All you need to know

I was blog surfing again (Hey! that's where all my time goes!) And I stumbled across I Heart Primary Music (even though, yes, it is in my side bar on at least one of my blogs) and took the time to read the last post - which is a poem that she and her mother wrote titled: "All you need to know you learned from primary music" And it is great! So I took said poem and went all crazy with text effects and fonts and this is what I came up with:

All You Need to Know by Laura Henckel

Now, I haven't gotten her permission to publish yet - but I did so that I can show her what I did. So, I might be deleting this post if need be.
The preview on scribd didn't look quite like the one I have so if you would like a copy of the word doc I have, just leave a comment with an email. And -- remember -- I communicate with yahoo, so you might need to check your spam or trash.

If The Savior Stood Beside Me posters

I am posting this extremely late, but I'm doing it anyway, because I am terribly vain and almost sinfully proud of my posters.

Way back in January, I found posters from Because I have been Given Much. On the post, the author talked about Costco and how, apparently, you can take a document and or file to Costco and they will print it out in poster size. I have also seen that this is quite ridiculously cheap. So for those who have a Costco near them -- that's great.

I am not one of those people. The closest one is about 60 miles away.

So plan B - ask local library if they have an opaque projector. And they did!!!!!!! (For those of you old enough - like me - to remember what opaque projectors are you can skip this part - but an opaque projector is an unbelievably heavy bulky object that you can put a page into and it will project it onto the wall many times the original size - kind of like an overhead projector, but the item being projected can be on plain paper - or in a book {this was obviously way before just converting items into digital form and making a power point presentation out of it})

AND they even let me check it out!!!! So I took every day available to wait around until I hurried up at the last minute and made this poster.

I'm not going to say it was easy - because it wasn't. I also used foam board instead of poster board and there is a size discrepancy that is made very obvious with the projector. But I muddled through the focus issues and then cut out the pictures from the one I printed, enlarged them (found that 265% was the best size - through trial and error as you can see the top pic is a bit small) and glued them into their corresponding places.

So the rationalization for this post and showing off my poster - I did this for all verses and it was great. They look great and are on that sturdy foam board and I can store them at church and believe I will be using them later.

But I am afraid that using these posters to teach the song was not the best idea. The kids who can read just read it and the kids who can't really were lost today when we started going over it again (probably because I took a "break" for St. Patrick's day). So when I taught it today, I feel things went quite better. But I only got through the first verse and didn't have time for my game of filling in the words with senior, but I guess I have a filler activity already prepared. (Like I would ever have time for a filler, but maybe I can use it in the summer for review.)

If the Savior Stood Beside Me Mashup

So, I had decided much, much earlier that I was going to do a scratch off word guessing activity that I was actually quite excited about. But I realized that we just didn't know it well enough to do that.

I was kind of scratching my head as to how to really teach the words. Our first week we just kind of glanced over the song and even though we had fun, I left feeling like they didn't really learn it. I went searching for ways to teach.

And there are LOTS of posts on this song.

Here is what I came up with: Primary Notes 29 had a number of posts on ITSSBM, but this post about a cute Easter egg idea had at the very bottom a link to a document that had this idea(that I have altered a bit):
I made 8 (4 for each verse) pieces of paper with large question marks on them (I printed up 1 question mark, cut it out, glued it onto one of my 8 pieces of paper. I then took the paper that I cut the question mark out of and used it as my template to paint question marks on the remaining 7 pieces of paper - because I am cheap and hoard my ink.)

Ask the children to count the number of times you sing about the Savior standing beside you.  Sing the 1st verse and get their answers (2 times).

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.

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).

Post on chalkboard in between the pictures of Jesus 4 papers that have one large question mark

on each of them.

There are 4 questions between the two times we talk about the Savior standing next to us.

