No Time to Prepare Singing Time

No time to put together something for singing time?  We've all been there.

November is a gratitude month.  Sing "I Am Glad for Many Things," p. 151.

• How many syllables are in "many things?"  (3)
• Let's think of some foods that we are thankful for that will fit in place of "many things."  (red apples, bananas, pears & grapes)
• How about favorite foods.  (hamburgers, pizza pie, Mac & cheese)
• Desserts.  (apple pie, choc'late cake, ice cream cone)
• Clothes.  (winter coat, fluffy hat, fuzzy gloves, hiking shoes)
• People.  (Mom & Dad, Gramps & Grams, uncles - aunts)
• Thinks to do.  (bicycling, playing games, racking leaves)

The list can go on and on but the key is to only use 3 syllables.  Sometimes you need to force an extra syllable.

You can also use "Fun to Do," p. 253, and come up with ways to serve others.

• Sharing my toys is fun to do . . .
• Racking up leaves is fun to do . . .
• Sharing my lunch is fun to do . . .
• Helping Mom clean is fun to do . . .
• Gardening with Gramps is fun to do . . . 
• Baking some bread is fun to do . . .
• Playing with friends is fun to do . . .
• Mowing the lawn is fun to do . . .
• Shoveling snow is fun to do . . .
• Mopping the floor is fun to do . . .

These are both fun activities for the children and take very little effort on your part.  They are fun, but also help teach thankfulness and service.

Fall Fun

Choose some favorite songs including a few "Autumn" songs.  You can use "Rain Is Falling..." p. 241, and change the word "rain" to "leaves."  The children will love it.  You could also use p. 246 and 247 along with your favorites.

Cut a large pumpkin shape out of orange paper.  With black paper, cut two eyes, a nose, a mouth, eyebrows, cheeks, maybe ears and curly eyelashes.  You could also cut out a green stem, a vine and a few colored leaves.

Lay all the parts to use on the pumpkin on the table so the children can see them and choose what they want to use to decorate.  Every time you sing a song or a verse, let one or two children put something on the pumpkin.  Be sure to watch your time so the pumpkin gets fully decorated. 

Birthday Song

Is it time to learn a new birthday song? We often get stuck in a rut and sing the same songs for opening, closing and birthdays.  There are 6 birthday songs in the Primary Songbook, including the baptism one on p. 104.

If you'd like a challenging song, try Feliz, Cumpleanos, p. 282.  This one is great if you have people in your ward that speak different languages or returned missionaries.  They can help you pronounce the words or give it a try yourself and use the pronunciations in the song.  The melody is fun and the rhythm truly makes the song. 

You can use:

• word strips for pronunciation guides
• word strips with the country of the language
• pictures of children from the different countries

These will all help the children learn and love this new birthday song.  Always teach one phrase and a time with at least repeats of it so it sticks in their minds.

*It's always good if you know the song before you teach it.

When It's Fall Time

Enjoy singing some of the children's favorite songs.  Choose songs that your primary love to sing - many will come from the Sacrament Meeting Program this year.  Include p. 246 It's Autumntime, p. 247 Autumn Day and p. 241 Rain Is Falling (substitute leaves for rain).

I like to cut out leaf shapes in orange, yellow, red and brown.

• put the titles and/or page numbers on the back 
• tape the leaves to the board
• ask a child to to pick a leaf
• sing the song that is on the back
• continue until all the leaves are chosen

Weak Link

Did you make note of the songs that needed a little extra work before the upcoming program?  Determine which songs you would like to review - sometimes it's a verse that is weak.

Tell the children that sometimes we need to scrub the floor a little harder to get it clean or a stain on our clothes.  Our shoes may look okay but with a little cleaning and brushing we can make them shine.

Our songs for the program may be okay, but we want them to be spectacular.  It's our way of giving our best to Heavenly Father.  So . . . lets "shine" up our songs so we know that we are doing the best we can.

• Sing through the first song to be reviewed.  Ask the children what could be better - words, melody, etc.
• Sing it again and look for improvement.  Let the children help check for improvement.  
• Go over words, melody or a weak spot in the song.
• Sing it again.  Is it better?

Continue in this fashion.

Judgement Time

It's review time as we all prepare for our Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  I like to evaluate what songs the children know well and those that need some refreshing.

• Sing through each song that you plan on singing in the program - remember to sing all verses if possible.
• Rate each of the songs - 1 through 10, 10 being awesome.
• Make written note of each song and what needs work as you review.

I like to engage the children in this activity.

• Make 3 or 4 sets of cards numbering 1 through 10
• Choose 3 or 4 children to "judge" the first song
• after singing the song, each of the "judges" will hold up a card that will show how well they all know the song.
• Make sure the "judges" know that 1 is pretty bad, 5 is okay and 10 is awesome.
• You might want to judge verses separately as sometimes one verse is better than another.
• Choose 3 or 4 different children to "judge" the next song. 
• Continue in this fashion

Next week plan on working on the songs that need the most work.

Be sure to use these songs for opening and closing songs to keep them fresh in the children's minds.

Making the Most Out of Singing Time

How can I help children internalize the messages in the songs that we sing?

This is a great question that we should ask ourselves every time we teach or sing Primary songs.  As we prepare for the Sacrament meeting program, we review songs over and over.  It is when you hear the children humming or singing the songs at home, while they play, in the car, on walks, etc. that many of the words and precepts become apart of them.  They begin to understand why they are baptized, stories from the scriptures, why we study the scriptures, why we pray, the importance of missionary work and genealogy, etc.

This post is to encourage singing, reviewing songs and singing again to help the children remember the songs.  You don't always have to have props or visuals. Singing one song after another or having a contest to see how many songs you can sing during your singing time is a great activity.

Sing standing up, facing the back or side of the room, singing every other phrase and humming the other phrase all help the children think about what they are singing.