March 3, 2013

Opening Song: Choose the Right (Hymn 239)
Closing Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (p78)

Program Song: If the Savior Stood Beside Me (2013 outline, binder)
Wiggle Songs: Do As I'm Doing (p276) - as part of Gospel Instruction?, Stand Up (p278) 

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Identify the doctrine: Jesus Christ taught the gospel and set an example for us. We should follow Him in what we do, how we think, and how we live.

Help the children understand it: (use for both Jr and Sr): 
(2 minutes)


Our opening song was “Choose the Right”. Is it hard to always choose the right? Do you think it
would be easier to choose the right if you had someone standing next to you each time you made a
decision? (you can hold up pictures for the next questions if you want)

What if your best friend was standing next to you?
What if the Primary President was standing next to you?
How about your mom or dad?
What if Jesus was standing next to you? Would it be easier to always choose the right?
We are going to learn a song called, “If the Savior Stood Beside Me”

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior Primary/Senior Primary (Lesson plan from Sugardoodle)

If the Savior Stood Beside Me - 2013 outline, binder
(14 minutes total)

Materials:
* 2 pictures of the Savior (included with the keyword posters)
* If the Savior Stood Beside Me Keyword Posters (4 pieces of paper, all the same color, that have a large question mark on one side. On the opposite
side write one of the keywords on each paper. Keywords are: do, think, follow, live.)
* 4 pieces of paper with a single large number written on each of them. They should be numbered 1-4.
* Magnets
* Sign language for the 4 keywords (do, think, follow, live). Simplified ASL
* Optional: pictures of a friend, mom or dad and the Savior

(7 minutes)

1. Ask the children to count the number of times you sing about the Savior standing beside you. (Do the actions for the keywords as you sing). Sing the 1st verse and get their answers (2 times).
2. Point out that the first time you sang it was at the beginning of the song and the 2nd time you sang it was at the end of the song. Put a picture of the Savior at the far left side of the chalkboard and a picture of the Savior at the far right side of the chalkboard.
3. Tell them that in between these two pictures the song asks us questions. Each question starts with “would I”. Ask them to listen for how many times you sing “would I”. Sing the verse and get their answers (4 times).
4. Post on chalkboard in between the pictures of Jesus 4 papers that have one large question mark on each of them. 
5. There are 4 questions between the two times we talk about the Savior standing next to us. Divide the children into 4 groups (could be 4 rows or by classes). Give each group a piece of cardstock that has a number on it. The papers should be numbered 1,2,3 & 4. Tell them each group is to listen for whichever question number they have. For example, the group with the #1 paper should listen for the first question you sing; the group with the #2 paper should listen for the second question you sing, etc.
6. Sing the song, doing the actions for the keywords as you sing the first verse. Ask them for their answers. If they can’t remember the question, then sing the verse again. (For Jr. you may need to hold up your fingers 1-4 as you sing each question). As they tell you their correct answers, you can turn over the question marks on the board. Behind each question mark should be the keyword for that question.
   
   Keywords are: do, think, try, live
   
7. Have everyone sing the first verse together and do the actions for the keywords.
8. Practice the Verse. (7 min)
   If combined: To practice the first verse, have everyone sing together the phrases about the Savior standing beside them, (If the Savior stood beside me . . . . if I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me) but then each group only sings the question that corresponds with their number. After you sing it through once, then take the numbered papers and hand them out to different groups so that the kids will be singing a different question this time. Sing again and repeat until all groups have sung the 4 different questions.
   If separate: How to sing sticks.

He Sent His Son - p34

2-3 minutes (enough to sing twice)

1. Tell children that for the Easter program during Sacrament Meeting this month (the last Sunday) we'll be singing the song, "He Sent His Son".
2. Sing through the song twice using flipchart. Sit for the first time through, review what a "Super Singer" looks and sounds like, sing second time through standing up as "Super Singers". 

