Fall Fun

Choose some favorite songs including a few "Autumn" songs.  You can use "Rain Is Falling..." p. 241, and change the word "rain" to "leaves."  The children will love it.  You could also use p. 246 and 247 along with your favorites.

Cut a large pumpkin shape out of orange paper.  With black paper, cut two eyes, a nose, a mouth, eyebrows, cheeks, maybe ears and curly eyelashes.  You could also cut out a green stem, a vine and a few colored leaves.

Lay all the parts to use on the pumpkin on the table so the children can see them and choose what they want to use to decorate.  Every time you sing a song or a verse, let one or two children put something on the pumpkin.  Be sure to watch your time so the pumpkin gets fully decorated. 

Birthday Song

Is it time to learn a new birthday song? We often get stuck in a rut and sing the same songs for opening, closing and birthdays.  There are 6 birthday songs in the Primary Songbook, including the baptism one on p. 104.

If you'd like a challenging song, try Feliz, Cumpleanos, p. 282.  This one is great if you have people in your ward that speak different languages or returned missionaries.  They can help you pronounce the words or give it a try yourself and use the pronunciations in the song.  The melody is fun and the rhythm truly makes the song. 

You can use:

• word strips for pronunciation guides
• word strips with the country of the language
• pictures of children from the different countries

These will all help the children learn and love this new birthday song.  Always teach one phrase and a time with at least repeats of it so it sticks in their minds.

*It's always good if you know the song before you teach it.

When It's Fall Time

Enjoy singing some of the children's favorite songs.  Choose songs that your primary love to sing - many will come from the Sacrament Meeting Program this year.  Include p. 246 It's Autumntime, p. 247 Autumn Day and p. 241 Rain Is Falling (substitute leaves for rain).

I like to cut out leaf shapes in orange, yellow, red and brown.

• put the titles and/or page numbers on the back 
• tape the leaves to the board
• ask a child to to pick a leaf
• sing the song that is on the back
• continue until all the leaves are chosen