I'm looking back at 5 years of being a Primary chorister and how much I have learned and what I believe I have contributed to our ward's Primary, and I have to say my biggest regret is not recording better. I won't say I "should have" posted every week, because I have a life, and I like the way I've lived it, and dwelling on the fact that I didn't write blog posts is kind of silly. But still, it would be nice to have a more complete record of alllllll the things that I tried and either failed miserably at, or gloriously succeeded at. :)
I have other minor regrets, like putting my foot in my mouth on occasion during singing time. But that's par for the course of my life. :)
I feel good about this. My testimony has changed--it has become simpler in some ways and more complex in others. It has become stronger and also more vulnerable. I feel so connected with these precious kids. I feel so strongly about the importance of becoming like a child, and of valuing the children in my life. Lines from Primary songs drift in and out of my head daily. I am thankful for this immense blessing in my life--of spending so much time teaching the kids, bearing testimony to them and also listening to them sing their little hearts out.
Our program is in 5 weeks. This will be my 6th program. I think we've always been well prepared, but for the first time at this point in the year (mid-August), I think I can say that if the kids had to get up this Sunday with no rehearsals and sing their songs, they'd do great. I'm so happy about that. The only things we really need to do are fine-tune some trouble spots in a few lyrics, and I need to assign a soloist or two.
Songs they'll be singing:
Prelude- Families Can Be Together Forever: we'll invite the congregation to sing this as the kids take their seats on the stand at the beginning of the program. We did this last year with "I Am a Child of God" and it was so great! So we're doing it again.
1- He Sent His Son - with ASL signs. The signs I taught the song with last January, and that they'll be doing in the program:
Tell
World
Love
Tenderness
Son
Peace
Show
World
Pathway
Son
Walk
Earth
Know
Tell
World
Sacrifice
Death
Son
Die
Rise
Breath
Ask
Scriptures
Faith
Son
Help
Way
Ask
Son
As I've mentioned before, signingsavvy.com is a fabulous ASL resource. I use it frequently.
2- I Will Follow God's Plan - nothing fancy here. Love this song though
3- I Stand All Amazed - just one verse and the chorus. Maybe the congregation can join in on an additional verse, or on the chorus? Or maybe I could have a soloist do the second verse and the congregation join in on the third verse, if we're dying to fill up time, which I doubt...
4- The Family Is of God - just one verse and the chorus. The last time we had this in the program (my first program, 2009) I had an elaborate setup with 4 married couples singing the other verses and the kids joining in on the last verse, and I'm just not in the mood for that this year. Simplify!
5- Build An Ark - both verses. The kids love this song, and so do I! A beautiful message about listening to the prophet and most of all about preparing for hard times ahead by building a strong testimony.
6- I Love to See the Temple - both verses. Simple, and a favorite with all the kids.
7- Baptism - I think I will have the kids sing the first two verses with a soloist on the third verse--or maybe two soloists, one for 2 and one for 3--or maybe the kids sing first and third verses with a soloist on the second verse. Anyway, I'll figure it out. The kids love this one.
8- Seek the Lord Early - I'm happy to say the kids have learned this one really well. There's a mildly troublesome spot in the middle, but I only spent about 2 Sundays on it and they have it like 99.5% down. We also had this song in the program in 2009, but I had a class--maybe the Valiant 9s or the CTR 8s?--sing it because I had trouble teaching it to everyone. Granted, I got put in that year 3 months before the program. So I had to roll with what I had.
Program time! I'm totally looking forward to it! I need to find out from my Primary presidency what the rehearsal plan is.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Plainness
I just ran across this verse this morning and thought it applied so well to Primary. We teach the kids plain and precious truths. They respond plainly and honestly. It's so refreshing and it's the reason I love to go to Primary, I look forward to it, and every single week it rejuvenates my spirit and blesses my life.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Ode to ASL
My Primary-related project I want to do this year is to take videos of myself signing Primary songs in case they might be helpful to some googling chorister out there, which is how I stumbled upon how easy it is to teach using ASL. I have taught SO many songs using ASL signs, and I just swear by it. It is so simple, so easy, so beautiful to watch, so fun to do, and so effective for learning the lyrics. A few songs they have learned using ASL...
