"Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus"

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is a great day to teach or review "Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus," p. 36.  It's perfect to Samuel's prophecy as we prepare for Christmas. 

The notes at the bottom of the page tells what its original title was - "Christmas in Zarahemla."  You might want to ask the children why that title was a good one and perhaps why the current title is good also.

Be sure to sing both verses and sing the chorus joyously!

Thankful

My favorite activity the Sunday before Thanksgiving if "Put the Feathers on (or off) of the turkey.  When a child picks a feather, they tell one or two things that they are thankful for and then choose their favorite song to sing or you can put a "thankful" song on the back of each feather and sing that one.

There are several "November" posts that you might want to check out for more ideas.

Thankful

I love this time of year - Thankful time!  The Primary Songbook has some great "thankful" songs - pages 6 through 21 and several more under "gratitude" in the index.

"I Am Glad for Many Things," p. 151, is a favorite.  Children love replacing "many things" with something they are specifically thankful for.
"I am gald for my fam'ly, my fam'ly, my fam'ly"
You could sing this many times, asking for things the children are thankful for and then singing about what they are thankful for.

"I'm thankful to Be Me," p. 11, is another "thankful" song the children will enjoy singing.  You could also substitute the words on the third line with other things the children are thankful for.

You could also share pictures of things that we are thankful for and substitute them in place of the words in the song.

Fall Time

Cut out several simple leaves from different colored paper.  Write the names of several favorite songs on the back of the leaves (one song per leaf).  Have several blank leaves and tape them to the board or wall. 

Have a child choose one leaf.  If it is blank, they can tell something they like to do in the fall (rake leaves, ride their bike, hike, go for a walk, play in the leaves, go to a pumpkin patch, etc).

If the leaf has a song title on it, sing the song.

Obeying Laws and Commandments

Review "I Want to Be a Missionary Now," p. 168  It's important to review new songs so they become favorites of the children.

"Keep the Commandments," p. 146, is a great song for this month as well.  Missionaries need to keep the commandments to be able to hear the spirit and know who to visit and how to teach.  We need to do the same in order to have heavenly Father's help.

• Ask the children to define commandments or laws.
• Do we have laws that we must obey?
• Stop signs/lights
• railroad crossings
• No Parking signs
• Do not drink
• Stay on the path
• etc.
• What happens if we don't obey these laws?
• What happens when we do obey these laws?
• Have the children list some of Heavenly Father's commandments
• What happens if we don't obey these commandments?
• What happens when we do obey these commandments?

Sing "Keep the Commandments."

Missionary Work

The theme for this month is missionary work.  "I Want to Be a Missionary Now," p. 168, is a great teaching tool to help the children learn how to be a missionary even at their age.

Begin with the first verse. 

• Sing the first 2 phrases then ask the children to sing with you.
• Sing them 3 times
• Then do the same with the last 2 phrases
• Sing the 1st verse

Use the same method for the 2nd and 3rd verses. Be sure to teach the 3rd ending as you teach the 3rd verse.

You could use a picture of missionaries, The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith in the scared grove.  Sometimes pictures help bring the song and message to life.

After-Program Fun

Once you have finished performing the Primary Sacrament program, the following week is wide open to something different and fun for singing time.  I like to sing some "action" songs listed below and then allow some time for choose-you-favorite-song.  Generally, the children will choose a song from the program. Make sure that your pianist is okay with a "free-for-all" choosing time.

Action songs

• The Wise Man and the Foolish Man p. 281
• Do as I'm Doing p. 276
• Fun to Do p. 253
• If You're Happy p.266
• Oh, How We Love to Stand p. 279
• Sing, Sing, Sing p. 253
• Rain Is Falling All Around (Leaves Are Falling All Around) p. 241

There are several others listed under "Activity Songs" in the index of the Primary Songbook.  Choose your favorites or teach a few new ones.