Songs for 2017 and "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus"

Here is a list of the songs for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program for 2017. Many of these songs have been used in the past years which means that the children will know some of them quite well with a little review.  The youngest classes will need the most help in learning them.  It helps to have the order children sit among the younger ones and sing the songs.

This week, focus on I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus, p. 78.

• Begin with the chorus
• sing each phrase 2 or 3 times with the children
• sing the first 2 phrases together
• add the third phrase to the first 2 phrases
• finally add the last phrase
• sing the whole chorus.

If you choose to find a picture to match each phrase.  Try to find pictures that include children doing acts of kindness.

2017 Songs for Sharing Time

“I'm Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children's Songbook,78)

“When I Am Baptized” (Children's Songbook, 103)

"Nephi's Courage” (Children's Songbook, 120)

“Stand for the Right” (Children's Songbook, 159)

“Choose the Right” (Hymns, no. 239)

“The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children's Songbook, 281)

“As a Child of God” (2012 Outline for Sharing Time, 28)

What Can I Give

What gift can I give?  Children are naturally giving.  This singing activity is all about giving.

• Choose several songs that the children like to sing - include as many Christmas songs as possible.  Write the titles on a piece of paper and roll or fold each of them up.
• Write "What can I give?" on 10 pieces of paper and roll or fold each of them up. 
• You will need a Christmas stocking.
• Put the titles of the songs and "gift" papers in the stocking.
• Make sure they are mixed up.

Tell the children that Christ's gift to us was His life, goodness, love and atonement.  Because we want to be like Him, we should follow His example. What can we give to others?  Give a few examples: set the table, read to someone - old or young, take the garbage out, etc.

We are going to sing about Jesus and tell how we can give service to others as He did.

Ask a child to pick a paper from the stocking.  Sing the song or tell what "gift" he/she can give to others.

Continue through your singing time.

Stars Were Gleaming

Stars Were Gleaming, p. 37, is one of my favorite Christmas song.  The melody comes from a Polish carol.

There are a lot of "ing" words and rhyming words throughout this piece.  Listed below are all of them.  I made a word strip for each of them to do this activity.

gleaming   dreaming
singing, ringing, winging
leading, guiding, riding
showing, shining, growing
going, gleaming, glowing, leading

Then there are the rhyming words:

chill, hill, still
story, glory
clearness, nearness
star, far, star

1. Sing the first 2 lines then ask the children to tell what the "ing" words were and/or any rhyming words.  You may need to sing it again as they listen.  Put the word in the board in order.  Sing the first 2 lines with the children, pointing to the words as you sing them.

2.  Sing the last 2 lines and do the same thing.  Put the word in the board in order. (The words: chill, hill and still may need some help listening for.)  Sing the last 2 lines with the children, pointing to the words as you sing them.

3.  Follow the same procedure for the second verse - 2 lines at a time.

*To include non-readers, instead of the word "star" use a star (you will need 2 of them), ringing - a bell, dreaming - a child sleeping, story - a book, hill - picture of a hill.

Next week, mix the words and have the children put them in order.  Sing one section (two lines) at a time then put up the words.  Conclude by singing the entire song.

Away in a Manger

Away in a Manger, p. 42, is a wonderful song about the story of Christmas.  Acting it out really brings meaning to the children.

Gather the following:

• minimal costumes for Mary and Joseph
• large star (yellow with glitter)
• a doll for baby Jesus wrapped in a blanket

Choose children to be the following:

• Mary
• Joseph
• 3 lambs
• 3 cattle
• the star
• the rest will be the choir of angels (they can remain in their seats)

Set the children up in the front to look like the manger scene.

Sing the entire song.

Divide the choir up for the chorus and half sing the first "asleep" the other half sings the echo of "asleep."  They all sing the rest including those in the manger scene. 

If time permits, choose a new set of children to be the manger scene and sing the song again.

(You can also use a flannel board manger scene or gather pictures to go along with the song.)

Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus

This is a great week to sing about Samuel's prophecy of the birth of Christ, Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus (p. 36).

You will need:
1st verse:

• Picture of Samuel on the wall preaching to the Nephites
• "5" printed on a piece of paper
• Picture of Jesus in a manger

2nd verse:

• picture of the ocean and/or picture of Bethlehem
• Use the picture of Samuel again (or point to it)
• Picture of angels singing

Chorus:

• Sing the first phrase and then have the children repeat it with you 2 or 3 times.
• Sing the second phrase and then have the children repeat it with you 2 or 3 times.  Point out that "sing" and "King" rhyme.

Sing the entire song several times pointing to the pictures or let a few children hold up the pictures as you sing the phrase.

Thankful Turkey

Choose 8 to 10 songs that the children love to sing including some "thankful" songs.

Using the Turkey from the November 22, 2014 blog post:

• cut 1 large circle and one small circle
• draw the face as shown 
• Cut out 10 to 20 (or more) feathers from colored paper
• Tape the turkey on the board with no feathers
• Give each teacher 3 or 4 (or more) feathers and ask them to help the children write something they are thankful for on each feather.
• choose one class (I look for reverent classes) and ask 3 or four children from that class to bring up the feathers and read what was on each feather
• tape them around the big circle (the body of the turkey)
• Sing one or two of your chosen songs
• Choose another class and repeat the process, singing a song after the feathers are place on the turkey

Instead of cutting out the turkey, you could draw it on the board and tape the feathers around it's body.

This activity can be long or short to meet your music time.

Autumn and Gratitude

There are 24 songs listed under "Gratitude" in the Primary Songbook.  How many do you and your Primary children know?