At this point, I printed up the OCD Primary Chorister's pictures for verses one and two. I put magnet strips on the back of the question marks and on the back of the pictures.We will talk about each question that corresponds with the pictures. I also printed up these word strips from teachldschildren.com and will use them instead of the pictures for senior primary, but for junior primary, I may still post the words underneath the picture/question mark. And then we will repeat with verse two. Then, if I have time, I will either mix up the pictures and have the kids place them in the right spot or go over which phrase goes with which picture.

I will do the same thing with senior, but if I have time, I am going to do a different kind of game.

I took each verse and printed it up. I divided each verse into two parts. I then picked six key words from each verse.  Then I created a document with blanks for the words and made the blanks for the key words red (I also sized the blanks according to word size: a six letter word would be 6 underline characters). I put those papers (4 in all) in page protectors. I will ask a child to roll a die and then write that many words on the red blanks with a dry erase marker. 

If the Savior Stood Beside Me Game Sheet for Teacher by Laura Henckel

If the Savior Stood Beside Me Word Game by Laura Henckel

St. Patrick's Day

For St. Patrick's day, I was fortunate enough to find a fabulous idea from Primary Singing Time Ideas for Leaders. I am adapting it a bit and here is how I plan to do it:

Brittney paired each phrase denoting luckiness (or being blessed) with a song and I put them all on foam shamrocks

I found a package of a dozen shamrocks from the dollar store (you know, for a dollar) and bought two packages. In each package, there were 6 plain foam ones and 6 glittered ones. So I combined each group and wound up with 12 plain, 12 glittered and here is what I did with them.
Junior primary - I used the plain foam shamrocks.  I printed the statement on one side and then the song on the other. But I wanted to highlight the difference between blessed and lucky, so instead of saying it, I wrote blessed on the Shamrock, but covered with a sticker that says lucky.

I will hide the shamrocks around the primary room with the statement facing outwards
So a child will find a shamrock that says "We are lucky to have bodies". Then we will talk about where our bodies came from and how Heavenly Father has blessed us with bodies. Then the child can peel off the sticker and reveal the word blessed. Then we will turn over the shamrock and sing the corresponding song (In this case; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

Senior primary - for senior, I used both sets. I wrote the statement out again on each of the glittered shamrocks, but of course on the plain side. I will hide the glittered shamrocks around the room, glitter side facing out. I will post all of the double sided shamrocks on the board with the song facing out. The child will pick a shamrock, read the statement, then try to pick the corresponding song and we will sing it (Also removing the "lucky" sticker to reveal "blessed" on the statement.

In both singing times, the child will have the option to keep the "lucky" sticker if they wish. At the end, I will give each child a "I am blessed" sticker (that they can put over their lucky stickers if they so wish)

Now I completely just pulled clip art off of Google for the "lucky" and "I am blessed"; nothing is original and I really don't have a source to credit. If you are against that kind of thing, I apologize. But I rationalize all of this plagiarizing by keeping in mind that I am not getting paid or making any profit from the work of unnamed others. Hope that is okay in the end.

Lucky vs Blessed by Laura Henckel

Ideas for If the Savior stood Beside Me

(Hand in Hand by Greg Olsen)

If you haven't visited Sally DeFord's site - and page dedicated especially to this song - DO IT NOW! You really won't regret it (well, maybe other than spending all that time listening to ALL the different arrangements)
When looking for an image, I found this post - while it's not really a singing idea, it is a great story about how this song truly applies to life. Whether or not I tell it to the kids, I really like that I now have this perspective
Primary Singing Time Singing Magic has a great flip chart and activity

(Image from Primary Singing Time Singing Magic)

And then, something I am really excited about: A Make your Own Scratch off  Word Game!

My description does not do it any justice, so just go over to Notes From a Novice Primary Music Leader and check it out. If I was able to make the Child of God children, I think I can totally do this.

