For Fathers Day this year we're doing two short songs - Daddy's Homecoming and When Grandpa Comes. All of the kids know Daddy's Homecoming, so I'm just going to go over it with them, and not specifically teach it to them. But for When Grandpa Comes I don't think many of them know it.
I'm going to write all of the words on the board, and then I've gone through the song and (using excel) counted the words which are duplicated, and how many each of them are used. I've printed out a list of all the words with how often they each occur.
I'll first go through the words, and sing it for them, and get everyone to sing it together. And then the kids who sing the best will get to come and start rubbing off words. But we'll start with the words that come up most often, and then they'll rub off all of the "Grandpa"'s and "comes"'s etc. I've sorted the list according to how often the words come up, so we can easily see which ones are 3, 2 or 1. For each time we sing it through I'll probably choose two children to come and rub off 2 different words. So for the first time we'll actually lose 6 words (3x2) but later on it will just be 2 coming off at a time.
For the juniors the words are simple enough that those who can't read will be able to pick up the words by watching me and from the repitition - so I'll teach it pretty much the same for both juniors and seniors.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Dearest Mother, I love you
This year I decided to do two short mother and grandmother songs for Mother's Day, and then also two short father and grandfather songs for Father's Day.
For mothers we're doing "Dearest Mother, I love you" (CS206), which is actually a really sweet little song.
Because of a lack of inspiration, and also because I haven't used this method for a while, I just taught the words the old fashioned way - I wrote them up on the board, and then the kids got to take turns choosing which words got erased until it was all off. For the juniors I was going to draw four big pictures on the board (a pair of lips speaking, hands, a stick figure mother, heart).
We had hardly any teachers there on Sunday, so at the last minute we ended up combining junior and senior primary, so I wrote up the words, and then draw the four pictures at the end of the lines, and they got rubbed off last.
The children got the words really quickly, and they loved repeating it over and over while the words disappeared. It just shows that the old methods work, but I think only if you use them sparingly...
For mothers we're doing "Dearest Mother, I love you" (CS206), which is actually a really sweet little song.
Because of a lack of inspiration, and also because I haven't used this method for a while, I just taught the words the old fashioned way - I wrote them up on the board, and then the kids got to take turns choosing which words got erased until it was all off. For the juniors I was going to draw four big pictures on the board (a pair of lips speaking, hands, a stick figure mother, heart).
We had hardly any teachers there on Sunday, so at the last minute we ended up combining junior and senior primary, so I wrote up the words, and then draw the four pictures at the end of the lines, and they got rubbed off last.
The children got the words really quickly, and they loved repeating it over and over while the words disappeared. It just shows that the old methods work, but I think only if you use them sparingly...
Grandmother
This year I decided to do two short mother and grandmother songs for Mother's Day, and then also two short father and grandfather songs for Father's Day.
For grandmothers we're doing the first verse of "Grandmother" (CS200).
For senior primary I'm going to teach it very simply, but using a method that worked really well for "The Family" last year.
I've put each of the 4 lines on a separate page
and they're really short, so it will be easy to learn the lines.
Then once the kids have them, I'll choose one (probably whoever was singing well) to go out of the room while everyone else chooses a word from one of the lines that we'll leave out when we sing.
The child will come back and sit on a chair facing the other kids, and I'll stand behind with the page, and show the kids which word to leave out. Then when they sing it, the child in front will have to figure out which word they left out.
They'll probably all want a chance, so we'll get to repeat it a few times, and use a different line each time to have a word left out.
For the juniors I'm planning on just using simple actions (kiss, hug, smile, see, every child, whole wide world, you). Our juniors are very young, so they need actions usually to help them remember the words.
For grandmothers we're doing the first verse of "Grandmother" (CS200).
For senior primary I'm going to teach it very simply, but using a method that worked really well for "The Family" last year.
I've put each of the 4 lines on a separate page
and they're really short, so it will be easy to learn the lines.
Then once the kids have them, I'll choose one (probably whoever was singing well) to go out of the room while everyone else chooses a word from one of the lines that we'll leave out when we sing.
The child will come back and sit on a chair facing the other kids, and I'll stand behind with the page, and show the kids which word to leave out. Then when they sing it, the child in front will have to figure out which word they left out.
They'll probably all want a chance, so we'll get to repeat it a few times, and use a different line each time to have a word left out.
For the juniors I'm planning on just using simple actions (kiss, hug, smile, see, every child, whole wide world, you). Our juniors are very young, so they need actions usually to help them remember the words.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Follow the Prophet
"Follow the Prophet" (CS110) is a really fun song! I decided to do verses 1, 2 and 9 from the Children's Songbook, so Adam, Enoch, and then just modern day prophets.
I wanted to do something active for the song because it is quite a "bouncy" song.
So what I did was set up a circle of chairs in my part of the Primary room, with half of the chairs being brown and half black.
