Nov 8 2010

“Knock My Socks Off” Song Review

Posted on by

 

“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

Posted on by

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.
Oct 25 2010

Temples #1 – Ordinances

Posted on by

     

 Identify the Saving Ordinances 

 

Preparation 
  •  Print the pictures and labels and cut them out. Write an O on the back of each ordinance picture (baby blessing, father’s blessing, blessing the sick, baptism, confirmation/Holy Ghost, sacrament, Melchizedek Priesthood, temple marriage). Tape together three sheets of card stock  along the middle edges of the back. Do the same on two sheets of card stock.  Glue the Identify the Ordinances label to the three-fold board, and the Ordinances label to the two-fold board, and the Saving Ordinances label to a single sheet of card stock. For more durability, laminate the card stock, or put them in page protectors and cut off the excess plastic before taping them together.

  • Attach all the pictures to the three-fold board with either sticky back Velcro or non-permanent double sided tape. This will make the pictures movable from one board to the another while still being able to display them. If Velcro is used, attach the hook pieces to the pictures and the pad pieces to the three different boards as indicated in the sample picture above.

 

Why are temples an important and necessary part of the gospel? Because saving ordinances are performed in the temple. 

 Many different ordinances are performed throughout a person’s life, some are for comfort and guidance, but others are essential to salvation. (Do the activity below to identify the ordinances and the saving ordinances.) Hint: Ordinances are sacred ceremonies or acts that are performed by the proper priesthood authority.  

 Activity Directions   

 Have the family members take turns identifying the ordinances and moving them to the two-fold board labeled Ordinances. Have them check to see if they are correct by looking at the back of the pictures for an O.  Next have the family members identify the saving ordinances and move them to the page labeled Saving Ordinances. The saving ordinance answers include: Baptism, Confirmation/Holy Ghost, Melchizedek Priesthood Ordination, and Temple Marriage/Sealing.  

 Inform the family that there is one additional saving ordinance. It is received in the temple before going on a mission or before temple marriage. It is called the Endowment.   

 Look up and read D&C 95:8. “I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power on high.”

 We also receive an endowment of divine power from other sacred ordinances that we receive in our life. For example, “remission of sins is extended through the ordinance of baptism, confirmation brings with it the promise of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood opens the way for “every man [to] speak in the name of God””. (Quote by Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander of the Seventy, Ensign August 2001)  

 As part of these saving ordinances we also make sacred covenants with God.  We promise to serve God and keep his commandments. These covenants and endowments of power are meant to help us become more like our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ so that we can become worthy of and prepared for exaltation. 

Note: This activity could be used for Primary sharing time if bigger pictures from the meetinghouse library are used and if bigger labels are made. Attach the pictures and labels to the chalkboard with magnets.

General Handbook, 18.1 and 18.2.

Ordinances of Salvation and Exaltation: The priesthood includes the authority to administer gospel ordinances that are necessary for salvation and exaltation. People make sacred covenants with God as they receive these ordinances. The ordinances of salvation and exaltation are listed below:

  • Baptism
  • Confirmation and gift of the Holy Ghost
  • Conferral of the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordination to an office (for men)
  • Temple endowment
  • Temple sealing

Other Ordinances and Blessings: Other ordinances and blessings make it possible for God’s children to receive His power, healing, comfort, and guidance. These ordinances and blessings are listed below:

  • Naming and blessing children
  • The sacrament
  • Conferral of the Aaronic Priesthood and ordination to an office (for young men and men)
  • Setting apart members to serve in callings
  • Consecrating oil
  • Administering to the sick
  • Blessings of comfort and counsel, including father’s blessings
  • Dedicating homes
  • Dedicating graves
  • Patriarchal blessings by ordained patriarchs
Oct 16 2010

Colored Targets Song Review Game

Posted on by

Colored Targets Song Review Game

I cut out several colored circles to use as targets. I taped them to a wall in the primary room, and put them each about a foot or two apart. I put them in an area where there were no obstructions in the path to get to the wall.  I put a piece of double sided tape in the middle of each target.

I had some different colored fuzzy balls (from Wal-Mart) in a baggie, one that matched each colored target. I blindfolded a volunteer and  had him choose a fuzzy ball from the bag. I turned him around a couple of times and then faced him towards the targets. The other children sang  the song as the volunteer tried to find the matching colored target that went with the fuzzy ball. Since he couldn’t see, the other children helped him find the right target by singing louder when he got close to the target, and softer when he moved away from the target. I stood by the child to make sure he didn’t get off track and run into something as he walked toward the targets.  After the child found the target, another volunteer was chosen and we did the same thing.

