Mother's Day

I don't know about your ward, ours invites the primary children up to sing to the Mothers on Mother's Day.
I like to keep it short and simple.

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The congregation last year loved this one, most hadn't heard it before...

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If you have them all ready - the kids could have little flowers they've made for their moms during sharing time, and then when they go back to their seats, they each get to hand their mother this flower!  
Craft felt, button flowers, paper flowers, tissue paper flowers, anything!

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Sign language for this song is very easy and quick to learn...

When We're Helping
I even thought as the song starts have a child really quickly say something their mother does for them...then the whole group sings and we do an action for what that child said.  Of course, you'd have it all planned beforehand...


What do you do for Mother's Day?
Please share your ideas!



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:

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.


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Spring

While at Target, I spotted these headbands in the Dollar Spot bins.
They had them in yellow, purple, and pink.
When I saw them, I knew they'd be perfect for
"Little Purple Pansies"
I know...they aren't the 'shape' of a pansie, but it doesn't matter - for $1!
The nursery kids are going to LOVE wearing these and dancing around like little flowers...I already know.
Hurry to Target before they are gone!

My pianist had a cute idea - 
The nursery kids always like to sing "Once there was a Snowman" even in the wrong season.
So, instead we tried this:
"Once there was a seed, seed, seed...
Once there was a seed - small, small, small.
In the sun he grew, grew, grew...
In the sun he grew - tall, tall, tall..."
 So, it turned out to be the opposite of snowman, we ended up tall - the kids loved it!

Apostles and Prophets

I created a simple matching game for the quorum of the twelve, and the first presidency.
My intention was for younger children, therefore giving the apostles 1st name as a clue, with the last name being a fill in the blank.

I figured it could be a good review before Conference - to see how many of the apostles they can name.

Doesn't have to do much with singing...but perhaps FHE, or something...

email me for the matching game in PDF file:
emily@ldsprimaryposters.com


March 2010 - 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

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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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GIVEAWAY!

The song for February is:
He Sent His Son

The Giveaway -
He Sent His Son - Design / Vinyl Lettering / Printed Pictures kit 
for you to create your poster...

I might give away a few of these kits, depending how many people enter.  
I love to give things away...


HOW TO PLAY:
Leave us a little comment, and you'll be entered for the drawing.
Leave us a comment AND post a link to us on your blog, you'll get 3 entries into the drawing!
(I do check that you've added a link to us...I have buttons over on my sidebar)

Giveaway ends on Jan. 30th (midnight-ish)...

Sorry, I can't ship out of the USA.
If you want to enter and you live OUT of the USA, I will happily send you a few digital designs by email instead.  :)


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Repetition Ideas

Fact of the matter is:
Kids learn by repetition

As much as they may not like the IDEA of singing the same song 10 times in a row...it's how they learn. 
We are always changing up ways to sing the song, and really, the kids don't realize we're singing the song as many times as we are!

A FEW REPETITION IDEAS:

Mystery Box:
I keep a box full of random items / toys in the closet.  Mine contains items like below, but be creative!  Rummage through your toys at home - you'll be amazed what you'll find!


A toy car:  sing "Vroom, vroom, etc" instead of words.  Could also sing "Beep, beep" etc.
Heart:  Sing lovingly.
Frog:  Sing while hopping, OR sing staccato.
Pirate Eye Patch:  Close your eyes while singing.
Hammer:  Beat out the rythmn of the song as we sing.
Slinky:  Loud when stretched out, softer when squished (idea in LDS sharing time outline...)
Spinning Top:  Have them turn in slow circles while singing.
Block with #'s:  I let 1 child roll the block, and whatever # it lands on, if you are that old...you sing.  :)
Toy Soldier:  Sing while marching

Headband Hero:
Invite 1 child to the front of the room.  They get to wear our "sweatband" for the round.  The sweatband has a piece of laminated paper stuck to it - mine is velcro'd, you could make your more permanent if you'd like.  Depending on the song, choose 1 key word to write on the laminated area of the headband.  The point is - everyone else EXCEPT the person wearing the headband can see this word.  Begin singing the song.  When you get to the word written - STOP!  Don't sing it!  The person wearing the headband has to guess which word comes next in the song.  Sr. Primary loves this game.  For Jr. Primary, I have the child wearing the headband cover his ears, while I tell the young kids that can't read the secret word.  I then as we sing the word put a "shooshing" finger up to my lips to help them remember not to sing it.  They do great.



Musical Note:
Have a musical note, or a CTR symbol or something that goes along with your lesson.  Have 1 child leave the room, have another child hide this object.  Invite the child who left the room back, and begin singing your song.  As the child gets closer to the hidden object - sing louder.  As the child moves away from the hidden object - sing quieter.  Never gets old to the kids...

click to enlarge - right click - save as - use as you'd like!


Sit and Stand:
Print out keywords for the song, words that are said more than once (preferably).  Have one child pick a word our of your basket.  As you sing the song, when that word is sung, everyone stands, then sits back down, and stands when word is sung again next.  Could do many different ways.  Instead of Stand/Sit, you could Clap on the keyword, or close your eyes on the key word, or fold your arms on the key word, etc.  Depends how much energy you want them to get out, or how in control you need to keep them!  :)



 Notice, for most of these ideas, they need to pick your items / papers out of a container.  Might I suggest making one?  I reuse mine ALL the time.  Icall mine the mystery can.  It's simply a large metal can (that your food storage comes in), recovered with bright fun colors and question marks all over it.  They never know what's inside, or what the things inside are for!  :)  
I keep in the closet, I never have to stress about what to use...




**Sometimes we sing ONLY the chorus, or only the 2nd verse, etc.  
Also, sometimes we are humming just the melody, which is so great to really get the melody ingrained in their memory.

Singing Idea

I came up with this and the kids absolutely loved it. I created a word search as a game for choosing which song to sing. I used words instead of the whole song title, so I put in 'Child' for I am a child of God and 'Prayer' for A child's prayer, or 'Walk' for I'll walk with you... I also put in the names of all the children (we have a relatively small group) and if they found a name then that child got to choose their favourite song to sing... It worked really well. We could have gone on for hours :o)

Kind Regards

Nonni
South Africa

January 2010 - 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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