God speaks to us

We have the opportunity to sustain a new prophet and two new apostles April 1, 2018.  What a great event!

This is a good time to review the words to "If the Savior Stood Beside Me."  We have been given a prophet to guide us and help us live as if the Savior were beside us.

Share with the children your testimony, especially with Easter being next week.  The third verse tells us how Christ is always there for us, how he "dearly" loves us and watches over us.

Remind the children that God uses his prophet and apostles to give us His message.  So, If we want to know what the Savior wants us to know today, listen to General Conference and we can all know.

*Note:
There are ideas for Easter activities in earlier posts if you need more ideas.

Kite Review

Using different and fun visuals put pizzazz into reviewing songs.

• cut several (6 - 8) kite shapes out of various colored paper (diamond shape works quite well) You can use more kites depending on how many words and/or phrases you want to have.  Different sizes and shapes are also fun.
• tape a piece of string or yarn on the end for a tail (8 to 10 inches long)
• Put key words from the phrases of the song you would like to review
• "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"
• commandments
• example
• righteously
• say
• do
• near me
• words
• gospel
• reverently
• kind of person
• watchful

Depending on the amount of time you have, ask one or two children to put a kite in the "air" (on the board) and sing the song.  Ask the children to stand or raise their hand when they sing the word or words on the kite.  continue until all the kites are flying.

You may want to divide the kites by verses so you sing one verse at a time.

If the Savior Stood Beside Me

"If the Savior Stood Beside Me"

In March of 2013, I wrote the following post to teach this song.  It has been used in the 2008 Primary Sacrament Program as well.  I am re-publishing it for those of you have not been serving in primary for 5 years or more.  

Using a set of pictures from the scriptures one week and the set in the program , p. 28, the next week, can help the children see how the message in this song are eternal and apply to all of us at any time in history.

"If the Savior Stood Beside Me" is the song for March.  The music is printed in the 2013 Sacrament Meeting Program.  It was used in the 2008 Sacrament Meeting Program, as well.  There is a great idea on page 26 for teaching this song.  On the church website, the entire song is printed out with a question mark in the back ground.  I love the pictures that were chosen to go with the questions, however, I couldn't find them all.  Instead of using modern day pictures, I am using pictures from the scriptures such as for the phrase, "would I do the things I do," the picture of Nephi subduing his rebellious brothers or the conversion of Alma the Younger, would be appropriate and a little more difficult to match.  I like to have easy pictures that match the words for the younger children and pictures that the older ones need to think about.

Place the words in order on the board.  Put the pictures on the sides of the board.  Sing the first phrase and have the children find the picture that goes with the phrase.  If they choose the "wrong" picture, put it under the question anyway and go to the next phrase.  Hopefully they will see the mistake as more pictures are chosen.  Be sure to sing the phrases several times.

This activity may take the entire singing time.  You could teach the second and third verse the next 2 weeks the same way.  Be sure to sprinkle in an active song such as "Do as I'm Doing," "Fun to Do," "Popcorn Popping...," etc. help with keeping wiggles under control.

Choosing Time

During the wintertime, sometimes things get a little dull - boring, as children put it.  Try a singing time of all the children's favorite songs or teacher's favorites.  If your pianist is capable, you can do a "choosing time" on the spot.  However, if he/she needs to practice first, you choose the songs the children like so the pianist has time to practice before you sing.

Don't forget to use action songs like "Do as I'm Doing," "Fun to Do," "Once there Was a Snowman," "Rain (Snow)Is Falling," "The Wise Man..." etc.  There will be songs from previous programs that the children love to sing.

You might consider ending singing time with "I Am a Child of God."

All Things Bright and Beautiful

There are several songs in the Primary Songbook that are about the creation.

"All Things Bright and Beautiful," p. 231, has some great lyrics about many things that God has created.  The chorus is at the beginning but can easily be sung at the end, also.

The verses can be easily illustrated by drawing the pictures on the board or finding pictures to go with each verse.  During the week call a few children and give them an assignment to bring a picture that will go with the various verses:

• one child could bring a picture of  flower
• another could bring a picture of a bird
• etc.

There could be could be 13 pictures to illustrate all 4 verses.  Some children will be quite happy to receive an assignment.  Be sure to talk with parents, too, and send a reminder on Saturday.  With e-mails, assignments like this can be simple.

Make sure that each phrase is repeated several times so the children learn the melody.

"I Have Two Ears"

Review "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," p. 324.

"I Have Two Ears," p. 269, is a good song to sing this month as we learn about God's creations.

Use pictures or word strips of the following to help teach this song:

• 2 ears
• "truth"
• 2 eyes
• "to see"
• 2 feet
• "carry me"
• 2 lips
• "speak kind words"
• 2 hands
• "to work
• "loving helpers"

I like to teach teach the chorus first so we can always end the song.  Sing the first phrase then ask the children to sing it with you a few times. Continue singing one phrase at a time with the children singing after you until they know the chorus.

Match the picture with the word as you sing the verses.  Sing a phrase then have the children sing it with you.

Save your visuals to use as you review this song in coming weeks.

Pictionary

Try a game of "Pictionary" to review "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," p.228.
Tell the children that we are going to play "Pictionary" for this song.  If they know the song, tell them to keep it a secret until all the hints have been given.

• Write the following word/phrases on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat, bowl or bag.
• bird singing/whistling
• blue sky or just sky
• rain
• wind
• a rose
• lilac tree
• world
• eyes
• butterfly
• ears
• mind
• heart
• Tell the children that who ever chooses a paper must draw a picture on the board to help us guess it.  (Do your best to have the children raise their hand and NOT shout it out.)
• After all the pictures have been drawn, put them in the order as you sing the song.
• Ask one class to sing one line then another class sing the next line, etc. until you have sung the entire song.