LDSPrimaryPosters: Monthly Theme Songs

February 2011 - I Will Follow God's Plan

I Will Follow God's Plan

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#1 Wrap a present in pretty wrapping paper. Inside on a piece of paper have "MY LIFE" written. Explain that inside this present is the most precious of all gifts. You can't buy this gift. And, each one of us has this gift. Tell the children to listen as you sing a song, and see if they can guess what the gift is. **idea - instead of singing a solo (I always hesitate because I don't have the best voice...perhaps consider asking the Merry Miss girls to sing this song as a group to introduce it to the group.)

#2 In the Sharing Time outline, they already suggest having the person teaching sharing time lesson #1 use the words: WHO, WHERE, WHY, WHAT. To relate these words to this song. Ask questions such as:

"WHO gave you this gift?" (Heavenly Father),

"WHERE did your life begin?" (Heaven),

"WHO made a choice to come to this lovely home on earth?" (We all did!),

"WHAT are you seeking?" (God's Light),

"WHY will you work, and pray, and walk in His way?" (To be happy)

#3 Pick out some of the key words for this song.

Such as: GIFT, PLAN, PURPOSE, HEAVEN, LOVELY HOME, SEEK, I WILL FOLLOW, LOVE, WORK, PRAY, WALK, HAPPY, HOME ABOVE.

Pick a child to come up and help you.

Have the key words in no particular order using magnets or tape on the chalkboard area. As you sing the song through, see how many key words the child can get in the right order. This is a great way to keep singing the song over and over. Just keep picking volunteers until the words are in the right order. The primary kids won't realize they've just sung the song 10 times. :)

#4 Don't forget the blobs once they're on week 3 or 4! Since it is February, use heart shaped blobs. They always love blobs. Don't know what I'm talking about by "blobs?" We use them to cover the poster little by little to encourage memorization. Let the kids who are singing their best choose where to place the blob on your poster board visual. Link here: BLOBS

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June 2010 - The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost

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1. In a very quiet voice, tell the children that they need to listen carefully and then echo back to you everything that you sing. Sing "When Christ was on the earth" (children echo back). Continue doing this echo game to teach the 1st verse. Explain that the Holy Ghost doesn't speak to us like we speak to our friends. Explain that the Holy Ghost usually speaks with more of a 'feeling'. And, we have to listen very carefully to hear or feel it.

2. Bring a well used baby blanket. Show the blanket and ask the children if any of them had a special blanket when they were younger. Ask them if they needed it when it was time for bed? Or, if they were sad, would they snuggle up to their blanket? Explain that your blanket was wonderful because it COMFORTED you. It made you feel comfortable inside. Explain that the Holy Ghost is kind of like that blanket. The Holy Ghost is there to help us when we are feeling badly, or if we need help, or just to help us feel that things will be ok.

3. As you get up to the front, very quietly whisper,

"If you can hear me fold your arms."

"Everyone who can hear my quiet voice, crinkle your nose."

(even quieter) "If you can hear me ____"

Explain that even though you were speaking very very quietly, when they listened, they could hear and obey your instructions. Tell them that you are going to sing a song about someone who has a still small voice and who tells our hearts and minds important things.

4. Begin by asking the children who the members of our Godhead are.

Explain that there are 3 seperate beings. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Tell them we are going to learn about the 3rd member - the Holy Ghost.

I liked this article about the Holy Ghost, and explaining how he doesn't have a body of flesh and bone, therefore he can dwell with us at all times. He can be our CONSTANT companion.

Article HERE.

Ask if they know what the word "constant" means. Have your pianist play "The Holy Ghost" and as he/she plays, clap the rhythm. Ask the children to join in clapping the rhythm with you. Try it again, this time, you sing the melody and clap with the children. Explain that just as the 'beat' in this song is constant, the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion. He will stay with you, unless you are making bad choices.

click below for

THE HOLY GHOST

poster kit

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May 2010 - Free Choice

Sharing Time Oultine states:

Song of your choice from the Children's Songbook

The theme for the month is:

"Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Lead Me to Jesus Christ"

"We Believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; Second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." Article of Faith 1:4

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I encourage you to discuss with your presidency what they want to focus on this month.

Really teaching the children the Article of Faith #4 song is a great idea. Putting the articles of Faith to music really helps. The Articles of Faith don't have rhyming words like a lot of songs do, so the melody can be so helpful to children.

Then, you might want to focus on a different song out of the Children's Songbook for your Theme Song.