-As a Child of God (the first one I did! inspired by a YouTube video I have linked in a past post, and which I'll link again when I'm posting from my PC since I haven't figured out linking on my Blogger app)
-Had I Been a Child
-Choose the Right
-I Stand All Amazed
-I Feel My Savior's Love
-I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me
-When I Am Baptized (kinda...a few ASL signs, not as many as usual, this is one I did five years ago when I was first in Primary. "rainbows," "rain," "clean")
-Sing Your Way Home (love this one!!)
-God Is Watching Over All (also ADORE this one!)
-these are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head. I'm pretty sure there are more!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
2013 catchup!
And, 4 months later. This year is flying by. January's song was "I Am a Child of God," February's was "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," March's was "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," April's (my choice) was "On a Golden Springtime," May's (my choice) was "We'll Bring the World His Truth," June's will be "When I Am Baptized."
I didn't tell the actual Friend story when I first introduced it, but used the same info about catching butterflies by being still, and how we can catch a reverent feeling by being still. The kids really like it. I use the butterfly maybe every other week. I keep it in a large Ziploc bag in the Primary closet to try to keep it from being damaged. I originally saw the idea on the Yahoo! group a few months ago; thanks to whomever posted it!
The bulk of my kids already knew all of these songs except for "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," which is good because we've been doing lots of other songs. They sang "Had I Been a Child" on Easter Sunday which went fabulously!--despite the 3 gigglers in the front row at the end, that was too bad but, could be worse--and I was so proud of them. On Mothers Day they sang the first verse of "Home" ("Home is where the heart is and warmth and love abound / Home is where warm, circling arms go all the way around"), first verse of "When We're Helping," and then all three verses of "Grandmother," but I had them substitute the word "Mother." "I wish every child in the whole wide world had a mother just like you!"
We did the tried-and-true method of simplified ASL signs for "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." For the other songs, which were reviews for most kids and some were learning them for the first time, we did various actions. I've tried a few new things this year: The Wiggle Worm Jar as inspired by Camille's Primary blog; and also the reverence butterfly which I love. (inspired by this story.) I use a pretty realistic looking fake monarch butterfly from Michael's. I tied it to a wooden BBQ skewer with thread and when we're trying to "catch a reverent feeling," walk around the room as we're singing a reverent song that they know (some good ones are "I Feel My Savior's Love," "I Am a Child of God," "I Love to See the Temple") and letting the butterfly land on kids who are singing and engaged. The idea isn't to sing quietly necessarily--just to sing and to pay attention to what we're doing.
I didn't tell the actual Friend story when I first introduced it, but used the same info about catching butterflies by being still, and how we can catch a reverent feeling by being still. The kids really like it. I use the butterfly maybe every other week. I keep it in a large Ziploc bag in the Primary closet to try to keep it from being damaged. I originally saw the idea on the Yahoo! group a few months ago; thanks to whomever posted it!
The songs they have to learn next are "Fathers" and "Daddy's Homecoming" for Fathers Day sacrament meeting. We reviewed the chorus for "Fathers" this past Sunday. I'm going to have a boy soloist for the first verse of "Fathers," then have all the kids join in on the chorus, third verse, and chorus again. Skipping the "bishop" verse this year. It's my favorite Fathers Day song so I'm pretty sure I've always made them sing it! Most of them know "Daddy's Homecoming" so we won't need to practice that much. Not a lot of time to practice this year because I'll be out of town the first week in June and we have stake conference right before Fathers Day.
Since the kids all know June's song, I think the two weeks we do have in June will be reviewing the program songs up to this point. I usually do way more review earlier in the year, but since the songs were so familiar this year, we haven't done that very consistently, at least not formally. So I'll do that with some type of game that takes minimal time from actual singing. Now to paw through my files and find a game like that.
July's song is "Families Can Be Together Forever," which is so great because although a lot of them know it, we haven't sung it in a while. They may do a pioneer song or two as well. August's song is "A Child's Prayer," which my senior Primary LOVES and always requests. Will need to bring the juniors up to speed on that one. I also really want everyone to learn "I'll Follow Him in Faith." I had the seniors sing it a few weeks ago with sheet music because I just really felt like they needed to learn it. But I'm going to teach it to everyone starting soon. I've been the chorister for 4 years now and although I keep hinting to the bishop and Primary presidency that I never want to be released for as long as I live, I know that won't happen. :) I guess I feel like this could be my year that I have to say goodbye to my favorite calling of all time! Hopefully not, but I want to be prepared and make sure that this summer I teach them this wonderful song, "I'll Follow Him in Faith." I've been singing it with my kids at home and even by myself. It has become so dear to me. I love Primary songs!
