March 11, 2012

Opening Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (p78-79)
Closing Song: Follow the Prophet (p110), you choose the verse

Wiggle Songs: Here We Are Together (p261) "in our primary" and using the kids names, have the kids walk in a circle until you start singing the names - then stop and point to 3 kids (in order) and sing their names. Repeat saying the names of 3 new people, continue until you've used everyone's name. Feel free to invite leaders!

Program Song: Stand for the Right (p159)
Review Song: Choose the Right (Hymns #239)
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Identify the doctrine: Our prophet, President Monson, teaches us to be true and stand for the right in all we do. To be true means

Help the children understand it:

1. Sing Wiggle Songs.
2. Attention Getter: 
• Play "Guess Who?". Give hints about (President Monson) to the kids, and tell them to raise their hand (don't shout out!) when they think they know who it is. After reading through all of the hints, call on someone to answer. Put the picture of President Monson up on the board (from Choose the Right pictures). Today we are going to sing a song about what our prophet teaches us. And guess what? It's a song you already know! (well, the sunbeams won't)
3. Listening and Singing Experiences:
   
   Junior/Senior Primary
• Ask Sister Ames to play through the song once. Tell the kids not to sing, but to listen and watch you. Show the flipchart as Emily plays. At the end, ask the kids to raise their hand if they remember the name of the song.
• Sing "Stand for the Right" with the flipchart.
• Now sing phrase by phrase/back and forth to be sure they know the words - and to introduce the words to the Sunbeams and new kids. 
• Sing it through again. Tell the kids you will be looking for reverent children that are singing to help you in the next activity.
• Now, remember I told you that I love March because it's the beginning of Spring? Today I have some flowers around the room (tape them up before Primary) that will tell us how to sing "Stand for the Right." Ask one of the reverent children to choose a flower. Repeat 4-5 times.
• Review Choose the Right by mixing up the pictures on the board. Ask the kids to help you put them in order. Sing through verse 1. Repeat with Verse 1 for the Jr. Primary. Repeat with Verse 3 for the Sr. Primary.

          Nursery (if you choose to go)

• Sing "The More We Get  Together" to invite the children into a circle.
• Sing "Popcorn Popping" with hand actions. Invite the older kids to stand by you and do the actions for the younger kids.
• Sing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam".
• Sing "I Am a Child of God".

Help them apply it in their lives: Invite them to continue choosing the right, bear testimony.

Songs of the Heart (if time left over)

March 4, 2012

Opening Song: Families Can Be Together Forever (p188)
Closing Song: Stand for the Right (p159) - While they sing listen for how well they know the song, this is our program song for the month of March. You'll introduce it next week.

Wiggle Songs: Hinges (p277), Popcorn Popping (p242-243)

Program Song: Choose the Right (Hymns p.239)
Review Song: Choose the Right (Hymns p. 239)
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Identify the doctrine: When we choose the right, Heavenly Father will bless us. We should follow the prophet and the scriptures to receive wisdom. We should listen to the Holy Ghost.

Help the children understand it:

1. Sing Wiggle Songs.
2. Attention Getter:
• It's March! Did you know that the first day of Spring is March 20? I love Spring because it's when all the flowers start to bloom. Today we are going to use this flower (small laminated flower in the binder/bag) to help us review the song Choose the Right. 
3. Listening and Singing Experiences:
   