Nursery (following Jr. singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
2. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
3. I Love to See the Temple
4. Families Can Be Together Forever
5. I Am a Child of God

February 24, 2013

Opening Song: Keep the Commandments (p146)
Closing Song: Stand for the Right (p159)

Program Songs: My Heavenly Father Loves Me (p228), I Am a Child of God (p2)
Other Songs: Life is O'erflowing With Beautiful Things (binder), I Know My Father Lives (p5), I Will Follow God's Plan (p164)
Wiggle Songs: Hinges (p277)

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Identify the doctrine: Review Day! 
Help the children understand it: (use for both Jr and Sr)

Today we'll be reviewing the songs we've learned the past 2 months. We've learned songs about how we are children of God and He loves us. We also learned songs about this beautiful earth He created for us and His plan of happiness.

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior Primary/Senior Primary

Review Game: Doubles (Materials: jumbo foam dice, set of 12)

Rules: 

Have 4 kids come up at a time to roll their dice. Tell them that as soon as we start singing the given song to start rolling their dice. When someone gets doubles, we'll stop and the Primary has to help that child come up with the rest of the phrase. Once doubles are rolled, the 4 kids will be rotated to a new group of 4.

Senior Primary adjustments:

• Rather than have the Primary children come up with the phrase, the child who rolls doubles must come up with the phrase. He or she may ask a friend if they don't know.
• If the child can come up with the phrase, they score a point. (extra motivation) Whoever scores the most points gets to choose the wiggle song for next week.

Notes: 

• If doubles aren't being rolled enough, add the 3rd dice to each child, thus increasing the odds of rolling doubles.
• If the children become too rowdy or aren't singing the songs, stop the game. Sing the given song all the way through and then start a new song/game round. Only play if the kids are trying to sing the song.

Nursery (following Jr. singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
2. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
3. I Love to See the Temple
4. Families Can Be Together Forever
5. I Am a Child of God

February 17, 2013

Opening Song: Reverently, Quietly (p26)
Closing Song: I Will Follow God's Plan (p164)

Program Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me (p228)
Other Songs: Life is O'erflowing With Beautiful Things (the Friend)
Wiggle Songs: Hinges (p277)

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Identify the doctrine: Heavenly Father loves us, so He gave us our bodies. He wants us to use our bodies to obey Him.

Help the children understand it: (use for both Jr and Sr)

We can use our bodies not only to obey our Heavenly Father but to enjoy the earth created for us. A couple weeks ago, we talked about things we see, hear, and feel. I have a spinner today that we'll use to review some songs we've learned, and to introduce us to some new ones! All the songs are about how we can use our bodies to obey Heavenly Father and to enjoy the earth He created for us.

I'll draw names of who gets to come spin.

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior Primary/Senior Primary

Songs to be sung:

EYES

• My Heavenly Father Loves Me, verses 1-2 (p228)
• Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things, verse 1 (binder)
• Two Little Eyes (p268)
• Popcorn Popping (p242)

EARS

• I Have Two Ears (p269)
• Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things, verse 2 (binder)
• My Heavenly Father Loves Me, verses 1-2 (p228) 

FINGERS

• My Heavenly Father Loves Me, verses 1-2 (p228)
• Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things, verse 3 (binder)
• Two Little Hands (p272)
• Rain Is Falling All Around (p241)

HEART

• Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things, verse 3 (binder)
• Reverence is Love (p31)
• I Feel My Savior's Love (p74)
• Love One Another (p136)

Nursery (following Jr. singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
2. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
3. I Love to See the Temple
4. Families Can Be Together Forever
5. I Am a Child of God

February 3, 2013

Opening Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me (p228) - verse 1 with hand actions
Closing Song: I Know My Father Lives (p5) - both verses, use flipchart

Program Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me (review 1st verse for opening song)
Other Songs: Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things (the Friend), I Am a Child of God (p2) in Japanese
Wiggle Songs: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (p275) - Junior

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Identify the doctrine: Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of Heavenly Father. They created the earth and everything in it for us because they love us.

