Uh-oh. It has been SO long.
I just wrote up the list of songs we will be learning in 2013. I'm so excited! So I thought I'd post it.
I did this last year too--made a list of songs for each month, since so many of the prescribed program songs were ones we already knew. Then the same thing happened this year, with songs like "I Am a Child of God" and "When I Am Baptized." My kids know almost all of 2013's program songs. So we are going to learn lots of other new songs as well. I wasn't sure how it would turn out last year but I think it worked really well and the kids learned tons of new songs. I'm excited for this year too! I'm especially excited for "Had I Been a Child" and "I'll Follow Him in Faith," two songs I didn't sing as a kid but fell in love with after becoming a Primary chorister.
Yay :)
2013 SONGS
January I Am a Child of God - p. 2
I Will Follow God's Plan - p. 164
I Lived in Heaven - p. 4
February My Heavenly Father Loves Me - p. 228
Life Is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things
I Know My Father Lives - p. 5
March If the Savior Stood Beside Me
Had I Been a Child - p. 80
April Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Hymns, 26
The Sacred Grove - p. 87
On a Golden Springtime - p. 88
I Often Go Walking - p. 202
May The Word of Wisdom - p. 154
Latter-day Prophets - p. 134
Fathers - p. 209
June When I Am Baptized - p. 103
Help Me, Dear Father - p. 99
I Believe in Being Honest - p. 149
July Families Can Be Together Forever - p. 188
The Family Is of God
To Be a Pioneer - 218
August A Child's Prayer - p. 12
I Pray in Faith - p. 14
September I'll Follow Him in Faith
I Will Be Valiant - p. 162
I Am Like a Star - p. 163
Called to Serve - p. 174
October Friends Are Fun - p. 262
I'm Learning the Ways of Jesus
I'll Walk with You - p. 140
November Reverence Is Love - p. 31
Thanks to Our Father - p. 20
Sing Your Way Home - p. 193
December When Joseph Went to Bethlehem - p. 38
Little Jesus - p. 39
The Shepherd's Carol - p. 40
By the way, all the songs without a page number are songs which have been published in the Friend but are not in the Children's Songbook or hymnbook. They are available for download on the Friend Music Playlist page at lds.org.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Where Do You Belong?
I ran across an old Senior Primary singing time which I thought was really successful. "The Church of Jesus Christ" was a program song a few years ago and I got this idea from a blog somewhere--unfortunately I'm really not sure although it's likely it was The Crazy Chorister, who was my muse for at least the first year I was chorister.
Anyway, I printed out the Church logo extra large--I think I enlarged it on the photocopier at church and it was probably on an 11x17 sheet. Then I covered it up with several easily recognizable "worldly" ;) logos which I found on Google Images. Here's the list I have in my files--I won't upload the actual images since that would take too long and I already should be getting ready for church right about now:
Apple
Mercedes
McDonald’s
Disney
Target
Wii
Xbox
Barbie
Bakugan
iCarly
The Suite Life
Hannah Montana
Guitar Hero
High School Musical
Washington Redskins
Halo
Lego
Where the Wild Things Are
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Anyway, I taped all the logos so that they covered the Church logo. As we sang "The Church of Jesus Christ," I walked around with my poster and offered it to various kids inviting them to take one. Each took one until the Church logo was revealed. We had a nice talk about where we "belong," what we value and how long things of the world last versus things of eternity. I am 99.9% sure that I didn't use this activity for junior Primary, I think we did something else, but it was a nice opportunity to talk about the meaning of the song for the senior kids, who already knew the song anyway.
Paper Instruments
Today is our last singing time before the program, since next week we are practicing in the chapel and the week after that is our program. The songs this year were so easy for the kids that they really have them all down pretty well. So I'm going to do a "game" I did a few years ago which the kids loved. Our ward changes so often with move-ins and move-outs that I'm sure most of the kids in our current Primary either weren't there when I did it before, or won't remember it. It's from Divine Secrets of a Primary Chorister and I put the word "game" in quotes because it isn't really a game. Just sort of a funny, simple activity. Original idea here: Adventures with Paper. I'll copy the text in case she takes her site down in the future.
Side note: When I did this the first time, I kept the papers that the senior Primary threw at me with their favorite songs written on them and put them in a bag. I chose songs from that whenever I had extra time to sing during Primary.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Adventures With Paper
This is such a simple idea, but it turned out really, really well. I was a bit worried that it would be too simple, but it turned out perfect!
