Song Presentation - "One in a Million"

Some time ago I had a very nice e-mail from Kathy Wheeler. Kathy really liked the song "One in a Million" which was published in the February 2011 issue of the Friend. She taught the song to her primary children and wanted to share her presentation with me. She gave me permission to share it with all of you too. Her presentation is a great example of using discovery questions to teach a song. Thanks so much, Kathy!

(Supplies: Take a clock that has a minute hand or that you can hear ticking. Markers for whiteboard.)

Boys and girls, I would like you to look up at the white board with me as I write some numbers down. Now as I write them, I would like to hear you say the numbers in your very soft voices. (Write the number 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000.)

Well I can see that you really know your numbers very well.

(Listening Activity)

Today I would like to sing a song to you that mainly deals with two of the numbers I wrote on the board. The number one and and one million.

I am going to sing a song to you now. The name of the song is ONE IN A MILLION. In this song you are going to hear the word ONE and the word MILLION several times. I would like this side of the room to listen as I sing and tell me how many times I sing the word (one) and this side of the room to listen and tell me how many times I sing the word million.

Sing the song and then ask for the answer.

• Million (3)
• One (4)

Sing the song again and invite the children to sing those words as they come up in the song. Have them stand as they sing the words.

(Listening Activity)

There is a very special word in this song that I love. This word is special because it talks about each one of YOU! In fact, I will give you a clue. This word begins with the letter “U”. Listen as I sing this song and if you think you know what the word is you may stand up when you hear me sing it. You may also join me in singing the numbers. Sing the song and ask for the answer (Unique)

(Listening Activity)

What does it mean to be unique? What does it mean to be ONE IN A MILLION? Spell the word Unique on the board. Now explain to the children that I wish that this word was spelled “Younique”, because each time I hear this word I think of each of “You” and how you are all blessed individually with qualities that no one else in the room has. As a matter of fact no one else in the worldwide primary has.

Boys and girls you are a UNIQUE member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Primary organization. This organization has over one million members. AND YOU ARE ONE IN A MILLION!!! (Mention here that if they have access to a computer at home they can log on to friend.lds.org and meet some of the one million Primary children in the world. )

Sing song again. (Invite children to sing as much as they can with you) Use a circle motion with your arm as you sing “around the world today” . I also used my fingers to “walk” as we sang “walking” and flicked my fingers (Like popcorn popping) on the word “light”.

(Demonstration)

How many is a million. Look at this clock at the front of the room. If you are very, very, quiet you will be able to hear the second hand tick. If you started to count one number for each second, and you counted eight hours a day (never stopping) seven days a week (no weekends off) it would take you a little over one month to count to a million.

(Listening Activity)

In this great Primary organization where you are one in a million we are growing together in some very special ways. The song tells us three different ways that we are growing together. Listen as I sing this song once more for the three ways.

• Faith
• Might
• Walking in His light

(Listening Activity)

The very last line of this song teaches us that we have a specific goal in mind as we grow together in faith, might, and walking in His light. What is the goal that we all have?

• We’ll be what Heavenly Father has in mind.

By now you have gone over the song enough that the children should have most of it. Along the way as you are teaching the song, add the clap and emphasize the staccato notes.

You can easily teach the second verse with similar listening activies i.e. What are we learning to be? (kind, obedient and true) What are we trying to show the Lord? (I try to show I love the Lord in all I say and do.)

NOW HERE IS THE FUN PART….There is so much you can do with this song. It is a great song to show the children how their voice can be an instrument. Right after the fermata have them slide their voice down the scale as they sing “We’re”. Then on the staccato notes have them pretend their voice is a basketball and bounce their voice. One the next phrase….”Growing in faith and might”…it seems like their voice is skipping down the stairs.

The Church news featured an article on this song in the February 12th issue. I cut it out and showed the children the article and we talked about the website. I printed mailing labels for each child to take home with the internet access for the special page that was created just for this song. We talked about children all over the world in primary and this special place where Primary children tell their stories.

I am working up a choosing time designed around the “Map” on the website. At present I am gathering from different people how to say….”You’re One In A Million” in many different languages. As they choose countries from the map with icons (on the back of the icons will be choose and review songs) on them depicting landmarks from different countries, we will learn how to say “You’re One In A Million” in languages from their “Friends” all over the world.