Choose and Review - “Definitions”

This activity is adapted from the August 2005 (pg.23) and the March 2008 (pg. 15) issues of the Friend magazine. Think of several words that have to do with the monthly theme. Write definitions or descriptions of each word. Write each of the words on a card to post on the chalkboard and then choose an appropriate song to sing for each card. Write the definitions on slips of paper and put these into a bag or can to draw from. Or, be creative in the way that you deliver the descriptions, such as using seasonal items.

Have a child choose a definition, read it and then choose the matching word card. Sing the song.

“Definitions” is a useful activity to examine the meaning of important words; words like faith, repent, and covenant. Discussing the word, then following up with a song that illustrates the concept, is an excellent example of how the Primary Chorister teaches the gospel to children, and how we offer support to Sharing Time. Both of the above links are perfect resources for our theme in June. You can easily choose words and definitions to expand the theme.

I like activities that help define the words we commonly use in gospel teaching because our teaching is centered on morality, with many abstract ideas and questions. It is easy for children to be confused and uncertain about what we really mean. Just think about the concepts we’ve sung about in “Praise to the Man” and “If I Listen With My Heart.” Children don’t often question us or express their confusion. Activities such as “Definitions” compel us to take the necessary time to make sure the children are getting the message.

Choose and Review - Primary Composer

The kids always love “Primary Composer.” The idea comes directly from the October 1984 issue of the Friend magazine, so it has been around for a long time now. Draw a large musical staff on the chalkboard. Make a variety of notes from paper, such as quarter notes, eighth notes, whole notes and half notes. Make a note for each song you wish to review and then make a list for the pianist. Post the notes underneath the staff on the chalkboard. Invite the children to choose a note and put it on a line or a space on the staff.  Sing the review song for that note. Then repeat with another note. Leave enough time at the end for the pianist to attempt to play the “composition.” Have someone keep track of the note placement on a piece of paper. This “music” can be given to the pianist to play.

Choose and Review - "Say What?" Again

I am really loving this “Say What?” feature in the Friend magazine. Like the feature in the July issue, the phrases on this clever list in the January, 2011 issue does not make sense until you say them fast, several times. "Say What?" this month includes ten things that we should do to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. This certainly works with our upcoming themes.

These nonsense phrases work so well for singing time. Just assign a review song for each phrase and put them in a can or basket to draw from. The kids love the absurdity! I love how it trains them to listen. I also like the flexibility. If I keep these phrases handy in my primary box, I can easily fill a few minutes of extra time. I wish I were as clever and Brother Phares. The names of primary songs, or phrases from the songs would be so fun.

Choose and Review - Scrambled Scripture Puzzle

Honestly, I am so thankful to the folks at The Friend magazine for all their wonderful ideas. I was recently browsing through my old issues and ran across this Funstuff puzzle by Rosie Centrone (February 2007 issue, pg. 26). It will work perfectly for a review singing time this next week because it matches the monthly theme so well. The scripture “Let the affections of thy heart be upon the Lord forever” is a beautiful reminder to the children. This thought comes out of Alma’s wonderful counsel to his son Helaman about obedience in Alma 37:35-37. I especially love this scripture passage and can easily testify to the children of the blessings that come from obedience and trust in the Lord. I have many fun song review activities that I could do, but I love it when I can make the activity match the theme.

I will make a heart for each word in the scripture to post on the board and assign one of our review songs to each heart. There may be too many words in this thought to have time to sing a song with each one on a normal week, but since I'm beginning now to review our program songs, I will have some extra time. I could post the cards randomly on the board and then we could unscramble the phrase at the end. Or, I can post the heart cards in the right order to begin with and let the children simply turn the cards over.

To adapt this idea in the future, I would just use a scripture that matches the monthly theme together with an appropriate symbol such as autumn leaves, stars, flowers or Christmas ornaments. If the scripture was long, as this one is, putting a song randomly on some of the symbol cards would work just as well. The children could turn over more than one at a time and we could stop to sing if a song appears. Or, I could also double up the words on some of the cards. I’ll write this idea on my master list as “Scrambled Scripture.”

Choose and Review - "Say What"

By now you know that I love to use the Friend magazine for ideas for singing time. Sometimes the folks at the Friend just make it really easy. The "Say What!" funstuff activity on page 17 of the July, 2010 issue is absolutely perfect for singing time. I loved the graphic and thought immediately of putting it on a tall (read Pringles potato chips) can as a way to deliver the song titles. Here is an example of the mixed-up title for "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" and "Families Can Be Together Forever." Cute! Wouldn't it be fun to think of titles for a program song review?