I cut normal 8.5x11" paper in half. I then gave each child one of these. I handed out pencils and told them to write their favorite song on it (the little kids only had to write their name on it). Then we turned the paper into instruments.
I chose a random word from the song we were practicing. Whenever we sang that word, we would do something with the paper. For example, if we were singing "To Think About Jesus", I might choose the word 'still'. So whenever we sang the word 'still', we wouldsnap our papers (grab each end, and quickly pull out to make it 'snap'). Then I'd change it so that if we sang the word 'Jesus', we would flap our paper in the air (this makes more noise than you would think). And so on and so forth.
Somehow this kept the kids' attention and really had them concentrating on the words at the same time. It was amazing. Finally, when we had just a couple of minutes left, I told them to crumple their papers into a ball. Then I told them to throw their papers at me.
It took a second to clear the shock from their minds, and then the paper balls came flying. I hammed it up, pretending to cower and shriek as they pummeled me with their papers. It made it even more fun for them. I chose a crumpled paper at random, and whatever fun song was on their, that's what we sang (for the little kids I called out whoever's name was on their and they got to pick a fun song). This turned out fabulously!!
I cut normal 8.5x11" paper in half. I then gave each child one of these. I handed out pencils and told them to write their favorite song on it (the little kids only had to write their name on it). Then we turned the paper into instruments.
I chose a random word from the song we were practicing. Whenever we sang that word, we would do something with the paper. For example, if we were singing "To Think About Jesus", I might choose the word 'still'. So whenever we sang the word 'still', we wouldsnap our papers (grab each end, and quickly pull out to make it 'snap'). Then I'd change it so that if we sang the word 'Jesus', we would flap our paper in the air (this makes more noise than you would think). And so on and so forth.
Somehow this kept the kids' attention and really had them concentrating on the words at the same time. It was amazing. Finally, when we had just a couple of minutes left, I told them to crumple their papers into a ball. Then I told them to throw their papers at me.
It took a second to clear the shock from their minds, and then the paper balls came flying. I hammed it up, pretending to cower and shriek as they pummeled me with their papers. It made it even more fun for them. I chose a crumpled paper at random, and whatever fun song was on their, that's what we sang (for the little kids I called out whoever's name was on their and they got to pick a fun song). This turned out fabulously!!
Side note: When I did this the first time, I kept the papers that the senior Primary threw at me with their favorite songs written on them and put them in a bag. I chose songs from that whenever I had extra time to sing during Primary.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Musical Chairs, Bowling, Balloons
And 3 months later, here I am...
A few successes I've had lately have been very simple.
Musical Chairs - about how you would imagine it. We sing until I cut the singing off. When the music stops, someone loses a chair. My favorite thing about this game is that as long as we keep it moving, everyone gets a turn. (I did 5 at a time.)
Bowling - I used a toy bowling set I got at Target several months ago. On the bottom of each pin I wrote an action, the idea being that if necessary (that is, if all pins got knocked over) the kids could do all the actions at the same time. Stand on one foot, flap arms like chicken wings, hop up and down, and I don't remember what the others were. But at one point during Senior Primary we did all of them at once (while singing of course) and it was pretty funny.
Balloons - I have done this several times and probably blogged about it before too. It's what I'm planning to do tomorrow as we review "Fathers" for Fathers Day next week. I have an enthusiastic teacher come up and blow the balloon as the kids sing. The better they sing, the bigger the balloon gets. Then we either pop it or let it loose. Either way is always a hit with the kids. I try not to use this one more than every 3 or 4 months.
Apron with Pockets - each pocket has a toy in it that symbolizes how we are going to sing the song. A toy sheep means we sing like sheep, etc. I'm sure I've posted about this. I use it a lot.
Sign Language - we have done this for almost every song I've introduced so far in 2012. I know I've posted about it already, but it has worked pretty well for me this year.
Off the top of my head, that's what I have. Super simple and easy and fun too.
A few successes I've had lately have been very simple.
Musical Chairs - about how you would imagine it. We sing until I cut the singing off. When the music stops, someone loses a chair. My favorite thing about this game is that as long as we keep it moving, everyone gets a turn. (I did 5 at a time.)
Bowling - I used a toy bowling set I got at Target several months ago. On the bottom of each pin I wrote an action, the idea being that if necessary (that is, if all pins got knocked over) the kids could do all the actions at the same time. Stand on one foot, flap arms like chicken wings, hop up and down, and I don't remember what the others were. But at one point during Senior Primary we did all of them at once (while singing of course) and it was pretty funny.
