Pioneer Trek

Pioneer history helps all of us to understand hardships and sacrifice.  This is a great activity for choosing/reviewing songs, as well as sharing a little pioneer history.

You will need:

• a cutout of a covered wagon or handcart that you can move across the board
• a long piece of string or yarn to represent the trail from Nauvoo to Salt Lake  (you can draw a path on the board with chalk instead)
• 10 - 12 campfire cutouts (pattern below) to tape on the path along the way

Prepare the board with the trail (draw the trail or tape the yarn up and down on the board to represent the trail the pioneers traveled - much like what you see on a map - preferably not a straight line.)  Write the names of the songs you would like to review on stripes of paper and tape them to the back of the campfires.  On the remaining fires write the word "sacrifice."   Tape the campfires along the trail spaced out from beginning to end. 

Explain to the children that pioneers sacrificed many things to come to the Salt Lake Valley.  Ask a child to move the wagon or handcart to the first campfire.  Ask another child to read what is on the back of the fire.  Sing the song.  If it says "sacrifice," ask the child to tell one thing that the pioneers may have had to sacrifice to walk across the plains.  Answers could include: homes, clothes, certain foods, toys, friends, sleep, etc. Continue in this pattern until you reach the Salt Lake Valley.

Integrating Ages

Integrating all ages in Primary is not an easy feat!  Whether it be in sharing time or singing time, a nine-year age span is a challenge.  There is the difference in attention span, readers and non-readers, back row/front row, not to mention tired and sometimes disinterested teachers.  What to do as a music leader?!?!

Enthusiasm and genuine happiness is contagious.  And, as I have stated in previous posts, be prepared, then be prepared for a little more.  Here are a few ideas on how to help the young children learn songs and the older ones to maintain attention.

• Ask some of the older children to sit among the younger ones.  They become examples to those 4, 5 and 6 year-olds.  
• When using word charts, try to have a few pictures that go along with the song and have the younger children hold them.
• Write words on the board and have an older child help a younger one erase a word or phrase while teaching or memorizing a song.
• Divide the room in half and half sing a phrase or verse and the other half sing the next phrase or verse.  Make sure that ages on each side are equal.
• Mix things up and have the boys sit on one side and the girls on the other for singing time.
• Ask a younger child to hold a sign up with "soft" on one side and "loud" on the other.  Let them turn it as the primary sings.  (other signs could be: hum/words, smile/frown, mouth words/sing words, etc.)

These are just a few ideas.  Remember to be positive and happy!

Be Prepared!

Recently, I was asked how to maintain reverence among energetic children.  My best answer is BE PREPARED!!!  Many primaries have singing time for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Some incorporate singing with sharing time.  I, personally like the block of time because we can sing a song several times, work on sections or have time to play a singing game.  But, whatever time you have, you must be prepared!  Here is a list of helps for a music leader:

• Know the song or songs - memorized.  When you have the songs memorized, you can keep an eye on everyone.  You can see if the children are understanding the words, singing them correctly and if they are "zoning out."
• Have a plan.  When you have a plan as to how you are going to use your time, things will run more smoothly -- note: I didn't say perfectly - that rarely happens.
• Choose activities that will help the children learn and memorize the songs.  Keep them age appropriate.  Remember, not all children in primary can read.
• ALWAYS have a contingency plan.  If the children aren't responding well to your "plan A,"  your safety net is "plan B."  Also, you may have a little extra time and it's nice to have a little extra planned.
• Be energetic.  If you love what you do and love the children, they will know and respond back.  The reverse is true, as well.
• Sing more than you talk.  If everyone is singing, there is less chance of children loosing interest.  Singing time is just that -- SING!
• If you use visual aids, make sure that they are big enough so the back row can see.
• It's a good idea to talk with the primary president and ask that the presidency and teachers sing during singing time rather than visit.  Example is powerful!
• Enjoy yourself - it's contagious!

