Reverence Is Love - Review

As you review this song, ask the children why reverence is important.  Sing the song.  If the children are stumbling on words or phrases, sing the phrases a few times that may be difficult to remember.

Ask the following questions to help reinforce the meaning of this song:

• How can you show reverence?
• What are some ways we show reverence while the sacrament is being passed?
• When we sing, how can we show reverence?
• Can we sing fun or fast songs reverently?  How?
• How can we show reverence in our classes? Sharing time?  Singing time?
• How can we show reverence when we have activities in the church?
• Do we only show reverence at church?

As you ask these questions, sing the song after a few answers.  The words will help the children understand the meaning of reverence as you sing the song several times - as well as having it memorized.

Pioneer

This is a great time to review or teach some pioneer songs (p. 214 - 223).  Choose your favorite songs and put a puzzle together.

Draw a picture of a covered wagon:

• Tape 4 pieces of paper together (8 1/2" x 11")
• draw a simple picture of a covered wagon
• cut it into 5 to 8 pieces (puzzle-like shapes)

Tell the children that they are going to put together a puzzle of something that was needs as the pioneers trekked across the plains. Sing one of the songs that you have chosen and after put up a puzzle piece.  Continue singing one song or verse and putting up a puzzle piece until the puzzle is complete.

If you are teaching a new song, sing one phrase at a time and then put up a puzzle piece.

Reverence Is Love

"Reverence Is Love," p. 31, is a favorite of mine.  It's all about the true meaning of reverence.  As adults, we tend to use the word reverence to mean quiet.  Then children never quite understand the full meaning of reverence.

• Make word strips of the following:
• quietly sitting
• thinking of Father above
• a feeling
• think of His blessings
• reverence is love
• words and deeds
• the pathway
• I know in my heart
• use a picture of Jesus for the last phrase
• Sing the song for the children.
• Sing the song again and put the word strips on the board (find pictures to go along with the words if possible - this will help the non-readers)
• Ask the children to sing the first phrase with you a few times.
• Continue with each phrase until you have finished the song.
• Plan on reviewing it next week.

My Flag, My Flag

Every country has their own flag.  "My Flag," p. 225, is a great song for any country!  The repetition makes this song easy to teach and fun to sing.  When you look at the words in "poem" style, you can see the repetition and rhymes.

My flag, my flag, my country's flag,
I love to see you wave;
My flag, my flag, my country's flag,
The banner of the brave.

Wave on, wave on forever,
The banner of the free;
Wave on, wave on forever,
The banner of the free;

The flag of liberty.

The children will need to hear the melody several times, so sing 2 lines at a time a few times then go to the next 2 lines.  It helps if you can move your hand with the melody so the children can see when the melody goes up or down.

Find pictures or actual flags of different countries and see if the children can identify which countries they represent.  Missionaries that you know may have one from the country they served in that you might borrow.

My Country

Regardless of the country that you live in, patriotism is important.  The Primary Songbook  has 2 great songs about showing patriotism - p. 224 and 225.  Once the children know these, they will become favorites.

"My Country" p. 224

• Sing the song for the children
• Tell them that countries all over the world have different landscapes:
• mountains
• deserts
• icebergs
• Sing the first verse then ask them to sing with you.
• Ask: What kind of landscape do we have here where we live?
• What other landscapes does this song mention?
• Did you hear any rhyming words? pride - wide, bound - found
• Sing the second verse
• Ask the children to share what this verse talks about.
• Can it apply to any country? Why?
• Sing it with the children.  Listen for rhymes.
• Sing the whole song a few times

Father's Day Fun

Choose some favorite Father's songs from the Primary Songbook - p. 201, 209 - 2011, 188, 191, 192, 193 are all great family songs that appropriate for Father's Day.

Depending on time and how many songs you choose to sing, ask 1 or more children to tell something about their father.  Then sing one of the songs.  things they can tell about their father could be:

• Favorite: food, game, color, scripture story, etc
• What does he do when he goes to work?
• What do you like to do with him?
• What does he like to do for fun?
• What's your favorite family activity?

*There are several activities in past posts.  Check them out!

Father's Day

Father's Day is two weeks away and there are several songs that celebrate fatherhood and grandpas.  One of my favorites is Fathers, p. 209.  I like the message and the importance of those who "father" each of us.

Begin with the chorus.

• phrase 1: We sing "special" twice: father's are so special with a very special love.
• phrase 2: they watch and protect - they guide and direct
• You may want to make word strips of these two sets of words so the children keep them together.
• phrase 3: Ask the children where the home above is. This phrase will have more meaning if they know that it's talking about heaven.

Verses:

• As you teach each verse, make sure the children know what father we are singing about.
• Use the rhyming words to help keep the words in order.
• Be sure to sing each verse separately several times so the children know the melody and words.
• This may take more than one week to teach.