A Child's Prayer

"A Child's Prayer," p. 12 - 13, is one of my favorite songs that the children sing.  It is so sincere and the children sing it with such love.  The duet is beautiful and with practice, the children sing it beautifully.

I try to teach the most difficult part or section of a song first so we can sing it the most in the learning process.

2nd verse: Make word prompts for each phrase. Several pictures of a child praying helps the non-readers stay focused.

• "Pray"
• "Speak"
• "You are His Child"
• "Love"
• "Hears"
• "Loves"
• "Kingdom"

1st verse: I teach this in 2 parts - the question and feeling part, and the teaching part.

• 1st phrase - draw a question mark (?) on the board or paper (large enough for the children to recognize)
• 2nd phrase - picture of a child praying
• 3rd phrase - picture of Jesus teaching the disciples
• 4th phrase - picture of Jesus with children

When the children can sing either verse well, try the duet.  I like to ask an older child to sing with one side of the primary and I sing with the other side.  Then we switch sides so everyone gets a chance to sing both parts as a duet.

On of the challenges is that the first verse always has pick-up notes where as the 2nd verse begins on the down beat.  Always bring in the group singing the 1st verse and then the 2nd verse on the down beat.

Dare to do Right

Doing what is right can sometimes be hard for all of us. "Dare to do Right," p.158, is the perfect song to help us all find the courage to do what is right.

This song can be taught  by singing one phrase and having the children repeat it 3 times.  Then sing the next phrase and do the same thing.  Put both phrases together.

• Start by singing the whole song.
• Tell them that we sing "dare" several times.  Ask them to count how many times it is sung as you sing the song once more. (20 times, counting the chorus twice)
• "Dare to be right" is always first.
• "dare to be true" is second.
• Ask them to listen for the rhyming words.
• true and do
• well and tell
• true and your
• faith and death (not the best rhyme though)
• You can have the children stand when they sing "right" and sit when they sing "true."

*Always try to teach all the verses.  All verses were written for a purpose.

I Love to See the Temple

Teaching children about the Temple is important.  "I Love to See the Temple," p. 95.  Both verses are important as they explain why and what we do in the Temple.

I like the rhyming words at the end of each phrase.  This can help the children (and adults) learn the words.

• Make word strips of the rhyming words and put them on the board in no order.
• Sing the song and see how many words the children can put in order. (Not just rhyming words but in the correct order,)
• Sing it again until the words are all in order.
• Sing the first 2 lines with the children pointing to the words as you sing them.  Sing it 2 more times with the children.
• Do the same thing with the last 2 lines.

Sing the second verse.

• Ask the children what "covenant" means. Help them understand the meaning.  (The phrase right after defines it. "promise to obey")
• Explain what "sealed" means.  ("a family is forever")
• Use rhyming word strips to help teach this verse.

Other suggestions:

• Show pictures of the Temple.
• Ask the children if they have been to see a Temple. Which one or ones?
• How can we prepare ourselves to go to the Temple?

I Feel My Savior's Love

There are 4 verses to "I Feel My Savior's Love," p. 74.  All of them are well worth teaching to the children.  There are 4 short phrases in each verse and then the chorus.

You are your BEST visual aid.  You can teach this song with a few simple actions.

• I feel my Savior's love - cross your arms and rub your upper arms - like a hug.
• In all the world around me - make a circle with your arms
• His Spirit warms my soul - cross your arms like a hug.
• Through ev'rything I see. - hand over your eyes as if looking at something

2nd verse

I feel my Savior's love - cross your arms and rub your upper arms - like a hug.

It's gentleness enfolds me - cross your arms like a hug

And when I kneel to pray - touch your knees and bend them slightly

My heart is filled with peace - put one or both hands over your heart

3rd verse

• I feel my Savior's love - cross your arms and rub your upper arms - like a hug.
• And know that He will bless me - both hands on your head as if being blessed
• I offer Him my heart - hand over your heart and then move your hand upward as if giving it to God
• My shepherd He will be - make the motion of grabbing a staff and tap it on the floor

4th verse

• I'll share my Savior's love - both hands on your heart then move them outward as if giving it to everyone
• By serving others freely - do an action of service - sweeping, shoveling, dusting, pulling weeds, etc.
• In serving I am blessed - both hands on your head as if being blessed
• In giving I receive - hands out then bring them in close to you

Chorus

• Sing the chorus 
• Ask the children to come up with an action for each phrase or you can teach each phrase by having the children sing it 3 times after you sing it.