The Lord has blessed me with gospel truth.
I have learned His ways in my early youth.
I will share His light, for I know it's right
To testify of Him.
The Lord has blessed me with simple faith.
If I pray for help, He will give me strength.
I will do His work; I will gladly serve.
I'll follow Him in Faith.
The Lord has blessed me to feel His love.
I have felt His promptings and learned to trust.
So in all I do, I'll be faithful to
The things I know are true.
The Lord has blessed me in many ways.
With a thankful heart I will sing His praise.
I will raise my voice and proclaim my choice
To follow Him in faith.
He has shown the way, and through all my days
I'll follow Him in faith!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Had I Been a Child
I'm excited to teach the kids a brand-new song (brand-new to me and them anyway), "Had I Been a Child," starting next week. I'm going to use ASL signs to teach it. Probably this week will just be the first verse. I'm hoping to have it ready for Easter. I'm not sure if they'll sing in sacrament meeting, since they never have since I've been the music leader, but I'd like them to. We'll see! If nothing else, we will enjoy it in Primary.
1. Had I been a child when Jesus came
Unto the Nephites that blessed day
And showed them the wounds in his hands and his feetAnd knelt with them to pray
Unto the Nephites that blessed day
And showed them the wounds in his hands and his feetAnd knelt with them to pray
2. Then he might have held me safe in his arms;
He might have looked in my eyes and said
A word, with his blessing of kindness and love,
His hands placed upon my head.
He might have looked in my eyes and said
A word, with his blessing of kindness and love,
His hands placed upon my head.
3. Someday, when the Savior comes again,
Oh, how I hope that my heart will be
As pure as the hearts of the children that day
Who gathered around his knee.
Oh, how I hope that my heart will be
As pure as the hearts of the children that day
Who gathered around his knee.
Signs: (mostly found at signingsavvy.com--love that site!)
I
child
Jesus
come
bless
day
show
wounds
hands
feet
kneel
pray
hold
safe
arms
look
eyes
word
blessing
kindness
love
hands
head
Savior
come
heart
pur
heart
children
day
around
knee
Sunday, December 2, 2012
New year coming up!
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.
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, 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.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Getting organized.
I continued with "Every Star Is Different" last Sunday and it didn't go as well, despite how well it went the first week. So I am shelving that for a while. It was kind of a weird day--in junior Primary I had 25 minutes as opposed to the "official" 20 minutes (and usual 15 minutes) and then in senior Primary I had more like 10 minutes. And the kids were all just wild for some reason. So I just sort of felt "off." Plus I had done a singing time for a ward conference earlier that morning so I was really pretty tired. The ward conference singing time went well though, so at least there was that! Maybe later today or next week I'll post about what I'm doing in ward conferences. So far, so good.
It is taking me a while but with the new year I am trying to get organized in every aspect of life, namely: 1) my house/home and family, 2) my outside-the-home job as a librarian, and 3) my calling in Primary. Getting organized for those is all connected so I guess that's why it's taking me a while. Every month I put together a calendar of what songs we are going to sing in Primary and send it out to the pianist and the presidency and secretary. It helps keep me focused for the month and lets them all know what to expect. I've been doing it the same way for 2 1/2 years and decided I want to simplify things. Today I'm going to Target to get a 1/2 inch binder and try to get my week-to-week Primary stuff a little more organized a la ideas from Camille's "Primary" blog (on my sidebar). We'll see if I can get it together in time for tomorrow.
I also want to organize all my old stuff--handouts, visuals, etc. I don't have much of that since as a general rule I don't bring anything to church that can't fit into my purse.
Maybe by the end of February I'll feel more organized at home, work and church. In the meantime, February's song is "Choose the Right." I have no idea how I'm going to teach it tomorrow. I think with junior Primary I am going to start with just the chorus:
Choose the right, choose the right
Let wisdom mark the way before
In its light, choose the right
And God will bless you evermore.
I'm sure the older kids can learn the whole thing in one session, but I think with the younger kids I will do some sort of game with just the chorus. Honestly what keeps popping into my head is the song we sang at girls' camp when I was a kid: "Choose a Sprite, when a Coke is placed before you." Knowing how many Coke (as in the soda, of course) addicts we have in our ward--my husband included--I think I will sidestep that dicey topic. But it keeps popping in my head just the same.