Help the children understand it: (use for both Jr and Sr)

What are our 5 senses? (for Jr. Primary give them one or two to get started) - Sight (eyes), Sound (ears), Smell (nose), Touch (fingers), and Taste (mouth). We use these senses to experience this earth that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created for us. Today we are going to talk about 3 of them - sight, sound, and touch.

• Place 3 category pictures up top (eyes, ears, fingers). Tell the children that under their chairs they will find a picture on a heart. The heart is to remind us that Heavenly Father created these things for us because He loves us! They are like His valentines to us.
• Play a recording of "Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things". Have the children listen for the part of the song that tells about their picture. Ask them to remember whether their picture was in the verse about things we see, hear or feel. 
• After the recording, ask the children to bring up their pictures and place them on the board under the right "sense". (have magnets ready) As they place the picture on the board, sing that part of the song to them. Also place the pictures to the chorus on the board at the bottom.
• Play the recording again, and this time, ask the children to listen for the right order of the pictures. Put the pictures in the right order at the end of each verse. Invite the children to sing along with the chorus.
• Here are the pictures. 

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior/Senior Primary

Life is O'erflowing with Beautiful Things
(flipchart for next week, from Primarily Singing)

1. After the "Help the children understand it" section, sing the song once through (all 3 verses) with the piano.

I Am a Child of God - in Japanese

1. Explain to kids we'll be singing "I Am a Child of God" for Brody's homecoming. 
2. Mirror sing verse 1 in Japanese. Repeat twice.
3. Practice singing the song the entire way through:
• Verse 1 - Japanese, everyone together
• Verse 2 - English, everyone together
• Verse 3 - English, Sr. Primary descant
• Verse 4 - English, Sr. Primary with descant - Jr. join on chorus

Jr/Sr Primary Wiggle Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (p275)

               

Nursery (following Jr. singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (actions)
2. I Love to See the Temple (bring picture or use picture sticks)
3. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (actions)
4. Families Can Be Together Forever (picture sticks)
5. I Am a Child of God (clap then pat knees)

January 27, 2013

Opening Song: Choose the Right (Hymn 239) - use flipchart
Closing Song: Choose the Right Way (p160) - use sign language

Program Song: I Am a Child of God (p2) - all verses
Other Songs: I Know My Father Lives (p5), I Will Follow God's Plan (p164)
Wiggle Songs: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (p275) - Junior
                         Do As I'm Doing (p276) - Senior

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Identify the doctrine: Because we are children of God, He gave us a special gift called agency. Agency means we can choose for ourselves. When we make choices there are always consequences. Consequences are what happens because of our choice. There are good and bad/positive and negative consequences. Our Heavenly Father wants us to always choose the right so He can bless us.

Help the children understand it: (use for both Jr and Sr)

Today we are going to play a game to help you understand more about agency AND help us review the songs we have learned this month:

• On the floor you see there are different pictures that represent choices we make. I will draw names out of my can to see who gets to come and throw the bean bag onto one of my pictures. After you land on a picture, we will talk about what the consequences are to your choice. We will then sing the song or verses at the bottom!
• Pictures will include:

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior Primary

I Am a Child of God

1. Verse 1: Pitch leading, sign language on chorus.
2. Verse 2: Poster, sign language on chorus.
3. Verse 3: Poster, sign language on chorus.

I Know My Father Lives

1. Testify to the children that our Heavenly Father lives and loves them. They can know too by praying and asking for the Spirit to tell them it is true.
2.  Use the flipchart.

I Will Follow God's Plan

1. Testify that our Heavenly Father's plan is a plan of happiness. Living by His plan is how we can return to live with Him in the Celestial Kingdom. This is a song about that plan.
2. Use the flipchart.

