Choosing Time

During the wintertime, sometimes things get a little dull - boring, as children put it.  Try a singing time of all the children's favorite songs or teacher's favorites.  If your pianist is capable, you can do a "choosing time" on the spot.  However, if he/she needs to practice first, you choose the songs the children like so the pianist has time to practice before you sing.

Don't forget to use action songs like "Do as I'm Doing," "Fun to Do," "Once there Was a Snowman," "Rain (Snow)Is Falling," "The Wise Man..." etc.  There will be songs from previous programs that the children love to sing.

You might consider ending singing time with "I Am a Child of God."

All Things Bright and Beautiful

There are several songs in the Primary Songbook that are about the creation.

"All Things Bright and Beautiful," p. 231, has some great lyrics about many things that God has created.  The chorus is at the beginning but can easily be sung at the end, also.

The verses can be easily illustrated by drawing the pictures on the board or finding pictures to go with each verse.  During the week call a few children and give them an assignment to bring a picture that will go with the various verses:

• one child could bring a picture of  flower
• another could bring a picture of a bird
• etc.

There could be could be 13 pictures to illustrate all 4 verses.  Some children will be quite happy to receive an assignment.  Be sure to talk with parents, too, and send a reminder on Saturday.  With e-mails, assignments like this can be simple.

Make sure that each phrase is repeated several times so the children learn the melody.

"I Have Two Ears"

Review "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," p. 324.

"I Have Two Ears," p. 269, is a good song to sing this month as we learn about God's creations.

Use pictures or word strips of the following to help teach this song:

• 2 ears
• "truth"
• 2 eyes
• "to see"
• 2 feet
• "carry me"
• 2 lips
• "speak kind words"
• 2 hands
• "to work
• "loving helpers"

I like to teach teach the chorus first so we can always end the song.  Sing the first phrase then ask the children to sing it with you a few times. Continue singing one phrase at a time with the children singing after you until they know the chorus.

Match the picture with the word as you sing the verses.  Sing a phrase then have the children sing it with you.

Save your visuals to use as you review this song in coming weeks.

Pictionary

Try a game of "Pictionary" to review "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," p.228.
Tell the children that we are going to play "Pictionary" for this song.  If they know the song, tell them to keep it a secret until all the hints have been given.

• Write the following word/phrases on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat, bowl or bag.
• bird singing/whistling
• blue sky or just sky
• rain
• wind
• a rose
• lilac tree
• world
• eyes
• butterfly
• ears
• mind
• heart
• Tell the children that who ever chooses a paper must draw a picture on the board to help us guess it.  (Do your best to have the children raise their hand and NOT shout it out.)
• After all the pictures have been drawn, put them in the order as you sing the song.
• Ask one class to sing one line then another class sing the next line, etc. until you have sung the entire song.