Baptism Sharing

We can't teach enough about baptism, confirmation and the 4th article of faith.  Choose songs from the Primary Songbook including p. 105, 100 and 103.

Use pictures from your ward library of people - children and adults, being baptized and/or confirmed.  Ask a child to pick a picture and tell something about baptism.  If they have been baptized, they could tell one thing that they remember about it.  If they haven't, they could tell something that they are looking forward to being baptized.

Sing one of the baptism songs then ask another child to share their thoughts. continue singing a song after each child.  You might want to ask one of the adults to share also.

Baptism

Baptism is a very important ordinance.  Whether we've been baptized or preparing to be, reminders of what it is and about is always helpful.

Begin with Baptism, p. 100, that tells about Christ's baptism and why we should be baptized.  Use a picture of Christ being baptized by John the Baptist.

When I Am Baptized, p. 103, tells about "being made clean."  Use a picture of a rainbow and/or a child being baptized.

The Holy Ghost, p.105, tells about the gift of the Holy Ghost and His purpose.  Share the fact that the Holy Ghost whispers, or a feeling and that we must listen carefully.  We must live so we can be close to our Heavenly Father and hear the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Use a picture of a child being confirmed.

Appreciating Women

Mother's Day is a great time to be thankful for all the women in our lives. Choose several songs to review including some family songs.

Ask the children to think about all the women/girls in their lives.  You may have to give them an example or two to get them thinking.

• mother
• grandmother
• great grandmother
• aunts
• sister
• neighbor
• teacher - primary, school, music, coach, dance, doctor, dentist, etc.

Have one or two children tell something about a special girl in their lives, then sing one of the songs.  Continue this activity.

Mother's Day

Hanging out the "clothes." Choose some Mother's Day songs to  review.

• Print out several (10 or more) key words or short phrases from each song you want to review.
• cut them in strips (I like to use colored paper)
• If possible string or tie a piece or yarn or string across the board.
• Using clothes pins, clip the strips of paper along the string.
• Make sure the string is low enough for the children to reach.
• Choose a child to pick a strip off of the string.
• Can they guess which song it belongs to?
• Place the string in a small basket or bag.
• Sing the song.
• Repeat until all the strips have been chosen.

You can also do just the opposite and have the strips of paper in a basket and have the children choose from the basket and then "hang the strips out to dry."

*note:  Clothes pins can be found at Walmart or small ones at craft stores.

Mother's Day

Mother's day is a few weeks away. Whether the children are singing in Sacrament meeting, a special presentation in Primary or just to be prepared to sing to Moms and Grandmas, begin learning or reviewing some Mother's Day songs. There are 12 songs in the Primary Songbook that are appropriate for this special day.  Choose your favorites or try the ones with activities listed below.

When We're Helping p. 198

• bring a basket or bag with a few pieces of laundry - hand towel, wash cloth, a few T-shirts, etc.
• place the clothes (unfolded) in a pile on a table or chair
• ask the children if folding these clothes would help their mother
• have a few children come up and fold them as you sing this song
• bring a few dishes 
• ask a child to come up and set the table using the dishes
• sing the song as they set the table
• ask the children what they could do after dinner - wash or place dishes in dishwasher
• Sing the song as a few children play like they are cleaning up the dishes.

My Mother Dear p. 203 make or find pictures of the following:

• sunshine, a colorful flower, bluebird, a picture of a mother
• sing the song using the pictures to prompt the phrases
• sing one phrase and have the children sing with you a few times
• Sing the next phrase a few times and continue with the last two phrases
• Have the children sing the entire song a few times
• ask for helpers to hold up the pictures as you sing 

Easter

Help the children understand the event leading up to the resurrection of Christ.

Choose songs (about 8) from the Easter songs that the children know, include Popcorn Popping, p. 242, In the Leafy Treetops, p.240, Rain Is Falling, p. 241, My Heavenly Father Loves Me, p.228.

Choose several pictures (8) that tell about the last week of Christ's life. Use large pictures from your ward library so they are big enough for the children to see. Tape or hang them around the room.  Ask the children to put them in chronological order or have a child tell about the event.  Sing a song in between each picture.

General Conference Preparation

Next week is General Conference.  It's important that we encourage the children to listen or engage somehow to Conference.

Find several pictures of prophets through the ages, including Pres. Monson, and place them for the children to see.

Sing the first verse and chorus of Follow the Prophet, p. 110.  Tell them about General conference next week and ask them why we have Conference. (Answers will vary)  Sing the chorus again.

Ask the children to look at the pictures and think about the following questions:

• Can you name one of the prophets?
• Did they speak to the people of their time?
• Were they accepted well or did the people try to kill them?
• Can you think of any prophets that were killed by the unbelievers?
• Why do we have prophets?
• Can we learn from ancient prophets like Alma, Abinidi, Nephi, Moses, Abraham, etc.?
• What do learn from Joseph Smith?
• What can we learn from Pres. Monson?

You can come up with your own questions and add to the list.

Intersperse the questions with the following songs:

• Follow the Prophet, p. 110  (sing one verse at a time)
• Latter-day Prophets p. 134
• Stand for the Right p. 159
• Keep the Commandments p.146
• We'll Bring the World His Truth p.172
• Choose the Right hymn # 239
• Book of Mormon Stories p.118
• End with the last verse of Follow the Prophet p. 110