Mar 16 2011

Spring Showers – Song Choosing Review

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Spring Showers Plinko Board – Song Choosing Review

This week I am reviewing the songs we have learned so far this year. I wanted to use a spring shower theme, so I came up with a Plinko board. A child slides a rain drop (a flat floral marble) down from the top back of the Plinko board trying to get it in the slot of the song they want to sing. Whatever slot it lands in is the song the children will sing. They must try and get it into a slot of a song that hasn’t already been sung. Each child will have one try to do this.

Preparation

  • Items needed: a 20×30 inch foam board from Walmart, blue flat floral marbles, a sheet of clear plastic such as from dollar store gift basket bags (or a couple sheets of saran wrap), clear packaging tape, a small flat sponge, double-sided tape, toothpicks, and a utility razor knife.
  • To make the box, cut the foam board in half, and with the utility knife, score a two inch line down each side and across the bottom of the half sheet of foam board.  Bend the scored areas backwards so that it forms a box (the square corner pieces will have to be cut out).  Tape the corners together.
  • Print the Spring Shower Pictures.  Cut out the flowers and glue them to the bottom of the box. Print and cut out the titles of the songs you wish to review, and glue one above each flower. Cut the sponge into strips to make dividers between the flowers. Attach each sponge divider with double-sided tape. Using double-sided tape, attach some blue floral marbles to the back of the box to look like raindrops coming down on the flowers. Cover the box with clear plastic; pull the plastic tight and tape it to the outside edges or back of the box with clear packaging tape. Cut out and tape the grass to the bottom edge of the box. Cut out the clouds and attach them to the top edge of the plastic with double-sided tape. Look down the top of the Plinko box and see where there are open areas to the slots. Stick the toothpicks through the plastic and into the foam board wherever there is a clear opening. This will make it more difficult to get the marbles into the slot of choice.

 

A Plinko board could be used in lots of different ways. Send me your comments and share your ideas with others on how to use this idea in a noncompetitive way.

Feb 18 2011

Handout for “If I Listen With My Heart”

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Valena Kisner emailed me a wonderful handout she had made to go with the song “If I Listen With My Heart”. She wanted to reinforce the ideas presented in the third verse lesson, so she created a 4×6 photo representation of the stained glass window for each of the kids to take home. Click on If I Listen With My Heart handout if you would like a copy. I reduced it a little and put four of them on one page, so it can be printed onto 81/2 x11 sheets of glossy photo paper.

Thank you Valena for sharing your idea and talents with us!

Jan 29 2011

Review of “If I Listen With My Heart”

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  Review of “If I Listen With My Heart”

Senior Primary Review of the Third Verse

I printed off the two pages of the words to the third verse onto light weight paper. (You can find the words in last week’s posting.) I put a piece of light weight blue paper over the top of each page. I used double sided tape at certain points near the words so the two papers would stick together well. I pinned the two pieces of paper onto a lamp shade. When the lamp is on, the children will be able to see the words to the third verse. Tell the children that this activity is to help remind them that the light of the Holy Ghost shows and tells us the things we need to know.

Have a volunteer turn the lamp on and off (not too fast) while the children sing the song. Watch to see if the children can sing the verse when the lamp is on or off. If they have problems with any area, review the pictures and words from last week’s lesson for that part. After that, choose another volunteer to turn the lamp on and off while the children sing the verse again. Continue in this manner until you think they have the words completely memorized.

Senior and Junior Primary Review of all the Verses.

Print the lines from the verses.  Cut them out and put sticky back hook velcro on the back of each one. Put them each into an envelope.  You will need a headband. See if the hook velcro will stick to your headband. If it won’t stick, sew a piece of pad velcro on it.

Choose a volunteer who thinks they know the words to every verse. Have the volunteer put the headband around the top of their head. Have the volunteer then choose an envelope. Put the card that is in that envelope onto their headband (on their forehead) without the volunteer seeing what it is. (For junior Primary, send the volunteer outside the room while you tell the children what the words are that are on the card.)  See if the children know what verse the words are from. Tell the children they are going to sing that verse; they are to sing all the words, except for the words that are on the card. The person who has the card stuck to their head is supposed to listen, and think of the words that the children don’t sing, and then tell what words are on the card.

You could also use a headband that has a light on it for this activity. The words would have to be printed onto light weight paper. Tape it to the light and turn on the light.

