I wanted to help review the concept for week four in our outline "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love Me" by doing an activity with the kids that helps them understand this and helps them know that singing beautiful music is singing praise and showing our Heavenly Father and Savior that we love them too and want to be near to them.
I adapted this idea from an idea posted on the Sugar Doodle web site a few years ago.
Prep:
1 Cell phone that can play a primary song ring tone
An assistant that will stand in the hallway and call your phone at specific times. Provide them with a script that they can follow.
Presentaion:
Begin by baring your testimony that you know Heavenly Father loves you and loves them. Tell them that you are grateful for prayer so you can feel your Heavenly Father's love when you talk to Him. Tell them that you're grateful for music so you can sing praises to Him. Tell them that today you would like to talk about some ways they can better feel the love their Father and Savior has for them.
At this point, have your assistant ring your cell phone. Look surprised and maybe even a bit flustered. Dig in your bag and pull it out before it stops ringing. Answer the phone. Have your assistant ask to speak with one of the Primary kids. Hand the phone to the child and say, "It's for You!". Have your assistant tell the child how much they love to hear the primary sing and have your assistant ask the child to ask you if they could sing...."I Feel My Savior's Love". When the child asks you, be really excited and say yes. Have the assistant say thank you and goodbye. Get your phone back from the child. Have the primary sing the song.
Ask the children what that songs says about how we can better feel our savior's love. Write some of their answers on the board. During this...have your assistant call your phone again and ask for a different child. They'll ask the child to ask you if the primary can now sing...."My Heavenly Father Loves Me"....
Continue this process with two or three more songs....always talking about the meaning afterwards. Have the assistant always compliment the child who is talking on the phone and praising them for their singing efforts.
Have the phone ring one more time. Answer it. Put it on speaker phone. Have the assistant thank the primary for their beautiful music and tell them how it made them feel inside...that their music made them feel loved. Have them say goodbye and have the kids say goodbye.
Finish by telling the kids that much like talking on the phone, we can communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer and song and feel His love in return.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Pizza Instructions....
Hi Everyone,
I can't keep up with the requests for the Pizza instructions so I'd thought I'd make it easy on myself and just direct you to this YouTube video that has complete steps on how to make this cute pizza. I modified it a bit making it 8 slices instead of four, and made a whole lot more toppings using the same method (bacon, pineapple, anchovies, olives, tomatoes, extra cheese, sauce..etc). I made my own pattern using her specifications and I was trying to include that here, but my scanner is not working right now. I'm sure you really don't need the patterns anyhow...we all have mixing bowls at home that are the right diameters anyway...right?
This year, they get the crust for free and they earn their toppings week by week. I give the Sr. primary a "Challenge" each week to learn a certain part of the song. When they come back the next week, the first thing I do is have them pass off their weekly challenge and earn their topping for that slice of pizza.
So, just go to here. If you need more help, leave a comment here and I'll try and help you. Thanks for all the nice comments and requests.
Also, some of you wanted to do the Ice Cream Idea from last year. That is listed in 2009 Jan under Motivators for the year. They earned a scoop for every song learned "program perfect". I only had one Ice Cream chart for both Jr. and Sr. When we got through earning all the scoops...I let them earn some bonus toppings. It was so great when the party day came. It was a great highlight to the year. Also, some of you wonder if that would be tough on the budget.... i think it cost a total of $23.00 for out large 112 kid primary. And, everyone had at least two large helpings. So, I think it will work out for you. But, remember to get permission from the Pres. before putting any of this forward to the kids.
Have a great week. If you have all of 5th Sunday coming up in a few weeks-I've got you covered so hang in there.
*thecrazychorister
I can't keep up with the requests for the Pizza instructions so I'd thought I'd make it easy on myself and just direct you to this YouTube video that has complete steps on how to make this cute pizza. I modified it a bit making it 8 slices instead of four, and made a whole lot more toppings using the same method (bacon, pineapple, anchovies, olives, tomatoes, extra cheese, sauce..etc). I made my own pattern using her specifications and I was trying to include that here, but my scanner is not working right now. I'm sure you really don't need the patterns anyhow...we all have mixing bowls at home that are the right diameters anyway...right?
This year, they get the crust for free and they earn their toppings week by week. I give the Sr. primary a "Challenge" each week to learn a certain part of the song. When they come back the next week, the first thing I do is have them pass off their weekly challenge and earn their topping for that slice of pizza.
So, just go to here. If you need more help, leave a comment here and I'll try and help you. Thanks for all the nice comments and requests.