Autumn Day p. 247

• 1st line: Use a fall picture
• 2nd line: As you sing this line look to your right then left.  Point to the children then yourself.
• 3rd line: Use real apples or pictures of a red and yellow apple
• 4th line: Picture of a tree full of apples or leaves
• 5th line: Picture of children with Jesus

Sing each line, then have the children sing it with you a few times. Continue through the rest of the song.  The children can help hold pictures.

It's Autumntime  p. 246

This is an easy song to teach and fun for this time of year.

• Sing the 1st verse.  
• Ask how many times they heard the phrase "it's autumntime."   (4 times)
• Have the children sing it with you.
• Sing the 2nd verse.
• Ask How many colors they heard and what were the colors.  (3 colors, yellow, red, and brown)
• Have the children sing it with you.
• Sing the whole song with the children
• Ask if anyone can tell what the rhyming sound is or the rhyming words.  ("ou" sound, down, town, brown, found)
•  How many times they sing the phrase "it's autumntime" in the entire song.   (8 times)

Use colored paper (yellow, red and brown) to help the children sing the colors in order.  You can use colored leaves in those colors, too.

Cut out several yellow, red and brown leaves and pass them to several children. Have them stand when they sing the color of their leaf.

Gratitude - "I Am Glad for Many Things"

November is all about Gratitude.  It is learned by example but when you add music, it only enhances the learning process.

I Am Glad for Many Things, p. 151, is a great song for all of us to have in our minds.  It is an easy song to teach.

• Sing the first verse.
• Invite the children to sing it with you.
• Sing the second verse
• Have the children sing it with you.

You sing "many things" 4 times in the first verse.  Ask 4 children to share something that they are thankful for : parents, friends, food, home, etc.  Use those in place of "many things" and sing the first verse.   Ask 4 children to share something that they are thankful for and sing it again.

You can do this several times and this song will be forever in their memory.  End with the second verse.

Candy Corn Singing Time

October Fun

Choose 10 favorite songs that the children love to sing.  Many of them will be from this year's program.  Be sure to add some "wiggle/action" songs.

Below are patterns for candy corn (popular this time of year).
Cut out 20 and color them like candy corn, print them on colored paper - orange, yellow and white or print the colored corn.

Laminate them if you want to use them again next year.

Tape or write the names of the songs on 10 of the candy corn.

The theme this month is "prayer."  Write or tape a question mark on the last 10 pieces of corn.  If they choose one of these candy corn, as them to tell how saying prayers has helped them or relate a scripture story about prayer - prayer in Gethsemane, Joseph Smith's first prayer, the Lord's prayer, etc.

Let a child choose a candy corn.  Sing the song or answer the question.

If you would like to draw a large bowl on the board and tape the corn on the board to fill the bowl.  Try to get all 20 pieces in the bowl.

I'm Glad to Pay a Tithing

There are two great songs in the Primary Songbook that teach about tithing.  We talk about tithing in primary but rarely sing about it.  The lesson and melody are simple yet both songs are great learning tools.

I'm Glad to Pay a Tithing, p. 150, talks about all the things God has given to us.

First verse: Pictures are easy - sun, rain and meadowlark (a bird).

• First line - sing it twice, then have the children sing it a few times.
• Second line - Use the pictures and sing it twice, then have the children sing it a few times.
• Sing the entire first verse

Second verse: Show a tithing envelope and receipt, draw 10 pennies or tape real ones to a poster and circle the tenth one.

• First line - Show the receipt and envelope and the poster of pennies.  Sing the first phrase twice. (The children will recognize the melody.) Have the children sing it a few times.
• Second line - Sing the last line then have the children sing it a few times.
• Sing the second verse
• Sing the whole song.  
• Review this song next week so the children remember it.

Finish singing time (if time remains) with a "movement" song such as Do as I'm Doing.  Conclude with singing the tithing song one more time.

 

Birthday Song

Many a still preparing for their Sacrament Meeting Program.  There are many review ideas in earlier posts that you can check out.

After you have spent weeks and months on preparing for this program, learning a fun song will be fun for everyone.  There are 6 birthday songs in the Primary Songbook.  Most primaries sing one, possibly 2, when a child has a birthday. Choose one you don't know.

Make a "paper" birthday cake:

• use a white piece of paper and round off the two top corners to look like a cake. (It doesn't matter whether the paper is portrait or landscape - tall cake or wide cake)
• color frosting on the top half to make it look like the frosting is dripping down the side of the cake - any color will do - chocolate is always a favorite
• cut out 8 candles from different colored paper - flame is optional 

Teaching the song:

• Sing one phrase at a time and have the children repeat it with you several times. 
• Add a candle to the cake.
• Sing the next phrase and repeat the process until the song is learned.
• To reinforce the learning, put the names of the months on pieces of paper.
• Ask a child to draw a paper and read the month.  
• All the children who have a birthday in that month can stand while you sing the new birthday song to them.  
• Continue, as time permits, to choose a month and then sing to the children who have a birthday in that month. 

Note:  I Like My Birthday, p.104, is a song for those turning 8.  It is a great song to sing to those on their eighth birthday.

Name that Tune

One of my favorite review activities is "Name that Tune."  Once the children know any song well, it's fun to see if they can guess what a song is by playing the first 3 notes on the piano.

• Ask for two volunteers
• Have them sit on a chair
• Play three notes
• The first one to stand up can guess.
• If they shout out the song title, they are disqualified (this helps with reverence)
• If they can't guess the song, play 4 notes, then 5 notes, etc. until one of them guesses it.
• Sing the song, then choose two more children and repeat the process with a different song.