Anyway, I've got 24 hours. I'm sure I'll think of something. I'll update when I do.
It is taking me a while but with the new year I am trying to get organized in every aspect of life, namely: 1) my house/home and family, 2) my outside-the-home job as a librarian, and 3) my calling in Primary. Getting organized for those is all connected so I guess that's why it's taking me a while. Every month I put together a calendar of what songs we are going to sing in Primary and send it out to the pianist and the presidency and secretary. It helps keep me focused for the month and lets them all know what to expect. I've been doing it the same way for 2 1/2 years and decided I want to simplify things. Today I'm going to Target to get a 1/2 inch binder and try to get my week-to-week Primary stuff a little more organized a la ideas from Camille's "Primary" blog (on my sidebar). We'll see if I can get it together in time for tomorrow.
I also want to organize all my old stuff--handouts, visuals, etc. I don't have much of that since as a general rule I don't bring anything to church that can't fit into my purse.
Maybe by the end of February I'll feel more organized at home, work and church. In the meantime, February's song is "Choose the Right." I have no idea how I'm going to teach it tomorrow. I think with junior Primary I am going to start with just the chorus:
Choose the right, choose the right
Let wisdom mark the way before
In its light, choose the right
And God will bless you evermore.
I'm sure the older kids can learn the whole thing in one session, but I think with the younger kids I will do some sort of game with just the chorus. Honestly what keeps popping into my head is the song we sang at girls' camp when I was a kid: "Choose a Sprite, when a Coke is placed before you." Knowing how many Coke (as in the soda, of course) addicts we have in our ward--my husband included--I think I will sidestep that dicey topic. But it keeps popping in my head just the same.
Anyway, I've got 24 hours. I'm sure I'll think of something. I'll update when I do.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Every Star Is Different
We had a lot of fun this week as I taught the kids the first verse of "Every Star Is Different." I never sang this song as a kid but I love its message. Before introducing the lyrics to the junior kids, I asked them to raise their hands to answer certain questions, e.g. "Do you know anyone who is tall?" "Do you know anyone who is funny?" "Do you know anyone who is nice?" "Do you know anyone who is not so nice?" "Do you know anyone who has brown hair?" "Do you know anyone who sits in a wheelchair?" etc. etc. Then we talked about how everyone is different, how we all have different personalities and we often look different, have different colored skin or hair or different types of bodies, but Heavenly Father loves all of us and we are all His children.
For the senior Primary, I read them the lyrics of the first verse and asked them what they thought it meant. I got answers like "be yourself," "follow your heart" (I loved that one and had to stifle a laugh), "you're important." I told them I loved all their answers and thought maybe they could apply it to other people too. Everyone is special and important and different. Even if we meet someone we don't get along with, we should still be kind. We don't have to be best friends with them, but we should try to understand them and always be kind because Heavenly Father and Jesus love all of us.
As far as how to teach the kids the actual song, I was inspired late the night before by the remix of the song on this YouTube video.
We did one of my favorite singing time activities, Keep the Beat. For senior Primary, I divided the kids into 4 groups, gave them each a line of the song and had them make up a beat for it. It kind of turned into made-up actions instead for most of the lines. Here's what the kids came up with:
Every star is different (hands do "popcorn popping" motion up in the air 3 x)
And so is every child. (pat left side of chest with right hand 3 x)
Some are bright and happy (pump arms in air 3 x)
And some are meek and mild. (Charles dance step--the one with hands crossing back and forth over knees)
Everyone is needed / for just what he can do. (a variation of the Macarena here--left arm out, right arm out, cross left arm to right shoulder, cross right arm to left shoulder. repeat for second half of line)
You're the only person (pat head and rub stomach)
Who ever can be you. (flap arms like chicken wings)
The kids loved it and it was really fun to do. They sang beautifully.
In junior Primary, we actually didn't have much time so I just taught them the words by repeating each line over and over--having them echo me--first we just said the words, then later sang them. Both with singing and speaking, we alternated clapping and slapping hands on their laps. Next week when we review the verse, I think I will teach them the actions the senior Primary came up with.
Also next week I plan to teach them the chorus. I think for both junior and senior I will keep it very simple and just do a beat like the one in the remix video above--long, long, short long. No idea if that makes sense. We'll either alternate lap-clap lap-clap, or stomp-clap stomp-clap. Anyway, then we'll do the second verse either with the same actions as the first verse, or maybe new ones if they want to.