I first taught the chorus, and what we did for the chorus was everyone stood up and we'd walk around the inside of the circle, all following each other. For "Don't go astray" I got them all to do a bit of a side step, and for "He knows the way" we all held up one hand ahead of us. Then wherever they were standing when the chorus ended they'd have to sit down. The idea was that they'd all sit in a different place for each verse.
Then for the verses I split each line in half. We'd have the people on the black chairs singing the first half of the line, and the people on the brown chairs singing the second half of the line. I stood at the break between the types of chairs and I'd point to the group that had to sing each time, and I managed to make it a bit of a competition too (I always find that helps ;o) ) Then when we got to the chorus we'd all stand up and march around the circle doing the actions, and we'd end up sitting in slightly different places. So they all got to sing both sides of each line.
I taught the chorus and verse 1 the first week, and then verse 2 the second week (the Elders joined us for Primary that day, and the kids loved having them join in the marching and singing) I had to also explain about the story of Enoch so that they'd understand what they were singing about. For the third week I was sick, so my sister taught verse 9, using the same formula, but there were a lot of kids missing that day.
The fourth week I needed to do verse 9 again because of all the kids who'd been missing, but I didn't want to do the same thing again. So I cleared the room, and then got them all to line up next to each other at one end of the room. We'd sing the verse (and we recapped all 3 verses) and then for the chorus I'd choose who had sung the best and they got to lead everyone down the length of the room and back again, doing the normal side step and raised hand. Most of the kids got a turn to be the leader, and they just loved it!
I wanted to do something active for the song because it is quite a "bouncy" song.
So what I did was set up a circle of chairs in my part of the Primary room, with half of the chairs being brown and half black.
I first taught the chorus, and what we did for the chorus was everyone stood up and we'd walk around the inside of the circle, all following each other. For "Don't go astray" I got them all to do a bit of a side step, and for "He knows the way" we all held up one hand ahead of us. Then wherever they were standing when the chorus ended they'd have to sit down. The idea was that they'd all sit in a different place for each verse.
Then for the verses I split each line in half. We'd have the people on the black chairs singing the first half of the line, and the people on the brown chairs singing the second half of the line. I stood at the break between the types of chairs and I'd point to the group that had to sing each time, and I managed to make it a bit of a competition too (I always find that helps ;o) ) Then when we got to the chorus we'd all stand up and march around the circle doing the actions, and we'd end up sitting in slightly different places. So they all got to sing both sides of each line.
I taught the chorus and verse 1 the first week, and then verse 2 the second week (the Elders joined us for Primary that day, and the kids loved having them join in the marching and singing) I had to also explain about the story of Enoch so that they'd understand what they were singing about. For the third week I was sick, so my sister taught verse 9, using the same formula, but there were a lot of kids missing that day.
The fourth week I needed to do verse 9 again because of all the kids who'd been missing, but I didn't want to do the same thing again. So I cleared the room, and then got them all to line up next to each other at one end of the room. We'd sing the verse (and we recapped all 3 verses) and then for the chorus I'd choose who had sung the best and they got to lead everyone down the length of the room and back again, doing the normal side step and raised hand. Most of the kids got a turn to be the leader, and they just loved it!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Book of Mormon Stories
I've been trying this year to also re-teach some old songs if I have some time left over during a month.
One that I chose was "Book of Mormon Stories" (CS118).
Because I'm not too fussed if the kids have these songs memorised so I'm just going the straightforward way of making posters for each line. I did simple outlined pictures, and then got some of the senior girls to colour them in for me.
I sang each line and show them the picture, and they'd sing it with me afterwards. And then once we'd done the whole thing I turned over a couple of the pictures to see if they could remember. It's a simple song, but they got it quickly!
One that I chose was "Book of Mormon Stories" (CS118).
Because I'm not too fussed if the kids have these songs memorised so I'm just going the straightforward way of making posters for each line. I did simple outlined pictures, and then got some of the senior girls to colour them in for me.
I sang each line and show them the picture, and they'd sing it with me afterwards. And then once we'd done the whole thing I turned over a couple of the pictures to see if they could remember. It's a simple song, but they got it quickly!
He Sent His Son
For "He Sent His Son" I used the fact that the song is divided into questions and answers to do a call and response kind of thing with the children.
I made a poster (I always make them just A4 size) for each question and each answer. I always just use outlined pictures for this kind of thing and then normally colour them in myself, but this time I got a couple of the senior girls to colour them in for me, and they just loved it! For a few weeks afterwards they came to me every time and asked if there was something else they could colour in for me!
Before singing time I set up my part of the room with two rows of chairs facing each other, but slightly curved so that the people in the same row should be able to see the other people in their group. I also stuck all of the posters on the board in random order.
When they all came through and we started with this song I would sing a line, and they would have to guess which picture went with the line. All of the questions I gave to the one side, and the answers to the other side. I explained the meaning of the lines each time.