Another variation is to clap the rhythm of the song - no music.  If you do this, list on the board the songs to choose from - this makes it a little easier.

General Conference Preparation

We teach the Sacrament Meeting program songs most of the year.  Do we ever review the songs from previous years?

Help the children prepare for General Conference by singing and/or reviewing songs that relate to Conference.

• Use a chart from the building library or one of you own of the current Church Presidency and the Twelve Apostles.  
• A chart of the Latter-Day Prophets
• Pictures of all the prophets in the song, Follow the Prophet 
• Picture of the Book of Mormon

Explain to the children that we have prophets ever since the Earth was organized. Show a few pictures from Follow the Prophet, p. 110.  Can they guess the song? Sing it. 

Ask the children if they can name 10 (or any number) prophets from the Book of Mormon. Sing Book of Mormon Stories, p.118.

When the church was restored, a prophet was once again called to lead Christ's people.  Who was that man?  (Joseph Smith)  How many prophets have we had since? (Help the children count them using the pictures.)  Sing Latter-Day Prophets, p. 134

You may choose to sing the songs twice - the first time will be a review.

If time permits, the following songs will help the children prepare for General Conference:

Keep the Commandments  p. 146

Seek the Lord Early  p. 108

Stand for the Right  p. 159

Guess What Song

Choose a phrase from each song and write it on a piece of paper.  You can write a phrase from each verse if the song has two or more verses.

OR

Write a hint for each song on a piece of paper.  example: I love the beauty of these buildings.  (I Love to See the Temple)  He restored something special on earth.  (Praise to the Man)

• Put each phrase in an envelope.
• tape each envelope onto the board or put them in a basket
• Ask a child to pick one and read the hint.
• Let the children help guess the song.
• Sing the song.

Sailboat Race

Choose 2 songs for the Sacrament Meeting Program that need extra work.

Using the pattern below, cut out two sail boats - one for each song.

• color or use colored paper to make them different
• Print the title or part of the title on each boat.
• Draw wavy lines on the board to look like water. 

Place the boats on one side of the board as the starting place. Tell the children that the boats need to get across the waters.  Their singing will be like the wind and blow them.

• Sing one of the songs.  
• Depending on how well they sing/know the song, the boat will move ahead 
• Move the boat a short distance.  
• Sing the next song
• Move the boat ahead - further if they know it better, shorter if it needs more work

Continue singing one song them the other and moving the boats according to their proficiency and knowing the songs.

*Be sure to take time if one particular section is difficult and sing it a few times.  You can always nudge the boat a little forward as you work on a small section.

I Know the Scriptures Are True

It is important to relate all the songs for the program to the theme for this year.

• In large print, write the theme on the board or a banner of paper: I Know the Scriptures Are True
• Use the poster of the titles of all the songs that you will be singing for the program.  (Or you can write the titles on the board or on paper and tape them to the board)
• Tell the children that each of the songs relates to the theme.
• As you sing the songs, ask the children how the song helps them to know the scriptures are true or helps them understand the scriptures better.
• Sing all the songs

*Note the songs that may need a little more work so you can plan for next week.

Grading Program Songs

List all the titles of the songs that you will be singing for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  List them on a poster board or large scroll of paper that the children can easily see.  Leave room to put a "grade" at the end.

Write the numbers 1 through 10 on 4" squares or circles (colored paper is great)

Sing each one of the songs.  As you finish singing each song, ask a few children to grade how well they sing the song - know the words, etc.
1- means the song needs a lot of work still
10 - means best ever (the children probably love to sing this song)
The numbers in between show varying degrees of proficiency

This activity helps you plan the next weeks on what songs need more work.  Ask the children to help figure out what needs work such as words, melody, one specific verse, etc.  Write these suggestions down so you can remember them. Each week you can focus on one or two songs that need extra rehearsing.

Teachers can be good critics, too.

*Bring this chart each week until your program and work on improving so that all songs are a solid 10.

Back-to-School Review

I try to come up with fun ways to review songs.  Many kids are back in school or will be soon.  Most are excited for new school clothes, back packs, binders, crayons, sharpened pencils, etc.  Take advantage of this enthusiasm as you review songs this week.

Gather 10 things that students might need for school and place them in a paper bag.  Examples are: binder, pencil, pen, crayons/colored pencils, glue stick, spiral notebook, scissors, ruler, pencil box, markers, highlighter, or anything else you can think of.  You will also need a back pack. (borrow one if you don't have one)

On a small piece of paper, write the titles of the songs you would like to review. Be sure to include an action/movement song ("Do as I'm Doing," etc.).  Tape each piece of paper to one of the items in the bag.

Tell the children that you need to pack your back pack for school.  They will help fill your back pack.  Choose one child to draw an item from the bag.  Sing the song taped to the item.  Have the child put the item in your back pack.  Repeat the process.  Try to sing as many songs as you can in your allotted time.

This activity will help you determine which songs need extra review.

"The Lord Gave Me a Temple" Review

Review time!  Color and cut out the circles in this pdf. (click here to download pictures)  You can enlarge them if you choose.  I like them to be as big as an 8" square so the children can see it.  I also color them with bright colors so they are easy to see.  Laminate them if you want to use them again (I always do).