Choose and Review - "One Happy Girl"

In the May 2008 issue of The Friend there is an appealing article on page 20 called “One Happy Girl.” The article describes Gabriella Willson (who is now 11 years old) and how she, along with her family, is following the example of Jesus. The article is divided into paragraphs under these headings: Helping Hand, Baptism Day, Family Home Evening, Start the Day Right, and School and the Gospel. There is an additional introductory paragraph that describes Gabbi’s beautiful smile.

I have printed out the information in the paragraphs, cut them and pasted them onto the back of big yellow Smiley faces. I’ll choose an appropriate song for the subject of each paragraph. I’ll explain to the kids that we’re going to meet someone who, like them, is trying to follow the example of Jesus. They can choose one of the cards and we’ll read the brief paragraph. Then we'll sing the song. I’ll also explore with our children the things they do to follow Jesus in similar ways. And, since there are only six paragraphs describing Gabbi, I have made two of the cards ask the question “What can you do this week to follow the example of the Savior?”

This is an easy plan that I have put together ahead of time. July is usually my busiest month so I’m doing myself a favor to have things planned and prepared.

Still Small Voice - Choose and Review

The August 2005 issue of The Friend has a great Funstuf activity on page 23 that would work readily as a singing time Choose and Review. Since next month’s theme is about the Holy Ghost the content of this activity makes it perfect for June. I’ll need to choose appropriate review songs. I can usually get through six or eight, depending on the length of the song. Then I’ll choose that many of the sentences in the Funstuf activity. I’ll make word cards to post on the board with the review songs on the back. I’ll write the sentences on paper slips and put them into a can or basket to choose. The children can choose a sentence, match the correct word to fill in the blank, and then we will sing the song.

The content of this activity can be adapted to fit just about any theme so this idea lives on my master list under the title "Definitions” Choose and Review.

Fishing for Phrases - Song Review

Back in February when I read that month’s Friend magazine, I was struck (this post) by what a great story Elder Jose A. Teixeira told about learning to listen to the Holy Ghost.

After I teach “The Holy Ghost” I’ll use this brief story on a subsequent week as an attention getter to introduce a fishing activity to review the song. Following the story, I’ll dump out the fish onto a blue cloth or paper. Depending on how well they learn the song the first week, I can use the fish in one of three different ways.

If they still are unsure of the song, I’ll write half of a phrase on the fish. I’ll divide into 2 groups, perhaps boys and girls, and then invite a child from one of the groups to fish. I’ll sing the first half of the phrase to the group and they will need to sing the second half of the phrase back to me. If they can then sing the whole phrase with me they can “keep” the fish. If they don’t remember or can’t sing the phrase well, then the fish gets thrown back to be chosen again.

If they learned the song pretty well the first week, then I’ll number the fish and correlate that number to a phrase in the song. (Be sure to help the pianist mark the music.) As the fish are drawn, the pianist plays that phrase. If the children correctly guess the phrase and sing it well then they keep the fish. If not, then the fish gets thrown back to be chosen again.

If the kids learned the song really well the first week we won’t divide into groups. I’ll put directions on how to sing the song (such as boys/girls sing, stand to sing, etc.) on a few of the fish along with several other review songs on the rest of the fish for variety.

Song Presentation - "The Holy Ghost"

This is one of my favorite Primary Songs. Musically it is just so much fun. My childhood home had a long staircase and we used to play on the stairs, skipping up and jumping down. In my mind this song is a musical version of playing on the stairs.

The melody naturally breaks into two distinct musical patterns. This divides the song in half. So the two verses really become four verses in my mind. I think of them sort of like the stanzas in a poem. Especially so, because the words at the end of each pattern rhyme. So I plan on teaching the song as if it has four verses instead of two.

I’ll use discovery questions to teach each section, encouraging the kids to listen. As they answer the questions I’ll have them sing that phrase. Once they can attempt the whole song, I’ll introduce 4 pictures to help them remember the 4 sections.

These are the questions that I’m using: What did Christ promise he would send? What two words describe what kind of a friend the Holy Ghost is? Who will comfort us? Can you name two words that rhyme? What will the Holy Ghost do for us? Who whispers with a still, small voice? What does the Holy Spirit testify of? How will our hearts feel as we listen to the Holy Ghost? By what power are we confirmed? Why is the Holy Ghost given to us? What so I want to listen to? What will I do each time I make a choice?

Because of the up and down movement of the melody, I’ll probably use my wiggle worm puppet to do pitch-level conducting as we review the song. The little ones especially like to follow the puppet.