A Child's Prayer

The song for this month is "A Child's Prayer," p. 12.  This has been a favorite of mine since it was published some 30 years ago.  It has been used in several Primary Sacrament Meeting programs, as well.  If your primary is just learning it, here are some helps.

Every time you sing "Heavenly Father, Father, pray or prayer," fold your arms or place palms together as if praying.
"Do you hear and answer . . ."  put your hand to your ear as if listening
". . . heaven is far away"  place open hand above eyes as if looking far away
"I remember now"  point to your mind
"Jesus told disciples . . ."  use a picture of Jesus and his disciples
"Suffer the children . . ."  picture of Christ with children

I don't always like the children to do all the actions during a performance, so as they become more familiar with the words, take out one action at a time until they can sing it without any prompts.

Make sure that you sing this verse through more than 3 times so that it will "stick" in their minds.  Repetition is one of the best learning tools!

Tip: Review this year's program songs by singing them for opening and closing songs.

Picture Review

Here is a list of the songs for the 2013 Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  Two of them were your choice so you may not be using the two listed below.  There are 6 songs to review.

Make a word strip of each song title, fold it and put it in a basket, paper bag or jar.  Find one picture to represent each song.  I've put a suggestion after each song below.  Ask a child to draw a paper from the jar and read the title.  Then ask the children to match the title to the picture.  Sing the song.  (Sing it twice if it needs a little more review.)

Songs for 2013 program

I Am a Child of God p. 2  

     picture of a child or children with Christ

My Heavenly Father Loves Me p. 228  

     picture of a bird

If the Savior Stood Beside Me   

     picture of the 10 commandments

I Will Be Valiant p. 162  (your choice)  

     picture of missionaries or Army of  Helaman

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet # 19 (your choice)   

     picture of Joseph Smith or Pres. Monson

When I Am Baptized p. 103  

     picture of a rainbow or a child being baptized

Families Can Be Together Forever p. 188  (July)

A Child's Prayer p. 12  (August)

When I Am Baptized - Review

Here is a fun review for "When I Am Baptized."  You will need:

• a picture or drawing of eyes or glasses and word strip of LOOK
• a picture or drawing of a rainbow and word strip of RAINBOW
• a picture or drawing of rain and word strip of RAIN
• a word strip of  PONDER, BEAUTY, EARTH and CLEAN
• a picture or drawing of the earth

2nd verse

• a picture or drawing of a child being baptized and word strip of BAPTIZED
• a picture or drawing of running water and word strip of WRONGS and WASHED
• a word strip of  FORGIVEN, IMPROVE

Use this picture for the chorus:

• a picture of Christ

On the board, jumble up all the pictures and words, however, keep the words with the pictures that they match.  Not all words have a picture.  The pictures are for the non-readers so they can participate, also.
Tell the children that we are going to review a song.  Their job is to put the pictures and words in the order that they are sung.  Play the first line of the song.  Ask the children what comes first in the song.  If needed sing the first line or phrase.  Make sure that you choose non-readers when there is a picture.  It's possible that you could sing this song several times -- great review!

Note:  In the interest of time, I sing the 1st and 2nd verses then the chorus once.

Father's Toolbox

Gather several tools that a dad would have or use.  If you can find a tool belt or tool box to put the tools in, that would be even better.  Label each tool (strip of paper taped on the tool) with attributes of a father, such as, helpful, good listener, good example, kind, hard worker, fun to play with, homework-helper, great chef.  Feel free to use your own ideas.   Have the children choose a tool and read the attribute.  Sing a Father's Day song or choose songs you want to review.  After singing the song, ask the children if there was an attribute in the song that a dad could have.
Examples:
I Can Be Valiant -- Dads are valiant, they serve others, etc.
I Am a Child of God  --  Dads help us find our way back to Heavenly Father
When Grandpa Comes -- Grandpas are kind and say kind things, they brighten our day

After each song choose another tool.  If time permits, have the children tell how their father has that attribute.