Celebrate with Favorite Songs

When I was in primary we met one afternoon during the week.  My favorite singing time was when our music leader brought a bouquet of balloons.  She would choose one child to pop the first balloon and inside was a little slip of paper with a song written on it.  We then sang the song and awaited the next lucky child to pop a balloon.

Popping balloons in primary today is not quite appropriate, however, you can cut out several large balloons from colorful paper, tie or tape a string  on the end with a song written on the back and tape it to a wall or blackboard.  Ask a child to choose a balloon and then sing the song written on the back.  I have chosen several favorite songs that the children know very well.  We will end the year with a "bang!"

If your pianist is capable to play any song the children might choose, allow the children to choose their favorite song. 

Christmas Story in Song

This activity can take the entire sharing time.  You can shorten it by choosing fewer songs.

Choose songs from the Christmas section in the Children's Songbook that the children know.  Sing the songs in chronological order.  Some songs are about the same event or place.  Sing them in a group.  I have chosen the following songs in this order:

Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus p. 36

When Joseph Went to Bethlehem p. 38

Stars Were Gleaming  p. 37

Who Is the Child p. 46

Shepherds Carol  p. 40

Away in a Manger  p. 42

Picture a Christmas p. 50

            Christmas Bells Are Ringing p. 54
            Silent Night  # 204 in the Hymn Book 

Make name tags and tie a piece of string or yarn on each tag so the children can hang them around their neck.  As you sing about one of the people, have the children with that name tag, stand up during that song.  They will need to listen for their character.  I have chosen 6 people in the nativity and a star.  I will be giving each Sunbeam and 4 year-old a star to hold.  When we sing about the star, they will stand and hold up their star.

Girls:

• Mary
• Angel  (boys, too)

Boys:

• Joseph
• Wise Men
• Samuel
• Shepherds

Stars: as many as needed
 
Make enough tags that each child can be one of the characters.
Example:  When you sing "Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus,"   all the boys with the "Samuel" name tag will stand.  All the children sing the song.

If organized well, this is a memorable activity for the children. 

Decorate a Christmas Tree with Song

Decorating Christmas Trees is a tradition for many people around the world regardless of the climate.  Decorate a tree with the songs of Primary.  A small artificial tree or a tree cut from a green piece of poster paper will work beautifully.

Cut out several ornaments (use the patterns below if desired) from colored paper.  On the back, write the page numbers or titles of several Christmas songs - you could use songs from the Sacrament Program as well.  On the remainder of ornaments put a question mark. 

Have children choose an ornament to place on the tree.  If they choose one with a song on it, sing it.  If there is a question mark on the ornament, ask them to tell what gift they can give back to Christ.  Some examples might be: serve my family, help my mom/father, play with a younger child, visit an elderly neighbor, etc.

 I like to end with "Silent Night" or "Away in a Manger" and ask a Sunbeam to place the star on top as we sing.  A paper star cut out of yellow or gold paper with gold glitter works perfectly.

 If you are using an artificial tree, punch a hole at the top of the ornaments and tie a ribbon or string through the hole so it can be hung on the branches.  If you have a short singing time, have several children at a time choose ornaments so the tree has plenty of ornaments on it at the end of singing time.

Christmas Song Review: The Wreath

With 3 Sundays left to learn, review and most of all just sing as many Christmas songs as possible, enjoying them is most important.  We learn so much from the words that we sing.  I have posted several ideas in the past for December singing time, use them again this year. 

The Wreath and Berries:

• Cut out a large Christmas green ring - a wreath. (You can cut out holly leaves and make a wreath out of the leaves or draw leaves on the green ring.) 
• Cut out a large red bow
• Cut out several red berries.  
• On the back of the berries write the page number of a Christmas song that you would like to sing.  If you need to review it a few times, add a berry to the wreath for each time you sing the song or for each verse.
• End with one of the children's favorite Christmas song and then add the bow.

"Who Is the Child?"

"Who Is the Child?," p. 46, is a lovely song about Christ's birth.  I teach it with pictures and words.  Prepare the following:

• picture of Jesus in a manger (swaddling clothes)
• picture of a manger - a trough for feeding animals (lying asleep in the manger)
• word strip of "manger"
• picture of Mary and Joseph ( Mary and Joseph watch nearby)
• Shrug your shoulders while singing the last phrase
• word strip of "stranger."

2nd verse

• put finger to lips - meaning quiet
• draw a baby face with its eyes shut
• word strip of "sleeping"
• picture of the shepherds
• picture of angels heralding Christ's birth 
• word strip of "keeping"

(The picture in The Children's Songbook is perfect.)

Musically, you can point out how the music goes up and down:

• 1st phrase moves down
• 2nd phrase moves up
• 3rd phrase moves up higher
• 4th phrase moves down

Pointing out the rhyming words helps children to think of the words and it helps the teachers, too.
Sing the song and point to the pictures and words so the children have an idea of how the song sounds.
Sing each phrase 2 or 3 times and then put the whole song together.
Be sure to review it in the coming weeks.