(Image from Notes From a Novice Primary Music Leader)

March Planning

In In January, I found this super cute calendar from Sunbeam Singing and I've adapted it a bit, but here is my plan for March in her adorable format:

March Planning by Laura Henckel

and check back for some great Easter ideas

My Nursery Bag

Finally, finally, FINALLY! I got my nursery bag finished (actually almost a month ago and am NOW just getting around to post, but that's okay. It's DONE! and I couldn't be happier). I based my entire idea off of Camille's Nursery Bag from Camille's Primary Ideas. I changed it up a bit. NOTICE: I do have two songs not in the songbook. So I'm not sure how you feel about songs not in the book, but one of them is about ducks and I had some tiny "rubber" ducks from the closet and my daughter (in nursery) adores ducks, so I went with it.
Here is my list of songs:

Nursery Songs

1. Happy Family p. 198 (picture frames) (I cut out 5 "frames" from cardboard, spray painted them and the kids hold them and stick their heads through them - {pretending to be in the family picture that you hang on the wall}: now I have a small nursery (no more than 5 children each week), so this was not as difficult as making 12 might be. It was time consuming and quite an exercise, but the kids adore these frames.)

2. Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam p. 60 (sunbeam necklaces) (the ones in the document look like egg yolks with a starburst around them to me. If you can find foam sun cutouts [like Camille did] I would go with that - besides, they were wicked hard to cut out)

3. Popcorn Popping p. 242 (actions)

4. Five Little Ducks (ducks)

5. Itsy Bitsy Spider (actions)

6. Do As I'm Doing p. 276 (shakers)

7. Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes p. 275 (actions)

8. I Hope They Call Me on a Mission p. 169 (tags)

9. Once There Was a Snowman p. 249 (actions)

10. Follow the Prophet, chorus only p. 110 (prophet sticks)

11. I am a Child of God p. 2 (sit quietly with arms folded)

Here is the pdf of the visuals I cut out and then had laminated:

Nursery Visual Aids by Laura Henckel

Here is the little list I printed up to remind me of my songs

Nursery Song List by Laura Henckel

Super Idea for My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Probably won't do this (simply because I have run out of time), but I sure don't want to forget it:

Hum your favorite Hymn has a great idea for My Heavenly Father Love Me

It took me a few minutes to get the whole map/globe association, but this is a great idea, and I LOVE the words and other song associations that she picked.

It's hard for me to explain, so just go read the post, you'll love it!

What do YOU know about "My Heavenly Father Loves Me?"

(This image is from lovemom.com - apparently this is a pillow case that you can buy and it comes with crayons that you use to color it)

Originally, I wanted to write a post about how my 17 year old daughter DID NOT KNOW this song. It made me cry - and laugh at the same time - it was weird. She vaguely remembered the part about "the velvet rose", but that was it. Truly - a travesty.

(from wikipedia.com)

 But that's all I had at the time and I didn't feel that it warranted a post.

However, I also didn't even know the name of the song myself. That seems terribly strange as now, after February is almost over: I have said it, sang it, and written it so many times that it seems like I have always known this song is titled as it is. But truly, when I saw the song in the Sharing Time Outline, I had NO IDEA what song "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" was. I kept on thinking that it was the one IN the outline, but when I looked it up in the songbook, I was like: "Oh yeah!!! The one about birds and roses and that goes incredibly high at the end"

Speaking of going incredibly high at the end: Was that how you learned it? Well, believe it or not, that was NOT how it was originally written. That super high part was the optional part, but was misprinted in the Sing With Me (that fabulously orange and canvas covered book) as the melody and In the Leafy TreeTops has a fabulous post about it that everyone should read.

Did YOU know all these things? I am so very grateful for the internet and the fact that I can find out all these awesome things!!!!

Missionary game

Thanks to Primary Notes 29, I found another great idea!

This super awesome missionary game from Susan Fitch Design.

Susan Fitch Design has all of the parts in a zip file and you have to download each jpg. I have put each jpg in a word document and if you would like to have a copy of my word doc, just comment below. {Didn't ask the author yet, so I didn't feel it would be right to post a pdf of all of her jpgs} Keep in mind, this is all Susan's work - I just copied and pasted (LOVE that control-V action!!!!!) 

