I'm Back!

It has been 4 years since I was released from being the Primary Chorister. Last Sunday I was asked to be the Primary Chorister again.  I am so excited to be back.

I plan to post weekly on what I taught during Singingtime.

So far I have made a new birthday cube.

If the savior stood beside me

:  If The Savior Stood Beside Me      

Teach how to lead the song and listen to the music.

Display a picture of Jesus and underneath display a picture of a child.

Write above the pictures If the Savior stood beside me….

Sing the 1st verse

If the Savior stood beside me

Would I do the things I do?

Would I think of His commandments

and try harder to be true?

Would I follow His example?

Would I live more righteously?

if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

Ask the Would I? questions for each line in the first verse

Would I? Do the things I do

Would I? Think of His commandments and try harder to be true

Would I? Follow His example

Would I? Live more righteously           

Sing the first verse as many times as it takes for them to answer all of the Would I? questions.     

Teach the 2^nd verse

If the Savior stood beside me
Would I say the things I say
Would my words be true and kind if
he were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel?
Would I speak more rev'rently
if I could see the Savior standing nigh
watching over me?

Ask the would I/my? questions then sing the 2^nd verse?  Have the kids fill in the blanks.

If the Savior stood beside me

Would I:  say the things I say

Would my:  words be true and kind if he were never far away?

Would I:  try to share the gospel?

Would I: speak more rev’rently if I could see the Savior standing nigh

watching over me?                                                                                              

Leave the words on the board then start the activity.

Using a piece of painters tape, tape a line on the floor. 

Have the child walk across the floor following the tape line.

Sing verse 2 while the child is walking.

Then ask the child, was it hard to walk across the room?

Of course not, the path was straight and clear of obstacles.

Place cones along the line so it is difficult to walk.  Then have the child walk right through them. 

Sing verse 2 while the child is walking.

Ask the primary, did the child fall or try to get around the cones?

When we chose to come to earth we knew that we would need to overcome obstacles and/or temptations, we can not avoid them.  We will stumble and fall, that is part of our journey her on earth.

Sing verse 1&2

Read scripture: The Iron Rod Helaman 3:29

Guide the child away from the cones.

Sing verse 1&2

Through prayer, repentance and scripture study,
the Savior with the help of the Holy Ghost will help us overcome our obstacles
and/or temptations and gain the knowledge and strength to press forward.

Sing verse 1&2

When we ask for help from our Heavenly Father we will not be disappointed. 
 He will send his love an guidance, and it will be like the Savior standing nigh, watching over me!

Teach Verse 3      

He is always near me though I do not see him there

And because He loves me dearly, I am in his watchful care.

So I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be

If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.

 We need to do much more than believe in Jesus Christ. 
We show our true faith in Christ when we act on our faith, it is our duty.

Sing verse 3

Display a picture of Christ with a child.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated in the Ensign article Learn your Duty.   
“We must always remember that duty reminds us we are stewards of all our Creator has entrusted to us.

Sing verse 3

Read scripture Moses 1:39

Sing verse 3

“Happiness comes from doing ones duty
and knowing that his lifeis in harmony with God and his commandments.”

Post 3 pictures of Jesus 

Garden of Gethsemane

On the Cross

The Resurrected Lord at the Empty Tomb

then show The For God So Loved the World clip.

“The savior had a perfect sense of duty. 
Even though what was required of him surpassed the limits of human capabilities,
He submitted Himself to His Father’s will and
fulfilled His divine duty by atoning for the sins of mankind.”

If time allows sing all 3 verses.

“God is like sugar that you add to your milk.  You can’t see it, but it sweetens everything.  In the same way, you can’t see the Lord’s true gospel but if you accept it and apply it, it sweetens your life like sugar sweetens milk.”

By Yolonda Moralas  Posada  Dec. 2000 New Era

Scripture Chase Review

What is a Savior?  Let’s find scriptures that help define what a Savior is.