   Junior/Senior Primary
   
   
   • We are going to play a game called "Hot and Cold Hide and Seek". Here are the rules:
     I will choose one of you to step outside in the hall with one of the leaders; that person is called the Seeker. Then I will choose someone else to hide the flower somewhere in the Primary Room (it has to be partially showing); this person is called the Hider. Then I will invite the Seeker to come back in and come up to the front. We will start singing Choose the Right as the Seeker starts walking around the room to find the flower. If they are far away from the flower, we will sing quietly - this means they are "cold" or far away. As they get closer to the flower or "hotter", we will sing louder until they find it!
   • Have the pictures on the board to help the kids remember the words. Tell them that if they aren't singing the words correctly, you will stop the game and review the song.  Go phrase by phrase - you sing it to them, they sing it back to you - until they have it more or less down, then go back to the game. With the Junior Primary, only sing Verse 1. With the Senior Primary start with Verse 1; after singing through it twice, review Verse 3 with the pictures (phrase by phrase/back and forth method). Then play the game until everyone has a turn (or 2).
   • After you feel like they have the words/melody down, explain to them that during the program they will be standing up to sing the song, and then sitting down. Teach them how to watch you for when to stand up/sit down. Practice a couple times. Then, invite a teacher to come up and use the Sing 'o' Meter (same routine as last week) as you sing "Choose the Right" and practice standing up at the beginning and sitting down at the end. Verse 1 for the Jr. Primary, Verses 1 and 3 for the Senior Primary.
   Nursery (same as last week)
   
   
   • Sing "The More We Get  Together" to invite the children into a circle.
   • Tell them that this week they are going to learn a new song called Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. Show the kids how to do a LITTLE jump in their seats every time you "sunBEAM". Invite the leaders to sing it with you to the kids. Sing through a couple times. You can invite the older kids to count how many times you sing "sunbeam".
   • Sing "Do As I'm Doing", asking different kids to help choose the action.
   • Sing "I Am a Child of God" with them. I have had them keep the beat on their knees and other body parts. 
     

Help them apply it in their lives: Invite the children to look for new ways to choose the right during the week. Promise them that if they do, they will have the Holy Ghost always with them.

Songs of the Heart: (if time leftover) Have one of the children choose a heart from our Songs of the Heart box to sing. Be sure to read whose favorite song we are singing!

February 26, 2012

Opening Song: Reverence Is Love (p31)
Closing Song: Nephi's Courage (p120)

Wiggle Songs: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (p281), If You're Happy (p266)

Program Song: Choose the Right (Hymn #239)
Review Song: As a Child of God (outline)
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Identify the doctrine: When we choose the right, Heavenly Father will bless us. We should follow the prophet and the scriptures to receive wisdom. We should listen to the Holy Ghost.

Help the children understand it:

1. Sing Wiggle Songs (I usually sing them twice through, varying how they sing it - for example: fast vs. slow, whisper vs. normal voice, standing up vs. sitting down, marching in place vs. marching around room, etc.) For If You're Happy, ask a couple of the kids to choose and lead what action to do.
2. Attention Getter: 
• Introduce yourself! (Ashley) Maybe tell them a funny story or some of your favorite things.
3. Listening and Singing Experiences:
   
   Junior Primary
• Put the pictures on the board for verse 1 of Choose the Right, or you can choose to hold them.
• Hand out CTR picture sticks to each child. Set the expectation that they are to hold them in their laps until we sing "Choose the right", then they are to lift their stick high in the air. Tell them that if they play with the stick, you'll take it away. Tell them that you are going to watch for kids that are singing reverently and lifting their stick at the right times to come up in front and help you lead! 
• Sing through verse 1 and the chorus while pointing to or flipping through pictures, with the kids lifting their sticks high in the air. Choose a few kids to come up in front to sing with you and lift their sticks in the air. Repeat, giving the other kids an opportunity to come up in front. (I try to give everyone an opportunity, usually there aren't that many kids, so it's not a problem).
• Collect picture sticks.
• Show the kids how to keep the beat while tapping their knees while you sing the chorus. Have them join in with you. Sing only the chorus while keeping the beat (remembering the verse and tapping the beat might be a bit much). You can switch it up by tapping the beat on different body parts, the chair, etc. 
• Introduce the Sing 'o' Meter. The kids haven't seen this before. Explain to them that you will ask one of their teachers to judge how they sing Choose the Right. Ask the teachers (so everyone can hear) to take into consideration something the kids need to work on: standing together (if you choose to have them stand), watching you, quiet at the end of the song, knowing the words, etc.
• Choose a teacher to come up and judge. Sing through the song 2-3 times.
• If there is time, review the song As a Child of God. The pictures are smaller because I used them in a poster, but the kids are familiar with them. Sing one verse at a time, going over the words before you sing it.

