map to the "treasures" they are seeking. It is fun to challenge them to figure it out and they feel so good when they do! I like to laminate it and then use the number stickers you see to depict where the "treasures" are. This way, I can take the stickers off and put them in new places for the next time I use the map.

The "treasures" I use are usually words/pictures that can be hidden pretty much anywhere in the room. This works great for teaching a song, but you can also use it as a motivator or tool for repeating since you could hide puzzle pieces or letters to spell out a special word, etc.

I don't really use this map too often so that it becomes a special treat for the kids. I have had great success with it!

February: I Will Follow God's Plan

February's theme is: The Scriptures Teach of Heavenly Father's Plan. I couldn't help but think of the regional training we just had in our area when I was reading through the month's sharing time and song. (There will be a post on this, as well as the training notes, in the next day or two).

This month's song goes perfectly with this theme. I found two scriptures that can be used as you teach and discuss this song with the kids.

1. Mosiah 2:41 "I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God...and if they hold out faithful to the end they are recieved into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of neverending happiness."
2. Abraham 3:25 "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them"

Here are some ideas that I have come up with and others that I have found on Sugardoodle and in the Children's Songbook Companion (great book to get if you don't have).

• Introduction (from Companion) "Prepare a beautifully wrapped package in which you have placed a paper with the words MY LIFE written on it. Show the children the gift and say, "Inside this box is a most precious gift. All the money in the whole world can't buy it, yet we each have one. Listen as I sing, and discover what this precious gift is." Sing through the song and ask the children to guess. Open the gift to discover if they are correct. Explain that our lives are precious gifts from Heavenly Father.
• Gifts: Place corresponding objects in different gift boxes to be opened as you introduce each new phrase. These can be used as you practice the song the first week. You can also take a picture of a child holding each object to use as memory cues for the following weeks of practice as the children work on memorizing the words. This allows you to leave the objects at home once you have introduced them and the children will love seeing themselves and the objects in the pictures.
• Map it out: Create a treasure map that lists places in the room where "treasures" are hidden. (I am trying to get a sample map added to my files...) These treasures can be pictures/words/objects to correspond with different phrases in the song. This map can be likened to the scriptures and the map and instructions they provide us as we learn about Heavenly Father's plan and find our way back to Him.
• Thinking and Understanding: Write the words MY LIFE on one side of the chalkboard and I WILL on the other side. Have pictures or key words corresponding to the phrases in the song prepared either randomly in each column or around the room. Sing each phrase once for the children and invite them to find the correct key word(s)/picture and place it in the correct column and order on the board. have the children repeat each phrase after it has been added to its column.
• Question and Answer: You can have the same columns listed above for the activity or just aks teh questions and let the children answer. have questions prepared for each phrase of the song. Ask the children to listen as you sing the song and then try to give you the correct response. Example: What is my life? Where did my life begin? What will I seek?
• Detective/Reporter: Enter the room dressed as a detective or reporter adn play the part of someone who is looking for clues or trying to complete an informative article. You can bring dress up clothes for other kids/teachers to help. You could also give each class a "special mission" with a question in an envelope. Invite the classes to figure out their answers by listening to you sing the song. Once they have the answer, they can be in charge of learning and singing that line in the song. Once all classes have sung their line, you have them switch. You continue switching until all classes have had a turn to sing each line. There are a myrid of ways to take this idea....have fun with it and kids will join in and learn the song!
• What Is Missing? (Friend, Feb 2011): There is a great idea in this month's friend for teaching and repeating. It suggests to either use a tray with objects/words or a poster with pictures/words to play "What is Missing?" Teach the song by pointing out the objects/pictures/words one at a time. (take about 10 min) (You could even start with a blank poster or tray and bring out each item as it is introduced in the song) Repeat the song several times with the kids and then have one child leave the room. Invite another child to remove one object and then have the dismissed child return. Sing through the entire song, or just sing until the child figures out what is missing. You can play this for the rest of your "singing time". Remember that you don't have to spend a lot of time on the words when introducing them, because the kids will get plenty of practice when they play the game (about 10 min) For younger children it is best to maybe do this game in two parts...learn half the song one Sunday and the last half the next Sunday. You can also use less objects to make it a little easier. I think it could also be fun for the older kids to have the teachers leave the room and the kids try to "trick" them. This is a great way to involve the teachers and help them learn the words in a fun way too!