Balloons - I have done this several times and probably blogged about it before too. It's what I'm planning to do tomorrow as we review "Fathers" for Fathers Day next week. I have an enthusiastic teacher come up and blow the balloon as the kids sing. The better they sing, the bigger the balloon gets. Then we either pop it or let it loose. Either way is always a hit with the kids. I try not to use this one more than every 3 or 4 months.
Apron with Pockets - each pocket has a toy in it that symbolizes how we are going to sing the song. A toy sheep means we sing like sheep, etc. I'm sure I've posted about this. I use it a lot.
Sign Language - we have done this for almost every song I've introduced so far in 2012. I know I've posted about it already, but it has worked pretty well for me this year.
Off the top of my head, that's what I have. Super simple and easy and fun too.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
During the Week / On Sunday
I was looking through my old Primary files on the computer and found a handout from the first workshop I taught as the stake Primary chorister. I think there is more stuff on it than necessary. But for posterity I am going to post it anyway.
During the Week - How To…
1. Prepare with Your Kids in Mind
Senior
Primary
Games: If it’s not a challenge for
you, it probably won’t be for them!
Memorization
Context
Junior
Primary
The basics: Pictures, actions,
stop/go, loud/soft, “styles”
More ideas: involving the kids
Crossing
over: what works for both groups
Nursery
Props for kids to hold
2. Learn from Others
(includes
sharing time outlines for this year and years past)
Having “visitors” in Primary is
ALWAYS a hit.
3. Work Together
Presidency
Pianist
Nursery
leader
Primary
teachers and parents
The
kids
On Sunday - How To…
4. Know Your Kids
Primary
roster
“I
saw my music teacher at Home Depot!”
Choosing volunteers
- Popsicle sticks,
reverence badges, have teachers choose a reverent class member
A rotation of “old standbys” – songs
and games alike
Memorizing:
the music and the lyrics
- Repetition
5. Deal with Distractions
Know your
presidency’s rules for disciplining
For
recurring issues, talk with your presidency, the teacher, the parents if
needed.
To ignore or to address? Use
positive reinforcement
Decide in advance: What am I OK
with? (pick your battles)
6. Bring (Back) the Spirit
Get
the wiggles OUT!
Warmups,
stretching, deep breathing
Key
word or phrase to get back on track
“If
you can hear me, touch your nose”
Bear your testimony often, use the
scriptures, point out when the Spirit is present; love the kids.
7. Have Fun!
No
one cares how you sound or how you look J (although
you do need energy and a smile)
Primary music: the best job in the
Church
My favorite thing is the last 2 bullet points: Bring the Spirit and Have Fun, my 2 mottos as a chorister. My second favorite thing is the line (under Deal with Distractions) "Decide in advance: What am I OK with? (pick your battles)." On the next post I'll write about our recent ward Primary training meeting presented by our Primary presidency: Teaching and Expecting Appropriate Behavior. Pins and needles, right??
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Choose the Right
I forgot to post about how I taught "Choose the Right." It occurred to me that I could use ASL for this song too. Several of the key words in "Choose the Right" are the same as the ones in "As a Child of God," which we learned ASL key words for. Here are the signs I chose: (repeated signs are marked by parentheses)
Choose
Right
(Choice - same sign as Choose)
Before
(Right)
Holy Spirit
Light
Forever
O'er (over)
(Right)
Heart
Confides
(Choose)
(Right)
(Choose)
(Right)
Wisdom
Way
(Before)
Light
(Choose)
(Right)
God
Bless
(Evermore - same sign as Forever)
For comparison, some of the signs in this song that we already learned in "As a Child of God" are:
Choose
Right
Holy Ghost
Light
Heart
God
Bless
Both senior and junior Primary learned the first verse and the chorus during singing time. Easy and fun.
There is a great site for learning ASL signs, signingsavvy.com. In order to use the actual site to find signs you need to become a member, but if you just Google the word you are looking for plus "ASL" (for example, "choose ASL" or "right ASL") then one of the top options is a link to signingsavvy.com, which then provides a tiny, short video of a person signing that word.
I also found another great resource for finding signs, ASL Dictionary for the Deaf for the Book of Mormon. This gives synonyms for words that are unique to the Book of Mormon or LDS culture. Then you can look up the sign for the synonym instead of a tricky word like "abhorreth" (for example).
Amazing. I love it! I love being a Primary chorister with the Internet! Imagine if I had to be a Primary chorister and figure this stuff all out on my own...