Here are a few ideas:

(click on link to listen or purchase song poster kit)

Faith (p. 96)

Repentance (p.98)

Help Me Dear Father (p. 99)

When I Am Baptized (p. 103) ((Rainbows))

I Want to Live the Gospel (p. 148)

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Myths and Reality of Mormonism

April 2010 - The Church of Jesus Christ

Sorry this is late! We had General Conference, then we were out of town, and I had a hand injury...nonetheless...here it is now!

The Church of Jesus Christ

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I think the ideas in the 2010 outline are awesome for this song:

1. Ask the children to STAND if they belong to a family.

Ask them to stand if they belong to other groups such as; a sports team, a club, a music group, and lastly a CHURCH.

Let the children explain to you you what belonging means.

(that you are an important part of something)

2. Make these word cards:

BELONG, KNOW, KNOW, FOLLOW, BELIEVE, HONOR, DO, FOLLOW, PROCLAIM.

Ask the children to listen to you sing 2 things that you KNOW because you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
{I KNOW who I am, I KNOW God's Plan}

Have them listen again to 6 things we DO because we belong to this church:

{FOLLOW him in faith, BELIEVE in the Savior Jesus Christ...etc}

Last word to hold up is BELONG.

Bear testimony that it is a privilege to BELONG to the true Church of Jesus Christ and that we have a responsibility to do the things we sing about in this song.

3. Divide the Primary into two groups.

Have one group sing the first two words of each phrase

(I belong, I know, etc)

Have the other group sing the rest of the phrase.

Change groups and repeat.

4. Show a picture of Jesus Christ.

Have the children read Doctrine and Covenants 115:4 together.

Discuss that "last days" also means "Latter-days."

When I was a little girl we sang a song, "I'm a Mormon, yes I am..."

Remember that song?

I wanted to focus on the fact that the 'nickname' for our church is Mormon, but the real name is

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Discuss that there are many people that don't know "Mormons" are Christians.

These are 2 great videos about this idea that could be neat to incorporate in your teaching:

Are We Christians?

Restored truths discussed in this video: The Godhead, The Book of Mormon, Restoration of the Priesthood.

Part way through (about minute 6 is where it discusses our difference from other Christian churches, etc)

5. Role play a little.

Pretend one of the children in your primary is traveling alone on the airplane to visit their grandparents.

While on the plane, the person sitting next to them strikes up conversation.

They notice your Book of Mormon in your carry - on bag.

This person next to you asks you if you are a Mormon.

What would you say?

They ask you, what do Mormon's believe?

What would you say?

Or use the article from the 1998 October Friend as a reference, or read as a story:
We Believe...

6. Review the words in the song:

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (True name of our Church, not Mormon).

I Know who I am (Child of God)

I know God's Plan (premortal life, life after death)

I'll follow Him in Faith (baptism, keeping commandments, etc.)

I Believe in the Savior Jesus Christ (Christians, believe in the Bible and Book of Mormon)

I'll honor his name (Try to to what is right)

I'll do What is right (Choose the Right)

I'll follow His Light (live so the Holy Ghost can guide your actions)

His Truth I Will Proclaim (Be a missionary, and good example to all)

7. Just for fun:

Bring a missionary tag.
Have a picture of your meeting house.
Ask them to notice what name is stated on both.

The Church of Jesus Christ

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March 2010 - Follow The Prophet

FOLLOW THE PROPHET

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Ideas to teach this song:
I think most primary's know this song. It's just one of those we all know. Therefore, instead of focusing on learning the melody, I think I'll focus more on the words for this song - memorization.

1. Use props or pictures to represent the prophets you'll be singing about. Such as:
ADAM - Big #1, or a plant
ENOCH - Arrow pointing up to heaven
NOAH - Ark, boat, 2 animals
ABRAHAM - #12 (for 12 tribes)
MOSES - a staff, or a 40 (for 40 years in wilderness)
SAMUEL -? hmm...hard one! :)
JONAH - Whale, running shoe
DANIEL - Lion
OR, using a Gospel Art Kit picture of each story is awesome too!

2. The chorus has some really important parts to it.
First: "Don't go astray"
Secondly: "He knows the way"
Help emphasize these words to the children.
You could start by singing the chorus very quietly, and gradually getting louder until the "Don't go astray." Then as you start singing the next part, start quietly again and grow louder until "He knows the way."