This is a really great song and I think it will become a staple of our Primary.
For the senior Primary, I read them the lyrics of the first verse and asked them what they thought it meant. I got answers like "be yourself," "follow your heart" (I loved that one and had to stifle a laugh), "you're important." I told them I loved all their answers and thought maybe they could apply it to other people too. Everyone is special and important and different. Even if we meet someone we don't get along with, we should still be kind. We don't have to be best friends with them, but we should try to understand them and always be kind because Heavenly Father and Jesus love all of us.
As far as how to teach the kids the actual song, I was inspired late the night before by the remix of the song on this YouTube video.
We did one of my favorite singing time activities, Keep the Beat. For senior Primary, I divided the kids into 4 groups, gave them each a line of the song and had them make up a beat for it. It kind of turned into made-up actions instead for most of the lines. Here's what the kids came up with:
Every star is different (hands do "popcorn popping" motion up in the air 3 x)
And so is every child. (pat left side of chest with right hand 3 x)
Some are bright and happy (pump arms in air 3 x)
And some are meek and mild. (Charles dance step--the one with hands crossing back and forth over knees)
Everyone is needed / for just what he can do. (a variation of the Macarena here--left arm out, right arm out, cross left arm to right shoulder, cross right arm to left shoulder. repeat for second half of line)
You're the only person (pat head and rub stomach)
Who ever can be you. (flap arms like chicken wings)
The kids loved it and it was really fun to do. They sang beautifully.
In junior Primary, we actually didn't have much time so I just taught them the words by repeating each line over and over--having them echo me--first we just said the words, then later sang them. Both with singing and speaking, we alternated clapping and slapping hands on their laps. Next week when we review the verse, I think I will teach them the actions the senior Primary came up with.
Also next week I plan to teach them the chorus. I think for both junior and senior I will keep it very simple and just do a beat like the one in the remix video above--long, long, short long. No idea if that makes sense. We'll either alternate lap-clap lap-clap, or stomp-clap stomp-clap. Anyway, then we'll do the second verse either with the same actions as the first verse, or maybe new ones if they want to.
This is a really great song and I think it will become a staple of our Primary.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
As a Child of God - simplified ASL
New year, new resolution to post every week! Really! This time I really will!
This is what I am planning to do today. I have used a few ASL signs here and there on past songs ("When I Am Baptized" and "My Mother Dear") but despite the many hours spent watching Signing Time videos when my kids were toddlers, I am really not very familiar with the language, although I love it. This is a very simplified ASL version of "As a Child of God" posted by another chorister. I think the senior Primary will be really good with it and I am hoping the juniors like it too.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
New Year's Day
I was out of town on New Year's Day so my "assistant chorister," who is AWESOME, did singing time. Here is a very brief recap of what she told me she did--including some "junior Primary" songs for the senior Primary, complete with "When We're Helping" sung opera style and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in Swedish. It sounds like it was really fun!
The suggestions in the JanuaryFriend for making a great 2012 are read your scriptures, move your body, tell your family you love them, serve someone once a week, and make a new friend. We sang the "It is fun to have a friend who will play with you" song, which I didn't figure they knew but it's pretty simple and they picked it up quickly, "When we're helping," "If I Listen with my Heart," etc.
I had a couple songs ready for when I'd want to sing a different one for Junior and Senior Primary, but I ended up singing the younger-kid-geared songs with the older kids anyway. I did have Senior Primary open their Books of Mormon to the contents page and sing the books a few times (getting faster each time), because the older kids are studying the Book of Mormon this year. Some of them knew the song already, but I think they enjoyed it. ...
One thing we didn't do that you may want to do next week is make sure to sing the welcome song to all the new teachers in Primary. So many people were traveling this week that next week would be better, anyway, but I felt bad we didn't even really recognize the new adults (there was a lot going on). They would probably appreciate it.
My goals for this year in Primary are:
1) Feel the Spirit
2) HAVE FUN!
I think we are well on our way :)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Popcorn Popping
I came across some notes from a singing time I did sometime in the past year. It didn't take the whole singing time, maybe 5 minutes, 10 tops, but was a fun exercise in dynamics and getting the wiggles out. I guess I must have done it when I had a singing time activity that wasn't going to take very long.
