Stand for the Right

This song will be a favorite for the children.  Sing it often to remind them of the importance of being true.  The following are some visualize that will help as you teach the song.

• picture of our prophet
• picture of someone working (at the office, in the yard, etc.)
• picture of children playing
• "Be true" written on a word strip

Sing the song.

Sing the first line and a half.  Have the children sing it with you a few times.

Sing the last line and a half.  Have the children sing it with you a few times.

Ask the following questions:

• What are the words that the prophet has for us?
• How many times do we sing Be true?
• What is the last phrase that we sing?

Sing the song again if the children need help answering the questions.

Take Time to Review

This is a 5th week and I try to use it as a review week.  Since January we have learned/reviewed 18 songs.  If you sing each of them, it will take up your entire singing time.  Look at the list and choose 9 songs that the children could use sing once or twice. 

• Cut out 9 stars (I use red, white and blue colors)
• Write on song title on each star
• Tape them to the board
• Choose a child to pick one
• Sing the song or ask if anyone can sing the first line - then sing the whole song with the children

*I make note if there are any songs that need more work for another singing time.

Behold the Great Redeemer Die

We have the great opportunity to teach children the hymns.  Where will they learn them if we don't teach them in Primary and at home.  Yes, some of them are difficult to learn and understand - even for adults, but we must still do our best.

Behold the Great Redeemer Die, # 191, is a beautiful hymn about the Savior's crucifixion, resurrection and the meaning of the sacrament. 

Teach phrase by phrase by singing each each one and then have the children sing it with you a few times.  The repeated phrase at the end will be the easiest.  Explain each phrase after you sing it.  Perhaps some of the children could also explain the meaning.  Repetition is by far the best way to learn a song. 

I like to teach the first and fifth verses.  All 5 verses are important to understand the full meaning of the sacrament and the gift that Christ unselfishly gave to each of us.  Never forget the verses beyond the ones written in the staff!  Often times they are the best!

The 5th verse tells about the triumph over death.  Sing it boldly with joy and love, just as Christ would love to hear it sung.  Use a pictures of Christ in Gethsemane, on the cross and the resurrection.  These pictures will help the children visualize what they are singing about.

*** Look up "Did Jesus Really Live Again" on this blog for ideas to teach this song.

Love One Another

"Love One Another," p. 136, is the perfect song to teach children about love.  In fact, it is used 4 times in 4 lines.  The phrase "love one another" is sung 3 times.

If this is new to your primary, sing each line and then have the children sing it with you 3 times.  Sing the whole song and ask the children to hold up one finger every time they sing "love."

Once they know the song, try teaching them the sign language on page 137.  This will help seal the words in their minds.

Ask the ward music director to sing this hymns in Sacrament meeting sometime this month.  This is a great way to reinforce learning in primary.

Review Songs

The three songs this month remind all of us of the importance of keeping commandments, treasuring our families and knowing who we are.

Use the following songs to answer the questions below:

• Keep the Commandments, p. 146
• Families Can Be Together Forever, p. 188
• I Am a Child of God, p. 2

On slips of paper write the following questions and place them in a bag or basket for the children to pick from.

• Who am I?  p. 2
• Each of us were born into a __________. p. 188
• What has Heavenly Father given us to help us return to Him?  p. 146
• What does keeping the commandments do for us?  p. 146  (safety)
• If we keep the commandments, what will happen with our families in heaven?  p. 188  (forever)
• What did Heavenly Father give us when we were born?  p. 2

Sing the song after the question is asked and have the children listen for the answer.

Feel free to add more questions.

You may want to review any songs that you have learned if time permits.

Fathers

Father's Day is a month away.  We have a tendency to make more of Mother's Day.  There a several great "Father's" songs in the Primary Songbook that have some great messages about our fathers.  Let's learn some!

"Fathers" p. 209

• picture of a home (house)
• picture of a church
• picture of God the Father and His son, Jesus (first vision)

Sing the first verse.  Point out the rhyming words - family/me and light/right

Sing it three times with the children.

Sing the second verse.  Rhyming words are - care/there and needs/deeds

Sing it three times with the children.

Sing the third verse.   Rhyming words are - call/all and One/Son

Sing it three times with the children.

Chorus:

• Sing the chorus
• "Special" is used twice in the first phrase.  
• fathers are special
• they have a special love
• I use a word strip for the next phrase to help everyone remember the order
• watch - protect
• guide - direct
• The last phrase, point up to heaven

Sing it three times with the children.

Now try the whole song!

Mother's Day

This is a great day to sing to sing about Mother's and families in general.  Choose songs that the children will enjoy singing and perhaps even go home singing them.

• Happy Family p. 198
• Mother Dear p. 206
• Love Is Spoken Here p. 190
• The Dearest Name p. 208
• When We're Helping p. 198

Suggest to the children that they find a way to serve their mothers and family.