3. Our primary loves these hand actions.
When you begin the chorus:
"Follow the" - roll your arms
"Prophet" - snap fingers
"Don't go astray" - wag your pointer finger (as if scolding someone)
"He knows the way" - tap pointer finger to your temple (on your head)

4. Emphasize the rhyming words.
Each verse has them.
For example Adam:
First one that we KNOW.
In a place called Eden he helped things to GROW.
Adam served the Lord by following his WAYS.
We are his descendants in the latter DAYS.
Only way I can memorize these verses is if I remember the rhyming words. :)

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February 2010 - He Sent His Son

He Sent His Son

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Ideas to teach this song:

1. Have the group sing in "Question and Answer" groups.

Group 1: "How could the Father tell the world, of love and tenderness?"

Group 2: "He sent his son a newborn babe in peace and holiness...

You could divide teachers / children, or boys / girls, etc.

Idea in sharing time manual - I love it, but perhaps for subsequent weeks, not introduction week.

2. Print out the questions asked in the song on pieces of paper.

Sing the song once through for the children to hear.

Have a series of pictures to depict the answer to the questions.

Have the children help you match the question and an answer picture.

Then have them help you put the questions / pictures in the right order!

Some pictures I would use:

He sent his song a newborn babe... (above)

He sent his son to walk with men... (above)

He sent his son to die for us then rise with living breath (above)...

Have faith, have hope, live like His Son... (above)

Simply click on image to enlarge - right click - save as.

Bottom image - I combined a few images from magazines to create it...so, you won't find it elsewhere.

All other images come from LDS magazines or church curriculum.

3. Be sure to emphasize the last phrase.

"What does He ask? Live like His Son."

I think I am going to re-emphasize this phrase by focusing on it alone during week 2 or 3. Sharing time is supposed to focus on what Jesus has done for us. I think it leads perfectly into, "What can we do for our Heavenly Father and Jesus." I plan to bear testimony that I know my Savior loves me. That I am so grateful for the many things he did while on this earth. And, to show my gratitude, I want to do what my Heavenly Father has asked - Live Like His Son...and discuss the ways I can do this.

4. Have a "heart attack". Since it is February!
At Walmart and they have a package of 30 foam hearts in red, white, pink and dark red.
I'm thinking that I'll ask the kids to tell something they can do to show their LOVE for their Heavenly Father. To re-emphasize the "Live Like His Son".
Pass the hearts out to each child, as they come up with an idea - they share it, and then attack either:
ME with the hearts (tape them onto me)
OR
Attack our poster.
So, they'd work the same way as our 'blobs' in covering up the words on our poster.
They will love this idea...I already know. :)
(You could easily just cut out paper hearts for this)

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January 2010 - I Know That My Savior Loves Me

I Know That My Savior Loves Me

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For me - the simpler, the better.

I think the idea given in the sharing time outline will work well for week 1 for our primary. It always takes time to get the kids settled in their new classes, etc.

Since the song starts with "A long time ago..." it just sounds like a story. I plan to do just as the outline says, and tell the story of Jesus Christ visiting and teaching the Nephite children. I think the idea of letting the children pick an action to go with each line of the song is great...

**********

I plan on testifying to the children how I haven't ever seen Jesus, yet I know he is real.

And discussing the principle of Faith.

The 1st article of Faith (January theme) -

We Believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ...

Propose the question:

How do we know there is a Father in Heaven or a Jesus Christ if we've never seen them?

Wait for their answers.

Let them share their ideas.

Let them ponder the idea.

Share your testimony with the children, how you know Jesus is real, even though you've never SEEN him...and sing the song for them:

...The love that he felt for his little ones, I know he feels for me.

I did not touch him or sit on his knee,

YET, Jesus is REAL to me...

I Know He Lives! I will follow faithfully.

My heart I give to Him. I know that My Savior Loves Me.

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Families Can Be Together Forever

Families Can Be Together Forever

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Ideas to introduce / teach song:

1. Make word strips using only the first letter for each word. For example IHAFHOE (I have a family here on earth). Sing the first section of the song and have the children put the wordstrips in order as you go. I like this idea, but I don't love it. I teach the articles of faith this way, and it's great for the older kids, but juniors struggle. So, if it works for your primary - wonderful. Idea taken from Ensign 2009

2. Use the "How" "Why" When" cards. I like to sing the song first for them and then have them help me answer the questions with my cards. As I've said before, make some good copies of these cards - I use them often...

Where is your family? {Here on earth}

What do you want to do with your family? {Share my life with them through all eternity}

How long can families be together? {Forever}

Who makes it possible for us to be together forever? { Heavenly Father} His plan is for us to come to earth and live as a family.

What has the Lord shown me? {How I can always be with my own Family}

3. Focus on the temple. The meaning of the song is that through blessings of the temple, families can be together forever. Perhaps make a large puzzle of a temple. Discuss different ways that help us prepare to go to the temple. As the children come up with a good idea, let them place a piece of the puzzle - to eventually create a temple.