Tell the children that we are going to review The Lord Gave Me a Temple.  On word strips no longer than 8 inches write the following words:

• The Lord gave  (1st verse, 1st phrase)
• If I keep  (2nd verse 1st phrase)
• Once in Heaven  (1st verse 2nd phrase)
• temple brighter - spirit free   (1st verse 3rd phrase)
• gave to me  (1st verse 4th phrase)
• clean and pure (2nd verse 2st phrase)
• claim blessings  (2nd verse 2nd phrase)
• resurrection  (2nd verse 3rd phrase
• body bright  (2nd verse 4th phrase)

Each set of words comes from one of the phrases in the song.  Place each set of words on the board.  Using the pictures used in teaching the second verse (3 pictures) and the 5 pictures below, cover the words with the pictures.  Ask a child to chose a picture and read the words behind it.  See if they can tell what verse and phrase it is.  If they can't, sing the song until you sing the words that have just been uncovered.  Ask the children to raise their hand as soon as they sing the words.

Alternate activity:

Write the last word of each phrase on strips of paper.  (They are the rhyming words)  Tape the strips on the board in jumbled order.  Sing the song and put the words in order.  Sing the song as many times as you need to get the words in order.

The Lord Gave Me a Temple 2nd verse

The second verse to this song tells about the blessings we will receive if we take care of our bodies.  You will need the following to help teach this verse:

• picture of a boy and girl dressed in Sunday clothes
• picture of a temple
• picture of the resurrected Christ word strip of "celestial glory" (perhaps sitting on top of a puffy cloud)

1. Sing the 1st line and show the picture of the boy and girl.  Have the children sing it with you a few times.

2. Sing the 2nd line showing a picture of a temple.  Sing it with the children a few times then sing it from the beginning.

3. Sing the 3rd line sowing the resurrected Christ.  Tell the children that we will all be resurrected like Christ was.  Sing it with the children a few times then sing it from the beginning.

4. Show the word strip on the cloud and explain that we all want to live with our Heavenly Father.  We need to care for our bodies so we can meet Him with our clean, perfect bodies.  Sing the last line with the children a few times then sing it from the beginning.]

Be sure to review all the songs that you are preparing for the Sacrament Program.

The Lord Gave Me a Temple

Just as Temples are sacred, our bodies are temples for our spirits and should be respected, protected and cared for.  The Lord Gave Me a Temple p. 153, teaches just that.

1st Verse:

• The ordinances that we do in temples are very sacred.  Temples protect what is done in the temple.  We keep the temples clean and treat them with respect.
• Our bodies are the "temple" of our spirits.  Our spirits lived with Heavenly Father before we were born.  When we came to earth, Heavenly Father provided a body for our spirits.
• We must keep our bodies clean, protect them and respect them.
• Sing the first phrase. Ask the children to sing it with you 2 or 3 times.
• Continue with each phrase singing it first for the children then have them join you and sing each phrase a few times before moving to the next phrase.
• Sing from the beginning before teaching the next phrase so the children "put the song together" as they are learning it.

If time permits, review one of the songs for the program.

Pioneer Review

The 24th of July is a day of celebration for all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We celebrate the ability to worship without persecution.  Today, there are "pioneers" around the world who have been instrumental in spreading the gospel.

Celebrate with the children by singing some of the pioneer songs as well as reviewing the songs we have learned this year up to this point.

Here are some ideas for this activity:

• Cut out several covered wagons or handcarts.  Print a song title on the back. Ask a child to put a wagon up and then sing the song.  Continue until you have sung all the songs and you have a line of wagons on the board representing the trek across the plains.
• Find several baseball sized rocks.  Print a song title on a paper and tape it to the rock.  Lay them hap-hazard on the ground or table. Tell the children that there were many rocks along the way.  Often times the children would move rocks to the side of the trail in a line to mark the path for pioneers who came after them.  Ask a child to move the a rock so it is in a line forming a path. Sing the song.  Continue until all the rocks create a path to follow and all the song have been sung.
• Have a list of songs that you want to sing/review.  After each song, ask 1 or 2 children to tell something about the early pioneers, such as: sacrifices, things they might have brought with them, what they might have done along the way (sing, played tag, helped push the handcarts, etc.)

To Be a Pioneer

There are many of us who don't have Utah pioneer heritage.  To Be a Pioneer, p. 218, is a great song that includes all of us and it has a fun descant.

Verse 1:

• picture or cutout of a handcart
• picture of a family
• mile sign - 1000 miles to Utah, or just a sign with a number of miles

Verse 2: word strips of:

• great courage
• Faith to conquer
• work with might
• cause that's right

Descant:

    The descant is very easy because of the repetitive words.  Singing it a few times will help them learn it.

When you put it together, ask another adult to sing one part with half of the children while you sing the second part with the other half of the children.  The piano can be a big help by playing only the descant and the melody of the verse. Note that the descant is the same for both verses.

Little Pioneer Children

The songs about the pioneers in the Children's Songbook are fun to sing as well as teaching about the sacrifices made to be able to worship as Latter Day Saints.

"Little Pioneer Children" p. 216, is a fun one to sing as a round.

You will need pictures of:

• berries
• chips (dried cattle manure) or wood
• children helping each other or pioneer children

Second verse: word strips of - 

• Singing all the day
• There's still time to play
• Often singing and dancing

Sing the first verse using the pictures.  Have the children sing with you. Let come children hold the pictures and sing it again.

Sing the second verse using the word strips. Have the children sing with you. Let come children point to the word strips or hold them and sing it again. 

Use younger children to hold the pictures and older ones to hold or point to the words.  Have the younger children sing the first and then the older children sing the second verse. Try singing it in a round.  Ask an older child or teacher to sing with half of the children while you sing with the other half.  This will take a little practice but the children will enjoy singing in a round once they know the song well.  Don't give up!  There is always next week.

