The Friend

If you are working in Primary you need to subscribe to The Friend!  If you don't have the magazine, check out the Church website.  There are great ideas there, as well.  On page 11 in the 2011 February Friend, there is a great idea for teaching "I Will Follow God's Plan."  Check out this site:  Friend.lds.org

Matching Game - If I Listen With My Heart

You will need 8 pieces of paper of two different colors (16 pieces in all)  On on color of paper write the first 8 phrases -- one phrase per paper:

1. If I had been a little child
2. I can hear His words of Peace
3. I hear a living prophet speak
4. The prophet teaches ho to live
5. He comforts me in times of need
6. He testifies of Christ
7. He speaks to me in quiet ways
8. I hear the Savior's voice

On the second color of paper write the following words -- one per paper:

1. First Verse
2. First Verse
3. Second Verse
4. Second Verse
5. Third Verse
6. Third Verse
7. Third Verse
8. Chorus

Make sure that you cannot see the words from the back side.  (You may want to mount the papers on another piece of paper -- construction paper works well.)  On the board (or wall) tape the first 8 papers on one side face side towards the board.  On the other side tape the other 8 papers face side towards the board. The children will take turns turning over one paper from one side and matching to the correct verse on the other side of the board..  Sing each verse after each match.

You can make it a little easier by taping the verses facing out and taking turns turning over the phrases to match with the verses.

Winter Wonderland

Regardless of your location, snowflakes and snowmen can make a fun singing time in January and February.  I am using this activity as a way to reinforce what we have learned.  Make several snowflakes.  On the back tape word strips from the song you want to review.  I chose "If I Listen with My Heart."  Because I have all the words on the computer, it is easy to print and cut the song into word phrases.  I am putting "chorus" on one snowflake so we can sing it once. I am using two phrases from each verse, so I will have one phrase per snowflake -- that equals 6, plus one snowflake for the chorus.  I will also put this statement on 3 or 4 more snowflakes: "Tell one thing you love about Primary."  This adds some variety to singing time.  Choose children to pick a snowflake that you have taped up around the room.  Sing the verse that the phrase comes from.  Pick another snowflake.  Continue singing the verse that the phrase comes from or tell what is wonderful about primary.  If time permits, sing the entire song to close singing time.

When I explain the activity, I give an example of how we will sing the verses and what I think is wonderful about Primary, just so the children understand.

Snowflakes:

1. Cut several circles - varying sizes  (keep them at least 6 inches in diameter or larger)
2. Fold in half, then in thirds -- snowflakes are 6 pointed
3. Cut small triangle, diamond, circle or any other shapes out on the folded sides and outer edge.  Be sure to cut the tip in a arc or triangle so the middle has an interesting shape.
4. Open up the paper and there you have a beautiful -- or at least a creative snowflake.

No matter how they turn out, the children will love them.  You can also make square and rectangle shaped snowflakes, too.  (If you have grade school children, they might like to do this project for you.)  If you choose to laminate them, they will last for years.

Memory Game

I'm working on memorization of "If I Listen with My Heart."  One of my memory activities is to write the entire song on the chalk or white board.  We sing it through.  Then I erase a couple of words or a phrase or line and then sing it again.  Depending on the time, I erase two or more phrases at a time or just a few words.  We sing it all the way through after each time something is erased.  By the end of singing time the song will be totally erased and should be memorized.  I like to sing it for the closing song to "seal" it in their brains. 

"If I Listen With My Heart" variety in singing

In an earlier post I gave some suggestions on teaching "If I Listen With My Heart."  Here is an extended activity in learning this song.  I printed each verse out and pasted each verse on a separate piece of construction paper and the chorus is on a separate piece.  I put each verse up on the black board, including the chorus.  We sang through the song.  Then I asked the children how we could make it more dramatic or more listenable instead of just singing it through.  We eliminated going fast and slow -- but we could slow down (ritardando) at the end.  They came up with dynamics - loud and soft.  So we talked a little about where it would be good to sing soft and loud, where we could gradually get louder or softer and marked it next to the words.  As we sang it through with the dynamics, the children were excited to hear how wonderful it sounded. 

I made several cards with "f" for forte (loud), "p" for piano (soft), "ff," "pp," "mp," - mezzo piano (moderately soft), "mf," "crescendo" - gradually get louder, "diminuendo" - gradually get softer and "ritardando" gradually slow down.  I laminated them all because I use them a lot.  This also helps the children learn the correct musical terms.  We have fun using these especially when the children hold them up as we are singing a song.  We all have to be watching so we know how to sing.

New Year 2011

We all have a new program to work with this year.  Organization and planning will be the very best way to teach and learn the songs for 2011 "I Know the Scriptures Are True."  Begin by making a folder with a copy of all the songs that you will be teaching this year.  You can make copies from the Church music website.  Simply click on the link and type in the title of the hymn or primary song, then press "copy" on the lift side of the screen.  I make a copy or two for the accompanist, also, so she or he has the music all together.  I then make a page of all the words for the songs.  I use this to enlarge and make word charts for the children or phrase charts, etc.  I also make a copy for the teachers and give it to them just before we perform the program in the fall.  I don't like to give them the words before because I need their attention so the children will concentrate on me as well.  (Sometimes the teachers let the children have the words and then they never get the songs memorized.)  I then start memorizing the songs in January so I am ready to teach them.  I also start thinking of different ways to teach the songs.  I work with the presidency of the primary and choose the two songs of our choice so I know in January all the songs for the program. 

Each month, I will post several ideas for singing time.  Please feel free to ask questions or ask for help.