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!

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.

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.

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!!

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!!!

Week 4: Walk Like Jesus

**I just realized, after posting this yesterday, that this coming Sunday is actually the first Sunday of the month, not the 4th Sunday of July! I hope this singing time idea might be useful for future singing times in the coming months :)** I was reading through August's Ensign and came across an article entitled "Those Who Are Different" by Elder Marlin K. Jensen. I thought it was a fabulous article and was especially struck by the lyrics to "I'll Walk With You" that Elder Jensen highlighted at the end. (go to http://www.lds.org/ to read the article) I have known this song for awhile, but I hadn't made the possible connection to "Come Follow Me" until I read it. Needless to say, after I finished reading the article I couldn't stop thinking of a way to include this fabulous song into a singing time with "Come Follow Me" and the theme for this month. I also found the "Say What" game in June's Friend and thought it would be fun to include in singing time. (You can go to The Children Sing blog on the sidebar for a singing time idea with just that game.) I decided to integrate both of the above ideas into one singing time based on the theme for Week 4 : "Jesus Christ's example teaches me how to live". I have entitled this singing time "Walk Like Jesus" and came up with two different ideas for Junior and Senior, with the common prop being some fun socks (fun colors, toe socks, etc) that the kids will be matching up. Some of the songs I chose may not be familiar to the kids, so you can either introduce them or pick a corresonding song to highlight the same idea. Both of the following ideas can be tweaked or changed to match the needs and personality of your primary children. JUNIOR PRIMARY: Supplies: Mr. Potato Head, 5 pairs of fun socks, a bag to put all the socks in, paper footprints (optional), pictures of Christ's life from GAK, create a path with a picture of a child and Christ on the board (optional) Singing Time: *Begin by introducing Brother Potato Head (he should only have a nose at this point). Ask the children to identify what is wrong with him and then explain that he needs their help to add all of his body parts. *Show the children the bag of fun socks and explain that as the kids find matches they will find the body parts that Bro Potato Head needs. Explain also that as they find the different body parts they will get to talk about and sing about ways we can use different body parts to obey Jesus' request of "Come Follow Me". Explain that we can do many things to follow Jesus, or "walk" like Jesus. We can follow him through our actions. (You could even choose to sing out the word "walk" in each song, or omit the word "walk" in each song to highlight following Jesus or walking like Him) *Let different children come up and randomly draw two socks out. When a pair has been made review how the kids can follow Jesus using the body part and sing the corresponding song. You could also include a footprint in each sock pair and place that on the board between a picture of a child and Jesus so that by the end their footprints lead to Jesus. Eyes: Read the stories of Jesus so we can learn about Him and learn about the good choices he made. Sing "I Think When I Read" or "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" Ears: Listen to our parents, leaders, and teachers so we can learn more about Jesus and His example. We can learn about the Gospel from those people around us just like Jesus learned from his parents and from God. Sing "Teach Me To Walk" Arms: Look for people to serve and use our hands to help them. We can help with chores at home, hug someone that is sad, or hold a friends hand as we invite them to come play with us so they won't feel left out. Sing "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus" or "Come Follow Me" Mouth: You could go a couple different directions on this one. Speak kindly; Say "Thank You" to those around us and to Heavenly Father. Be happy and cheerful with a good attitude even when things are not going perfectly. Sing "Thanks To Our Father" or "Pioneer Children" Feet: Use our feet to walk and play with everyone. We can be like Jesus as we love and play with everyone, even if they are different, just as Jesus loved everyone. Sing "I'll Walk with You". (If the kids don't know it and you don't have time to teach it, you could help them learn just the beginning or just a couple key phrases and then they could listen as you sing through the rest of the song so they can hear the lyrics) *Conclude by thanking the kids for helping Bro Potato Head. Remind the kids that they can use their whole body to follow Jesus. Bear testimony. If time permits, sing through "Come Follow Me" SENIOR PRIMARY: Supplies: Music Mumbles (found in the documents on the sidebar), 5 pairs of fun socks, paper footprints (optional), pictures of Christ's life from GAK, create a path with a picture of a child and christ (optional) Singing Time: *Review Christ's request to "Come Follow Me". Explain that we can follow Jesus or "walk" like Jesus as we act, talk, and think as He did. Explain that today the children will help you match up some socks from your laundry and complete the fun puzzles inside. *Invite different children to come up and draw socks out of the bag to make a match. When a match is made pull out the paper with the music mumble and the footprint. Have the children try to figure out which song it is and then make the connection of how the song invites us to follow Jesus. Encourage them to think of specific actions the song suggests we can do to follow or "walk" like Jesus. (Optional: Once they have figured it out and sung the song they can put the footprint on the path between a picture of a child and a picture of Christ on the board.) You can make this activity a competition between teachers and children. As suggested for Junior, you could also have the kids emphasize or omit the word "walk" in the songs to further highlight the theme of following Jesus. If you choose to use songs the kids don't know you can prepare the lyrics on posterboard beforehand so they can follow along as they sing. *Music Mumbles: (You can choose any song you like, these are 5 that could work) I'll Walk With You: Eye yellow hawk whit ewe or Aisle wall Keith ewe Teach Me To Walk: Tea chimney two way kin dull loe fizz lug Pioneer Children: Pie yawn ear chill trance sank cass thee wok Tell Me the stories of Jesus: Tail meet us tore Reese off cheese us I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus: Eye um dry ink do be lie cheese us *Conclude by bearing your testimony and challenging the children to follow Jesus in all they do, say, and think. Sing "Come Follow Me"