Singing Clock

Oh where, oh where would we be without the Friend? I think I forget about it way too often. In the wake of new ideas and this rambling treasure trove of the internet, I become like a kid in a giant candy store with my eyes wide and not able to focus on anything for more than a minute. So slowing down for a second, here is a fabulous idea from the Friend - a resource that I need to keep going back to way more often than I do.

I found this awesome singing clock via the chorister group on facebook. From the Friend, of course. October 1983, idea by Pat Graham and illustrated by Beth Maryon

This year's Valentine's activity

Today's post title is actually a misnomer: for I plan on this year's Valentine's lesson being the Valentine lesson for EVERY year! You know, because I am lazy like that. I garnered my ideas from Camille's Primary Ideas and Primary Notes 29 and have a complete post here.
Still haven't made my snack, but it seems easy, so hopefully I will follow through.
Also, here are all the songs I plan to post that go with this activity:

Songs for Posting for Valentines Day by Laura Henckel

Happy Heart Day Singing!!!!

Rebus Quandary

(image from religiousness.net)

So, I thought I was doing GREAT and being all plan-aheady and stuff. I started looking for ideas on "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and found cute ideas on Sugardoodle. Someone posted a cute little poster that she had made with rebus symbols. The only comment on that poster was kind of snarky and blasted her for using rebus symbols.

This has launched me into a mind boggling quandary: (never knew there was a second "a" in that word)
I know I have used hearts to represent the words love or loving, etc.
Now what I want to know - Is that wrong?

So I looked it up. At first I found a question on Mormon Share that linked to another Ensign article (you have to scroll down a bit), but didn't actually say (or at least that I could find) that their quote for the answer was also directly from the Ensign. (That would have saved a LOT of time - but that's okay) {I looked up "rebus" on lds.org and it is apparent that rebus is okay for other uses, just not this one - as many of the links were actual rebus stories}

Reading Sister Hoole's article, it seems as if the rebus issue applies more to abstract concepts:

"I find that memory aids are appropriate when used with wisdom and propriety, but they can also be misused and confuse children or cheapen sacred things. For example, when we want children to think of the gift of the Holy Ghost, we do not want them to visualize a wrapped present.

Another method that I think is frequently misused in teaching Primary songs is the use of rebus symbols—pictures that suggest syllables or words in a phrase. The following are examples of rebus I find misleading: a head of lettuce and an iron depicting the words let us all press on; a picture of a bee and a leaf for the word believe; a spear being thrust into an object for “spear-it”/Spirit; and a wrapped stick of gum for “chews,” as in choose the right. Not only can these rebus symbols make indelible and erroneous impressions on children, but they can also interfere with the learning process. Children mentally replace the real meaning of the word with the meaning of the symbols. The rebus for the words let us all press on, for example, allows the image of lettuce and an iron to take the place of an accurate image of persevering." Okay, I get that. And with this song in question: the word would comes up quite often. After reading all this I would shy away from using a picture of wood since it is a homophone {and more technically a heterograph} that is NOT spelled the same. And I really wouldn't want to be the cause of years of misspelling words.

A picture of a bee has been used repeatedly in conjunction with Gordon B. Hinkely's "Be's" and that seems to be okay. So is a heart in place of the word "love" okay as well?

My current understanding is that moderate and easily understandable and not "misleading" use of rebus symbols might be acceptable, but to do so, I think I would really get on my knees and pray about it. Which I should be doing for EVERYTHING. I guess I just get so caught up in it being such a super fun calling I forget about that key factor.   

So, with that being said I found this SUPER moderate use of rebus poster set on Because I have Been Given Much

(Isn't it pretty?! from http://blessings-abundant.blogspot.com)

With all this internal debate I have put myself through - I am thinking of printing the second poster twice and then replacing the pictures of eyes on the first poster with the actual letter "I"'s on the second poster. (Sorry for not putting in a pic of the 1st poster - but click the link - it's a great poster set!)