Also, some of you wanted to do the Ice Cream Idea from last year. That is listed in 2009 Jan under Motivators for the year. They earned a scoop for every song learned "program perfect". I only had one Ice Cream chart for both Jr. and Sr. When we got through earning all the scoops...I let them earn some bonus toppings. It was so great when the party day came. It was a great highlight to the year. Also, some of you wonder if that would be tough on the budget.... i think it cost a total of $23.00 for out large 112 kid primary. And, everyone had at least two large helpings. So, I think it will work out for you. But, remember to get permission from the Pres. before putting any of this forward to the kids.
Have a great week. If you have all of 5th Sunday coming up in a few weeks-I've got you covered so hang in there.
*thecrazychorister
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Program Review Week--Primary Cranium
Hi Everyone! This coming Sunday is Program Review Sunday. Obviously we don't have much by way of Programs songs to review yet, so...I thought this would be a great Sunday to combine efforts with your presidency member.
If you go to page 3 in our "Outline for Sharing Time" it gives a lot of fun suggestions to review concepts for weeks 3 and 4. I read this and it totally reminded me of a game my family loves to play. Cranium. If you have never played this game, that's okay. I suggest looking up the game on the web and just reading about it to get the general idea. My version is simple.
So, here's how I modified it to fit for Primary and the suggested Sharing Time in our outline.
PREP:
1. Talk to your sharing time presidency member and get them on board with you.
2. On Four pieces of paper, write four different categories. Mine will be ....
"Notable Notes" (guessing the song and then singing it),
"Back to the Drawing Board" (drawing a concept and others guess what it is...if it is a song sing it)
"Who Am I" ( giving clues to a person or concept in the Scriptures we recently studied...if it corresponds to a song sing it)
"Up, Down, All Around" (a few different things to get the kids up and moving to some music while reviewing a concept)
3. 4 Slips of paper for each category that give the suggested activity or song. Please feel free to come up with your own...here are just what I've decided to Use.
"Notable Notes"
1. My Heavenly Father Loves Me
2. I Feel My Savior's Love
3. I Know that My Savior Loves Me
4. I Am A Child of God
"Back to the Drawing Board" You could use Play dough for the older kids instead of having them draw.
(For Jr. Primary, have the child pick the category and you Draw the picture and have them guess it. For Sr. Have the child try their hand at drawing and help if they need you.)
1. Draw a Picture of one way Heavenly Father Loves You (have the child suggest this too you)
2. Draw a Picture of Your Family (Families can be together Forever)
3. Draw a Picture of the Temple (I love to see the Temple)
4. Draw a Picture of the Scriptures (Scripture Power)
"Who Am I"
1. John the Baptist. (Have written clues about him such as..."I was a prophet. I was the Cousin of Jesus Christ. I Baptised Jesus." Make them easier for Jr. and harder for Sr.) ....song could be BAPTISM
2. Joseph Smith
3. A Child in the America's who saw Jesus
4. A Primary Child, today, who loves Jesus Christ
"Up, Down, All Around"
1. Play hot potato with a bean bag. Have the children pass it around the room while singing a song. When the music stops, have the child holding the bean bag say the next word or line in the song.
2. Sing the Child's favorite wiggle song double time
3. Have the Children face the primary doors. Open them and have them sing a song. When someone passes the primary doors, have the children wave and smile to see if they can get someone to wave and smile back.
4. Have a child hide your bean bag, and have another child find the bean bag as the children sing softer and softer as they get closer to finding it.
Before Primary, Have the Categories up on the Chalk Board and a small bag of slips under each category that they can choose from.
Presentation:
Explain to the children that we get to play a fun game that will help us review all the wonderful things we've been learning so far this month. Explain the categories. Pick a child to come and choose a category. Have them choose a slip from that Category and then complete the challenge.
Make sure, if you are doing this activity to tag team with the presidency member. You can do the singing stuff and they can do the non singing stuff.
This activity should take all 40 min. Have fun with it, and make it your own.
*thecrazychorister
If you go to page 3 in our "Outline for Sharing Time" it gives a lot of fun suggestions to review concepts for weeks 3 and 4. I read this and it totally reminded me of a game my family loves to play. Cranium. If you have never played this game, that's okay. I suggest looking up the game on the web and just reading about it to get the general idea. My version is simple.
So, here's how I modified it to fit for Primary and the suggested Sharing Time in our outline.