4. Fill a large jar full of sand. (I recently went on a trip to the beach, so this could be fun for my kids that knew I was on vacation.) Show the jar filled with sand to the primary. Ask them how many grains of sand they think are in this jar? Ask them to imagine how many grains of sand are on all the beaches in the WHOLE world. If every grain represented 1 year, eternity would still be longer. It goes forever! Tell the children you are going to sing them a song about eternity, and see if they can discover who can be together forever. Sing just the chorus if you'd feel more comfortable. (Idea seen on idea door - adapted by LDS Primary Posters)

BE SENSITIVE: Explain that Heavenly Father loves all people. He loves those who have not been to the temple as much as those who have. He wants all families will be sealed in the temple. Explain that many families have not yet been sealed in the temple. However, these families can go to the temple if they prepare themselves properly. Tell the children that they can live worthy so that when they are married they can go to the temple to be sealed and start their own eternal families.

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JUNE: Seek the Lord Early

SEEK THE LORD EARLY p. 108

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IDEA #1: (taken from the June 2009 Friend)
Make eight wordstrips: youth, truth, there, prayer, obey, say, abound, found. Post them in random order on the board. Tell the children that each sentence in the song has two words that rhyme. Sing the first sentence to the children. Have them listen for the word that rhymes with “youth” (truth). Put those two wordstrips next to each other on the board. Sing the first sentence together. Continue this pattern with the rest of the sentences. Next, display pictures that correspond to concepts in the song. As you sing each phrase, ask a child to choose what picture could go with the sentence. When all the pictures have been chosen, invite the children with the pictures to stand at the front of the room and raise their pictures when their phrase is sung. Sing the whole song together.

IDEA #2: (taken and combined from various friend articles)
Hide a set of scriptures somewhere in the room. Tell the children that there is an item that is very important - that will help them get closer to their Heavenly Father. They can only find it by staying in their seats and asking 'yes' or 'no' questions. (E.g., “Is it higher than your head?” “Is it under someone’s chair?”)

When they have “found” it, pick a verse to read to them (possibly Revelations 3:20). Remind them that Jesus wants you to hear His voice and feel His spirit. He loves you and wants you to feel that love. He wants to bless you. He wants you to understand what things will bring you happiness and make it possible for you to live with Him and your Father in Heaven forever.
As you search the scriptures to understand and know what you should do, you will hear His voice. This “hearing” is often a feeling that comes into your mind and your heart. If you read the scriptures with faith, desiring to believe and seeking to understand, you do more than just read words. You open a door and invite the Spirit of the Lord into your heart and mind. You will want to do what is right. You will feel the love of the Savior. His words will bless you. The scriptures will tell you all the things that you should do. Studying them will bring you closer to Him.

IDEA #3:
Help the children learn the difficult words in the song:
"Seek": Play a mini game of 'hide and seek' to demonstrate. "seek" means to find. Make sure the children understand that Heavenly Father isn't lost. Instead, we are trying to feel close to him, and feel his love.
"Youth": Perhaps have a teacher stand and a young child stand. Which is 'in their youth?" :)
"Fervent": Means with lots of feeling, earnest, meaningful.
"Abound": This means that He loves us so much, his love will surround us.

******************

Encourage the children to "Seek the Lord Early" while they are young. Encourage them to gain a testimony of their Heavenly Father by; searching the scriptures, fervent prayer, following the prophet and keeping the commandments. If they do this, "He will be found".

May: Baptism

Sorry I'm late posting this! I got overwhelmed trying to keep up on orders - thank you everyone who purchased in the month of April, or sent donations to help the Howells Family. Wow.

BAPTISM p. 100

Ideas for teaching:

Idea #1:

Discuss with the children the 4th Article of Faith (which you should've reviewed last month)

We Believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are 1st - Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 2nd - Repentance 3rd - Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins 4th - Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sing the 1st verse of the song Baptism, and ask the children to listen carefully to which 'ordinance' (you just discussed in the 4th article of Faith) you are singing about. (3rd Baptism by immersion)

Idea #2:

I'm a fan of the "Who" "Where" "When" "How" "Why" cards that I mentioned in previous songs. It gets the children thinking, and listening. Perhaps consider making a set of cards, laminated to use often when teaching new songs. When using these cards, when applicable, have a picture to go along with them. Let the children match the "Who" with a picture of Jesus. "Where" with the "River Jordan or Judeah", etc.

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

There's no need for tons of visuals, or games, or fillers. Teach with the spirit, and involve the children using appropriate materials.

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