What do you think? Am I wrong? Should we not use a letter C for "see" and a mouth for "say"? Should I use words only at one time and then pictures only at others? I personally feel comfortable with the above poster. Would you?

Introducing My Heavenly Father Loves Me

image from azbax.blogspot.com

Well, here is a post for the first week of February! I wasn't sure I would get around to it and then I found this on Singing a Song is Fun to do, so basically all I had to do was cut and paste!:

When I've taught this song in the past I've used objects. See the list below. There are a couple of ways to do this.

1) Put the objects on a table. Sing the first line, have the kids repeat. Choose a child to pick the object that goes with that phrase and stand in line at the front of the room. Continue with the next line. This is great for Junior Primary.

2) Just start singing and handing out the objects as you go. Do the first four lines and then have the children sing with you and the kids holding the objects try to get themselves in order at the front of the room. Sing it again to see if they got it right. Then do the same for the rest of the verse. This is geared more toward Senior Primary.

Whenever I hear the song of a bird             stuffed animal bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,                       blue fabric that can be waved above the head {I'll actually  use the clip art at the top of this post}
Whenever I feel the rain on my face            small spray bottle set on mist
Or the wind as it rushes by,                         hand fan {using my airbed pump}
Whenever I touch a velvet rose                   fake rose {might actually spring for a real rose - nothing compares to that velvety feeling of a live one}
Or walk by our lilac tree,                            fake lilac branch or just a branch  
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world  small globe
Heav’nly Father created for me.                child pointing to himself

He gave me my eyes that I might see          glasses or child pointing to their eyes
The color of butterfly wings.                       toy butterfly
He gave me my ears that I might hear        child pointing to their ears
The magical sound of things.                      small bell or instrument
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:     mirror
I thank him rev’rently                                 child folding arms as if praying {i'll look for clipart: praying lds clipart}
For all his creations, of which I’m a part.  clear container filled with small toy animals, fruit, plants, etc.
Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.       paper or stuffed heart

Now, I just have to find all that stuff.

Name that Primary Song about Love Mashup

How I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the internet. I particularly LOVE singing time blog ladies. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! Do you know how GREAT you make me look each week? It is truly awesome.
This Sunday before Valentine's Day, I will celebrate that love by mashing up different ideas from different singing time divas. THANK YOU LADIES!!!!
Senior: Almost word for word from Camille's Primary Ideas
Have hearts with songs on them taped on board. (I will actually use hearts from the My Heavenly Father Loves Me, laminate them and just tape the names of the songs onto the laminated hearts.)A boy and girl come up and face each other at the table, hands behind their back. The pianist will play the first song on the list. The first one to ring the bell with the correct name of the song wins that round. For hints, the names of the songs are all posted on the chalkboard.
Her post is much more detailed - go check it out!
Junior: from Primary notes 29
We will play pass the hot heart: Pass a heart (I might actually find a valentine stuffed animal or a fake flower) around - when the piano stops, that child gets to come up and pick a heart with a song on the back. Pianist plays a few notes of the song. Child (or whole primary)tries to guess what song it is. Sing that song. 
I'll use the songs Primary Notes 29 listed:
Songs:
I Feel My Saviors Love 74
I Love To See The Temple 95
I'll Walk With You 140
I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus 78
Jesus Loved the Little Children 59
Jesus Said Love Everyone 61
Love is Spoken Here 190
Love One Another 136
Mother, I Love You 207
My Heavenly Father Loves Me 228
Oh How We Love to Stand 279
Reverence is Love 31
Teacher, Do You Love Me 178
We Are Different 263
Where Love Is 138 

My Heavenly Father Loves Me Third week presentation

For my third week of February, I will be using the OCD Primary Chorister's FABULOUS visuals. I have obtained her permission and made a pdf of the document I plan on printing. I'm going to laminate her absolutely gorgeous pictures, tape the question for each pic to the back, then cover with the hearts. I put them on a separate page so that one can print multiple copies of that page to make all the hearts (I will also be using the very same hearts for the "Name that Primary Song about love activity - yay for multiple uses!!!) I got the hearts via google from bestclipartblog.com.(didn't get permission from here because 1. I am lazy 2. Couldn't get actual site to load, just copied straight from google image search results) 
All the pictures will be placed heart side out, child will pick, remove heart, answer question, then place back on board picture side up. I may mix them up and make child pick correct placement for senior primary.