I have some more ideas that will work best for motivation, review, and repitition so I will add them in the coming weeks. Hopefully this gets you going!

Happy Singing!!!

Teach and Repeat: Eat and Sing

I know most choristers are part of the yahoo group, but just in case you are not I wanted to share this fabulous idea I recently saw submitted. It goes along with the idea of setting a table as you reveiw the songs. This chorister came up with some great rhymes to go with each piece:

Fork: Stick a fork in it, give a little prick, and sing with some staccato kick: Sing vs. ____. (It can help, especially the little ones, to have them pound their fist on their hands as they sing each words staccato. This helps them to understand the method)

Spoon: Serve it up nice and smooth, legato is the way to move. Sing vs. ____. (You can have a scarf to demonstrate what it means to sing smooth. Just wave it around. You can also let them use their imaginary scarves as they sing legato. I would only encourage them to do this if they have mastered the words since it can be a distraction.)

Knife: Take a knife and slice the group in two. Sing out strong when I point to you. Sing vs. ___. (You can split the group down the middle, do boys/girls, or teachers/kids.)

Glass: Raise your glass, get ready to gulp it down. Take a deep breath, then sing till there's no more sound. Sing vs. ___.

Napkin: When the napkin covers my mouth, no singing we will hear. When the napkin's down, we'll all sing nice and clear. Sing vs. ____.

Plate: Let's fill our plates and have a big meal. Let's sing all 3 verses with some zeal.

You could then conclude with your "feast" of the scriptures and your testimony.
**********************************************************************************
I did think of two ways to tweak this idea for learning verse 3 or just reviewing.

To learn verse 3: For SP I would have all the words, or the key words written on the board or a posterboard. Sing through the song once for the kids, displaying sign language where appropriate. Invite the kids to sing and sign with you as you sing it again. You could then start erasing or covering major words and challenge the kids to memorize quickly. You could do this a couple times, eliminating as many words as possible.

For JP, I would run through the 3 phrases of vs. 3 with sign language by singing it first and then having them sing it back. This would be a quick learning experience, but the goal would be to just get the words going in their heads since the game would allow them to sing the words over and over for more mastery.

After this quick learning session (about 5-7 min), I would use the remaining time to play the review game listed above. I would probably already have the plate on the table along with one or two other items since there will only be 10-12 min. left of singing time. I would also make most of the practice verses vs. 3 since this is what they just learned.

To conclude, I would have the scriptures wrapped in a box (like a gift), and then challenge the kids to sing all 3 verses their very best. You can unwrap it as they sing (based on their singing) or after they are done. Bear testimony at the end.

Review: I think it would be fun to add in a few extra songs for the kids if they have already learned all 3 verses. They are probably ready to sing something else if they have been working on this song all month. To add the songs I would just include some play food in the box/bag that all the pieces are in. I would make sure that this food is something that would be considered a side dish. If a child chooses a piece of food, they can sing a fun song that is relevant to the scriptures. This would definitely add to the time it takes to complete this game so I would only include a couple songs, and maybe already have one or two items on the table.

To conclude I would use the same method as I just described above.

Here are some songs to use for the "side dishes": Scripture Power (stand/sit), Book of Mormon Stories (actions, stop/go), Follow the Prophet (use a slinky or balloon to gauge their singing), or even Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam (we learn how to be a good example, aka "a sunbeam", when we read the scriptures).

Happy Singing!!!

Choose and Review: More Scripture Themes

There is a 5th Sunday this month and that probably means different things in different wards. I know in the past, some wards have given the entire sharing time block to the chorister. Other primaries just keep the same schedule. Either way, I feel it is important to follow the guideline given in the 2011 Sharing Time Outline. Under "Instructions of Sharing Time" it advises:

"When there is a fifth Sunday, use this time to review previous lessons. The Spirit can guide you as you plan and prepare activities for lessons."

If a chorister is given the entire 35 minute block, it is probably best to create something similar to an integrated singing and sharing time that focuses on the monthly sharing time theme. It is still completely possible to practice and/or learn whatever songs you wish in this format.

Here are some ideas to use this month, whether you are given the entire 35 minutes or the normal 20 minutes:

1. Feast on the Words: There are a ton of things you can do with this idea. You could have the kids pick different place settings with each piece representing a different song, a different verse, different ways to sing a verse/phrase, or new phrases to learn. This idea can work really well with the 3rd verse as it describes different functions of the Holy Ghost. I have seen a few different choristers on other sites suggest concluding this integrated singing/sharing time with the scriptures as the main course. However you may choose to execute this idea, it lends itself nicely to discussions in between the songs/phrases/verses of the words or principles sung by the kids.