I Love to See the Temple

The song for this month is I Love to See the Temple, p.95.  Most children know this song so helping them understand the purpose of temples is the goal for this month.  There are 9 keep points to learn and/or remember about the temple.

The first verse teaches that you go to the temple to:

• feel the Holy spirit
• listen
• pray

The second verse teaches that we:

• covenant with the Father
• promise to obey
• are sealed together forever

We also learn that:

• the temple is a house of God
• it's a place of love and beauty
• It's a holy place

Use building blocks (9 blocks including one triangle for the top) or use a  large picture of the temple in your area and cut it into nine strips.  As you sing place the pieces or blocks on the table or board.  Begin from the bottom up.  Save the top piece for last representing sealing families forever.

I choose not to write the phrases on each piece so I can use is again and again.   You can also build it by asking the children about what they know about the temple - you wear white clothing, you are baptized and confirmed for the dead, you can seal ancestors that have died (husband and wife) together, seal children to parents, pray for those who need special help, learn, etc.  As thoughts are given, you can build the temple and then sing the song.

You write the 9 phrases on the board in mixed-up order so the children can see and unscramble them, also.

My Flag, My Flag

Any nationality can enjoy singing "My Flag," p. 225.  The United States celebrates its independence soon.  This is a great song to learn and it's quite easy.

Begin by singing it through for the children to hear.

• Sing the first 2 1/2 lines
• Ask the children how many times you sang "my flag?"  (6)
• Ask them to sing it with you, then ask what the two rhyming words are.  (wave and brave)
• Sing the 2 lines again
• Sing the last 2 1/2 lines
• Ask the children how many times you sang "wave on?"  (4)
• Ask them to sing it with you, then ask what the two rhyming words are. 
• (free and liberty)  
• Sing the 2 lines again
• Sing the whole song
• Tell the children that there are two phrases that are repeated in the song.  Ask if anyone can guess what one or both of the phrases are.
• Sing the song again
• Ask the children if this song can be sung in any other country.  (yes! It celebrates patriotism!)

Gather flags or pictures of flags where missionaries are serving in your branch, ward or stake and wave the flags as your sing.

Father's Day review activity

If possible, write the names of each child on a paper and put them in a bag or box.  (We have all their names on popcicle sticks in a jar.)  Choose several songs that you need to review along with some Father's Day songs.  Give the list to your pianist.  Let the pianist choose which one to sing.

• draw 5 names from the bag and ask them to tell what they like about their dad.
• Ask another child to guess what the song as the pianist plays the introduction.  Sing the song.
• draw 5 names from the bag and ask them to tell what their dads do for them. 
• Ask another child to guess what the song as the pianist plays the introduction.  Sing the song.

Continue in this fashion as long as time permits.

First Principles & Ordinances of the Gospel

The theme for June incorprorates "The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel."  Several songs are used in the month's presentations.  The Fourth Article of Faith, pg. 124, presents the theme perfectly.  Faith, pg. 96, explains the first principle - faith.  The Holy Ghost, pg. 105, is also suggested as it explains how the Holy Ghost helps us and what we need to do to receive his help.

I have written a post on how to teach the 2nd verse of Faith, which is a bit more difficult than the first verse.  Check it out on previous posts under Faith.

First Verse:  Use a picture of Christ being baptized.  Tell the children that He received the Holy Ghost right after He was baptized.  Then show the picture of The Last Supper.  Tell the children that Jesus promised the disciples that He would send another comforter once He was gone, which was the Holy ghost. Sing the first verse using the pictures to prompt the words.

*** Father's Day is just a few weeks away.  There are several posts about "Father's Day."  Check them out for ideas for activities and learning Father's Day songs.

Review "Praise to the Man"

Let's review Praise to the Man!  If you are teaching children that can read, use word strips that you defined in the previous post.

• Place word strips in a mixed-up order on half of the board
• Sing the first phrase
• Have a child find the word or words that were sung in that phrase and place them in order on one side of the board
• Sing the next phrase and do the same thing until you finish the verse

Chorus

• Sing the chorus together
• Have the boys sing the first phrase of the chorus
• Girls sing the second
• Teachers sing the third
• Everyone sings the rest of the chorus together

Other ideas

• everyone whose first name begins with A, J, L or M sing the 1st two phrases
• everyone whose first name begins with B, Z, C, L, K sing the rest of the chorus
• Everyone who is in 3rd or 5th grade sing . . .
• Use several combinations

Non-Readers

• Use several pictures of Joseph Smith that connect with the phrases
• The First Vision
• Joseph receiving the priesthood
• Joseph being baptized
• Joseph preaching
• Joseph going to Carthage Jail
• any other picture that will help children remember the words
• Sing the hymn several times, first in short sections then all the way through

Praise to the Man - Chorus

The chorus to Praise to the Man celebrates Joseph Smith and his great work in restoring the gospel on the earth.

Explain each phrase so the children understand what they are singing:

• Hail to the prophet - praise the prophet Joseph Smith
• ascended to Heaven - because of Joseph Smith's faithfulness, he went up to heaven
• Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain - people that did not like Joseph Smith can't fight him anymore because he died knowing that the gospel will never be taken from the earth.
• Mingling with Gods, he will plan for his brethren - Joseph Smith and other prophets are preparing a place for us in heaven if we are righteous and obey God's commandments.
• Death cannot conquer the hero again - Joseph Smith can't die again.

Ask the children and teachers to help explain the meaning of each phrase.  They might have good explanations, too.  Sing one phrase at a time then sing two phrases together, and so on.