          Nursery (if you choose to go)

• Sing "The More We Get  Together" to invite the children into a circle.
• Tell them that this week they are going to learn a new song called Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. Show the kids how to do a LITTLE jump in their seats every time you "sunBEAM". Invite the leaders to sing it with you to the kids. Sing through a couple times. You can invite the older kids to count how many times you sing "sunbeam".
• Sing "Do As I'm Doing", asking different kids to help choose the action.
• Sing "I Am a Child of God" with them. I have had them keep the beat on their knees and other body parts. 

          Senior Primary

• Sing through verse 1 and the chorus. We worked hard on this last week (Vincent, Isabella, Alexis, Jake, and Cameron). Emma knows this song really well. They can use the pictures you have on the board or that you flip through to help them.
• Tell them that now that they know verse 1 and the chorus, you're going to show them something awesome called a  Melody Map. Put up the Melody Maps under the corresponding picture on the board. Explain to them that the smaller circles are 1 beat, the larger circles 2 beats. Clap through the rhythm of one of the cards so they get the idea. Teach them that a Melody Map shows us when the notes go up and down or stay the same.
• Sing through Verse 1 and the chorus with them while pointing to the Melody Map cards. Repeat.
• Now hand out one card to each child there, leaving the other cards on the board. Sing through the song again, and when the kids sing the melody on their card, they are to bring it up to the front. Repeat, mixing up the cards you hand out.
• Keep all the cards/pictures on the board for the kids to refer to, and introduce the Sing 'o' Meter, just as you did for the Junior Primary.
• Choose a teacher to come up and judge. Sing through the song 2-3 times.
• If there is time, review the song As a Child of God. The pictures are smaller because I used them in a poster, but the kids are familiar with them. Sing one verse at a time, going over the words before you sing it.

Help them apply it in their lives: Invite them to continue choosing the right, bear testimony.

Songs of the Heart (if time left over)

February 19, 2012

Opening Song: Nephi's Courage (p120)
Closing Song: Families Can Be Together Forever (p188)

Wiggle Songs: Hinges (p277), Here We Are Together (p261)

Program Song: Choose the Right (Hymns p.239)
Review Song: As a Child of God (new outline song)
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Identify the doctrine: When we choose the right, Heavenly Father will bless us. We should follow the prophet and the scriptures to receive wisdom. We should listen to the Holy Ghost.

Help the children understand it:

1. Attention Getter:
• We have been talking about choosing the right. I chose the right this week by.../ask the kids what they did to choose the right.
2. Listening and Singing Experiences:
   
   Junior Primary
   
   
   • Sing through the chorus of Choose the Right, point to the pictures on the board.
   • Hand out picture sticks (only 1 stick per child, be sure you have at least 1 of every picture). Sing through the chorus again and when their phrase is sung, tell the children to lift their stick in the air. 
   • Tell children to switch sticks with someone around them so that they have a new picture stick. Sing through the chorus again. Repeat. Collect picture sticks.
   • Point out the bag and the items we used last week to learn the first verse. Tell them that this week you are going to show them pictures to help them remember the words.  Sing verse 1 TO them, putting up the corresponding picture as you sing each phrase. 
   • Sing each phrase TO them (while pointing to the picture) and then have them sing it WITH you. After breaking it down like this 2 times, have them sing verse 1 WITH you, all the way through! 
   • Invite children to come up and hold each picture. When we sing their phrase, they are to lift the picture high in the air. (Stand behind children and tap them on the back when it's their turn). Repeat, choosing new children to come up front. 
   • Invite children to sit on the floor in a circle. Sing As a Child of God, verse 1 TO the kids (they can sing along if they want to), show the corresponding picture as you sing each phrase. Sing again, except this time while you sing, have the children keep the beat on their knees (have teachers keep the beat too to help keep the children on beat).
   • Invite the kids to sing WITH you as they keep the beat on their knees.
   • Return to seats reverently for Songs of the Heart (if time).
   