Wiggle Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (p275)

                  

Senior Primary


I Am a Child of God

1. Verse 1: Pitch leading, sign language on chorus.
2. Verse 2: Poster, sign language on chorus.
3. Verse 3: Poster, sign language on chorus.
4. Verse 4: Poster, sign language on chorus.

I Know My Father Lives

1.  Use the flipchart.

I Will Follow God's Plan

1. Use the flipchart.

Wiggle Song: Do As I'm Doing (p176)

Nursery (following Jr. singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
2. Give Said the Little Stream
3. I Feel My Savior's Love
4. I Love to See the Temple
5. Families Can Be Together Forever
6. I Am a Child of God

January 20, 2012

Opening Song: As a Child of God (2012 outline)
Closing Song: I Know My Father Lives (p5)

Program Song: I Am a Child of God (p2) - verses 3-4
Wiggle Songs: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (p60) - Junior
                         Do As I'm Doing (p276) - Senior

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Identify the doctrine: I am a child of God. God is my Heavenly Father. He knows and loves me. He wants me to understand His words and follow His plan. He will bless me if I do His will. I can return to live with Him in the Celestial Kingdom one day.

Help the children understand it: (use for both Jr and Sr)

Tell the children to close their eyes and picture in their mind what you are going to describe to them. Then start with:

• “Imagine you are in a beautiful place. In this place there are beautiful green trees, lovely flowers growing. I can hear a stream off in the distance. If I’m quiet I can hear the birds singing in the trees. When I look around I notice that my family is all here in this beautiful place with me. I feel so happy when I see them. As I walk around I feel very peaceful and calm.” (general idea)
• Have them keep their eyes closed and then tell them “We don’t know exactly what it will be like to live with Heavenly Father again. But I know that it will be perfect and we will be filled with joy and love.” 
• Have them open their eyes. Tell them to raise their hands if they want to share how they think they will feel to live with Heavenly Father again.
• Tell them you are going to sing the 3rd verse of “I am a child of God”. This verse talks about living with Heavenly Father again.

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior Primary

I Am a Child of God

1. Sing verse 3 to the children. Have them listen for rhyming words (store-more).
2. Sing verse 3 with the children (tell them to sing what they remember). Have them listen for what word describes the blessings our Heavenly Father has for us (rich).
3. What does it mean "rich" blessings? We sing that our blessings are "in store", does that mean we go to a grocery store to get our blessings? What does it mean? 
4. Sing verse 3 with the children (again, they sing what they remember). Have them listen for what we need to do to return to Heavenly Father (do His will). Explain that doing His will means DOING what He tells us. Remind children that last week we learned about "understanding His words", review where we learn those things (prophet, scriptures, temple, families, Primary, blessings). 
5. Sing verse 3 and the chorus altogether.
6. Teach chorus in Japanese for Brody's homecoming.

Wiggle Song: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (just to break it up, sing once)

I Know My Father Lives

1. Testify to the children that our Heavenly Father lives and loves them. They can know too by praying and asking for the Spirit to tell them it is true.
2. Sing verse 1 to children with flipchart. Have children listen for what the Spirit tells them (it is true). 
3. Invite children to sing verse 1 with me.
4. Sing verse 2 to children with flipchart. Have them listen for how we should live His plan (by faith). Also have them listen for what the Spirit tells them (that I can).
5. Sing song all the way through using flipchart.                   

Senior Primary

Wiggle Song: Do As I'm Doing

I Am a Child of God

1. "Help the children understand it" activity.
2. Sing verse 3 (no chorus). Listen for trouble spots, fix with mirror singing. Sing again.
3. Sing verse 4 (no chorus). Listen for trouble spots, fix with mirror singing. Sing again.
4. Show video and invite children to sing along to all 4 verses.
5. After video, learn first verse and chorus in Japanese.