2. "The Bread of Life": I haven't really fleshed out this whole idea, but just come up with the general concept. The idea is to take a bread recipe and have different songs represented through the different ingredients. You could have each ingredient represent a different scripture story of Jesus, with a corresponding song. You could get really detailed and find a way to incorporate different numbers in scripture stories with the measurement of each ingredient in the recipe. An example would be for 1/2 c. you could use the story of Noah and the Ark since they took 2 of every animal. The conclusion and wrap-up of this integrated singing/sharing time would be calling the kids attention to the verse in the scriptures where Jesus explains that He is the bread of life and helping the children understand what this means. This principle goes great with the New Testament study of most kids in the SP.


3. Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: In this activity you would need to display/hide representations of different stories in the New Testament. This could be GAK pictures, objects, letters, etc. As each is chosen you can go directly to the scriptures to read key verses or just discuss the story with the children. Have a corresponding song to sing after each story is discussed. You can also have fun things to do during each song to keep the kids busy and moving if necessary. Conclude this activity by reminding the children that when we feast on the words of Christ we learn more about Him, develop a testimony of Him, and learn what we can do to choose the right in our lives.


4. Matching: This is just a matching game that can be done a couple different ways. You can match the GAK picture to the scripture reference, or match the exact same GAK pictures. Either way have a corresponding song to sing when a match is made and have some fun things for the kids to do as they sing some of the songs. Remember that if you want to include scriptures for the JP without asking them to look up references, have the key phrase of the desired scripture written on the paper and read it for the kids. You can also just read the verse or important phrase when the match is made. It is always great for the JP to hear the scritpures read and understand where the principles are actually coming from. For SP, you can add a little difficulty by asking them to guess which song their match goes with. To decide on the scritpures for JP and SP, try looking at the references at the bottom of each song in the Children's songbook.

Hope these ideas can help get the creative juices flowing for your planning!

Happy Singing!!

2011 Challenge: Inviting the Spirit

**This particular post is the first in a monthly series intended specifically for the choristers in my stake. It is quite a lengthy post that I appreciate these choristers reading, and welcome anyone who would like to, to do as well**

This year I have challenged all the choristers in the stake to make an extra effort to invite and acknowledge the Spirit in Primary each Sunday. Each month I will be posting one thought on this topic.

Before I offer my thoughts and ideas, I would like to backtrack just a little to the 2011 Challenge itself. I started thinking about this challenge about 2 months ago when I began to compile the 2011 notebook I provided each chorister. I felt impressed to issue the challenge, but it wasn't until last week that this impression made complete sense. In a Stake Primary presidency meeting, our handbook-thought centered around the new themes and purposes of Primary. Although I do not have the exact wording from the previous handbook, the sister giving the thought pointed out that the Church had condensed the purposes from 6 to 4, and that they had also made them much more concise. For those that have not looked at these new purposes they are "to help the children":

1. Feel Heavenly Father's love for them.
2. Learn and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ
3. Feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost.
4. Prepare to make and keep sacred covenants.

It was during this handbook-thought that I completely understood the reason I had felt impressed to issue the challenge. Purpose #3: to help the children to "feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost", was not present in the last handbook. It is obvious to me, through this new handbook and the impressions I have recieved, that the ability of these precious children to feel and recognize the Holy Ghost in their lives is of vital importance to their success in overcoming all the obstacles they face and will continue to face in life.

I know I am biased, but I really do think that choristers have the unique opportunity to provide the children with the chance to feel the Spirit each and every Sunday....regardless of the songs they are singing. I feel this way because of the strong testimony I have of the power of uplifting music. As I have expressed to a few of the choristers, even if "sharing time" is a bit chaotic or the children are not fully engaged in the lesson and fail to recognize the feeling of the Spirit in the presidency's lesson, they are almost certain to feel it at some point during "singing time". This is a great opportunity and responsibility for choristers. I pray that we can take full advantage of the opportunity and rise to the responsibility given us by the Lord.

Now to January's thought: Creating an environment that encourages reverence and invites the Spirit.