Review the first verse 2 or 3 times, then start the chorus.  This song will need to be reviewed every week so the children will truly know it by the fall.

Praise to the Man, first verse

Praise to the Man was a part of the Primary Program 5 years ago and interestingly enough there were no helps in teaching this hymn given then either. Five years ago I taught the sign language to the children and it truly helped them learn it ( see Praise to the Man).  Not all people are capable of teaching in sign language and if you don't check with a professional interpreter, some of your signs that you may think are correct may have a totally different meaning to a deaf person.  So be cautious when using sign language.  It is difficult to mimic what you see on a video including the Church website.

Begin by teaching the song in small sections.
First two phrases: Define and talk about the following words for the next few weeks until you feel the children understand (somewhat) these words.

• commune  - talk to, communicate with
• Jehovah - another name for Jesus
• Anointed - Called to perform a duty/work/task/be a leader
• Prophet and Seer - how was Joseph Smith a prophet and seer?  How is Pres. Monson a prophet and seer? 
• Last dispensation - This is the last time the Lord will have a prophet on the earth before Jesus comes again.
• Kings shall extol him. - Kings will enthusiastically praise him
• Nations revere  -  nations will respect and admire him

Sing these phrases several times and remind the children of the meaning. Repetition will be the best way to help the children learn this hymn and love it!

Mother's Day Bouquet

One of my favorite things to do on Mother's Day is:

• Cut out 20 flowers or use artificial flowers
• Choose songs that you would like to review including some Mother's Day songs.
• You can put the titles on the flowers or give a list to your pianist and he/she can play the songs on the list.
• Call 2 or 3 children up to pick a flower and tell one thing they love about their mother.
• Sing one of the songs on the list
• Continue as time permits

You can put the flowers in a basket or draw stems on the board and let the children tape them to the top of the stems.  Artificial flowers can be placed in a vase.

I Often Go Walking

Next week is Mother's Day (originating from Hallmark).  Nevertheless, many celebrate because we ALL have a mom.

I Often Go Walking, p. 202, is the perfect song for children to sing to their mothers.

First Verse:

• 1st phrase - cut out a clover out of green paper
• 2nd phrase - cut out blue flowers or use a bouquet of artificial blue flowers
• 3rd phrase - act out picking flowers
• 4th phrase - show a picture of a mom with children

Second Verse:

• 1st phrase - tape a red heart to one of the blue flowers
• 2nd phrase - act out smelling a flower
• 3rd phrase - point to the flowers, clover and act out walking
• 4th phrase - show a heart and/or the picture of the mom and children

Be sure to sing each phrase several times.

Mother, Tell Me a Story

Mother's Day is only a few weeks away.  One of my favorite songs is "Mother, Tell Me a Story," p 204.  This is especially nice when you can ask a mom to sing the "mother" part.  It promises to be a heart-warming musical number for Sacrament Meeting or a special closing exercise musical number on Mother's Day.

It's easy to teach:

• 1st phrase - show a story book
• 2nd phrase - point up for "heaven" and down for "earth"
• 3rd phrase - show a red heart
• 4th phrase - shut your eyes as if sleeping

Second verse:

• 1st phrase - show a picture of Jesus
• 2nd phrase - show a picture of Jesus with little children
• 3rd phrase - show a picture of a mother and child
• 4th phrase - shut your eyes as if sleeping

Be sure to sing each phrase a few times before going on.

Article of Faith #3

The third Article of Faith teaches the theme for this month (April 2016).   Teaching the song (p. 123) can be simple.  Use a picture of Christ in Gethsemane, on the cross and resurrected.  Tell the children that the atonement of Christ is a gift that Christ gave all of us - the gift to return to our Heavenly Father.  In return for this gift, we must be obedient to His laws and ordinances.

• Sing the first phrase - have the children sing it with you 2 or three times.
• Sing the second phrase ('all mankind may be saved') - repeat with the children 2 or 3 times.
• Add the first phrase and sing both phrases a few times.
• Sing the last phrase.  Note that "gospel" has 3 notes.  Sing that word with the children twice, then sing the whole phrase with them.
• Sing the entire Article of Faith

When you are repeating phrases, change things up a bit by having the children stand and sing, face the back and sing, boys sing, girls, sing, different classes sing.  This adds variety as they repeat and learn the song.

I'm Trying to Be like Jesus

This month the song is your choice.  The theme is "Jesus Christ Is My Savior and Redeemer."  Suggested songs to be used during this month in sharing time are "I Lived in Heaven" p. 4 and "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus" p. 78.

Many of the children know "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus," but here are some helps to teach and/or review this song:
Verse 1:

• 1st phrase - use a picture of Jesus
• 2nd phrase - make a few footprints
• 3rd and 4th phrase - use a picture of Jesus with little children
• draw a red circle with a line crossing = meaning "wrong way"
• last phrase - use a picture of a child praying

Sing the 1st verse and point to the pictures as you sing.  Have the children sing it with you several times.  Add variety to the repetition by having girls sing, then boys sing, teachers sing.  Have classes or groups sing one phrase, the next group sing the next phrase, etc.

Verse 2:

• 1st and 2nd phrase - use a picture of children helping others
• 3rd and 4th phrase - picture of the resurrected Christ
• last 2 phrases - picture of "The Sermon on the Mount" or a picture of a primary teaching children or a family having Family Home Evening.

Use the same ideas for teaching as the first verse.

Chorus:

• 1st phrase - make a red heart
• 2nd and 3rd phrase - point to the picture of children helping others
• last phrase - point to the picture of "The Sermon on the Mount" or a picture of a primary teaching children or a family having Family Home Evening.