You can also find suggestions for teaching "The Holy Ghost" in the Sharing Time Ideas on page 16 of the August 2005 issue of The Friend magazine.

More Ideas for Principle Related Singing Time

The Friend magazine is full of great ideas for a principle-related singing time. Just consider the April 2010 issue. In the article “Helping Feed the Savior’s Lambs” on page 2, President Eyring states a principle when he explains our obligation to nourish each other spiritually. He offers examples of how children can do this. There are several primary songs that teach this principle also. “Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.” (I Am a Child of God CS-2) “To have a friend, you must be a friend, too.” (Friends are Fun CS-262) “He whose heart has joy and song gives joy to others too.” (Be Happy CS-265) “When your heart is filled with love, others will love you.” (Jesus Said Love Everyone CS-61) “I’ll be a sunbeam for him.” (Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam CS-60)

I could easily write the song titles on 1-inch wide strips of green paper and roll them up tightly to resemble alfalfa hay pellets. In case you’ve never seen alfalfa pellets, just trust me on this. Find a metal pie plate to use as a feed pan and put the “pellets” in the pan. After introducing the principle as taught by President Eyring, I would have a child choose a song. Challenge all the children to listen as they sing to discover which words teach us to nourish each other.

“Come to the Rescue” on page 10 is a maze activity that is easily overlooked as a singing time, but is actually a really great idea. The maze itself doesn't work well, but the content is great. The principle is still our obligation to strengthen others, but President Monson states it in terms of “manning the lifeboats” and rescuing those who have drifted away.

If I ponder the words of songs listed in the topical index in the Children’s Songbook under “service”, “missionary work” or “example”, I can find songs that will reinforce this principle. I can write questions or case studies for each of the songs as I explained in the last couple of posts. Or I could just list the song title and ask the children to discover the phrase that matches the principle. I’m thinking that posting these on paper life preservers or putting them in a seashell on a tray of sand (think deserted island) would be a cute way to deliver the songs.

“Find the Sheep” on page 34 is also full of possibilites and I’m going to challenge you to think of them. The principle is the same -I think there is a pattern in this issue! What could you do with this page?

Don't miss this fabulous idea from The Crazy Chorister. Melanie used the activity to teach the song "Choose the Right Way", but one could easily insert other primary songs that need to be reviewed. This activity perfectly illustrates how to help the children connect to the principles taught in the songs.

The "Everyone Can"

I call this the “Everyone Can”. It is a truly simple aid to use with another review activity that focuses on the gospel principles we learn from the Primary songs.

This activity centers on those principles that are related to the things we do. “Everyone Can” choose the right, make a happy home, keep the commandments, be kind, love their neighbor, etc. I choose a topic and then identify songs with phrases that help teach the principle I wish to teach. Then I write action statements for each of the songs on slips of paper or card strips, throwing in a few negative statements also. The papers go into the “Everyone Can” to be chosen one at a time. If the statement is something that everyone CAN do, I have the children stand up while we sing the song. If the statement is something they should not do, they remain seated.

For instance, if I wanted to teach about honesty I could choose songs from the gospel section of the songbook with phrases that teach this principle. Remember that there are several aspects of honesty, so any number of songs may apply. I might write a statement such as, “An honest child listens to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.” “And with his light I’ll do what’s right Each time I make a choice.” (The Holy Ghost CS-105) Another statement might read, “An honest child tries to make things right when they have made a mistake.” “I will try in all I do and say To live the gospel more each day.” (I Want to Live the Gospel CS-148) “An honest child always tells the truth.” “I’ll form good habits in my youth, to keep my word, to tell the truth.” (I Believe in Being Honest CS-149) “An honest child is courageous.” “Sometimes I am tempted to choose another way.” (Nephi’s Courage CS-120) “An honest child knows he can repent” “And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.” (When I Am Baptized CS-103) Two or three negative statements add variety. “An honest child quickly blames someone else if an accident happens” “An honest child knows that mistakes don’t count if no one ever finds out.”

Sometimes it’s fun to put inexpensive smiley face stickers in the bottom of the can. I’ll give them out at the end of primary or give them to the teachers to put on the children. The sticker reminds them that everyone CAN be kind, smile, be reverent, choose the right, etc.

The Friend magazine has lately published several quizzes that easily adapt to this kind of singing time. Look at "What Kind of Friend Are You?" on page 28 of the May 2009 issue and you'll see what I mean. The statements in "Choose the Right Words" on page 9 of the January 2010 issue would also make a quick and easy singing time.