Dec 12 2010

The Shepherd’s Carol

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“The Shepherd’s Carol” Pg. 40 Children’s Songbook


This week I taught the children my favorite Christmas song from the Children’s Songbook, “The Shepherd’s Carol”. I use the Children’s Songbook music Cd’s for accompaniment when teaching this song because the introduction is beautiful (it’s bells or chimes). They also use different instruments for each part during the round, which makes it easier to hear the different parts.

Items Needed: Children’s Songbook music Cd’s, a Cd player, fabric items to make headdresses for Mary and Joseph (fabric, towels, scarves, etc.), a baby doll wrapped tightly in a blanket, a crown, a hymn book with the word praises on the cover, a gift package with hearts on the outside of it, a copy of the words for each child in Senior Primary, and a picture of Jesus in Gethsemane with the words “Our Savior” attached to it .

Senior Primary – I gave Senior Primary the words to the song to start them off, because I knew that once they sang the song a couple of times they would love it and be excited to learn it. We sang it through once without doing the rounds. Then I divided the children into four groups. I asked the pianist to lead one group, and I had a couple of other people lead the other parts (they were leaders or teachers who knew how to lead music). I gave them each a copy of the song so they would have the words and music. 

We started the CD and sang the song from the beginning (singing through once and then singing the parts). It was beautiful. The kids loved it too. (I have had kids clap after they sing this song because it sounds so beautiful, and they are proud of their singing.) I let the children choose if they wanted to do it again. They wanted to do it again, and again, and again. We actually ran out of time before I could help them memorize it. 

 Junior and Senior Primary – (I started junior Primary as this point.) (Use the piano for this part.) I chose two children to dress up as Mary and Joseph, and I had Mary sit on a chair and hold the baby. Joseph stood behind her. I gave Joseph the crown to hold. I told Junior Primary the words of the first two lines, and then we sang that much. Then I added another child holding the picture and another holding the hymn book. I had those children stand to the right of Mary and Joseph. I told the children the chorus and we sang that much, and then we sang the whole first verse including chorus. Then I added another child who was holding the gift box. I had that child stand to the left of Mary and Joseph. We then learned the next two lines.

Do the following actions as the children sing the song to help them remember the words.   

 Mary, Mary hush see the child. (Point to Mary, then put one finger on your lips, then point to your eyes, and then point to the baby.) 

Joseph, Joseph look see how mild. (Point to Joseph, then to your eyes, and then to the baby.)

This is Jesus; (Have Mary hold up the baby)

This is our King.   (Have Joseph hold the crown over the baby’s head)

This is our Savior; (Have a child hold up the picture of Jesus in Gethsemane with the words “Our Savior” attached to it.)

 His praises we sing. (Have the child that is holding the hymn book, hold it up and open it.)

All God’s children come to adore. (Have the child that is holding the hymn book and the child that is holding the picture, come close to Mary and Joseph and look at the baby and smile.)

Bringing gifts of love evermore. (Have the child who is holding the gift hold it out to the baby, or they can hold it up high for everyone to see.)

Repeat the chorus. 

Have the children sing the song several times as the children that are holding props do their parts. Touch their heads when it is their turn to do their part. After Junior Primary learns the song, have all the people holding props sit down. Have the children sing the song again to see if they can still remember the words. If they can sing it, and you have time, you can try to do the rounds with them. (Or if you want to make sure and have time to do the rounds, give the words to the readers in Junior primary at the beginning, and have the non-readers acting out (or watching) the parts. When doing the rounds have the non-readers be part one. This makes things less confusing for them. You will need to direct the acting and singing of the non-readers.)

Note: The Children’s Songbook music Cd’s can be found in the meetinghouse library, or you can copy the song from the church website onto a Cd.

Nov 30 2010

Missionary #1

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Why Share the Gospel –  Activity

Preparation
• Items needed: A gift bag or gift box, paper and pencils, scriptures

Attention Activity
Show the family the gift bag/box. Hand out a paper and pencil to each person. Have the family members write down what they think would be the greatest gift they could give to someone. Collect the papers and put them in the gift bag/box. Pull out one response at a time, and read and discuss the responses. (Make sure to point out the positive of each person’s response, such as fun, needed, useful, long lasting, etc)

Scripture
Have the family look up and read D&C 14:7 – “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”

God has given us many wonderful things on this earth, but according to this scripture the gift of eternal life is better than anything we could ever receive on earth. Eternal life (or exaltation) is to live in God’s presence and live the kind of life He has.

