Monday, February 8, 2010

Repeat Week--Sing Your Heart Out!

I love the theme for this week in our Outline, "Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved" and I love the theme for February, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Can you not think of a Greater expression of Love? And, since this coming week is Valentines, I thought it would be wonderful to associate this holiday with the Love our Father has for each of us...and also the love we have for our Primary kids.

Prep:

Picture Prompts (I highly recommend printing these from the Primary Singing Ideas Blog link I have on the side bar...She's a Genius Flip Chart creator and I Love, Love, Love her charts.) After printing them, mount them to some heavy paper and cut them out into heart shapes.

10 Red, white, and/or Pink Valentine hearts that have different ways to sing the song. (I'm going to try and put a list together of my favorites that work best for our primary...especially for more reverent songs such as this one.)

****Not to do with the review, but if would like*****
1 paper or foam heart cut out for each primary child that has the following saying on it, "Thanks for Singing Your Heart Out Each Week." Love, " . I will attach 1 Hershey Hug to each Heart.

Before Primary: Put The Picture Prompts in Order on the Chalk board or the front of the room with the words facing out. Put the Little Hearts with the ways to sing the song on the board below them turned around so they cannot see what is written.


Presentation:

Begin by bearing your testimony of the Love the Savior and Heavenly Father has for each of them. Tell them that Valentines is a holiday to express our love for others in special ways, and that the biggest and most special way love was ever shown to anyone was the giving of God's only begotten Son to save the world. Tell them it is a precious gift that we have the choice of accepting or rejecting, and it was given to all the world

Point to the song on the board. Tell them for Repeat Week we're going to play a game called "Sing Your Heart Out." Call two children to the front. Designate one child to go out in the hallway for a moment with another leader. Have the other child choose one of the picture prompt hearts to take out of the song. Have the other child come back into the room. Have them try and say the line of the song that was removed (encourage them to get help from teachers and other children if they looked worried or scared). Once they have guessed correctly, have them choose one of the smaller hearts. Have all of the children sing the line that was taken out...(hence, sing your heart out) in the way the song suggests. Repeat the process, but each time a heart is removed...have the children sing all the lines of the hearts that were removed...eventually you will end up singing the entire song and they should have it memorized. Don't worry too much if time runs out before you get to the end, but really it should work time wise if you go quickly.

At the end, again emphasize that Father and Jesus Christ showed love for us. Encourage them to in turn show love to others by doing something extra specially kind for someone today. Give them the hearts you made. (If you choose to do this, I would suggest giving it to their teachers to pass out after church is done so you don't have any distractions for sharing time or class.)

Happy Valentines!

**the crazy chorister



23 comments:

OneTallMom said...

My favorite way for the kids to sing is "backwards". I make them turn and face the back of the room. I also like with a plugged nose and opera style.

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Angela said...

I'm sorry but I don't see Primary Singing Times blog? Is it under a different name or maybe I'm just missing it.

Jessica said...

I am completely new to this, I love all of your ideas and I am a big fan of Primary Singing Ideas blog as well. I was wondering when you were going to post the different ways to sing the song, I really like this idea and am just wondering how to work it with jr primary.

Melanie said...

Twilightmom,

My hope is that I can get this posted by Thrusday or Friday.

Thecrazychorister

Haley said...

Love this idea! Thanks so much!

Jessica said...

Thanks, that would be great it would give me a day or two to put it together. Love this blog.

Shanna said...

What is the exact website for the Primary Singing Ideas blog Cut outs? Please post it!

Melanie said...

Shanna-

It's on the side bar under favorite sites ...11th on the list. I am sorry if I frustrated you by not giving a direct link. I share my ideas on this site to keep a record of my ideas and also to help others in my same calling, not to be yelled at through the comment box.

*thecrazychorister

Cyndi and Tommy Krebs said...

i love your ideas and follow them every week! I was wondering if you have chosen the other two songs for the program this year. We want to make cds for our kids (we are a branch) to listen throughout the year for better practicing and I need to still pick the songs out! thanks for all you do!

Melanie said...

Cyndi and Tommy-
We choose....
May "Choose the Right Way"
Aug "I know that My Redeemer Lives."

Hope that helps.

*thecrazychorister

Colleen Bigler said...

Thanks for all your great ideas. I'm looking for the number 11 link and I only see 10. Primary Singing Ideas link had a heart theme, but they were cut in half and it was a matching game. Is that the one you are talking about?

Melanie said...

Primary Singing Ideas is the correct blog. There are 11 links, but one of them "FHE" is difficult to tell that it is a seperate link...I'm going to have to fix that. Anyhow, her heart idea is great, but the flipchart I was referencing is two posts ago..scroll down to where she posts her flip chart for "He Sent His Son"...

Shane and Amy Jo said...

Please know how much I appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts & ideas. You help so many of us out!

piper said...

LOVE your blog.. what a creative lady you are! Thank you for being such a great resource.

Smart Family said...

We are so lucky to have such creative minds to help us. Kudos to you and everyone who help us each Sunday. Thinking ahead...do you have any great Olympic ideas for the next couple weeks? I love the Olympics- such a great bonding tool for nations.

Audra said...

You help me so much - thank you times a million!

Julie-Ann said...

I was lucky enough to stumble upon your blog as I was preparing for my first Sunday as primary chorister. I was strugglingly for direction in how to teach the children a new song and up popped a link to your 1/31/2010 post. I tried it and was it successful. I really can't thank you enough for your thoroughness. I lack the gift of creativity, but I like to think that I make up for it with enthusiasm and drive when given a creative idea. In your blog I have found not only great ideas for singing time each week, but also a new way to visualize and organize how I am teaching the children. Thank you again for your service not only to your primary, but also to myself and thus the Granby, MO primary.

P.S. I think this week's idea is fantastic and I can't wait to try it out.

Melanie said...

Thanks Julie-Ann...Your comment has made my day.

Melinda said...

Awesome ideas!!! I'm struggling a little with pre-made flip charts, though. I've been told at several trainings over the past several years that I'm not supposed to use clip art or pictures unless, for lack of better descriptors, I can get them from the distribution. They've specifically mentioned not using a heart to represent the word "love" or a light bulb for the word "light". While I'm not sure I am 100% in harmony with this, I do want to honor their request. I have been able to pull some good pictures from The Friend as well as from the gospel art kit, but it's hard to remember where they all are. I was wondering if you've ever pulled artwork for visuals from church magazine and if so, how you keep it organized or archived or whatever. I think the biggest mistake I've made as chorister is not keeping a good enough record of what I've done-having a blog is just an ingenious way to do this for yourself while serving others. I've told several people about your blog and I really can't thank you enough!!! (Sorry for the long post... :-/ I intended to email, but couldn't find one posted)

Melinda said...

Distribution center, I mean....I really should proof read better, lol

Melanie said...

Melinda,

Thank you for your sweet comment. Um...well, Yes I have used pictures from the friend and other church sources. I just keep all the stuff in a filing cabinet. But, I do want to say that I always always use visuals that contain the entire wording. I never use visuals that represent a word with a picture (such as heart for love). I really like the Singing time flip charts for this reason because all the words are used and the pictures simply help to catch the eye and make it interesting. I don't know if that helps. I hope you have a great day!

*thecrazychorister

Amanda said...

Could you post the different ways you sang this song last week? Thanks for all your great ideas!!