The Spirit speaks in quiet ways to each individual. Even if the Spirit is present in primary, the children will not be able to feel His presence in excessive chaos, excitement, and volume. I am reminded of a scripture in D & C that admonishes the Saints to "cast away...your excess of laughter far from you". Obviously the key to this verse is the warning of excess. There is a time for excitement, laughter, fun, and other similar expressions and feelings in primary. I think the important thing to remember is that everything we do must encourage a reverent atmostphere. By reverence, I am referring to the expression in thought, word, and action of respect and love for Heavenly Father. The children can be respectful while they are having fun. The key, I believe, is to lead the children away from the excess.

I saw two fabulous examples of this principle exhibited in the ward I visited last week. The first occurred when the counselor was presenting the sharing time lesson. In the process of the activity, she asked the children if they wanted to help their friend and there was an immediate response from the children. This was a large Senior primary, and unfortunately some of the older children began to yell out "no" while standing and gesturing with their hands. This outburst caused a similar reaction in the younger children present and it quickly became very loud. The counselor was quick to remind the children that they were in Heavenly Father's house and should remember to act accordingly (there had obviously been a previous lesson related to this). This simple reminder was all the children needed to sit back down and calm themselves. The reverence (respect and love for Heavenly Father) immediately returned and the children were able to continue to participate in this fun lesson/activity.

The second example came during singing time and also occurred in Senior Primary. The chorister was allowing the chosen child to select something for the children to do when a particular word was sung in the song they were learning. The boy quickly chose "jump up and down". The chorister simply suggested that the action should be something that could be completed reverently. The child chose from some suggestions given by the chorister, and the game and singing continued.

I know that it is possible to encourage reverence in primary while the children are singing and participating in activities. I think it is important for choristers to be one of the leaders in this endeavor, as it is the choristers who are involved in sharing time and in front of the children every single week. Here are a few practical ideas I have seen implemented:

• Have the children whisper "hey" or "hel-lo" at the end of the "Hello Song". You could also have them use the sign language for "hello" at the end of the song. It seems this one song can be a source of excess at times in primary.
• Have the children use their hands to acknowledge the "-beam" in "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" instead of jumping up.
• Refrain from any jumping or hopping activities. Standing and sitting, when controlled, works just fine, and can be a lot of fun.
• Avoid competitions that pit the children against one another. I have found it best to give the children a challenge or goal they can work toward together so they are supporting and loving one another. I have set the children against the teachers and have had both good and bad experiences with it so it is always an activity I am cautious to initiate. I always make sure to use lots of reminders of reverence during competitions.
• Encourage the children to display their excitement using the sign language for clapping or whispering "yeah". Discourage children from "booing" or cheering.
• Instead of asking open-ended questions, ask the children to "place your hand on your ____" if they know the answer to your question. This works particularly well in Junior Primary.
• Remind, remind, remind. Remember that the children are still learning and expect that there will be times they will need to have a quick, mini-lesson on the importance of reverence. Obviously we cannot expect perfection in this category, but we can always strive for it.

Primary is, and should be, a place the children enjoy coming to. It should also be a place they can expect to feel the Spirit. I know that choristers can play a vital role in this endeavor through all the singing and activities we partipate in with the children. Fun and games are great, as long as it does not result in excess and detract from the overall goal of displaying respect and love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Choristers are not called to entertain the children (though at times I know it can feel like we have to in order to keep their attention and focus). We are called to fulfill the purposes of Primary outlined in the handbook. Rely on the inspiration you are entitled to in this calling as you prepare your singing times and songs each week. I know that through prayerful preparation and attentiveness to the Spirit we feel, the children can begin to feel and recognize the Spirit in their lives.

Please know that I feel that each and every chorister in our stake is doing an amazing job. I love learning from you as I visit your wards and talk with you....you are inspiring women! Thank you for your time and continued efforts on behalf of the children in your ward. I know you will be blessed for your willingness to serve in this calling.

I would love to hear your thoughts, feelings, or experiences on this topic if you are interested in sharing....:)

Repeat: Feasting on the Words

I had the privilege of visiting a ward in our stake yesterday and was really enjoyed the singing time. This particular chorister did a fabulous job of integrating the monthly scripture of "feast on the words of Christ". Here is a recap:

Introduction: Discuss with/remind the children what the word "feast" means. Liken feasting on food to feasting on the scriptures and the benefit each can be to our bodies and spirits, respectively.