For once this is actually all me (I "borrow" ideas from blogs all the time!!). I talked to the kids about dynamics and how they could look at the way I was moving my arms to know whether they should sing loudly or softly. We also talked about how my arms would tell them when to stop singing and when to start again.
We sang through Popcorn Popping (actions included, of course--for the kids anyway, since they were supposed to watch my arms) with differing dynamics. For the first few lines I conducted with tiny movements and crouched down a little, and we almost whispered the song. Then I moved my arms wide, back and forth and up and down and got into it with my body too, and we sang it loudly ("Never Louder Than Lovely" of course...although in my opinion it's hard to be too loud when singing. Screaming is too loud, otherwise the louder the better!). I love getting way into this with my body and the kids respond well to it too. I love watching conductors who really get into it at classical performances. I could never be a real conductor, since I lack all the training and most of the talent, but I always think it looks like so much fun.
Anyway, we did that a few times until we got to the line "A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet," at which point I cut them off and we all pretended to smell our popcorn ball with a deep breath in and out (in through the nose, out through the mouth). Then we sang the rest of the song.
It sounds totally corny (bahaha) but it was very fun and the kids loved it. We still sing "Popcorn" that way sometimes (pausing and smelling the popcorn ball) especially if they need to get wiggles out. I have my kids do deep breaths a lot--my own kids at home as well as the Primary kids--in order to calm down. Just kind of a fun, random way to incorporate it into singing time.
For once this is actually all me (I "borrow" ideas from blogs all the time!!). I talked to the kids about dynamics and how they could look at the way I was moving my arms to know whether they should sing loudly or softly. We also talked about how my arms would tell them when to stop singing and when to start again.
We sang through Popcorn Popping (actions included, of course--for the kids anyway, since they were supposed to watch my arms) with differing dynamics. For the first few lines I conducted with tiny movements and crouched down a little, and we almost whispered the song. Then I moved my arms wide, back and forth and up and down and got into it with my body too, and we sang it loudly ("Never Louder Than Lovely" of course...although in my opinion it's hard to be too loud when singing. Screaming is too loud, otherwise the louder the better!). I love getting way into this with my body and the kids respond well to it too. I love watching conductors who really get into it at classical performances. I could never be a real conductor, since I lack all the training and most of the talent, but I always think it looks like so much fun.
Anyway, we did that a few times until we got to the line "A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet," at which point I cut them off and we all pretended to smell our popcorn ball with a deep breath in and out (in through the nose, out through the mouth). Then we sang the rest of the song.
It sounds totally corny (bahaha) but it was very fun and the kids loved it. We still sing "Popcorn" that way sometimes (pausing and smelling the popcorn ball) especially if they need to get wiggles out. I have my kids do deep breaths a lot--my own kids at home as well as the Primary kids--in order to calm down. Just kind of a fun, random way to incorporate it into singing time.
Saturday Pictionary
Well, I'm trying. I think maybe I need to set an alarm on my phone to remind myself to post each week about what I did in singing time.
Have I said that already?
This week I planned to do a Halloween sort of thing, I had these paper jack-o-lanterns left over from last year and thought maybe I would do Spin the Teacher with them. (Spin the Teacher is a big favorite with my kids, an idea I got from The Crazy Chorister long ago.) But then I was checking my blog reader on Sunday morning and saw a new post from Camille's Primary Ideas about teaching the song "Saturday". I thought it sounded perfect so I blatantly copied it. The kids loved it! Some of them were familiar with the song already but practically none of them knew the actual words.
To sum up, I had slips of paper with lines from the song:
shine our shoes
Have I said that already?
This week I planned to do a Halloween sort of thing, I had these paper jack-o-lanterns left over from last year and thought maybe I would do Spin the Teacher with them. (Spin the Teacher is a big favorite with my kids, an idea I got from The Crazy Chorister long ago.) But then I was checking my blog reader on Sunday morning and saw a new post from Camille's Primary Ideas about teaching the song "Saturday". I thought it sounded perfect so I blatantly copied it. The kids loved it! Some of them were familiar with the song already but practically none of them knew the actual words.
To sum up, I had slips of paper with lines from the song:
clean the house
shop at the store
brush our clothes
trim our nails
shampoo our hair
and we basically played Pictionary. For Junior Primary I had the teachers come up and draw. For Senior Primary I had the kids draw. It was really fun.