Then once I'd sung through the whole song, and they all had the pictures we started singing it as a group. But I'd get the group with the questions to sing the questions, and the group with the answers to sing the answers, and the child holding the relevant page each time had to hold it up while they sang. Then after a while we swapped the questions and answers to give everyone a chance to sing both.
I taught the whole song in one Sunday, and it is quite a difficult one, but they got it reasonably well, and they're managing to sing it quite well each time we subsequently sing it too.
I made a poster (I always make them just A4 size) for each question and each answer. I always just use outlined pictures for this kind of thing and then normally colour them in myself, but this time I got a couple of the senior girls to colour them in for me, and they just loved it! For a few weeks afterwards they came to me every time and asked if there was something else they could colour in for me!
Before singing time I set up my part of the room with two rows of chairs facing each other, but slightly curved so that the people in the same row should be able to see the other people in their group. I also stuck all of the posters on the board in random order.
When they all came through and we started with this song I would sing a line, and they would have to guess which picture went with the line. All of the questions I gave to the one side, and the answers to the other side. I explained the meaning of the lines each time.
Then once I'd sung through the whole song, and they all had the pictures we started singing it as a group. But I'd get the group with the questions to sing the questions, and the group with the answers to sing the answers, and the child holding the relevant page each time had to hold it up while they sang. Then after a while we swapped the questions and answers to give everyone a chance to sing both.
I taught the whole song in one Sunday, and it is quite a difficult one, but they got it reasonably well, and they're managing to sing it quite well each time we subsequently sing it too.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
I know that my Saviour loves me
For "I know that my Saviour loves me" I decided to go with the suggestion in the sharing time outline.
The message of this song is so powerful - I had quite a few spiritual experiences during the time I was preparing this song and working with it a lot (see my personal blog post)
When I first introduced the song I used the Book of Mormon story reader and told the children the story of Christ blessing the children and then I helped them see how the words of the first verse are all about this scripture account.
Then I used actions to teach all of the words. My plan is for the kids (especially the juniors) to do the actions while we sing it for the presentation...
1. A long time ago in a beautiful place, (point behind, spread arms)
Children were gathered ’round Jesus. (gesture around body)
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love. (point at flat hand, point at heart)
Each saw the tears on His face. (fingers down cheeks)
The love that He felt for His little ones (point at heart, indicate short person)
I know He feels for me. (point at head, point at chest)
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee, (shaking head, touch arm, pat knee)
Yet, Jesus is real to me. (pat chest)
2. Now I am here in a beautiful place, (point at ground, spread arms)
Learning the teachings of Jesus. (point at head, hands make a book)
Parents and teachers will help guide the way, (show each hand, path ahead)
Lighting my path ev’ry day. (pretend to hold lantern high up)
Wrapped in the arms of my Saviour’s love, (wrap arms around body)
I feel His gentle touch. (gently touch arm)
Living each day, I will follow His way, (show fingers walking behind each other)
Home to my Father above. (point up to heaven)
Chorus
I know He lives! (point at head)
I will follow faithfully. (show fingers walking, behind each other)
My heart I give to Him. (point at heart, hands cupped)
I know that my Saviour loves me. (point at head, point at heart, both hands on chest)
The message of this song is so powerful - I had quite a few spiritual experiences during the time I was preparing this song and working with it a lot (see my personal blog post)
When I first introduced the song I used the Book of Mormon story reader and told the children the story of Christ blessing the children and then I helped them see how the words of the first verse are all about this scripture account.
Then I used actions to teach all of the words. My plan is for the kids (especially the juniors) to do the actions while we sing it for the presentation...
1. A long time ago in a beautiful place, (point behind, spread arms)
Children were gathered ’round Jesus. (gesture around body)
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love. (point at flat hand, point at heart)
Each saw the tears on His face. (fingers down cheeks)
The love that He felt for His little ones (point at heart, indicate short person)
I know He feels for me. (point at head, point at chest)
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee, (shaking head, touch arm, pat knee)
Yet, Jesus is real to me. (pat chest)
2. Now I am here in a beautiful place, (point at ground, spread arms)
Learning the teachings of Jesus. (point at head, hands make a book)
Parents and teachers will help guide the way, (show each hand, path ahead)
Lighting my path ev’ry day. (pretend to hold lantern high up)
Wrapped in the arms of my Saviour’s love, (wrap arms around body)
I feel His gentle touch. (gently touch arm)
Living each day, I will follow His way, (show fingers walking behind each other)
Home to my Father above. (point up to heaven)
Chorus
I know He lives! (point at head)
I will follow faithfully. (show fingers walking, behind each other)
My heart I give to Him. (point at heart, hands cupped)
I know that my Saviour loves me. (point at head, point at heart, both hands on chest)
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