The next step can be done in a couple different ways:

• Display a prepared visual with the word "FEAST" at the top and a variety of clip art food below. At the bottom of this you can attach the key phrase of January's scripture. (This chorister used a page from her children's file folder game, but you can easily find clip art online)


• Present a shopping cart or basket full of play food for the children to choose from.


• You could also do this activity with a place setting of silverware, cup, bowl, plate, etc.

Activity:

• Invite different children to come up and pick a piece of food. Write different ways to sing the song on/under each piece. Some ideas: staccato, legato, talking (like a parrot), loud (like an auctioneer), soft (like a spy), stand on the words "hear" or "listen", leave out the words "hear" or "listen", etc. Obviously this is where you can customize the plan to best fit the needs, abilities, and preferences of your primary.

Closing:

• Bear testimony of the importance of feasting on the words of Christ.

This is a great activity to use as a review of verses learned in previous weeks or you can quickly teach a new verse the first 10 minutes (fastest way to do this is usually with sign language/actions) and then play the game the last 10 minutes.

If you are introducing a new verse before playing this game, remember that it is ok to go fairly quickly through each line because the kids will get the chance to hear and sing the words at least 3 or 4 more times during the activity. Sometimes I think this method of teaching can be helpful, especially in a large junior primary, because it keeps the kids' interest and allows them to hear and practice the words numerous times. I know it worked like a charm for the primary I was visiting (both in JP and SP), and they have a good 60-80 kids in each group.

Happy Singing!!!

"If I Listen With My Heart"

Here are some ideas for teaching and reviewing the song this month:

1. Sign Language/actions for key words: I think this song lends itself very nicely for this. If you have been doing sign language/actions previously, there should be some words the kids already know. You can also let the kids come up with actions.
2. Let the children draw their own picture map of the verses. All you have to do is create a large posterboard with 8 squares. In each square put a picture that represents a phrase. On Sunday pass out blank pieces of paper for the kids and as you go through each line have them copy your drawings (keep them very simple). It is best to only give them one crayon for the entire sheet. By the end of the song they will have their own "sheet music/lyrics" for the song to follow along with as they sing. As the month progresses you can have them cover certain pictures, fold the paper, or give you the paper to show how well they have the words memorized.
3. Color a large, prepared heart as you learn the song or review it. Draw lines inside the heart so the kids know where to color as the Primary sings. This works as a great motivator for Junior Primary.
4. Build a heart as the kids learn the phrases. Each piece could have a key word or picture on it or you could just use this as a motivator to build a heart through their fabulous singing and memory.
5. Storybook: Create a book of pictures and tell the song to the kids as you would a story. You could actually let each class build a page for the book. The kids really like this as they are fulfilling an important role and they will get to see their own artwork as they learn and sing the song. If you let each class build a page, make sure to write the phrase on the back of each piece. Have the song playing in the background (with or without words) as the kids are working so they will start to familiarize themselves with it. You do not have to actually make a storybook out of these pages...you could just have a member of each class hold the picture. These pictures can help in weeks to come as you take certain pictures away or assign each class to sing their own page and then have the classes trade lines. There is a lot you can do with these pages.

I think that about does it. I hope you can use these ideas for your primary or they can get your creative juices flowing.

Happy Singing!!!!

Choose and Review: Scipture Themes

Another year, another theme, another program.....so exciting!!!!

I do have a few ideas on how to teach the year's new, wonderful song....but those will come on the next post.

I wanted to outline a couple of singing times that can fit in pretty much any Sunday because they all focus on the year's theme. I had the opportunity to sub for the chorister in my ward this past Sunday. It was the first Sunday of the year and I knew it might be a bit hectic. She and I thought it best for her to start teaching "If I Listen With My Heart" next week when she gets back. I decided to focus on the scriptures for my singing time. I came up with two similar ideas for Junior and Senior, then had another idea pop into my head Monday as I was running errands.

Here are the three Scripture Singing Time ideas:

Junior: Name that Scripture Story

*Pick 4-5 scripture stories and find the corresponding GAK pictures. These will be taped at the front of the room on the board/podium/etc.

*Pick a song to correspond to each scripture story. This should be a song that highlights one of the lessons learned through the scripture stories.

*Find 1-2 objects that can represent each story you have picked. These should either be hidden around the room or put in different boxes/containers/bags for the kids to open upon request.