This game is a way to get the children to review the song through repetition and have fun while doing it. If the children don’t know all the words, you can post the words above the targets. Remove sections of the words after each volunteer’s turn. If the children are unsure of the words, or don’t sing,  remind them of the words and sing all they way through once before starting the game again.

Oct 14 2010

Tithing #1

Posted on by

 Pay Tithing with a Grateful Heart – Game and Activity

Preparation

Print one copy of the blessing cards found in the November 2008 Friend.  Glue the cards onto heavier paper so that the images can’t be seen through the cards when playing the game. Cut out each card.   

Print the purse, envelope and the page entitled “Our Blessings from Heavenly Father”.  Cut out the purse and envelope. Cut out the front windows of each, and cut out the handle opening on the purse. Tape a piece of clear plastic (a piece of a Ziploc baggie or page protector) over the window on the inside of the purse and envelope. To form the envelope and purse, fold each on the lines and glue the two side tabs to the inside fold.

Items needed: ten dimes or pennies, Doctrine and Covenant scriptures, a pen or a marker

Game

Place the cards facedown. Have the family take turns flipping over two cards trying to make a match. When someone makes a match, have them tell why they are thankful for that blessing. Have them write that blessing, and an additional blessing they are grateful for (not duplicating any previous ones), on the paper entitled “Our Blessings from Heavenly Father”. When the game is over, point out all the wonderful blessings Heavenly Father has given us.

Discussion

Read D&C 104:14-15    According to this scripture, who created the earth and who does everything belong to? (The Lord)  Everything we have is His, but He has created it and provided it for us to use.

The Lord asks (commands) that we give 10% of the income that He provides to help strengthen and build His church on the earth. This 10% is called tithing. This is a small amount compared to all the many things the Lord has given us.

(Hold out the ten dimes (or pennies) in your hand). Ask the family, “If we are to give 10%, which is one of every ten, how much would we owe the Lord if we had ten dimes.”  Put one dime in the envelope that says “For the Lord”. Put the rest in the container that says “For Us”.  Ten percent is a small amount compared to all he has given us (Indicate the blessing chart and the other 90% of the money).  We should give 10% with gratitude in our hearts.

Oct 13 2010

Tithing #2

Posted on by

The Widow’s Mite – Scripture Story

Preparation

Print one copy of  the story cards. Cut the picture pages in half on the dotted lines. To make the picture cards into a flip-chart, punch a hole in the top left corners of the picture pages and attach the cards together with hinged metal rings found in office supplies, or string or ribbon.

Items needed: Scriptures – Old Testament

 Scripture Story

( Show picture #1 to the family. Read #1 of the words below as you hold up the picture. Continue on in numerical order, holding up pictures and reading words.)

 1. The people of Israel had been taught the law of tithing. The people paid tithing by giving one-tenth of their crops or animals.

2.  During the time of the prophet Malachi they had begun to give blind and sick animals, and polluted bread as tithing.

(Have the family look up and read Malachi 3:8)

  •  Why would not paying tithing, or giving our worst, be robbing God? (The Lord created the earth and everything on it. Everything is His, but He has given it to us to use.  When we refuse to pay our tithing, or pay it grudgingly, we are being ungrateful and keeping from him what is rightfully his.)

 3.  The Lord wants us to gladly pay tithing with gratitude in our hearts.

4.   In Jesus Christ’s time, tithes and offerings were collected at the temple in large containers with openings at the top (point out the container in the picture).

5.   One day Jesus watched the people as they came and put their money into the container. When Jesus saw the widow put in her money he called over his disciples.

6.   He told the disciples that the widow had done a great deed. Because of her love for Heavenly Father, she had given all that she had.

7.   We are not required to give all that we have, but we can show our love and appreciation for Heavenly Father by happily paying our tithing with a grateful heart.

Oct 12 2010

Tithing Lesson #3

Posted on by

Song: I’m Glad to Pay a Tithing

Song -“I’m Glad to Pay a Tithing”  Children’s Songbook pg 150

Preparation

Print one copy of the song pictures. Be prepared to play the song on a media device. A copy of the song can be obtained from www.lds.net, or CD’s can be checked out from the meetinghouse library.

Put the mountain scene in a page protector. Cut out the small pictures and word strips. Put removeable doubled sided tape on the back of each small picture and word strip.

Verse One

Tell the children to listen to the words in the song as you play or sing it. Have them find three things in the first verse that Heavenly Father has given us. (The sun that shines, the rain that falls, the meadowlark that sings) Put the pictures of those items on the mountain scene.

