Latter-day Prophets

General Conference is a week away so we are learning Latter-day Prophets, p. 134. The latest version of this song, which includes Pres. Monson, is available on the Church website.  Ward libraries should have large pictures of the prophets which you can borrow for this activity.  Small pictures are in the back of the Gospel Art Book. 

Put the pictures of the prophets in a mixed up order on the board.  Cover their names with a piece of paper if they are printed on the front.  See if the children can put the pictures in order of each President's service.  Sing the song to help them.  The teachers could help, also. Once the pictures are in order, sing the song with the children.  Sing it at least 3 times.  In between  each time you sing, ask a trivia question about the prophets such as:

• Who had the longest beard?
• How many Prophets had beards?
• When did they begin wearing long ties?
• How many pictures are of paintings?
• How many Prophets are wearing black suits?
• What colors of suits are represented?

You can come up with your own questions, as well.

If time permits, take down the pictures and sing it.  Have one side of the room sing while the other side listens for correctness.  Trade sides.

Spice Up the Review

Often times children aren't into reviewing songs so we need to add some "spice" to the process.  "Oh How I Love to Stand" (279) is a great bit of "spice."  If your primary doesn't know it, sing it through 3 times and they'll have it down.

Choose the songs you would like to review.  I used the following songs:

He Sent His Son p. 34

I Will Follow God's Plan p. 164

I Stand All Amazed # 193

The Family of God

Did Jesus Really Live Again p. 64

After you sing the first song, sing Oh How I Love to Stand, but do a different action.  Continue with your review singing Oh How I Love to Stand after each reviewed song, but change the action each time.  The children will enjoy the movement and they'll never know that singing time was a review.

A Journey Review

Here is a different twist for reviewing songs:

You will need:

• a large map of the Holy Lands - most ward libraries have a large one
• on the same size of paper as the map, draw a brief sketch of your neighborhood, include:
• a few street names
• ward meetinghouse
• school
• land marks in your area - gas stations, grocery stores, parks, etc.

Keep your map simple.  The children just need to recognize their neighborhood.

Show the children the areas that Jesus taught in his life time, Bethlehem, Galilee, etc.  Show the children where they walk, play, visit.  Choose some songs that you would like to review.  As you sing the song (or verse), ask the children to listen to the words and tell what message they learn about Jesus or what He would have us do.  Then ask them where, in their neighborhood, they could share that message or how they could be an example.

Example: 

• "I Will Follow God's Plan"  p. 164
• "holding fast to His word and His love . . ." - Study the scriptures at home and at church
• "I will be happy . . ."  -  Be cheerful at school, home, playground, etc.
• "My life is a gift . . ."  -  always give thanks for our lives when we pray - at home, school, anywhere
• "I Stand All Amazed"  # 193
• "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me."  - Show gratitude for Christ's love by loving our family, neighbors, anyone we come in contact with.
• "that for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died . . ." - Be the best you can be in all situations because of what Christ did for us.
• "He Sent His Son"  p. 34
• "How could the father tell the world of love and tenderness . . ."  p. 34  -  Show kindness, love and tenderness to our family members, our friends, teacher, coach,  people who help us at the store.
• "live like His son. . ."  -  Make good choices on the playground, at church, with our family and friends.

As the children share their thoughts, put a mark on the map where their ideas may take place: at home, at church, on the playground, etc.  See how many marks they can have on the map by the end of singing time.  Show them how they are being Christ-like throughout the neighborhood just as Christ did in His ministry throughout the Holy Lands.

I Stand All Amazed - Review

Using the pictures from last week : GAB 116, GAB 108, GAB 57, GAB 56, place them on the right side of the board.  On 8 pieces of paper, write the following words - one on each paper:

• Amazed
• Love
• Grace
• Proffers
• Tremble
• Crucified
• Sinner
• Suffered

Mix them up and put them on the left side of the board.  Sing the first phrase.  Ask the children which picture goes with that phrase.  Continue so they remember which pictures belong to which phrase.  Now sing it again and ask a child to draw a line from the word to the picture that it belongs to.  There are 2 words from each phrase so there will be 2 lines drawn to each picture.  The children will have to listen for the words to know which ones belong to which picture.  You may need to sing the verse through several times which will be a great review.  Be sure to add the chorus a few times.  Have the children hold up one finger every time they sing "wonderful."