Choose
Right
(Choice - same sign as Choose)
Before
(Right)
Holy Spirit
Light
Forever
O'er (over)
(Right)
Heart
Confides
(Choose)
(Right)
(Choose)
(Right)
Wisdom
Way
(Before)
Light
(Choose)
(Right)
God
Bless
(Evermore - same sign as Forever)
For comparison, some of the signs in this song that we already learned in "As a Child of God" are:
Choose
Right
Holy Ghost
Light
Heart
God
Bless
Both senior and junior Primary learned the first verse and the chorus during singing time. Easy and fun.
There is a great site for learning ASL signs, signingsavvy.com. In order to use the actual site to find signs you need to become a member, but if you just Google the word you are looking for plus "ASL" (for example, "choose ASL" or "right ASL") then one of the top options is a link to signingsavvy.com, which then provides a tiny, short video of a person signing that word.
I also found another great resource for finding signs, ASL Dictionary for the Deaf for the Book of Mormon. This gives synonyms for words that are unique to the Book of Mormon or LDS culture. Then you can look up the sign for the synonym instead of a tricky word like "abhorreth" (for example).
Amazing. I love it! I love being a Primary chorister with the Internet! Imagine if I had to be a Primary chorister and figure this stuff all out on my own...
The "Vigor and Vim" Song
Yikes!! It has been a few weeks since I posted.
Last week I taught the kids "Hum Your Favorite Hymn" (or as my 5-year-old calls it, "the vigor and vim song"). I found this idea on Sugar Doodle: Hum Your Favorite Hymn Visual Aid, which I loved and quickly adapted to my simplicity requirement.
If I had had the time or inclination I really love the way she did it, but to simplify it I drew a large picture of a face on the chalkboard (in senior Primary I had some kids come up and draw it for me) and then just stuck the pictures up with a magnet on the face's forehead as we sang. Super easy and really fun. For the first line ("if on occasion you have found your language is in question"), I wrote each word out and had the kids repeat after me one by one, since it's sort of a confusing line. We talked about what it means (e.g., "if sometimes you say something or think something that isn't so great") and went over each word individually. The rest of the song was pretty easy to teach with the image ideas from the Sugar Doodle link.
The kids especially liked the purple hippo, pink elephant thing, and in fact I printed out pictures of a purple hippo and a pink elephant and put those up on the face too, which they thought was funny. They also quite enjoyed the phrase "vigor and vim." By the end of singing time they all had the entire verse mastered.
I have mentioned to my kids many, many times that the songs they learn in Primary will help them throughout their lives. President Packer has said on a few occasions, including one of our stake conferences a few years ago, that a favorite hymn can be like a "delete key" in our brains. I have used this tool throughout my own life. For me, it is not necessarily my "favorite" hymn, but the first lines of "A Child's Prayer" always come to me when I need comfort or help. "Heavenly Father, are you really there?" It has been such a blessing in my life and I love to remind my Primary kids that they can use that tool as well. It's as simple as choosing a song and turning to it whenever things get haywire up there in our brains.
Last week I taught the kids "Hum Your Favorite Hymn" (or as my 5-year-old calls it, "the vigor and vim song"). I found this idea on Sugar Doodle: Hum Your Favorite Hymn Visual Aid, which I loved and quickly adapted to my simplicity requirement.
If I had had the time or inclination I really love the way she did it, but to simplify it I drew a large picture of a face on the chalkboard (in senior Primary I had some kids come up and draw it for me) and then just stuck the pictures up with a magnet on the face's forehead as we sang. Super easy and really fun. For the first line ("if on occasion you have found your language is in question"), I wrote each word out and had the kids repeat after me one by one, since it's sort of a confusing line. We talked about what it means (e.g., "if sometimes you say something or think something that isn't so great") and went over each word individually. The rest of the song was pretty easy to teach with the image ideas from the Sugar Doodle link.
The kids especially liked the purple hippo, pink elephant thing, and in fact I printed out pictures of a purple hippo and a pink elephant and put those up on the face too, which they thought was funny. They also quite enjoyed the phrase "vigor and vim." By the end of singing time they all had the entire verse mastered.
I have mentioned to my kids many, many times that the songs they learn in Primary will help them throughout their lives. President Packer has said on a few occasions, including one of our stake conferences a few years ago, that a favorite hymn can be like a "delete key" in our brains. I have used this tool throughout my own life. For me, it is not necessarily my "favorite" hymn, but the first lines of "A Child's Prayer" always come to me when I need comfort or help. "Heavenly Father, are you really there?" It has been such a blessing in my life and I love to remind my Primary kids that they can use that tool as well. It's as simple as choosing a song and turning to it whenever things get haywire up there in our brains.
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