Ask what two words describe these gifts. (Good and Lovely) Put this word strip up above the mountain scene on the right hand side.

Then ask who gives us these good and lovely things? (Heavenly Father) Put this word strip to the left of “Good and Lovely”.

You are now ready to sing the first verse. Take the pictures off and put them on at the appropriate times as you sing the song, or leave them on and point to them when you come to that part.

Tell the children to look at the pictures to help them remember the words as they sing.

Verse Two:

(Keep verse one pictures on the scene as you sing verse two)

On the second verse put the child on the mountain scene. Ask what the child is holding. (A tithing envelope)

Tell the children to listen to the song, then ask, “What does the song say I am glad to do”? (Pay a tithing) Point out how happy and glad the child looks.

According to the song how much should you pay? (One tenth of all I earn) Put the word strip “1/10th” below the mountain scene on the left hand side.   

Does the song say it is a big or a little thing to pay tithing? (Little)

Put the word strip “Little” on the bottom right of the mountain scene.

Put on the rest of the pictures and indicate the whole picture when you tell them the last sentence – “it’s little when I think of all God gives me in return”.

You are now ready to try and sing the second verse the same way you did the first.

Review song words the children had trouble with and then sing the song again.

Encourage the children to think this week of all that God has given them and to remember how little one-tenth is to give God in return.

Review

The following hand movements can also be used to help the children remember certain words:

“Gives Me” (cusp hand and move it forward as if offering something)

“All” (Spread hands and arms apart to indicate everything)

“Shines” (Ball up hand and then flick fingers out several times)

“Falls” (Put arms above head and move them down as fingers are spread

out and fluttering)

“Sings” (Put fingers tips on the mouth and open hand as you move it away from the face)

“Glad”  (Smile widely and point to your smile)

“One tenth”  ( Hold up ten fingers and put down one finger)

“Little” (Make a fist and extend the pointer finger and the thumb and put the finger tips of those two fingers close together)

“All” (Spread hands and arms apart to indicate everything)

Oct 11 2010

Primary Program Music Review

Posted on by

 

Balloon Popping Meter Chart

This week I made a balloon meter to check if the children were ready for the Primary Program.  As the children sang a song, someone pulled the ribbon that was attached to that songs balloon. If they sang really well, the balloon would go all the way to the top and pop on a pin.  

To make the meter, I purchased a large foam board during a half price sale at Hobby Lobby. I tied different colored ribbons all the way around the board. (The ribbon that curls needs to be stretched before you tie it onto the board, or it will stretch and become loose as you do the activity. Run scissors along the ribbon a couple of times (as if you were curling it) and that should do it.)

I made long song labels for each of the different songs I was checking them on. I printed each song label onto a different colored paper. The papers matched the different ribbons. I taped each label under its matching colored ribbon. I tied a matching colored, blown up balloon to each ribbon. I had left about three inches of ribbon attached when I tied the ribbon onto the board. I used that ribbon to tie on the balloons. I pushed the balloon up against the ribbon and taped the back of the balloon up onto the ribbon so that it couldn’t move to the left or right. This allowed the needle to pierce the balloon. I took a large clip and taped a long needle to it. I taped it in such a manner that the needle could not move to the right or left.

When you put the clip onto the top of the board, above a balloon, it needs to go under the ribbon on the front and the back of the board. This allows the ribbon to freely move up and down. I asked our Primary secretary to operate the meter. She watched the children sing, and she moved the balloon up toward the needle as they sang well, and she stopped at parts they had trouble with. After they sang a song, we went over the parts they had problems with, and then we sang the song again. Our secretary moved the balloon some more as they sang well. When she felt like they knew the song well enough, she moved the ballloon to the top and it popped on the needle.   

Ribbon Wrapped Box

I had also wrapped a box of treats with the same colored ribbons I had used on the chart. Inside the box was Tootsie “Pops”. Each time the children pop a balloon they will get to cut a ribbon. When all the ribbons are cut, it means they know all the songs and are ready for the program. As a reward for all their hard work, they get the tootsie pops. The ribbon cutting activity could be used separately, and would be a great motivational activity on its own.

I got the gift wrapping idea from a friend several years ago. She may have gotten the idea off the internet from someone else. I got the balloon popping idea from a website several months ago. I looked and couldn’t find where I found it, so once again, thank you to all the people who inspire us with their great ideas.

Note: Be sure to test out the balloon meter at home before using it in Primary, to make sure it works properly and is set up correctly.