PREP:
1. Talk to your sharing time presidency member and get them on board with you.
2. On Four pieces of paper, write four different categories. Mine will be ....
"Notable Notes" (guessing the song and then singing it),
"Back to the Drawing Board" (drawing a concept and others guess what it is...if it is a song sing it)
"Who Am I" ( giving clues to a person or concept in the Scriptures we recently studied...if it corresponds to a song sing it)
"Up, Down, All Around" (a few different things to get the kids up and moving to some music while reviewing a concept)
3. 4 Slips of paper for each category that give the suggested activity or song. Please feel free to come up with your own...here are just what I've decided to Use.
"Notable Notes"
1. My Heavenly Father Loves Me
2. I Feel My Savior's Love
3. I Know that My Savior Loves Me
4. I Am A Child of God
"Back to the Drawing Board" You could use Play dough for the older kids instead of having them draw.
(For Jr. Primary, have the child pick the category and you Draw the picture and have them guess it. For Sr. Have the child try their hand at drawing and help if they need you.)
1. Draw a Picture of one way Heavenly Father Loves You (have the child suggest this too you)
2. Draw a Picture of Your Family (Families can be together Forever)
3. Draw a Picture of the Temple (I love to see the Temple)
4. Draw a Picture of the Scriptures (Scripture Power)
"Who Am I"
1. John the Baptist. (Have written clues about him such as..."I was a prophet. I was the Cousin of Jesus Christ. I Baptised Jesus." Make them easier for Jr. and harder for Sr.) ....song could be BAPTISM
2. Joseph Smith
3. A Child in the America's who saw Jesus
4. A Primary Child, today, who loves Jesus Christ
"Up, Down, All Around"
1. Play hot potato with a bean bag. Have the children pass it around the room while singing a song. When the music stops, have the child holding the bean bag say the next word or line in the song.
2. Sing the Child's favorite wiggle song double time
3. Have the Children face the primary doors. Open them and have them sing a song. When someone passes the primary doors, have the children wave and smile to see if they can get someone to wave and smile back.
4. Have a child hide your bean bag, and have another child find the bean bag as the children sing softer and softer as they get closer to finding it.
Before Primary, Have the Categories up on the Chalk Board and a small bag of slips under each category that they can choose from.
Presentation:
Explain to the children that we get to play a fun game that will help us review all the wonderful things we've been learning so far this month. Explain the categories. Pick a child to come and choose a category. Have them choose a slip from that Category and then complete the challenge.
Make sure, if you are doing this activity to tag team with the presidency member. You can do the singing stuff and they can do the non singing stuff.
This activity should take all 40 min. Have fun with it, and make it your own.
*thecrazychorister
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Repeat Week--Pick a Primary Pocket
Since our song is new, it is really important to repeat it this week to help cement the words. Here's the repeat week idea for January.
Prep and Presentation:
1 Large Apron with 7-10 large pockets (you could use a T-shirt, or even make a large poster board with different pockets on it if you don't want to wear it. Anything that you can attach some pockets too.) Put this on when your time to teach is here.
7-10 objects that will represent different ways to sing the song
Small Slinky: When the child pulls it out (louder but not too loud). When it is pushed together we go soft.
Small Stuffed animal monkey: Sing the song in Oohs and Aahs (this helps them memorize the beat and melody of the music without the distraction of words.)
An Apple: Have the teachers sing the verse and then the children sing the chorus. Have the child who picked the apple give it to their teacher.
Small Toy Hammer: Have them "hammer" the beat with their fists on their palms (not hard) and do this while singing Staccato.
Paper Streamer: Have the child lead the music by waving the streamer to the time of the music
A Wiggle Worm (you can find these at the dollar store) : Use this for a surprise wiggle worm song of the child's choice
A pocket full of Letters: Have the child pick a letter. Skip whatever words in the song start with that letter.
Flashlight: Spot light a random child or teacher some time during the song. Ask them to say the next word or phrase.
Note that says, trade places: You sit down where the child was sitting and have them conduct the song.
A Large Coin: Heads boys sing, Tails girls sing (have the child who came up flip it)
There are many many more ideas you could use, so be creative and have fun with it. Some of you have asked in the past if I have them sing the entire song all the way through each time. The answer is no. I usually mix it up and try to notice right off where they are struggling. I go back and forth between first and second verse, chorus, etc. It never gets boring because it never stays the same. I tell them before we start that our goal is to be able to sing the song at the end in its entirety without the picture prompts. Jr still usually needs a bit of time, but Sr. has always gotten it. The important thing to remember is if you are having fun, they will. So don't make yourself board with it, just be spontaneous.
Have a great week.
*Orginal idea by my primary teacher when I was in primary
**Idea Adapted by thecrazychorister
Prep and Presentation:
1 Large Apron with 7-10 large pockets (you could use a T-shirt, or even make a large poster board with different pockets on it if you don't want to wear it. Anything that you can attach some pockets too.) Put this on when your time to teach is here.