This activity may take two weeks to learn the whole song depending on your time.  Remember to review.

Easter Basket of Love

Fill the basket with love for our Jesus.

• Find several pictures of Christ on the cross, in Gethsemane, the last supper, at the tomb and the resurrected Christ.  Place them on the board or where the children can see them.
• Bring two or more dozen plastic eggs.
• One large basket with Easter straw or grass in it.

Tell the children that each egg is empty.  Each egg will represent what things we can do to remember His sacrifice for us.  The children can also tell about one of the pictures.

After each comment, ask one or two children to put an egg into the basket.  Sing one of the Easter songs or a review song after every two comments.  Add an egg for a song well sung.

*There are several ideas for Easter in earlier posts.  Check them out for more ideas.

Easter

The meaning of Easter is told simply in the Primary Songbook.  Choose 3 or 4 to sing this week and next week.  Show pictures that depict the crucifixion and resurrection.  Ask the children to tell about each picture then sing one of the songs that you have chosen.

Remember to review the songs that the children have recently learned to keep them fresh in their minds.

Stand for the Right Review

Stand for the Right is a fun song to review.

• Choose a class to be the "narrator."  They will sing:  Our prophet has some words for you and these are the words
• Choose another class to be the "prophet."  They will sing:  Be true, be true
• Choose another class to tell where we should be true.  They will sing:  At work, or at play, in darkness or light
• "Prophet" class:  Be true, be true, and stand for the right.

Choose different classes and sing it again.  You can also have boys, girls and teachers sing the parts.  If you have some brave children, choose a few to sing the parts for the whole primary.

Stand for the Right

Stand for the Right, p. 159, has a simple yet powerful message for all of us.  It is an easy song to teach, as well.

You will need:

• A picture of several prophets (I use Old Testament, Book of Mormon and latter-day prophets including Pres. Monson.)
• Several word strips that say: BE TRUE.  (I have 8 to 10 strips each taped on a short stick and the strips are laminated.)  
• A picture of children playing or you can use a ball and jump rope
• A picture or cutout of the moon and sun.
• A word strip of STAND FOR THE RIGHT.

This song was used in a recent Primary program so some of the order children may know it.  Have the pianist play through the song while you sing or say the words.  (Singing is always preferred.)  As you sing hold up the pictures and words.  (You can tape them to the board so you can point to them or have children hold them.)  Ask the children to sing it with you a few times as you point to the visual aids.

Pass the 8 or 10 BE TRUE sticks to several children.  Ask them to hold them up high when you all sing those word.  Pass the sticks to different children (teachers can help, too) and sing it a few more times.  

You might want to use different pictures of prophets and ask the children what the specific prophet has told us.

Month End Review

Reviewing songs solidifies the words and the music in little minds.  I like to review all songs that we have learned so far this year.  But, to add more interest and variety, I add a few action and/or favorites of the children.  Here is my list for February end of month review?

• I Will Follow God's Plan
• Did Jesus Really Live Again
• Hold to the Rod
• Search, Ponder and Pray
• Do as I'm Doing
• Fun to Do
• Families Can Be Together Forever
• I Am a Child of God

Substitute your favorites. 

 In keeping with the theme this month, draw a path on the board with earth at the beginning and Heaven at the end.  Make 8 stop signs (red paper with the word stop written on it) or how ever many songs you would like to sing.  Write the titles of the songs on the back of each stop sign.  Tape the stop signs along the path.  Choose a child to remove the first stop sign.  Ask him/her to tell one thing that will help us get back to our Heavenly Father, then sing the song.  The goal is to follow the path to Heaven.

*Remember to save your visual aids.  I laminate them so they will last through the 30 years I have used and reused them.  

I Will Follow God's Plan - Review

You can make this poster or use the just the pictures and words to teach or review "I Will Follow God's Plan."   Once I have used this poster a couple of weeks, I make just the pictures and word strips and put them in a bag or box (preferably a cute bag or box) and ask a child to draw one of the pictures or words.  There are 17 "prompts," so you may want to draw 2 or 3 at a time.  Write the numbers 1 - 17 on the board and see if the children can figure out where the pictures or words belong.  This will require singing the song several times.  The children will be listening for the words so it is a great way to review this song.
You can also leave out a few prompts as time permits.

Note: Sing the songs at the tempo marked.  If you sing to fast the little ones can't sing the words fast enough and too slow looses interest and meaning.

"I Will Follow God's Plan"

Review "I Will Follow God's Plan"  using the following activity.

Put the pictures used last week on the board in the correct order.  You will need a ball of string or yarn that can go around the primary room or at least half of it. Hold the end of the string and ask a child to take the ball and walk around the room while you stand at the front and hold the end.  Let the string fall to the ground so it outlines the room.  Ask the child to return to you with the string once he has gone around the room.

Tell the children that Jesus has given us a path or plan to return to Him.  Explain to the children that this song helps us understand how Jesus helps us.  Sing the song.  Ask the children what ways or things did we sing about in this song that Jesus has given to us to help us return to Him.  (a plan, purpose, choice, seek His light, His word, His love, etc.)  

Choose a few children to hold onto the string and walk around the room while you sing the song.  Choose a few more and sing it again.  Ask the children why it is important to hold onto the string.  Sing the song again as a few more children walk around the room holding onto the string.

I Will Follow God's Plan

"I Will Follow God's Plan," p. 164, was included in the 2014 Sacrament Meeting Program.  That means that many of the children (not all) will know this song with some review.  Check out this title on my previous entries.  There is a down load for a great visual and many helps for teaching this song.