Nephi's Courage

As we study The Book of Mormon this year, "Nephi's Courage," p. 120, is one song the children will love singing. 

• There are many pictures depicting the events of this song.  Use the gospel library for beautiful artwork showing these events.  
• You can also ask the children to bring their own artwork to use as well.  
• There are various websites that have pictures that you can download, too.  In your search, always include "free" if you want access to free images.

Remember to add variety to learning and reviewing songs by boys or girls singing, half of the primary then the other half.

New verse to Book of Mormon Stories

Pat Graham, one of the wonderful composers of many children's songs, wrote another verse to "Book of Mormon Stories," p. 118.  At a recent workshop that she gave, she shared the verse that she wrote.  It's a perfect first verse if you choose to teach it.   It just might become a favorite verse!

Remember to review songs that you have learned.

Lehi was a prophet

   teaching in Jerusalem.

Fearing they would be destroyed

   his family fled with him.

Following the Liahona

   over land and sea,

They were led, when they lived

   righteously.

Keep the Commandments

We learn from Lehi and Nephi how important it is to keep the commandments that the Lord has given us. Nephi was able to get the brass plates from Laban because he obeyed the commandment to to bring the plates back to Lehi. The Liahona only showed the directions or gave instructions when the people obeyed the commandments.  They were kept safe and felt peace.  They received blessings and so can we.

"Keep the Commandments," p. 146, tells us the very things the Nephites were told.  This song has several lines that are repeated. Repetition helps us to learn and remember.

• Sing the first two lines.
• Ask the children what two things we can have if we keep the commandments.  Safety and peace 
• Sing the two lines a couple of time with the children.
• Sing the next 2 lines.
• Ask the children what Heavenly Father will send us if we keep His commandments.  Blessings
• Sing the two lines a couple of time with the children.
• The last two lines will be easy.  Sing them then have the children sing with you.
• Sing the first verse all the way through 2 times.

*Remember to review songs that you have taught in previous weeks so the children remember them.

The Iron Rod

It's important that we all take the time to teach as many hymns as we can to these Primary children.  "The Iron Rod," # 274, is perfect for this year's study of the Book of Mormon.

Begin with the first 2 lines:

• "To Nephi, seer of olden time,"
• show a picture of Nephi
• "seer" a person that can see the future such as a prophet
• "A vision came from God"
• What is a vision?
• This hymn talks about holding to "the rod of iron" in Nephi's dream.
• "Wherein the holy word sublime"
• "Holy word" - word of God
• sublime -  beauty that can inspire great admiration or awe, wonder
• "Was shown an iron rod"
• What did the iron rod represent? The word of God
• Where can we find the word of God?  The scriptures

The chorus is easy to teach by singing one line and having the children repeat it with you a few times. (3 times is my magic number).  You can use word strips for "strong, bright and true" so the children get the correct order.

The children will love this hymn - especially the chorus!

Book of Mormon Stories

We are studying the Book of Mormon this year and what a great time to learn or review the song on page 118! 

Choose pictures for versus 3 - 8

• Alma
• Abinadi
• Ammon
• two thousand sons - army of Helaman
• Samuel the Lamanite
• Risen Christ blessing the children.

You might want to review or teach the first 2 verses and then add a verse each week.  The children will know the melody so words will be what needs work and repetition.  Showing the rhyming words in each verse can help, also.

Christmas Lullaby's

Lullaby's about the baby Jesus create a reverence this time of year.  There are several lullaby's in the Primary Songbook.  Learn /teach as many as you have time for - the children will love them.

Bring a nativity scene to help set the mood.

Little Jesus  p. 39
The Shepherd's Carol  p. 40
Once within a Lowly stable  p. 41
Away in a Manger  p. 42
Mary's Lullaby  p. 44
Who Is the Child?  p. 46
Sleep, Little Jesus  p. 47
Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby  p. 48

Decorate the Tree

'Tis the season of Christmas.  Challenge yourself to teach your primary one new Christmas song from the Primary Songbook this year.