   Nursery
   
   
   • Sing "The More We Get Together" to invite children into circle. (chairs or on floor)
   • Sing "I Am a Child of God" TO them, showing them the flipchart. As you sing, they keep the beat on their knees (have teachers help).
   • Go back and sing each phrase individually (you sing it, then the children sing it with you) - showing them the picture/talking about it.
   • Sing "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam". Teach the kids how to jump in their seats on "sunBEAM". Sing again, have the older kids count how many times we sing "sunbeam" on their fingers (7).
   Senior Primary

• Sing through verse 1 of Choose the Right (have bag aids from last week on table)
• Sing verse 3 TO them, put up corresponding pictures with each phrase on the board.
• Go back and talk about the meaning of each phrase, put up the word strip with each phrase on the board.
• Sing verse 3 WITH them 5 times, and remove 1 word strip after each run through (leaving only the pictures).
• Hand out word strips to kids. Sing verse 3 WITH them, and when their phrase is sung, the kids are to bring up their word strip and place it next to the corresponding picture. (Let piano player know we'll pause after each phrase)
• Repeat, but this time - mix up the pictures on the board. 
• Invite the kids to reverently come up to the board and put the pictures and word strips in the right order.
• Remove the word strips. Kids sing verse BY THEMSELVES (pictures are still on the board).
• Remove the Choose the Right pictures. Divide the chalkboard into 3 sections (using chalk), label them 1-2-3.
• Hand out As a Child of God verse bags (1 bag for every 1-2 kids). Tell kids that in each bag are the pictures for that verse of As a Child of God; they will put the pictures in order on the board (using magnets). If there is only 1 kid per verse, they may ask for help from the other kids. Have the piano player play through the song as the kids work.
• Sing As a Child of God.

Help them apply it in their lives: Invite the children to look for new ways to choose the right during the week. Promise them that if they do, they will have the Holy Ghost always with them.

Songs of the Heart: (if time leftover) Have one of the children choose a heart from our Songs of the Heart box to sing. Be sure to read whose favorite song we are singing!

February 12, 2012

Opening Song: Stand for the Right (p159)
Closing Song: As a Child of God, new song in outline

Wiggle Songs: Book of Mormon Stories (p118-119)

Program Song: Choose the Right (p239 Hymns)

Review Songs: As a Child of God, new song in outline
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Identify the doctrine: When we choose the right, Heavenly Father will bless us. We should follow the prophet and the scriptures to receive wisdom. We should follow the Holy Ghost.

Help the children understand it:

1. Attention Getter:
• Ask how the kids chose the right this week. After 1-2 responses, have the rest of the kids tell their neighbor or teacher (to give everyone an opportunity to share). Point out the 2 boxes (one beautifully wrapped, the other not) on the table. Ask the kids to raise their hands as you point to each one to show which one they'd choose. Most kids would choose the beautifully packaged one. This leads into learning the 1st verse...
2. Instruction:
• (will be taught during the listening and singing experiences)
3. Listening and Singing Experiences:
• Notes: For Jr. Primary follow lesson plan*, but begin with the chorus and picture sticks. Insist that the teachers sing! When singing the song, choose a heart (Valentine's Day) from the board that will tell us how we should sing.
• Put a sign that says "right" on the non pretty box. Sometimes the right choice isn't always as "pretty" as other choices. But if we listen to our parents, our leaders, and the Holy Ghost (people we trust) we will know what is right. Now, sing the first line of the song, pointing to the box that says "right": "Choose the right when a choice is placed before you". Have the kids sing with you (continue to add on as you sing each phrase).
• Add to the box a sign that says "the Holy Spirit guides", a flashlight, and a heart that has the word "confides" on it.
• Sing the first lines again and then dramatically point to the box and say "IN the right (pull out the sign) the Holy Spirit guides". Have the kids sing with you. JR PRIMARY: instead of the sign, pull out a map.
• Sing the first 3 lines and then pull out the flashlight and shine it over your head as you sing "and its light is forever shining o'er you". Talk about how the Holy Ghost can be a light to us. Have the kids sing with you.
• Sing "when IN the right your heart confides" as you pull out the heart with the word "confides" on it. Explain the "confides" means "trusts". Have the kids sing with you.
• Have the picture sticks pictures on the blackboard (the large versions) and point to them as we sing the chorus.
• Sing through As a Child of God using the poster. As many verses as time permits.
  