Post a picture of the Savior

Sing verse 1

Scripture: Mosiah: 3:20 – missionary work

Sing verse 2

Scripture: Helaman 14:15 – resurrection of the dead

Sing verse 3

Scripture: Acts 2:21- take upon the name of Christ

Sing all 3 verses

Scripture: Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light

Explain that there is an extra verse that was omitted in the sharing time outline.  In the 2007 New Era a version of the song with accompaniment was published.  I would like to use that verse as an opportunity to display musical talent of the children in the Primary Program.  If anyone would like to play a duet with Sis. N on the piano, or learn to sing the extra verse, I will take their names and we will begin rehersals in July.  One musical instrument, and 3-6 vocals.

                        



Picture Easter - Singing Time 2013

This activity has been adapted from the Picture Easter in the March 2013 Friend

I cut out the puzzle pieces and laminated them,

then taped the easter eggs to the top of each puzzle piece

I also laminated the the back of the puzzle with the activities/instructions

for easy taping and removal of the pieces. 

Have a child choose an easter egg. 

Remove the puzzle piece

and fit it onto the poster.

Then follow the instructions!

Save the Yellow Egg for last.

Pink Egg

Song:  If The Savior Stood Beside Me (verse 1)

Display the Living Christ

Read what living Apostles wrote about Jesus Christ:

“He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. 

His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come”

Orange Egg

Song:  If The Savior Stood Beside Me (verse 2)

Sing your favorite Christmas Song. 

Ask: What do you remember learning about Jesus Christ’s birth?

Blue Egg

Song:  If The Savior Stood Beside Me (verse 3)

Ask: How can you share a meaningful Easter message with your friends?

Green Egg

Song: I am Like a Star                                                                                                                                       163

Ask: How can you follow Jesus Christ’s example by being like a star?

Purple Egg

Song: Hosanna                                                                                                                                                     66

We take the sacrament each week to remember Jesus Christ. 

Ask: What can you do to be especially reverent during sacrament meeting this Sunday?

Lavender Egg         

                                                                                                                                             

Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me                                                                                                               228

Read John 3:16-17

Ask: How do you know Heavenly Father Loves You

Yellow Egg

Song: Jesus Has Risen                                                                                                                                      70

We will now watch thevideo For God So Loved the World .

Look at the finished picture

The Tomb is empty and we know that Jesus Lives!

I Am a Child of God - verse 3

Do you know what a blessing is?

Are blessings only big miraculous events? No

No matter how big or small, a blessing is anything that is good.

Let’s sing the third verse.

I am a child of God

Rich blessings are in store

if I but learn to do his will

I''ll live with him once more.

What is a rich blessing?

Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Sermon on the Mount he taught the Beatitudes.

The beatitudes teach us how do his will and to recieve those rich blessings.

Musical Scripture Chase

Sing the 3rd verse while finding the scripture. 

Have them stand up when they have found the answer.  

Have them say the answer all together. 

Give the commandment and have them find the blessing.

Help the children to find Matthew chapter 5 before you start.

Matt 5:3

Commandment: Poor in spirit 

Blessing: Kingdom of Heaven

Matt 5:4

Commandment:They that mourn 

Blessing: Will be comforted

Matt 5:5

Commandment: Meek

Blessing: Inherit the earth

Matt 5:6

Commandment: Hunger/Thirst after righteousness

Blessing: Filled

Matt 5:7

Commandment: Merciful 

Blessing: Mercy

Matt 5:8

Commandment: Pure in heart

Blessing: See God

Matt 5:9 

Commandment: Peacemakers

Blessing: Children of God

Matt 5:10

Commandment:Persecuted for righteousness sake 

Blessing: Kingdom of Heaven

Read Matt 5:14 -16 

The light of Christ will shine in you and others will notice

Story of Missionaries who went to musical performance and everyone felt them come in.

I am a Child of God - Verse 2

For this week I am not sure how many children in my Primary know the 2nd verse, so I want to make sure we sing it enough times for them to remember it.