Use a Christmas Tree (paper cutout, small artificial, or draw one on the board) to teach the new song.  I like to begin with the last phrase or line.  Sing the phrase once for the children then have them sing it 3 times.  After each time, have a child add an ornament to the tree. 

Then work on the next line from the end of the song in the same fashion, adding an ornament after each time you sing the line.  The third time, finish the song by adding the last line. This way you always review what you have learned.

Continue in the same way until all the lines/phrases are learned.  You can double triple the ornaments to get more on the tree if you would like.  This also gives more children the opportunity to place one on the tree.

Gratitude

This Sunday is a great day to sing "thankful" or "gratitude" songs.

Ask the children to think of things that they are thankful for.  Have several share one thing then sing a "thankful" song.  (Several are listed below.)

Ask the children to think of ways they can show gratitude.  You may need to share a few examples: thank Mom for fixing dinner or packing your school lunch.  Have several share one thing then sing a "thankful" song.

Continue sharing thankful and gratitude ideas then sing a song.  The hope is that the children will go home singing these songs to help remind them to be grateful.

I Am Glad for Many Things p. 151
For Health and Strength p. 21
I'm Thankful to Be Me p.11
A Song of Thanks p. 20
For Thy Bounteous Blessings p.21
I Think the World Is Glorious p. 230

See "Gratitude" in the topics of "The Children's Songbook" for more songs.

Tell Me, Dear Lord

Seeking the lord's help in all we do is so important to teach children - and we as adults need the reminder. Tell Me, Dear Lord, p. 176, is the perfect teaching tool.

List on the board or make word strips of the following:
(I like using word strips so I can use them again as needed.)

• Say
• Do
• Know and love thy will
• understand thy loving word

2nd verse:

• guided
• hear thy voice
• obey
• Know thou art near
• strength impart
• banish every fear

Explain to the children that this song is bout asking the Lord to be with us in all we do.  It is important to ask for His help each day to know what He would like us to do or say or how we can help others.

Ask the children to count or listen for the many ways we can ask for Heavenly Father's help to guide us each day as you sing through the song.

Using the word strips as prompts, have the children sing the song with you as you point to the words.

Sing the song several times.  You can mix up the words on the board and have the children put them in order.  OR, give the word strips to the children and have them bring them up as they sing them.

Search, Ponder & Pray

We have been studying The New Testament in Come Follow Me this year. Teaching the children to "Search, Ponder & Pray" is critical to understanding the scriptures.  This song, p. 109, is a perfect teaching tool.

Sing the song for the children.
Ask the children what it means to search the scriptures.

• It could mean to understand the scriptures
• It could mean to read the scriptures
• It could mean to tell favorite scripture stories
• It could mean to explain the scriptures

Ask what ponder means.

• Think about
• write in a journal questions and thoughts about the scriptures
• Talk about them

Sing the first verse, then have the children sing it with you.

Ask the children why it is important to pray about the scriptures.

• Pray to understand the scriptures
• Pray to know that they are true
• Pray that the scriptures will help you make good decisions

Sing the second verse, then have the children sing it with you.

Sing the chorus and then have the children sing it with you.

After they have sung the song a few times, ask again why it is important to search, ponder and pray about the scriptures.  Use some of the phrases in the song to answer that question.

The Church of Jesus Christ

"The Church of Jesus Christ," p. 77, helps children understand what it means to be a member of His church.  There are 8 statements and phrases that tell what it means to belong the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

• Write on the board 1 through 8.
• Tell the children that there are 8 things that we know or do as members of His church.
• Ask them to listen as you sing the song and listen for the 8 things.
• Sing the song
• List as many things as the children can remember. List them in order so they know if they missed any, then sing it again. (Use one or or two words in each phrase as prompts.)
• Invite the children to sing with you.  
• Sing one or two phrases at a time until they can sing the whole song.
• Repetition is key to learning.

When He Comes Again

"When He Comes Again," p. 82, is one of the songs to go along with what the children are learning in Primary.