"I Stand All Amazed"

I love this hymn!  From the time I could read the hymn book, this has been a favorite.  I love how the chorus is a celebration of Christ's gift to us.  I taught this hymn to my primary last fall using sign language.  It has some beautiful signs.  The signing is on the church website.  Signing is not for everyone and I am the first to admit that it isn't easy.  Consider it only if you are up for the challenge.  The children will pick it up quickly with repetition.

In the 2014 Outline for Sharing Time on p. 26, there is a great activity to help teach this hymn.  Below is the excerpt: (GAB is Gospel Art Book)

March: “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, no. 193)

Divide the children into four groups. Give group 1 GAB 116, and sing the first phrase of the song to them. Discuss it briefly, and then have them sing it a few times with you. Continue with each group and each additional phrase (use the following pictures: group 2, GAB 108; group 3, GAB 57; group 4, GAB 56). Sing the whole first verse with each group standing, holding their picture, and singing their phrase. Invite the groups to switch pictures, and sing the song again. Repeat until each group has sung each phrase. Sing the chorus, and ask the children to listen for how many times you sing the word “wonderful.” Repeat the chorus a few times with them, and invite them to place their hands over their hearts each time they sing the word “wonderful.”

Wiggle Time

It is important to teach the gospel through music, however, singing some "active" songs during singing time helps keep wiggles under control.  Take time to learn several of these songs so you can use them when children are a little restless, seem tired, or just need a change of pace.  Here is a list of songs that can be sprinkled throughout sharing and singing time:

• Sing a Song  p. 253  Start with hands on hips then to knees, shoulders, hips, knees, etc. moving with the high and low notes of the song.  It can also be sung as a round.
• Fun to Do  p.253  Have a child choose an action then do it as you sing.  There are suggestions under the song.
• Here We Are Together  p. 261  There are several suggestions at the bottom of the page.  Children can also choose their own actions.
• If You're Happy  p. 266  There are many things you and/or the children can do while singing this song.
• Two Little Eyes  p. 268  This is a great one for younger children and can be used in classes to change activities.
• I Wiggle  p. 271   Another good "wiggle" song for younger children.
• My Hands  p. 273  This song is fun to do at a slow tempo or a very fast one.
• Roll Your Hands  p. 274  Quick action song to rest children from sitting.
• Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes  p. 275  Quick action song to rest children from sitting.  Can be sung at various tempos, too.
• To Get Quiet  p. 275  Great way to settle children down before class, sharing time or prayer.
• Do as I'm Doing  p. 276  An all time favorite with a many possibilities for movement.
• Hinges  p. 277  This song can be sung at various tempos, but try to end slowly for reverence.
• Stand Up  p. 278  You need to listen in order to do the correct actions.
• Oh, How We Love to Stand  p. 179  There are lots of different actions to do with this song.
• Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise  p. 180  When children know this well, they enjoy singing as a round.
• The Wise man and the Foolish Man  p. 281  Children love singing this song with the actions!

Because He Loves Us

My theme this week is "Because He Loves Us." 
Prepare the following word strips: (If this list is too long, choose a few to meet your needs)

• love and tenderness
• peace and holiness
• pathway we should go
• walk with men on earth
•  sacrifice and death
• have faith, have hope
• Live like His Son
• live is a gift
• a plan
• a purpose
• my choice
• home on earth
• God's light
• holding fast
• work, pray
• happy on earth
•  home above

Cut out 17 hearts (or as many hearts as you have phrases) - red, pink, white - or any color
Tape the strips to the back of the hearts (you may have to fold the strips)
Tape the hearts with the strips on the board in front of the room or on the walls around the room.

• Tell the children that the Lord has given us so many things and done so much for us all because He loves us.
• Tell them that you have spread His love all over the board or room.
• On the back of each heart is a phrase from He Sent His Son or I Will Follow God's Plan.
• Ask two or three children to pick a heart, read the phrase and have them guess which song the words are from.  
• If your phrase is from He Sent His Son, stand on the right of the room (or wherever you would like them to stand).
• If your phrase is from I Will Follow God's Plan, stand on the left side.
• Sing the song and as soon as the children hear/sing the words on the heart, have them stand up.  
• After they sing the phrase they are to sit back down because there might be another phrase from that song that they will need to stand up for.

Hopefully, you can pick all the hearts. It's better to be prepared for more time than have too little prepared. No matter how many hearts that are chosen, you will be able to sing those songs several times.  A great review!