We can not give someone eternal life, but we can share something with others that will help them get on the path towards gaining eternal life.

• What do you think that is? The gospel (The gospel is all the doctrines, laws, and ordinances needed to gain eternal life.)

Nov 29 2010

Winter Wonderland Music Game

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Winter Wonderland Music Game

This week for music time I covered a box with snowflake wrapping paper. Inside the box I had about eight cups of packing foam nuggets/peanuts. On forty-five of the nuggets I had written page numbers of songs the children knew. I also had put a small table fan, face down, in the box. The base of the fan was sticking out the back of the box so I could turn it on and off. When the fan was on high, it would make the peanuts fly around in the air like a snow storm. I had made a window so the children could see the “snow” flying around. I had covered the window opening with a cut open large plastic ziplock bag.  I cut a hole in the side of the box so the children could stick their hands into the box and try and catch a “snowflake”.

We played Name That Tune with the songs. First I had the children find a song. I started the fan and had each child take a turn catching a snowflake until a song number was found. Then after that, each blank snowflake they caught represented a note. When they found another song, that’s where we stopped. The pianist then played the amount of notes they earned (up to five), and the children guessed what song it was.  If they could tell me some words in the song, I let them have it. The person who guessed what song it was got to decide if they wanted to sing that song or not. If the children couldn’t guess what song it was I got to decide if I wanted them to sing the song. 

I wanted each child to have a turn catching the snowflakes, but after that I had one child catch snowflakes until that child found a song. Then I chose another child to be the helper. It went faster that way, and I could choose children that were being reverent to be the helpers.

Note: The bigger packing nuggets I had to cut in half to get them to fly around, but you need to make sure you have a good safety cover on your fan so they don’t get through the grill.

 I got this wonderful idea from Cindee Alexander on Sugardoodle. Thank you Cindee.

Nov 9 2010

Sabbath Day: Lesson Item 3

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“Jesus Kept the Sabbath Day Holy”

Preparation

Print the Sabbath Story Pictures. Tape the pages together along the back bottom edges in the order they were printed. Roll the pictures into a scroll. Tie the scroll with a piece of yarn or string. (Optional Ideas: tape a dowel rod to the top edge and to the bottom edge of the scroll. You could also print off the numbered words below and glue them to the back of their matching picture. This makes it easier to read the words as you show the pictures. )

Scripture Story 

Unroll one side of the scroll until the first picture is showing. Read the words to the family that go with each scroll picture (see below). When finished with one page, roll up the top roll with one hand as you unroll the bottom roll with the other hand until you get to the next picture.

1.    When Jesus lived on the earth he honored the Sabbath day. The bible tells us how he kept it holy. On the Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogues (churches) to worship and teach.

2.    One day when Jesus was in a synagogue he saw a man whose right hand was crippled. He also saw some Jewish leaders called Pharisees. The Pharisees were a people who opposed Jesus because they thought he would take away their power and authority from them. They tried to trap him into saying things that were wrong or against the law. They asked Jesus if it was against the law to heal someone on the Sabbath day. They thought it was.

3.    The Jews in Jesus’ time were not living the Sabbath as they had been commanded. They had made up strict rules that did not help them worship Heavenly Father. For example, it was forbidden to set a broken bone or reset a dislocated joint on the Sabbath. Another of their strict rules was that a knot which could be untied with one hand was lawful to tie on the Sabbath, but if it required two hands to untie, it was not lawful.

4.    Jesus taught the Jews that these rules were wrong. Jesus answered their question concerning the unlawfulness of healing on the Sabbath by asking them what they would do if one of them had a sheep and it fell into a hole on the Sabbath. He asked if they would lift it out. When none of the Pharisees answered him, Jesus continued by saying how much better a person is than a sheep.

5.    He then called to the man with the crippled hand. Jesus asked the man to stand and hold out his hand. As the man did so, Jesus healed his hand.

 

Review Questions

Where did Jesus go on the Sabbath? (To church)

Why did Jesus go to church? (To worship and teach)

What else did he do? (He healed a man with the crippled hand)

Tell the family that if it is something that Jesus would do on the Sabbath, such as giving blessings to the sick, attending church, worshiping, and teaching the gospel, it is a good thing to do on the Sabbath Day.