  *  Shared by Amy Greenway / Primary Music Yahoo Group 

Help them apply it in their lives: Challenge the kids to find new ways to choose the right this week.

Songs of the Heart: (If time) Ask the teachers and leaders to write down their Songs of the Heart while we sing some of the kids/leaders Songs of the Heart. I will leave hearts with teachers to use during class time if the kids have more songs they wish to add.

February 5, 2012

Opening Song: I Love to See the Temple (p95)
Closing Song: Stand for the Right (p159)

Wiggle Songs: Popcorn Popping (p242), To Get Quiet (p275)

Program Song: Choose the Right (p239 in Hymnbook)

Review Songs: As a Child of God (in 2012 Primary Outline)
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Identify the doctrine: When we choose the right, Heavenly Father will bless us. We should follow the prophet and the scriptures to receive wisdom. We should follow the Holy Ghost.

Help children understand it: 

1. Attention Getter:
• Choose the Right game. Give kids situations from home, and ask them how they would choose the right. Specify to the older kids that I am looking for serious answers only. Ask Vincent to read the situations (hoping to reduce the amount of "silly" answers).
2. Instruction: 
• (will be taught during the listening and singing experiences)
3. Listening and Singing Experiences: (adapted from here)
• Quick note: when I introduce a new picture stick, place an 8 1/2 x 11 copy of it on the blackboard. Point to it during the song as needed to help the kids know when to lift their sticks.
• Hand out the CTR Picture Sticks to the Sunbeams, and have them lift their stick high every time I sing "Choose the Right". Sing the chorus to the kids. Have the kids guess how many times we sing that phrase and then sing it again and have the CTR class count. 
• Next, pull out the Light Bulb Picture Sticks and give them to the CTR class. Sing the chorus again and ask them what phrase we could use them for - have them lift their sticks high when they hear the phrase. Identify the phrase and talk about it. With the Senior Primary ask questions like "What kind of light are we talking about?"
• Next, pull out the Book of Mormon, Prophet, and Temple Picture Sticks. Hand these out to the CTR class as well. (I want to keep it simple for the Sunbeams this week). Explain that these picture sticks all go with the same phrase. Sing the chorus again and have the kids listen for the phrase they might go with, have them lift their sticks high if they hear the phrase ("let wisdom mark the way before"). With the Junior Primary explain that having wisdom means we have knowledge and we know how to use it to choose the right. We can learn wisdom by these three things - reading the scriptures, listening to the prophet, and going to the temple. In this song we learn that wisdom will show us the way to go, or "mark the way before".  For the Senior Primary ask, "Why did I choose these pictures to represent "wisdom"? Hopefully this will spur discussion. 
• Next pull out Jesus with the Children Picture Sticks. Hand these out to the teachers. Sing the song again, and have the teachers lift their sticks when they hear the phrase they go with ("God will bless you evermore"). Identify the phrase and talk about it. This is a picture of Jesus blessing the children. When we choose the right, He will also bless us! 
• Sing the song all the way through using all of the picture sticks.
• Next, review As a Child of God using the poster. Just verse 1 this week.

Help them apply it in their lives: 

Challenge the kids to find new ways to choose the right this week.

Songs of the Heart: (If there is time) Ask the teachers and leaders to write down their Songs of the Heart while we sing some of the kids Songs of the Heart. I will leave hearts with teachers to use during class time if the kids have more songs they wish to add.