I Will Follow God's Plan 

1. Ahead of time: place phrases on the board using magnets with corresponding picture.
2. Testify that our Heavenly Father's Plan is a plan of happiness. Living by His plan is how we can return to live with Him in the Celestial Kingdom. This is a song about that plan.
3. Sing the song to the children (invite them to sing along since they can read the words). Point to each phrase.
4. Practice singing, inviting the children to take away a phrase (leave the picture) each time. Use pitch leading.

Nursery (following singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
2. Give Said the Little Stream
3. I Feel My Savior's Love
4. I Love to See the Temple
5. Families Can Be Together Forever
6. I Am a Child of God

January 13, 2013

Opening Song: He Sent His Son (p34-35) - use flipchart
Closing Song: I Lived in Heaven (p4) - no flipchart

Program Song: I Am a Child of God (p2) - verses 2-3
Wiggle Songs: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (p60)
                         Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (p275)

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Identify the doctrine: I am a child of God. God is my Heavenly Father. He knows and loves me. He wants me to understand His words and follow His plan.

Help the children understand it:
Our Heavenly Father wants us to understand His words and follow His plan. Today we're going to keep learning the new verses to I Am a Child of God.

Listening and Singing Experiences:

Junior Primary

I Am a Child of God

1. Place flipchart photos for verse 2, phrases 2-3 on the board face down.  (Do ahead of time using magnets)
2. Tell the children that our Heavenly Father knows that we have many needs - what are some of the things we need? When children say one of the items on the board, flip it over. Guide them as necessary with prompts. (home, food, family, "understand His words" - the photo of the family at FHE is to represent both "family" and to "understand His words" or learn the Gospel. Sing phrases 1 and 2 (I am a child of god, and so my needs are great). 
3. One of then needs we have is to "understand His words". Sing phrases 3-4 (help me to understand His words, before it grows too late) to the children using pitch leading. Ask the children where we can learn God's words. When children say one of the items on the board, flip it over. Guide them as necessary with prompts. (prophet, scriptures, priesthood blessings, prayer, Primary)
4. Sing verse 2 twice.

Wiggle Song: Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (just to break it up, sing once)
                      

Review

1. Place footprints in a circle on the floor. 
2. Tell the children that under each footprint is a song about how we can "understand His words" and follow His plan. I'll ask one child at a time to come and play a sort of musical chairs.
3. Ask the pianist to play the chorus of "I Am a Child of God", when she stops playing whichever footprint the child is standing on is the song we'll sing.
• Book of Mormon Stories
• Keep the Commandments
• Stand for the Right
• Follow the Prophet
• Search, Ponder and Pray
• Nephi's Courage
• Verse 2 of I Am a Child of God
• Families Can Be Together Forever
• I Love to See the Temple

Senior Primary

Wiggle Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

I Am a Child of God

1. Ahead of time: Ask to go second for music time to give time to write verses 2-3 (verse 4 if time and space) on chalkboard (leaving blanks for word strips). Don't write the chorus.
• Write "I Am a Child of God" at the top since we always start singing that phrase.
• 2nd verse: 
• "and so my needs are" _______
• "help me to understand" _______
• "before it grows" ________
• 3rd verse:
• "rich blessings are in" _______
• "if I but learn to do" ________
• "I"ll live with Him" ________
• 4th verse
• "His promises are" _______
• "Celestial glory shall be" _______
• "If I can but" _______
2. Hand out the word strips to the Sr. Primary (multiple to each child). Sing each phrase on the board and when a child thinks they have the missing word/phrase, invite them to put it on the board using a magnet.
3. To practice, erase words off the board and continue singing! Challenge the children to sing verse 2-3 without any words on the board (and verse 4 if there's time)!
4. Teach them "I Know My Father Lives" using the flipchart and pitch leading.

Nursery (following singing time, go into Nursery and sing the following songs with them)

1. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
2. Give Said the Little Stream
3. I Feel My Savior's Love
4. I Love to See the Temple
5. Families Can Be Together Forever
6. I Am a Child of God