"Nephi's Courage"

In The Friend magazine, February issue, the inside back page has a Book of Mormon scripture cutout of Nephi and Laman and Lemuel.  In the April issue there is a cutout of Zeezrom.  I am using him as Laban because he has a frown.  If you want them bigger, enlarge them.  Color an outline of a book brass color to look like the brass plates.  Use these pictures to teach the first verse of "Nephi's Courage."

The second verse, use the picture in the Children's Songbook on page 120 - Nephi building a boat.  Use the cutouts of Laman and Lemuel from the first verse.  Ask two children to be Laman and Lemuel laughing and pointing.  Put all pictures and children in order and sing the second verse.

Draw a picture of the 10 commandment tablets.(1st phrase)  Make a picture of the CTR shield. (2nd phrase)  Draw a frowny face.(3rd phrase)   Write the word "reply" on a word strip. (4th phrase)  Sing the third verse.

Chorus: Write "GO" and "DO" on two word strips or signs.  I attached the words to a stick so the children can hold them when we sing the words.  Sing the chorus for the children then have them sing it with you.

This activity can be divided into 4 weeks or less if time permits.  Once the children know this song, it will be a favorite!

"Fathers" - Another Activity

I have shared a post about "Fathers" p. 209, last year.  You can look that one up from the labels.  Here is a different activity as we review it for Father's Day.

If possible, obtain a picture of a one of the children's father, one of the bishop and on Christ -- preferably large enough for the children to see.  On strips of paper, print a word or phrase from each verse.  I am using yellow paper for the strips.  Place the picture of a father on the board.  Place the word/phrase strips streaming from the picture around it (like sunbeams).  Sing the verse.  Do the same for each verse.  Cut out a large red heart.  Around it place words or phrases from the chorus around the heart -- like sunbeams.  Sing the chorus.  If time permits, gradually take off the word strips and sing the song with only the picture of the fathers and heart.

Primary Color Choir

A fun way to review songs is creating a "Primary Color Choir!"  Ask everyone who is wearing red to stand up. (You can determine if shades of a color are allowed.)  Have these children come to the front and sing a song, with their best voices.  (I use a song from this year's Program.)  Once they finish the song have them take their seats.  Ask everyone who is wearing blue to stand and repeat the process, however have them sing a different song.  After they are seated, ask those wearing yellow to come up and sing a different song.  There may be some children wearing all of the colors so they will be singing in all the choirs.  You can continue this activity using different colors as time permits.  This is a great activity because it mixes the children up.  Be sure to remind those listening to the choir to be polite and listen reverently.

Puzzling Singing Time

Puzzles are great for all ages!  Enlarge this picture to the size you would like (preferably a large enough size that the children can see).  Mine is poster board size and I put it on heavy paper.  I always suggest that you laminate for durability.  Carefully cut out the puzzle pieces.  I have put Mother's Day songs and some of the Sacrament Meeting Program songs on the back of each puzzle piece.  We will sing the song and put the puzzle piece up on the board.  There are 12 puzzle pieces.  If you don't have time for 12 songs, put a few songs on the backs then on the rest have the child tell how he can help his mother or ways he shows his love and appreciation for her.  You could also have the children tell ways to choose the right.

This picture is the cover of the May issue of The Friend.  It can be used for all sorts of singing times.  Family songs, Father's Day, serving, caring for others, etc.

The Memory Game

I have shared the memory game last year but when you use different songs, you need to make different matches.  The challenge in primary is that you have readers and non-readers, so here are a couple of ways to make this activity work for everyone.

If you used pictures, drawings or word prompts to teach any of the songs that you would like to review in the memory game, gather them.  Make sure you label what song they come from.  Write the titles of all the songs to be reviewed on a piece of paper (8 1/2 x 11 preferably), one title per page.  I make 2 matches for each song (you can make more).  Then tape or glue the paper with titles and pictures or words on the same colored paper so the words and picture won't show through.  I like to use a pin board because it's easy to turn them back and forth.  Pin all the pictures and words to the board in a square or rectangle face to the board so only the colored paper is showing (or try a different shape - circles are fun).  Let a young child choose the first paper to turn and let an older child choose the second paper.  If they are a match, sing the song.  Continue until all the papers have been matched.  This can be a longer activity.

Shortened version:
Have all the titles pinned on the board so they can be read.  Pin the pictures and/or words facing the board so only the colored paper shows.  Have children turn the papers and match them to the song.  Sing the song.

Examples:
a picture of blue flowers    matches
     "I Often Go Walking"
a picture of children at Jesus' feet     matches
     "As a Child of God"
a picture of Nephi getting the plates from Laban     matches
     "Nephi's Courage" (1st verse)
a picture of Nephi building a ship     matches
     "Nephi's Courage" (2nd verse)
words "when I'm discouraged"     matches
     "Nephi's Courage" (3rd verse)
a picture of a rock or a house on a rock     matches
     "The Wise Man"
a picture of some sand or a house on sand     matches
     "The Wise Man"
a picture of a child helping a neighbor     matches
     "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus"

p.s. You are welcome to request help with a song, etc.