7-10 objects that will represent different ways to sing the song
Small Slinky: When the child pulls it out (louder but not too loud). When it is pushed together we go soft.
Small Stuffed animal monkey: Sing the song in Oohs and Aahs (this helps them memorize the beat and melody of the music without the distraction of words.)
An Apple: Have the teachers sing the verse and then the children sing the chorus. Have the child who picked the apple give it to their teacher.
Small Toy Hammer: Have them "hammer" the beat with their fists on their palms (not hard) and do this while singing Staccato.
Paper Streamer: Have the child lead the music by waving the streamer to the time of the music
A Wiggle Worm (you can find these at the dollar store) : Use this for a surprise wiggle worm song of the child's choice
A pocket full of Letters: Have the child pick a letter. Skip whatever words in the song start with that letter.
Flashlight: Spot light a random child or teacher some time during the song. Ask them to say the next word or phrase.
Note that says, trade places: You sit down where the child was sitting and have them conduct the song.
A Large Coin: Heads boys sing, Tails girls sing (have the child who came up flip it)
There are many many more ideas you could use, so be creative and have fun with it. Some of you have asked in the past if I have them sing the entire song all the way through each time. The answer is no. I usually mix it up and try to notice right off where they are struggling. I go back and forth between first and second verse, chorus, etc. It never gets boring because it never stays the same. I tell them before we start that our goal is to be able to sing the song at the end in its entirety without the picture prompts. Jr still usually needs a bit of time, but Sr. has always gotten it. The important thing to remember is if you are having fun, they will. So don't make yourself board with it, just be spontaneous.
Have a great week.
*Orginal idea by my primary teacher when I was in primary
**Idea Adapted by thecrazychorister
Monday, January 4, 2010
Motivation for the Year and Helper Pics for January
I usually do a Motivator for the year. Last year we built an ice cream "Sunday" one scoop at a time for each song we learned. When the children knew the song "Program Perfect" they earned their scoop and then we celebrated the Saturday before our Program with a big Ice Cream Sundae party. They were so excited about it all year long.
This year, we're going to build our Pizza. They get a slice each song Introduction Sunday, and then they get to add toppings as they make that song "Program Perfect" Then, the Saturday before our program in October...we'll have a Primary Pizza Party. If you like this idea, you can easily make a chart out of poster board. I recently got hooked on making felt food for my kiddos and so I'm going to make a pizza out of felt that we can use. It will be an eight slice pizza instead of a four slice pizza and more toppings too, but here's a picture to get the idea. I made a whole bunch of felt food for a Christmas gift for my kids and it was way easy and way fun. If you want me to send the pattern I made and the instructions on how to make this, leave your email in the comment box and I'll figure out how to get that too you.
Anyhow.... I also decided to solve my "picking helper" problem. I'm tired of the sticks...It was annoying and I had several children come to me saying that they hadn't been picked in forever and just knew their name wasn't in there. So, some brilliant person on the primusic website suggested a great idea to do something fun to pick the names and the child could keep it afterward. That helped me to think outside of the box for a min, and I ended up back in the box...the crayon box. Here's what my crazy brain came up with.
I'm going to buy 1 box of 64 crayons for Sr. and one for Jr. I'm going to print out some small labels that have the different children's names on them. It will say, "Thanks for being a great helper in music today. Child's Name." I'll bring my box of crayons with me and call it my "Primary Colors". Then, I'll choose a color (choose a child) and they get to keep their crayon. I'll make sure and have some extras so I can add newbies last min and also visitor crayons to include those who visit our primary.
When the boxes are empty, I'll post my next idea for choosing children here.
I'll be posting my Repeat Week game mid-week so stay tuned.
*Thecrazychorister
Saturday, January 2, 2010
"It's Saturday Night and I need a Fast Idea" #1
Okay folks...I decided to add a new posting on Saturday Nights. I can't promise it will be every Saturday night, but hopefully it will help some of you who've had the kind of week I've had and just need a quick alternative to the idea right below this one.
So you basically present the idea just below this post for "I Know My Savior Loves Me" but you eliminate making the story book. Just tell the children the story while they are gathered 'round you. I would suggest going to the "Primary Singing Ideas" blog that is in my blog list on the side and print a copy of the flip chart for the song (It's a great flip chart). Then teach them the song using the flip chart in the same way and conclude the same way. I believe this will have close to if not the same impact as the idea below and it takes little no prep.