Oct 10 2010

Tithing #4

Posted on by

 

“Tithing is One Tenth of Our Increase”

Preparation

Personal Note: I have always practiced the law of tithing according to the below quote by Bruce R. McConkie, but I do understand that the interpretation of the word “increase” is varied, so please adjust the following activity to how your family practices the law of tithing. (The items in the activity can be copied and pasted into a word document to make any changes needed.)

Print the all the items for the Job Board Activity, using colored card stock for the cards. Print one of the example tithing slips for each family member.

To make the Help Wanted Job Board, butt together the 11 inch sides of two 8 ½ X 11 pieces of color card stock. Put a long piece of tape down the middle so they are connected. This will be the back side of the board. Turn the board over. Cut out the Job Board Help Wanted title. Glue it to the very top and middle of the two joined card stocks.

Cut out the pocket pattern. Trace and cut out 8 paper pockets using the pattern as a guide. Place them evenly spaced onto the front of the Job Board. Glue or tape down the sides and bottom edges of each pocket.

Cut out the job titles and the job cards.  Glue each job title to the very top of the backside of the matching job card. You should be able to see the job name when it is in the pocket.  Put the job cards into the pockets on the Help Wanted board with the job title facing outward.

Cut out the bonus cards and the Bonus tags.  Glue the Bonus tags to the center of the backside of each bonus card.

Cut out the tithing slips and the paper dice. Use sticky back Velcro, or double sided tape, to hold the tabs of the folded dice in place so that it can be taken apart for storage.

Items needed: Papers and pencils, and a real tithing slip and envelope to show to the family.

 

Discussion:

Read D&C 119:3-4   According to this scripture how much should we pay for tithing? Tithing is one tenth of our interest, which means one tenth of our increase. One-tenth is one out of every ten.

“Salaries, wages, gifts, bequests, inheritances, the increase in flocks, herds and crops (money increase earned from investments), and all income of whatever nature are subject to the law of tithing.”  Bruce R. McConkie – Mormon Doctrine

Activity Instructions

A family member chooses a job card from the Help Wanted board and reads the job description on the back.

They then roll the paper dice to see how many hours or days they do the work. They roll until the dice lands on a number square. If the dice lands on a Bonus square they get a bonus card. If it lands on Allowance they get to add whatever allowance amount your family uses to their money tally. They are only allowed one bonus or allowance per turn. (If your family doesn’t do allowance you could make that another bonus square)

Have them write down on a piece of paper all their money amounts – allowances, job money earned, and bonus money (small children may  need help).

Show the children how moving the decimal sign in a dollar figure, one position to the left, shows how much tithing should be paid. Let them figure out their tithing for each money item so they can practice this technique. Have them keep track of how much tithing is owed in a separate column.

After each person in the family has had the chance to choose one or two jobs, have them add up their tithing money column and figure out how much tithing is owed.

Show the family a real tithing slip and envelope. Explain that they can be found at the ward meetinghouse, usually near the bishop’s office. (On Sunday you may want to show the children where they are located.)

Help each family member fill out an example tithing slip.  Make sure they understand that tithing is not to be divided up and given in the other categories, or in any other way.  Tithing must always be given in the tithing category. You may want to briefly explain what the other spots are for.

Show the real tithing slip and envelope again and explain that the white slip is what they just filled out and that the printing would copy onto the yellow slip if they were together. Tell them they would put the white slip into the envelope with their money and the yellow would be their copy to keep.  The tithing envelope would then be given to the Bishop or one of his counselors.

Oct 9 2010

Tithing #5 – Song

Posted on by

“I Want to Give the Lord my Tenth”  Children’s Song Book Pg. 150

Items needed

  • Make eight copies of the coin page so that you have sixteen coins printed. Cut out the coins. Print one copy of the song sentences. Cut out the sentences and put one of the sentence halves on the back of each coin.  (Coin picture source – July 1996 Friend “Dollar Day”)
  • Make a printed copy of the song “I Want to Give the Lord My Tenth”.  Also be prepared to play this song on a media device.

 Song Directions

Place the coins on a table, floor, or wall so that the words are facing down and the coins are facing up. Then play a matching game. Have the family members take turns turning over two cards trying to find matching sentences. (Check the song to make sure it is a match.) If the player finds a match, they get to go again. After all the matches have been found, ask each family member how much tithing they would pay on the coins they have collected (each is a quarter). Make sure they keep their matches together as they count.

Spread out all the matches, and have the family try to put all the sentences in the order they think they should go in the song. Have them listen to the song on CD (or other media device) and see if they have it right. Have them rearrange the sentences if needed, and then sing the song.

Take some parts off, and sing the song again. Continue in this manner until all the parts are removed, and the family can sing the whole song without seeing the words.