Visuals for My Heavenly Father loves me by Laura Henckel

More I am a child of God Review

(Clip art from imageenvision.com) I COMPLETELY forgot my senior singing time on Sunday. So we went with the treasure idea I thought was a bit too young for them. So since it was my only option, I made it work.

So next week, I thought of using my idea for the third week, but then I found the Children of God puzzle poster displays from Primary Notes 29 and I think (even though this is RATHER ambitious) that I will do this, because I think these visuals will really help retention (which I need as well since I was getting the 2nd and 3rd verses mixed up)
So I will keep my fingers crossed that I will actually FOLLOW THROUGH. (I STILL haven't made my nursery bag)

(Image from Primary Notes 29)

Treasure Pictures

I have printed up the flip chart for I am a Child of God and I am ready to go for Senior. Now I just have to print up these pictures and cut and paste the "treasure" to one side and the coins to the other side {credits include but are not limited to: coins family scriptures, most others on primaryclipart.com and the smiley face and treasure box I googled, couldn't really find a good source} and I went cheeseball and just slapped up a big treasure chest rather than making one.

Treasure Pictures by Laura Henckel

"Introducing" A Child of God

This song really needs no introduction - nursery kids know it, but, that doesn't mean we can't make it fun. (Image from Didi @ Relief Society linked to Susan Fitch's design site)
So for both, I am definitely going to use the "In a nutshell" idea from sugardoodle. I can really see them having fun with this one (Image from Sugardoodle)  Then, at least for senior, I am going to use this paragraph I found at Sugardoodle which is actually in the Primary 4 lesson manual. (It is currently the last paragraph at the bottom):
Primary 4 Manual: "In 1957 the Primary General Board . asked Naomi W. Randall and Mildred T. Pettit . to write a [song about the need of children to be taught the gospel]. Naomi Randall reported: 'That evening, I got down on my knees and prayed aloud, pleading that our Heavenly Father would let me know the right words. Around 2:00 A.M. I awakened and began to think again about the song. Words came to my mind. . I immediately got up and began to write the words down as they had come to me. Three verses and a chorus were soon formed. I gratefully surveyed the work, drank of the message of the words, and returned to my bedroom where I knelt before my Father in Heaven to say "Thank you!".  "The words of the chorus originally read, 'Teach me all that I must know / To live with him some day.' A few years after the song was published, Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, attended a conference. where a Primary children's chorus sang the song. Naomi Randall said: 'On the trip home he talked with a Primary General Board member [and] expressed his love for the song, then stated that there was one word in the chorus that concerned him. He wondered if Sister Randall would consider changing the line that says "Teach me all that I must know" to "Teach me all that I must do." Of course I gladly accepted his suggestion.  " 'I wondered why I didn't include that thought at the time the lyrics were first written. But as time went on I came to feel very sincerely that this was the way the Lord wanted the song to evolve, because it became a teaching moment for members all over the Church and impressed upon their minds that knowing the gospel is not all that is required; it is the day-by-day doing the Lord's will and keeping the commandments that help us reach our eternal goal' " (in Karen Lynn Davidson, Our Latter-day Hymns, pp. 303-4).
Isn't that super cool?!!! I had heard this story before except the last part: "I wondered why I didn't include that thought at the time...."
I am sure we have all had that thought - why didn't I think of that before - that was so simple - why couldn't I have just come up with that in the first place - and most everyone has heard the changing of the know to do - and it is a teaching moment that we all remember. Isn't Heavenly Father awesome and all knowing? I love these times when His eternal providence shows through!