In Junior Primary we sang the song a little at a time, over and over to really get it into their heads. For example, once we learned the lines about cleaning and shopping, we sang up to that point. Then when we learned the lines about brushing clothes and shining shoes, we sang again from the beginning up to that point. Etc. That took up all of singing time. For Senior Primary I didn't think we needed to sing it quite so many times, so we drew all the pictures before singing the song all the way through. Then we had a little time left over, so I chose kids to make up their own "chores" (they whispered them in my ear first to make sure they were appropriate) and draw them. Then we sang our own made-up verse.
Also, before we started in Senior Primary I asked all the kids who had their own Children's Songbooks to hold them up in the air. Then I pretended to collect them, and kids who didn't have Children's Songbooks also pretended to turn theirs in. It's great sometimes to have the kids have their own songbooks, but for something like Pictionary that kinda ruins the game.
Also, both Junior and Senior Primary got a kick out of pretending to shampoo their hair. That kind of surprised me but it was fun.
I love using the chalkboard because it's so simple and the kids love it. Definitely a successful day.
and we basically played Pictionary. For Junior Primary I had the teachers come up and draw. For Senior Primary I had the kids draw. It was really fun.
In Junior Primary we sang the song a little at a time, over and over to really get it into their heads. For example, once we learned the lines about cleaning and shopping, we sang up to that point. Then when we learned the lines about brushing clothes and shining shoes, we sang again from the beginning up to that point. Etc. That took up all of singing time. For Senior Primary I didn't think we needed to sing it quite so many times, so we drew all the pictures before singing the song all the way through. Then we had a little time left over, so I chose kids to make up their own "chores" (they whispered them in my ear first to make sure they were appropriate) and draw them. Then we sang our own made-up verse.
Also, before we started in Senior Primary I asked all the kids who had their own Children's Songbooks to hold them up in the air. Then I pretended to collect them, and kids who didn't have Children's Songbooks also pretended to turn theirs in. It's great sometimes to have the kids have their own songbooks, but for something like Pictionary that kinda ruins the game.
Also, both Junior and Senior Primary got a kick out of pretending to shampoo their hair. That kind of surprised me but it was fun.
I love using the chalkboard because it's so simple and the kids love it. Definitely a successful day.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Review: Chubby Bunny
Wow, I posted again! I am really going to try posting every week because I find great ideas, use them, and then have to re-invent the wheel every time because I forget everything I do.
Today's activity I found at Primary Singing Time by Matilda: Chubby Bunny.
Prep: get a bowl and a bag of s'more-sized marshmallows.
It's about as basic as it sounds: I wrote the names of the program songs on the board and told the kids we would run through them one by one. If they sang it PERFECTLY (I had very high standards for senior Primary in particular, including smiles, starting and ending at the right time, and standing up and sitting down), I would put a marshmallow in the bowl. Then at the end, I would put them all in my mouth and sing a song for them. Gross, right? The junior Primary thought it was HILARIOUS. I have never seen them laugh so hard, and my own little Sunbeam talked about it all afternoon.
The senior Primary weren't quite as visibly impressed in the beginning, probably having been to way more campouts than the junior Primary had. But they still sang their best and they even got after the kids who talked or sang the wrong words. I gave them all "second chances" if the song wasn't perfect the first time through, and they totally sang their hearts out. And they also laughed pretty hard at the end, although a few were disappointed that I was doing the marshmallows instead of them. I didn't want to deal with any kids choking or gagging, otherwise I may have let them.
I have to admit I have been feeling a little nervous lately. Our program is coming up in 3 weeks, and since next week is general conference we only have one Sunday left before the program. I had a baby in June and took 2 months off from church. I was thinking we were way behind. But we apparently made up for in it August and September because as of today, the kids have learned pretty much all the songs beautifully. I am so happy!
And totally embarrassed and grossed out that I sang "Popcorn Popping" (in its entirety, actions included) with my mouth full of marshmallows in front of all those people. But the kids loved it and they sang better than they ever have this year--so that's what matters, I guess!
Today's activity I found at Primary Singing Time by Matilda: Chubby Bunny.
Prep: get a bowl and a bag of s'more-sized marshmallows.
It's about as basic as it sounds: I wrote the names of the program songs on the board and told the kids we would run through them one by one. If they sang it PERFECTLY (I had very high standards for senior Primary in particular, including smiles, starting and ending at the right time, and standing up and sitting down), I would put a marshmallow in the bowl. Then at the end, I would put them all in my mouth and sing a song for them. Gross, right? The junior Primary thought it was HILARIOUS. I have never seen them laugh so hard, and my own little Sunbeam talked about it all afternoon.
