"Come Follow Me" Review

"The 2015 Outline for Sharing Time" on page 15, shows 8 footprints with the phrases printed on them from  the hymn "Come Follow Me."  Make 4 sets (more or less depending on the size of your primary).  Pass them out to the children in the Primary.  (There may not be enough for each child, but that's okay.)  Ask the children to quietly read their footprint. Tell the them that as everyone sings the hymn, when they hear the phrase on their footprint, they are to stand up.  Hopefully all the children holding a footprint will be standing as you finish singing.  Pass the footprints to children who have not had a turn and sing the hymn again following the same pattern.  It is fun to include the leaders and teachers.

You can also do this activity backwards.  Everyone holding a footprint should stand until their phrase is sung.  No one should be left standing at the end of the hymn.  Hopefully you will sing the hymn several times to "seal" the words in the children's mind.

The Handcart Song

The Handcart Song, p. 220, is a fun song for the children to learn as we commemorate the pioneer trek. Begin by telling a little about the handcart pioneers.  There are many stories - or you could ask the children to tell what they know about these hard working people.

Sing the first 2 lines of the song.
Ask the children to listen for the rhymes and sing it again.
Print the rhyming words on the board: West, test, long, song
Have the children sing with you and point to the rhyming words when you come to them.
Ask the following questions - tell them that the answers are in the song:

• What were the pioneers doing?  moving to the West
• How did they meet the test?  With courage strong
• How long did they push their handcarts?  all day long
• What did they do while they pushed?  sang

Chorus:

Do the actions to the words of the first line of the chorus.  Have the children sing and do the actions with you.

Sing the last line and then have the children sing it 2 or 3 times

This song can be sung as the children march around the primary room.  Sing it 2 or 3 times so they can all march around the room and quietly march to their seat.

Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked

Regardless of where you live, our pioneer heritage belongs to all of us.  Unless we share stories of the pioneers, children will never know them - their trials and victories.

The Primary Songbook has several songs about the pioneers.  My personal favorite is "Whenever I Think about Pioneers" p. 222 - 223.  It is also the most difficult.

An easier one is "Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked" p. 214.  The first 2 lines are the same with a slightly different melody.  The last line is the same as the first with very slight variation.  These 3 lines are quite easy to teach.  The third line can be taught with actions.  Let the children choose actions to this line.  Once they have sung it a few times, have them walk around the room while singing it

"Come Follow Me" Footprint Review

Hymns tend to be a little more difficult for the children to learn - especially for the little ones.  The more you sing it with them the better they learn and come to love it.

Using the footprints from last week, place them in order on the board and then sing the hymns with the children.  If they are still struggling with the words, sing it one or two more times.

Take the footprints down and place them back up in a mixed up order.  Ask two or three children to come and place them in order.  If they get stumped, sing the song with the children.  Remove the footprints and replace them in a mixed up order but this time leave one footprint out (without the children knowing).  Have a few children put them in order.  See if anyone notices the the missing footprint.  Sing the hymn again.

Now place the footprints up in a mixed up order but leave out 3.  Sing the hymn again.  To end singing time, try singing the hymn with no footprints.

*Plan ahead:  Ask the music director for Sacrament meeting to sing "Come Follow Me" in a few weeks.  The children's faces will light up as they recognize the hymn.

Come Follow Me

The song for July is a hymn - #116.  The 2015 Sharing Time Outline, p. 15 has a great idea for teaching this hymn.  The footprints are easy to make - use brown paper or add pizzazz and use bright colored footprints.  Print the words on the footprints or print word strips and tape or glue them on the footprints.  The words need to be large enough for the back row to read them so the footprints need to be at least a foot (12 inches) long or longer.

Teach one phrase at a time and sing it at least 3 times before moving to the next phrase.  You should be able to learn the 1st verse in one singing time.  Keep the footprints to use as a review during the rest of the month.

Father's Day Singing Time

There are several "Father's Day" activities that I have posted throughout the past several years.  Because I only use them once or twice at this time, I save the visuals and use them again another year.  If the kids remember the activity, they love doing it again.  If it is new to some, they will love doing it.  Click on a couple of "Father's Day" labels and choose one and use songs that your primary needs to review or Father's Day songs.  Here are a few activities that I've shared over the years:

Decorate a tie
Father's tie choosing time
Tool box choosing time
Daddy's hat choosing

Be sure to encourage the children to do and say something nice to their Dads, Grandpas, Uncles and special men in their lives.

My Dad and When Grandpa Comes

Father's Day is a week away.  One of my favorites is "When Grandpa Comes" p. 201.  The children especially like the phrase "He has a wrinkly, twinkly smile;" and the end of each phrase rhymes - except for the last line.  Sing it through twice then ask the children a question that can be answered in the song.

• What does Grandpa say?   the kindest things
• How does he say it?    in the kindest way
• Describe Grandpa's smile?  wrinkly, twinkly
• It's always fun when who comes?  Grandpa

My Dad, p. 211 is another great song about fathers.  Note that the first two and last two phrases rhyme. Sing each phrase then have the children sing it with you.  Sing the next phrase and have the children sing it twice.  Sing the first 2 phrases.  Follow the same pattern for the last two phrases.  Ask questions that can be answered in the song.  After each question, sing the song and ask the children to raise their hand when they sing the answer.  You might want to mix up the questions so they are not in the order as the song.

• Who's your favorite pal?  My dad
• Who do you help every day?  My dad
• What is plain to see?  I want to be like him in every way
• What does your dad teach you?  honesty  is best in all you do
• I'm very glad that ____________.  (fill in the blank)  he's my dad
• Who loves you?   My dad