Patriotism

Patriotism is important to all of us no matter where we live or what country.  There are 2 great songs in the Primary Songbook about patriotism. 

"My Country," p. 224, gives a message of being proud or who we are and where we live.  It is also perfect for including children from different countries.  Use a world map to locate where some of the children's ancestors are from.  Then show the flag of that country.  You could also point out where missionaries from your ward are serving and show that flag.

"My Flag, My Flag," p. 225, expresses pride for our flag.  Before teaching this song, find flags (or pictures of them) from countries where some of the children's ancestors are from or from where missionaries in your ward or stake are serving.

Both songs are quite easy to teach one phrase at a time.

Celebrate Father's

Celebrate fathers through song!  List all the Father's/ family songs the children know, then gather the "dad bag."

Dad Bag:

• shoes, small shovel, hammer, dish towel, tie, barbecue spatula, scriptures, child's book, The Friend magazine etc. or any other item that you can relate to fathers
• place in a bag
• pull one item out or let a child pull one out and ask how fathers could use it.
• sing one of your chosen songs.
• repeat process

Children will enjoy sharing how their fathers help them and it will remind them of all the things fathers do for us!

Review Father's Day Songs

Use ALL or as much time as you can singing.  Children will learn far more from song than any lesson or presentation.  They will hum or sing a song when they are busy working or playing.  They recognize when a song is familiar to them.  Next time your congregation sings one of the primary songs in Sacrament meeting, glance around at the children and see their faces light up and join in singing.  Music is powerful!

Review Father's Day songs this week.  Choose various children to tell one thing that their father does for them then sing one of the Father's Day songs.  Include grandfathers, uncles, home teacher, Bishop etc.

Father's Day

Father's Day is coming up and there are 9 songs that celebrate fathers.  Some just need to change "Mother" to "Father."

My favorite is "Fathers," p. 209.  It talks about our own father, the father of our ward - bishop, and our Heavenly Father. 

"Love Is Spoken Here," p. 190 tells about the role fathers play in the family.

There are also the grandfather songs listed under "Grandparents" in the Primary Songbook.

Challenge yourself and your primary to see how many you can learn before Father's Day.  Check out earlier posts on specific helps in teaching many of these songs.

My Flag, My Flag

Every country has a flag.  They all represent a love of country.  "My Flag," p. 225 can be sung in any country to celebrate patriotism.   The children will enjoy standing and singing this song for any country's patriotic celebrations.

Find a picture or a small flag from the countries where your ward, branch or stake have missionaries serving.  Show each flag and tell which missionaries are serving there.

• Sing the first 2 1/2 lines of the song.
• Sing it again and ask the children to listen for words or phrases that are repeated.  ("my flag" - 4 times and "my county's flag" 2 times)
• Were there rhyming words?  (wave and brave)
• Sing it with the children
• Sing the last 2 1/2 lines of the song.
• Sing it again and ask the children to listen for words or phrases that are repeated.  ("wave on" - 4 times and "forever" 2 times)
• Were there rhyming words? (Free and liberty)
• Sing it with the children
• Sing the whole song a few times with the children

Following the Prophets

There are several songs about following prophets and one the children especially love to sing is "Follow the Prophet" p.110.  Challenge the children to learn ALL the verses and be able to tell a story about each one.

There are great helps in the "Outline for Sharing Time" p. 11, for teaching "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" # 19 in the Hymn Book.  This is a good one to introduce the children to the Hymn Book.

A few other songs are:
"Latter-Day Prophets" p. 134
"Seek the Lord Early" p. 108
"Stand for the Right" p. 159

It's always fun to review songs the children already know.  Add a few of these to their repertoire.

Mother's Day Activity

Mother's Day is a special day and I would hope that we can honor ALL the women in our lives.

Choose several Mother's Day songs and add a few other songs as needed ("Do as I'm Doing"," I Am a Child of God," etc.)

Tell the children that  they are going to make a list of all the women/girls that help them.  List 3 to 5 then sing one of the songs.  List a few more and singing after.

The list could include: mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, step-mom, nurse, teacher (could include primary teacher, school, piano, flute, violin, dance, ballet, math, music, etc.) tutor, coach, babysitter, doctor, etc.

Now go back and next to each one, write what they do for us.  Sing a song after you write a few.

This activity will help the children (and adults) appreciate what these women do for us.