*Intro: I sang the new song for the kids so they would be familiar with the tune for next week. I also had them sing the last line with me a couple times. I then reiterated the fact that when we read the scripture stories we can feel the Spirit and learn what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to do to choose the right so we can live with them again someday.

*Instructions: I explained to the kids that we would be opening the containers to find objects inside that would remind us of scripture stories. We would then have to match the object to the pictures at the front. Then we would sing a song.

*Game: We played the game and as each object was chosen I was able to review the story for the kids using the objects/props. We would then sing the corresponding songs. When appropriate, I did use fun signs and challenges for the kids as they sang to keep them interested and excited.

*Conclusion: I finished by having the kids sing through the final line of January's song again and bearing my testimony about what we had talked about.

Evaluation: This singing time went really well and kept the attention of these little kids (ages 3-5 in this ward). I do think you could get even more group participation by adding in another element to the game. You could have the kids pick the object and then ask them to follow different colored footprints around the room to find the appropriate GAK pictures. In this way you could have all the kids use their hands as binoculars to find the footprints and corresponding pictures (in large envelopes). This keeps them all involved and working toward a common goal.

My stories: I used the following stories for my singing time: Noah's Ark (animals), Daniel and the Lion's Den (lions), The Liahona (a liahona replica available at Deseret), Jesus Feeds 5000 (fish picture and some bread), and Ammon Guarding the flock (a sheep and sword).

Senior Primary: Match that Scripture

This singing time goes almost exactly the same as the one above. I used the same stories, but tweaked some of the songs since the kids in Senior know a few more songs. You can use the same objects/props for each scripture story, as well as GAK picture. You will keep the GAK with you to use as you tell the stories, and place the objects at the front for the kids to see as you are playing the game. Here are the changes:

*Select and prepare 1-2 verses for each scripture story that provide the main idea or "crux" of the story. You need to have these ready to read for the children. If time permits you could also ask the kids to find these in a scripture chase and let them read the verses. I found reading the verses best-suited my needs.

*Intro: same as above

*Instructions: Explain to the kids that you will read the verse and then they should stand as soon as they think they know what the scritpure story is. I made sure to tell the kids that as soon as I saw someone stand I would stop talking and ask them to find the appropriate object. I wanted to make sure the kids didn't just stand for fun.

*Game: Read each verse and let the kids find the appropriate object. Then you tell the scripture story and ask the kids to tell you the lesson. Sing the song at the end...I did include games and challenges as we sang, when appropriate.

*Conclusion: same as above

Evaluation: I thought this also worked great for Senior primary!

Additional Singing Time: Every Song Has a Story

This is the singing time that came to me on Monday. I have not sat down to create a lesson plan for it, so I will just explain the idea and if you like it, you can run with it!

The idea behind this is to help the kids understand that the songs we are singing in Primary are inspired by God and can help us remember and learn from the Scriptures (the actual words of God).

*Give each class a list of all the songs in the Children's Songbook. For this activity it is important to leave off the activity songs. If you think the kids can handle it, you could leave this step out.

*Instruct each class to choose a song from the Songbook...preferrably one they actually know, but this does not have to be a rule.

*Hand out half-sheets of paper with a large rectangle outlined in marker. You then have each class write the name of their song in white crayon inside the rectangle.

*You can get creative with this next step. You can have the classes crumble up their papers and throw them at you (like a snowball), you could have them fold them up, or you could just collect each one.

*Select one child to come up and pick a paper. They will reveal the written song by coloring in the rectangle with a marker.

*Once the song is selected you will challenge the kids to think of a scripture story that the song corresponds with (there should be more than one). You could also make this a challenge to the teachers or you from the kids. You can ask a teacher to come up a story, or you have to come up with a story. If the teachers or you cannot come up with a story, then the kids get to sing an activity song, or you can start puting on funny accessories...the possibities are endless.

*Sing the selected song. You can make it more interactive by using fun signs, leading props, omitting words, standing on certain words...once again there are lots of options.

*Conclude by bearing your testimony of the scriptures and songs.

As you can see, this idea is a little rough but hopefully you get the point. I want the kids to realize and feel the spirit of these songs and how they relate to the scriptures. I have done the "magic writing" activity in Senior and they loved it. You could do this with Junior, but would either need more teacher involvement or you could let the kids draw pictures (they will probably have to interpret their drawings for you as they are revealed).

Hope this helps get some ideas flowing!!!