The senior Primary weren't quite as visibly impressed in the beginning, probably having been to way more campouts than the junior Primary had. But they still sang their best and they even got after the kids who talked or sang the wrong words. I gave them all "second chances" if the song wasn't perfect the first time through, and they totally sang their hearts out. And they also laughed pretty hard at the end, although a few were disappointed that I was doing the marshmallows instead of them. I didn't want to deal with any kids choking or gagging, otherwise I may have let them.
I have to admit I have been feeling a little nervous lately. Our program is coming up in 3 weeks, and since next week is general conference we only have one Sunday left before the program. I had a baby in June and took 2 months off from church. I was thinking we were way behind. But we apparently made up for in it August and September because as of today, the kids have learned pretty much all the songs beautifully. I am so happy!
And totally embarrassed and grossed out that I sang "Popcorn Popping" (in its entirety, actions included) with my mouth full of marshmallows in front of all those people. But the kids loved it and they sang better than they ever have this year--so that's what matters, I guess!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I'll Walk with You & Chair Hopping
One of my favorite Primary songs has always been "I'll Walk with You" (p. 140). There wasn't space for it in our program, but I decided to teach it to our kids anyway. Not surprisingly, they love it too. My toddler and preschooler also love it and often request it. It's easy to learn and easy to remember, and it teaches a vital lesson about loving one another.
If you don't walk as most people do,Some people walk away from you.But I won't! I won't!If you don't talk as most people do,Some people talk and laugh at you.But I won't! I won't!I'll walk with you, I'll talk with you;That's how I'll show my love for you.Jesus walked away from none;He gave His love to everyone.So I will! I will!Jesus blessed all He could see,Then turned and said, "Come, follow me,"And I will! I will!I will! I will!I'll walk with you; I'll talk with you;That's how I'll show my love for you.
Back to the song. When I first taught it to the kids, we talked about being kind to everyone, regardless of whether they are able-bodied or not, clever or slower to learn, funny or annoying. It's easy to put labels on people, but once we get to know them we can learn to love them. We don't have to be best friends with everyone--but there's never any reason to be unkind to anyone.
My favorite way to sing this song is Chair Hopping, an idea which I think I found at Sugar Doodle. Chair Hopping works great for any song that repeats the same word or words several times--the first time we tried it was with "The Church of Jesus Christ," which repeats "I" and "I'll" several times. It also works with "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus," which repeats "I" and "I'm."
"I'll Walk with You" uses the words "I" and "you" over and over. So every time we sang the words "I" or "you," the kids would move chairs. To do this, make sure you have an extra chair at the end of each row. You can do either everyone goes left to right, then right to left; or everyone goes toward the aisle, then away from the aisle. The key is of course that everyone in a row should be moving in the same direction at the same time, or you will quickly have a dogpile! Senior Primary kids are great at this because they are disciplined enough and having enough fun with it to make it work perfectly.
As you sing, the first time a key word appears (in this case "If YOU don't walk...") the kids all move in the same direction so they're on an entirely different chair. The next time a key word appears ("some people walk away from YOU") they move back to the chair they started in. So it goes left, right, left, right, etc.
If YOU don't walk as most people do, some people walk away from YOU, but I won't! I won't! If YOU don't talk as most people do...etc. etc.
This game is really fun and everyone gets into it, even the teachers. It gets our blood moving and it makes us pay attention to the words...not to mention helps us remember the words in the future because we have been using our bodies along with our brains.
(Something to think about, of course, is that if you do have a child or children with special needs that impact mobility, this might not be the best activity for your Primary, unless you can think of ways to modify it that everyone is comfortable with.)
Chair Hopping is a bit much for the Junior Primary, so instead, I have them sing the song standing, and every time a key word appears they step from side to side while holding hands; or they can alternate standing up and sitting down when a key word appears.
Side note--we realized quickly that we should only move chairs on "I" and "you," NOT on "I'll," because moving on "I'll" is practically impossible since it's right next to "you." ("I won't! I won't! I'll walk with you, I'll talk with you...") Talk about dogpiles.
Lesson learned for me: I try to remind myself in difficult moments, if it seems like no one is absorbing anything: Love your kids (even if it takes some work...) and they will love you! (even if it takes some time.)
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