I keep all my visuals in a large container because I know that I can "recycle" them as we use songs over and over.  However, as a new music director, you do need to begin your collection.  It is always nice to pass your materials - visuals, etc. to the new music director so they have something to begin with, especially generic helps and visuals.  Stop and Go signs, loud and soft signs, fast and slow signs, etc. are a must as we teach music.

I have written posts about many of the songs we sing.  Look them up by title or subject for ideas and help.

Did Jesus Really live Again

This is a perfect song for Easter but it also explains the resurrection in a simple, understandable way.  I teach this song in phrases with picture hints.

1st verse

• 1st phrase - on a paper draw a large question mark
• 2nd phrase - draw the number "3" on a paper or hold up three fingers
• 3rd and 4th phrase - use the picture of Christ with Mary kneeling outside the tomb

2nd verse

• 1st phrase - use another or the same question mark
• 2nd phrase - a picture of feet or point to your feet
• 3rd and 4th  phrase - a picture of a fish and honeycomb

3rd verse

• Use a picture of the resurrected Christ
• point to your hands and side
• use the question mark to finish

Using pictures and actions helps all the children visualize the meaning of this song as well as learning the words..You also include the young non-readers.

Review Time

Reviewing songs that you recently learned is critical.  The children need the review when they only sing them once a week (unless they sing them at home which would be great!).

I keep all my visuals from year to year so I can quickly recycle their use.  You will need:

• 5 to 10 snowflakes
• titles of 3 or 4 songs the children know or favorites - "Once There Was a Snowman," "Do As I'm Doing," etc.  Print the titles on small strips of paper and tape them to the back of the snowflakes.
• Print key words or a short phrase from "The Iron Rod" and "Search, Ponder and Pray" on several strips of paper and tape them on the back of the snowflakes.
• Tape the snowflakes onto the board.
• Let a child choose one, then sing that song.

You should sing the two new songs for this month several times mixed with a few favorites.

The Iron Rod part 2

There are only two lines to the verses in this song and then the two-line chorus.  Each verse explains a little more about Lehi's dream which Nephi also received.

• Sing the 1st verse as the children listen.  
• Ask them to tell what Nephi saw in this dream - the Iron Rod.  
• Ask them what the iron rod represents.  The word of God
• Sing the chorus with the children (Use your visual from last week - the iron rod)
• Sing the 1st verse again as the children listen.
• If you choose, make a word chart of this verse. (I teach it without words. Remember that the young children cannot read yet.)
• Show a picture of Nephi - sing the first line.
• Have the children sing it with you  2 or 3 times
• Sing the 2nd line and point to the iron rod.  Remind the children that it is the word of God.
• Have the children sing it with you  2 or 3 times
• Sing both lines together twice then finish with the chorus

The more times you sing it the better the children will remember it.

The Iron Rod

I'm excited about the hymn this year, "The Iron Rod." # 274.  The program outline suggests leaning the chorus only but I like to learn the whole hymn.  If you begin with the chorus, the children will sing it out and love it - which is the goal.

You will need:

• a rod - you can use a dowel rod or sturdy stick
• word strips of "strong," "bright" and "true"  Punch a hole in the top or side and tie a string through each word strip.
• word strip of "Word of God"

"Hold to the rod, the iron rod"  - sing the phrase and show the "rod"
"'Tis strong and bright and true"  -  String each word strip onto the rod as you sing the word.
"The iron rod is the word of God"  - tape the word strip of  "Word of God" onto the rod as you sing the phrase.
"'Twill safely guide us through."  - Sing this phrase then ask the children what it means - "guide us through what?"  Hopefully they will answer: through this earth life.

Explain to the children the "'Tis" means "it is" but we only have one note so we sing "'tis."  Ask them if they know what "'Twill" means.  Then explain that it is short for "it will."  Again, there is only one note so it is a contraction of "it will."  (You don't have to be that technical if you don't want to be.)

Sing the chorus several times allowing the children to but the word strips on as you sing.

Search, Ponder and Pray

This is a great song to introduce the theme for this year (2016).  Some children may already know it but you will always have a few that need to learn it (youngest children) or need to review it.

You will need:

• Cut out a red heart from an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper
• picture or cutout of the scriptures
• 3 word strips - one each of Search, Ponder, Pray (colored paper is more eye-catching)
• Cut out 3 circles each from an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper, use colored paper if possible.  put a large check mark in the middle of each.
• Cut out a red heart from an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper and print Testimony on it.
• picture of a child reading the scriptures
• picture of a child praying

First verse:

• Hold up the red heart and show the picture of a child reading the scriptures -sing the first two phrases
• Sing it with the children
• Show the heart with the word Testimony on it and sing the second phrase. Sing it with the children.
• Sing the 1st verse with the children holding up the visual prompts as you sing.

Chorus

• Sing the first phrase of the chorus and hold up the words Search, Ponder, Pray as you sing them.  Sing the phrase with the children a few times.
• Show the picture of a child reading the scriptures and praying and sing the last phrase of the chorus.  Have the children sing it with you.
• Sing the chorus a few times using the prompts

Second verse:

• Show the picture of a child reading the scriptures and praying. Sing the first phrase and then have the children sing it with you a few times.
• Point to your mind as you sing the second phrase and then continue as you stand up tall to heed the Lord's command and live as he would have me do.
• Have the children stand and sing the last phrase with you a few times doing the actions.
• Sing the 2nd verse a few times and then add the chorus

Remember that repetition is the best way to learn!