Nov 8 2010

“Knock My Socks Off” Song Review

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“Knock My Socks Off”  Song Review Idea

We are currently reviewing songs for the primary program, and I used an activity called “Knock My Socks Off” to help motivate the children to sing well.  I put the above sign on the board, and the socks on the ledge of the chalkboard. I asked the children if they knew what the expression “Knock My Socks Off” meant? I told them it symbolicaly meant that when someone is so amazed by something, then that powerful emotion goes through their body and down to their feet like electricity and knocks their socks off. 

In each sock was a paper with a song title written on it. I had a child choose a sock, get the song title out, and post the title on the board. I told the children that the Primary secretary was going to hold that sock, and as they sang the song well and amazed her, then that sock would shake down until it was finally knocked completely off.

Sock Assembly Instructions

I cut out each one piece leg and foot from a piece of peach foam board (poster board would probably work too). The legs were 16 inches long from the knee to the bottom of the heel, and they were 4 inches wide. The feet were 4 inches wide, and 8 inches long (from heel to toe).  

I purchased 1/4 of a yard of flannel or fleece fabric  for each sock. I cut out the leg of the socks to be 21 inches long, seven inches wide. The foot area was 10 inches long and 5 1/2 wide. The socks were bigger than the foam leg and foot to be able to fit over the heel. I sewed the socks inside out with a 1/4 inch seam, and I rounded the edges of the heel and toe area. Then I turned them outside out and put them on the foam legs. 

Easy Method

 Instead of making the socks, use long socks, or leg warmers attached to short socks. I made the socks because I needed the different colors to match the ribbons on a reward box. The children got to cut a matching colored ribbon on the box when they sang so well that they knocked a sock off. When all the ribbons were cut, they got their reward.

I used this activity to review several songs for the primary program, but it could be used for just one or two songs by using just one or two socks and legs.  

The idea for this activity came from my friend Vickie from Arkansas. She has very clever ideas.

Oct 28 2010

Temples #2

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Ordinance Progression

Preparation

  • Print the stairs, labels and child progression pictures. Cut out the pictures and labels. (Optional: Cut out the stairs and attach it to a sheet of colored card stock.) Put the stair page into a page protector.
  • Items needed: tape to attach the labels to the stairs, and blocks – or some other kind of building material.
 
Activity
Show the family the saving ordinance labels and the stair page.
  • Ask which of the saving ordinances is performed first in a person’s life? Baptism (Have a family member attach that label to the front of the first stair.)
  •  At what age is baptism usually performed?  Eight  (Have a family member put the picture of the eight year old child on the first stair.)
  • What ordinance is performed next and at what age? Confirmation/Holy Ghost, age eight (Have a family member put that label next to baptism on the first stair.)
  • What ordinance is performed after that, and at what age is it performed? The Aaronic Priesthood ordination is the next saving ordinance that a boy would receive. This usually happens at age twelve. (Have a family member put that label on the second stair, and take off the eight year old boy and put the twelve year old boy on the second stair. Explain that the Aaronic Priesthood is not a saving ordinance, but it is preparatory to receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood.) Girls do not receive the priesthood, so the next saving ordinance that a girl would receive would be the endowment.

Continue in the above manner until all the ordinances labels are on the stairs, and the final picture of temple marriage is on the top stair.

  • Why do we receive saving ordinances at different times in our lives? Do the following activity to help answer this question.

 Activity  

Direct the family to build a temple using the blocks or other building materials.  Point out that when building a temple, it is necessary to start with the bottom foundation and build up. Just as there is a natural progression to building a temple, so is there a natural progression in participating in Saving Ordinances. We need to start with ordinances that lay a foundation and then add to that as we understand and are prepared to receive more.

Have the family look up and read  2 Nephi 28:30.  (“I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more.” )

  • What does this scripture mean? We do not receive everything at one time. As we grow and develop in our understanding and knowledge of the gospel, and obey the covenants we have received, we are then given more.
  • After we receive the final saving ordinance of temple marriage is exaltation guaranteed?  A temple marriage is necessary to gain exaltation, but it does not guarantee exaltation. In order to obtain exaltation we must continue to be obedient to all the covenants we have made, enduring to the end.