Teaching a Song - "Discovery Questions"

My favorite method for teaching a new song is to use questions. I call them “discovery” questions. These are questions that you ask before you sing. The children need to listen to the song to discover the answer. For instance, I would say “Listen to this song and see if you can discover one way the Holy Ghost will help us.” Then I will sing the song to them and let them answer the question. After asking two or three questions, and singing to them, I will invite them to join me in singing the answers. Soon they are ready to sing the whole song.

I like this method for a number of reasons. First, because children are naturally curious, this method works as a built-in attention getter. They want to find out the answer to the question and so will listen to the song. Also, the questions invite the participation of all the children at the same time. Everyone can listen, even the littlest ones. The question method allows the children to hear the song several times before they are expected to begin singing themselves. This is a very real help to the children. To have the pianist play the melody through once while saying the words, is a common introduction to singing a new song, but this is often not enough for the children to confidently join in. Finally, asking questions is easy and comfortable for me. There is very little preparation. As long as I know the song well, I can teach it at the drop of a hat. So I can take advantage of extra time here and there. And, because I am not juggling or timing a lot of visual aids, I can really interact with the children. I can look into their faces as I sing to them and smile and engage them in what I’m doing. This interaction seems to go a long way toward getting them to sing with me. I love visual aids and I use pictures and flipcharts often, but to introduce a song that is completely new, I usually use discovery questions.

If your primary children are trained to expect a poster or a flipchart to learn a new song, be patient while they get used to this method. It does take a little focused thinking on their part. But this focus is a good thing for everyone. One of the real benefits of asking these questions is that the children learn the process of pulling the principle out of what they hear us teach. This is an important skill. How many times do we read a scripture with the children and ask “What did that say?” This is simply the same method using the message of the songs.

This “discovery question” method is thoroughly taught in the old Primary training video “How to Teach a Song to Children” and in the shortened video clip online at lds.org. A number of examples of song presentations, using this method, are illustrated in the Sharing Time Ideas in many back issues of The Friend magazine.

Singing Ideas in the February "Friend" Magazine

I found some great ideas for singing time in February's issue of The Friend. The "Armor of Righteousness" on page 17 is an obvious choice for a singing time, especially as we have a prophet theme coming in March. There are a couple of things one could do with this page. I could use the riddles as is and just write them on cards to play an easy "What Am I' guessing game, singing appropriate songs after solving each riddle.

Or, I could take it a step further and enlarge the illustration. I could make letters to match up the riddles with the illustration or, put the riddles on paper arrows to point at the proper object. I could also write riddles of objects that children use today to follow the prophet that would match these riddles in theme. For example, "John kneels by this every morning as he asks for strength and power from God." "Sarah wears this on her finger to remind her to be brave in standing up for her beliefs." "Katie uses this to sweep the floor as she willingly helps her family." I could write a riddle to match each one illustrated and set up a matching game, or just add two or three to the guessing game to help the kids discover that they can also be righteous and be used by God as were prophets of old.

The poem "The Sacrament" on page 16 is another possibility, especially if I have a little time to fill after teaching or reviewing a song. I could read the poem and show a picture of Christ and ask the children what they think about during the sacrament. Singing a song or two and thinking about the message of the song could help the children identify things they could think about. With more time, I could post the picture of the reverent girl with thought "bubbles" around her head and sing songs about Christ, gratitude or prayer songs with each bubble.

I also studied the unlikely article describing the tour of the North Visitor's Center on Temple Square. Because the theme is about prophets in March, I thought of using pictures of these prophets (and others) on the chalkboard around a picture of Christ, singing review songs that teach about Jesus or testimony and ending with "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." Or, I could use costumes and children to read these short testimonies and then sing a song. I could also put the testimonies and songs on strips of paper and then invite the children to choose them by pulling them out of the scriptures. Using pictures is maybe a little too close to the idea suggested in the outline for sharing time in March, depending on what our presidency member decides to do. Sharing time is first in our branch, so it could reinforce what the kids just learned, or I could use something other than pictures.

Remember my challenge! Look through this current issue and see what else can be found and adapted to singing time. Leave a comment and let me know what you find.

Adapting Ideas for Singing Time

In a recent post I told you about a singing time plan that I came up with after reading an idea in The Friend magazine. I thought I would explain a little further how I make this magazine work for me. I know that some Primary choristers think that the Church has given us very little in the way of resources. Since we are encouraged to use only approved resources, we sometimes feel frustrated that we don't have a specified manual of methods and ideas. Following this counsel isn't as easy as teaching an outlined lesson in a manual. We have the Children's Songbook and we are encouraged to use prayer and inspiration, but some of us struggle because the Spirit doesn't give us ideas out of thin air. Primary music is so much fun, but only if we're prepared! One can't help but notice how relentless this assignment is. Sunday comes up every single week and it just keeps coming. After you've tried every good idea you've ever thought or heard of, there is Sunday again, just around the corner.

