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.