If possible, ask a few children to make/draw pictures of the following:

• angels singing
• snow scene
• spring scene
• star
• sun
• bird in a nest
• children sitting around Jesus

I like to use children's art where possible because it helps the children be apart of teaching and there is an ownership to the song.  You can always find or draw your own pictures.

• Put the pictures on the board randomly.
• sing the song as the children look at the pictures
• ask the children to help you put them in order as they sing.
• stop after each phrase to find the picture.
• Once they are in order sing it again, two or three times

If time permits, begin teaching the 2nd verse.  I teach it by rote - I sing a phrase then they sing it three times.  I sing the next phrase then they sing it twice and the third time we add the previous phrase. Continue in this way until the whole 2nd verse is learned.

Remember to review songs regularly.

Review

The goal of a review is to "refresh" the song so it "sticks" in the children's minds.

Gather several of the pictures that you have used for each song you would like to review.  This month we have learned "When We're Helping," "A Child's Prayer" and "I know That My Redeemer Lives."

• Write the titles of the songs you will be reviewing on the board.
• Place the pictures in random order on the board.  Ask a child to choose a picture. 
• Ask what song it belongs to.
• Place the picture under its title
• Sing the song or verse that the picture reminds us of
• Choose another child and follow the same procedure

You could also write the titles on paper and tape each to a stick and tape the stick to a large paper bag or basket.  Put the picture that belong to the song in the bag or basket.

When We're Helping

Service is or should be the very heart of our religion.  It's wonderful to see a group of youth cleaning up and elderly person's yard or sorting can goods at the food bank, or young children along side a parent helping rake leaves or shoveling walks.  When we are helping and serving others, we are happy!

"When We're Helping," p. 198, is a great song to sing when helping others.  Most children are familiar with this song. As you sing it, ask the children to suggest ways we help or serve others and encourage them to report back next week on things that they have done.  Suggest that they sing this song as they help or serve.

Ways to serve/help:

• pick up toys
• clean room without being asked
• help in the kitchen - preparing or cleaning up
• folding laundry
• vacuuming, mopping, dusting
• picking fruit or vegetables for someone
• racking leaves
• plus many more . . .

A Child's Prayer

"A Child's Prayer," p. 12, will become one of your primary's all time favorite - if they don't already know it.  The duet is wonderful and fairly easy to learn and sing.

1st verse: I teach this in 2 parts - the question and feeling part and the teaching part.

• 1st phrase - draw a question mark (?) on the board or paper (large enough for the children to recognize)
• 2nd phrase - picture of a child praying
• 3rd phrase - picture of Jesus teaching the disciples
• 4th phrase - picture of Jesus with children

2nd verse: Make word prompts for each phrase. Several pictures of a child praying helps the non-readers stay focused.

• "Pray"
• "Speak"
• "You are His Child"
• "Love"
• "Hears"
• "Loves"
• "Kingdom"

Repetition is key to learning. Sing phrases several time, then the entire verse.

"I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

"I Know That My Redeemer Lives," Hymn # 136, is a favorite of many.  It was included in the first hymnbook compiled by Emma Smith.

The first three lines are sung in unison (melody only).  Each verse states the many blessing of having a resurrected Christ.

The last three lines of the hymn are a bold declaration of the fact that Jesus Christ lives.

If possible, challenge yourself and the children to learn all 4 verses.  Pictures and word prompts will help.

Read through each verse and make note of pictures and words you can use to help the children.  Suggestions:

1st verse

• Picture of Christ
• "comfort" use a word prompt or use a small blanket, a hug
• Picture of Christ by the tomb
• explain what "ever-living head" means - head of the church, etc.

Sing these first 3 lines several times.

The last three lines repeats "He lives . . ." 4 times.

• "bless" word strip or picture of Christ blessing the children
• "to plead"  word strip or picture of Christ in Gethsemane
• "my hungry soul to feed"  word strip or picture of Christ feeding the 5000
• "to bless . . . need"  word strip or picture of Christ healing someone

Sing this section several times then the whole hymn.

This may take two weeks to accomplish but reviewing it each week will help the children memorize it.