Attention activity: 

(you can come up with your own ideas depending on the abilities of the children in your primary)

Stand up and stay standing if:

1. You know how to tie your shoes or braid someone else’s hair.
2. You know how to ride a bike without training wheels or you know how to make your own pinewood derby car.
3. You know who your Great Grandmother is.
4. You ate breakfast this morning.
5. You said “I love you” to someone today or gave someone a hug.
6. You are a Child of God.

We all have different abilities and learn in different ways, but the one thing we have in common is that we are a Child of God.

Let’s learn the second verse of I am a child of God.

Display the word cards on the board for the second verse only.

Sing the 2nd verse and Chorus a couple of times while having the children lead with you.

For Jr. Primary have children come and remove some of the words and sing again.  Do this until all the words have been removed and the children are singing from memory.

For Sr. Primary, have one class come up at a time, mix up the words and have them put the words back in order before we finish singing the song.

I am a Child of God - Introduction

I wanted to come up with a way for the children to be active in learning "I Am a Child of  God" 1 verse at a time without losing interest because they have heard it many times before.  So this is what I came up with.

Have the children listen to the song first, just the music. 

Ask the children to stand up if they have heard the song before. (the majority of the children should stand up)

Have them remain standing

Jr. Primary: teach the children what pitch leading is.  Have the children pitch lead with their bodies as the song is played.  Then add the words and let the children pitch lead with their bodies while they sing.

Work on just the first verse today.

Sr. Primary: Teach the children how to lead 4/4 time.  Play just the music without the words and let the children practice leading the song.  Call up 3 volunteers to lead the music, let the three children lead as fast or as slow as they would like.  Emphasize how confusing it is when there is more than one leader. Explain why we only have one leader and why it is important to follow the leader to sing in unison.  Then add the words and let the children lead while they sing.  Work on just the first verse today.

Show the “I Am a Child of God ” youtube video from the LDS.org website.

Bear testimony that we are all children of our heavenly father no matter how young or young at heart we may be, we each have our own talents and abilities to share with others.  We can be an example to our friends and show them that they, are a child of God, too.

Christmas Devotional: Sing the story of Christmas

Songs have a way of telling a story through the rhythm, tempo and nuances of the song. 

The primary songs and Hymns have the words of the scriptures set to music. 

Today we are going to sing the story of Jesus Christ’s birth. 

Prophets prophesied of the Lord Jesus birth

centuries before it came to pass.

Samuel the Lamanite was just one of the many who did so. 

 He also prophesied of signs the people in the new world

would see when Christ was born. Read here.

 Let’s sing about the brave prophet Samuel.

Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus

Here are some actions that go to verse 1 & 2

1st Verse

Said Samuel, (Samuel standing on the wall)

Within five years  (hold up 5 fingers)

A night  (sleeping hands under head)

Will be as day (stretch arms like waking up)

And baby Jesus will be born (rock the baby)

In a land far, far away. (place hand on forehead looking into the distance)

2nd Verse

Across the sea in Bethlehem (make waves with your hand)

Lord Jesus came to earth (rock the baby)

As Samuel had prophesied (Samuel standing on the wall)

And angels (flap wings, the ASL sign for angel)

Sang (singing position hands)

His birth (rock the baby)

Shepherds abiding their fields by night

were also given a sign that the baby Jesus was born. 

In Luke 2:8-15 it talks about the angel of the Lord

telling the shepherds to go and see the baby Jesus

wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger

and that a sign (a star) will shine brightly above him

  There Was Starlight On The Hillside

Here is a song that I would like to think the shepherds sang

when they saw the baby Jesus.

The Shepherds Carol (Sing in a Round)   

What was it like to be born in a stable,

lay in a manger and surrounded by

animals, shepherds and wise men? 

Let sing about Baby Jesus

and his humbling experience in the stable.

Away in a Manger 

We still celebrate with joy and excitement

the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

He came to earth

as a baby,

became a teacher,

a friend

our brother

and through the atonement

the Savior of the World.

Joy To The World

Listen to the bells toll around the world celebrating Christmas Day.

Christmas Bells

Have the children ring bells during the song.

Have a very Merry Christmas

from me to you and your family.

All pictures, songs and scriptures courtesy of LDS.Org.