How do I find ideas that are creative and fun? The Friend is my very best and favorite resource. It is approved and has enough inspiration to last a lifetime! It has pictures. It has games. It has poetry, stories, and activities. It has messages from our Prophet and Apostles. All of these features inspire and suggest ideas to me. Especially when I've been praying for help. The Church has been publishing this magazine for over thirty years! Back issues for the last nine years are freely available in digital format here at lds.org. Issues published before 2001 are available on an inexpensive CD.

When an issue comes in the mail, I immediately sit down and read it. After a day or two I will pick it up again and read it, thinking about the weekly primary themes. I will always have a thought about how I could use something or other. I will see how one of the stories or activities could be developed into a singing time with choose and review songs. There may be a picture or a poem or a quote that I can use as an attention getter to introduce a song. Sometimes I can use these ideas immediately but I may have to wait a couple of months for the right theme to come up. Sometimes I can think of how I can use the framework of what might be published and adjust the content to fit what I need to teach. Sometimes I just make a note of a good idea on a list of ideas to be developed in the future.

In this month's issue there is a beautiful centerfold article called "The Living Christ" with pictures of Jesus and testimonies of the apostles. I thought of developing a musical narrative using pictures and songs about Jesus and reading some of the testimonies as narrative between the songs. This would fit well into February's theme, or I could wait and use this idea with the theme "Prophets Testify..."

I wrote a post about the January 2010 issue of The Friend. Look under the label "Using the Friend" to read it again. I'll challenge you to see what you can find in the February issue. I hope you'll leave a comment.

Using The Friend Magazine

Every month I eagerly await the new issue of The Friend magazine. This month's Friend is fabulous! Even without the usual Sharing Time Ideas, the January, 2010 issue gave me several good ideas for singing time.

I liked the poem "Precious Gifts" by Dorothy Elam on page 16. I thought I could prepare a couple of paper gifts to post on the board with songs written on the back. I would choose songs from the "friends", "cheerfulness", "example" or "kindness" sections of the topical index of the Children's Songbook. After briefly discussing it with the children I would invite them to choose a gift, sing the song and discover how the principle taught in the song illustrates God's love. Since I am currently teaching the new song "I Know That My Savior Loves Me", I will only have time for a couple of extra songs. But, this will give the children some variety and I could even use more gifts and spread it over a couple of weeks as we learn and review "I Know That My Savior Loves Me."

I also liked the "Thankful Hunt" on pg. 3. I think it would perfectly match the theme for the end of this month: Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love Me. I might use the following cut-outs from the Primary Visual Aids Cut-Outs: eye, ear, lips, and hands. For a nose, I would need to cut a nose out of a face in a magazine. I have many other pictures that illustrate things in each category that the children would be thankful for such as a kitten, sunshine, a teddy bear, a soft blanket, a hug, a flower, the rain, food, candy, a bird, someone singing, the temple, the scriptures, someone smiling, listening to music, etc. I would organize the eye, ear, nose, hands and lips across the board in categories with plenty of room underneath each one. The other pictures would be hidden under the children's chairs. I would introduce singing time by leading "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (CS-228) and invite the children to listen for the different ways we experience Heavenly Father's wonderful creation. After showing the categories, I would invite the children to look under their chairs and bring the pictures up to sort under the different senses. Then we would sing an appropriate song for each of the senses. I'll use this idea at the end of the month if we finish learning our new song. Or, I could use it later in the year.

"Choose the Right Words" by Anna Culp on page 9 would make a great emergency singing time. I need something to prepare and put in the closet at the church for someone else to use if I get sick or snowed in - a distinct possibility at this time of the year. I will put each of these scenarios on a card with an appropriate song. The children can choose a card, choose the right response and then lead the Primary in singing the song.

The pictures from "Detective Mya Heritage" on page 28 and 29 could be printed out and enlarged and used with an appropriate song on a week with a happy family theme as a choose and review presentation. This one will definitely go on my "future ideas to develop" list.

I love The Friend. I appreciate the creativity and hard work of those who produce this magazine. It is such a blessing to me. Primary music is so much easier because of The Friend! If you don't have a copy, go here to LDS.org and find it in Gospel Library and then Magazines there.