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.

Integrating Ages

Integrating all ages in Primary is not an easy feat!  Whether it be in sharing time or singing time, a nine-year age span is a challenge.  There is the difference in attention span, readers and non-readers, back row/front row, not to mention tired and sometimes disinterested teachers.  What to do as a music leader?!?!

Enthusiasm and genuine happiness is contagious.  And, as I have stated in previous posts, be prepared, then be prepared for a little more.  Here are a few ideas on how to help the young children learn songs and the older ones to maintain attention.

• Ask some of the older children to sit among the younger ones.  They become examples to those 4, 5 and 6 year-olds.  
• When using word charts, try to have a few pictures that go along with the song and have the younger children hold them.
• Write words on the board and have an older child help a younger one erase a word or phrase while teaching or memorizing a song.
• Divide the room in half and half sing a phrase or verse and the other half sing the next phrase or verse.  Make sure that ages on each side are equal.
• Mix things up and have the boys sit on one side and the girls on the other for singing time.
• Ask a younger child to hold a sign up with "soft" on one side and "loud" on the other.  Let them turn it as the primary sings.  (other signs could be: hum/words, smile/frown, mouth words/sing words, etc.)

These are just a few ideas.  Remember to be positive and happy!

Umbrella Singing Time

How about "Singing in the Rain" under an umbrella!  Print as many umbrellas as you have songs or phrases to sing and teach.  Print them on colored paper or color them yourself.  On the pack tape the song title or phrase of a new song to learn.  Put the umbrellas in a basket or other container.  Choose super singers to pick an umbrella and tape it to the board where you have drawn a number of raindrops.  If you have time, you can draw or cut out stick-figure children to place on the bottom of the board and have the children place the umbrellas above them so they don't get wet.  This is a great way to review songs!

Father's Day Tie

Cut out a large man's tie -- 2 to 3 feet long out of poster board or construction paper.  Any color will work.  Then cut out 1/2 inch stripes or "quarter" size polka dots.  The children will decorate "Father's Tie." 

• You can put titles of songs on the backs of the dots or stripes.  
• Teach a new song a phrase at a time and put up a few dots or stripes after they sing a phrase correctly.  

If you want to use this activity next week or next year, laminate the tie for durability.

More Ideas for Teaching Songs

The outline for the 2011 Sacrament Program has many helps and suggestions. Page 26 and 27 of the outline give several suggestions and ideas for teaching the songs for the program.

The week after our Sacrament Program, I like to teach the children the “new” song for the next year's program. It gives us a jump start for next year but it is also refreshing to learn something new. If your primary is like ours, you have just spent several weeks drilling and rehearsing for the program so a new song is a welcome change.

When teaching a new song, have the accompanist play the new song several times as prelude music. This will help create familiarity for everyone.

Teach the new song to a few children ahead of time and have them sing it in primary to introduce it. Having a few teacher sing it as an introduction is also a great “attention getter.”

Humming and clapping are great ways to learn melody and rhythm.

I determine which song will be the most difficult in the new program. I choose to teach the sign language for this song along with the words. This keeps the children focused and helps them learn the words easier and better. The song is usually the hymn. The sign language is on the Church web site. Click for hymns. Click for Primary Songs.