I Often Go Walking

Next week is Mother's Day (originating from Hallmark).  Nevertheless, many celebrate because we ALL have a mom.

I Often Go Walking, p. 202, is the perfect song for children to sing to their mothers.

First Verse:

• 1st phrase - cut out a clover out of green paper
• 2nd phrase - cut out blue flowers or use a bouquet of artificial blue flowers
• 3rd phrase - act out picking flowers
• 4th phrase - show a picture of a mom with children

Second Verse:

• 1st phrase - tape a red heart to one of the blue flowers
• 2nd phrase - act out smelling a flower
• 3rd phrase - point to the flowers, clover and act out walking
• 4th phrase - show a heart and/or the picture of the mom and children

Be sure to sing each phrase several times.

Mother, Tell Me a Story

Mother's Day is only a few weeks away.  One of my favorite songs is "Mother, Tell Me a Story," p 204.  This is especially nice when you can ask a mom to sing the "mother" part.  It promises to be a heart-warming musical number for Sacrament Meeting or a special closing exercise musical number on Mother's Day.

It's easy to teach:

• 1st phrase - show a story book
• 2nd phrase - point up for "heaven" and down for "earth"
• 3rd phrase - show a red heart
• 4th phrase - shut your eyes as if sleeping

Second verse:

• 1st phrase - show a picture of Jesus
• 2nd phrase - show a picture of Jesus with little children
• 3rd phrase - show a picture of a mother and child
• 4th phrase - shut your eyes as if sleeping

Be sure to sing each phrase a few times before going on.

Article of Faith #3

The third Article of Faith teaches the theme for this month (April 2016).   Teaching the song (p. 123) can be simple.  Use a picture of Christ in Gethsemane, on the cross and resurrected.  Tell the children that the atonement of Christ is a gift that Christ gave all of us - the gift to return to our Heavenly Father.  In return for this gift, we must be obedient to His laws and ordinances.

• Sing the first phrase - have the children sing it with you 2 or three times.
• Sing the second phrase ('all mankind may be saved') - repeat with the children 2 or 3 times.
• Add the first phrase and sing both phrases a few times.
• Sing the last phrase.  Note that "gospel" has 3 notes.  Sing that word with the children twice, then sing the whole phrase with them.
• Sing the entire Article of Faith

When you are repeating phrases, change things up a bit by having the children stand and sing, face the back and sing, boys sing, girls, sing, different classes sing.  This adds variety as they repeat and learn the song.

I'm Trying to Be like Jesus

This month the song is your choice.  The theme is "Jesus Christ Is My Savior and Redeemer."  Suggested songs to be used during this month in sharing time are "I Lived in Heaven" p. 4 and "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus" p. 78.

Many of the children know "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus," but here are some helps to teach and/or review this song:
Verse 1:

• 1st phrase - use a picture of Jesus
• 2nd phrase - make a few footprints
• 3rd and 4th phrase - use a picture of Jesus with little children
• draw a red circle with a line crossing = meaning "wrong way"
• last phrase - use a picture of a child praying

Sing the 1st verse and point to the pictures as you sing.  Have the children sing it with you several times.  Add variety to the repetition by having girls sing, then boys sing, teachers sing.  Have classes or groups sing one phrase, the next group sing the next phrase, etc.

Verse 2:

• 1st and 2nd phrase - use a picture of children helping others
• 3rd and 4th phrase - picture of the resurrected Christ
• last 2 phrases - picture of "The Sermon on the Mount" or a picture of a primary teaching children or a family having Family Home Evening.

Use the same ideas for teaching as the first verse.

Chorus:

• 1st phrase - make a red heart
• 2nd and 3rd phrase - point to the picture of children helping others
• last phrase - point to the picture of "The Sermon on the Mount" or a picture of a primary teaching children or a family having Family Home Evening.

This activity may take two weeks to learn the whole song depending on your time.  Remember to review.