If you want the half-way-between idea..go to the library before primary and get a picture of Christ appearing in the America's and display this picture while you tell the story. Make sure you're not taking more than about 2 min to tell the story. You want the most time for the song.
Some have asked if I made my book with both first and second verses...the answer is, "Yes". I don't know how much time I'll have, but I came prepared to introduce the second verse if there is time.
So you basically present the idea just below this post for "I Know My Savior Loves Me" but you eliminate making the story book. Just tell the children the story while they are gathered 'round you. I would suggest going to the "Primary Singing Ideas" blog that is in my blog list on the side and print a copy of the flip chart for the song (It's a great flip chart). Then teach them the song using the flip chart in the same way and conclude the same way. I believe this will have close to if not the same impact as the idea below and it takes little no prep.
If you want the half-way-between idea..go to the library before primary and get a picture of Christ appearing in the America's and display this picture while you tell the story. Make sure you're not taking more than about 2 min to tell the story. You want the most time for the song.
Some have asked if I made my book with both first and second verses...the answer is, "Yes". I don't know how much time I'll have, but I came prepared to introduce the second verse if there is time.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Introduction Week--I Know that My Savior Loves Me
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to our brand new year. Hard to believe we're starting over again on a new program, hu? I did do a few games over the Christmas Season with my primary, but I absolutely had no time at all to post. So, If anyone wants to know...perhaps I'll post it for future reference.
Keep in mind a couple of things before you launch into this Sunday...Remember that for most of us, children will change classes this Sunday. This in and of itself will deplete the time you have to present just because of the mild confusion and such. Also keep in mind that this is a brand new song and your goal will be to have the children familiar with the melody and rhythm. Don't worry so much if you don't get past the first verse. Anyhow, here's how I'm going to introduce our beautiful new song, I Know that My Savior Loves Me.
Preparation:
1. 12 page (homemade) story book telling the story of Jesus appearing to the children in the America's. Only have it be a Picture book for the first six pages. You can fill in the story for them. On the last six pages, show the same pictures with the lines of the song below each corresponding picture. Such as, the first picture would be of a beautiful landscape and the words below would read...."A long time ago in a beautiful place children were gathered round Jesus" etc. (Each of the pages of my book will be on half a poster board and then bound together with rings. I want it to be able to be easily seen by all the children. You can make it whatever size you wish)
Arrange the primary room by putting all teacher chairs in a semi circle. Put some blankets on the ground and have a child's size chair that you can sit in. Do not have your backs to anyone...make sure everyone is in front of you. (Check with your presidency member that will be doing sharing time to make sure they feel comfortable with this set up for their part.)
If you would like, bring a few articles of clothing you can easily put on before primary that would suggest you are from Book of Mormon times.
Presentation:
Invite the children to sit in a semi circle around your chair. Have the pianist play the melody of the song as they arrange themselves. Begin by asking the children how they would feel if I told them that the Savior Himself would walk through our Primary doors today to be with them. Let a few of the children answer this question.
Tell them that a long time ago, children just like themselves had that experience. Bring out your story book. Tell them the story of Jesus visiting the children in the Americas (You need not give every single detail...in fact, be brief and tell main points to the story . )
Tell them that for our new year and theme we also have a new song. Point to the title of your book(it should be the title of the song). Flip to the first picture that describes the first line of the song. Have the pianist play it. Have the children say and sing the line with you. Move on to the next. etc. Come back and review. When you get to the chorus, tell the children that we are going to stand and sing those lines. Help them to see that this part of the song is where they get to sing their testimony (which is very powerful).
Close by baring your testimony on how much you know the Savior loves little children, that He knows them personally, that He hears and answers their prayers.
PS... I just found an incredible flip chart that you could use for this song on Primary Singing Time Ideas..those gals are amazing! (the link is to the right of this post.)
**Thecrazychorister
Keep in mind a couple of things before you launch into this Sunday...Remember that for most of us, children will change classes this Sunday. This in and of itself will deplete the time you have to present just because of the mild confusion and such. Also keep in mind that this is a brand new song and your goal will be to have the children familiar with the melody and rhythm. Don't worry so much if you don't get past the first verse. Anyhow, here's how I'm going to introduce our beautiful new song, I Know that My Savior Loves Me.
Preparation:
1. 12 page (homemade) story book telling the story of Jesus appearing to the children in the America's. Only have it be a Picture book for the first six pages. You can fill in the story for them. On the last six pages, show the same pictures with the lines of the song below each corresponding picture. Such as, the first picture would be of a beautiful landscape and the words below would read...."A long time ago in a beautiful place children were gathered round Jesus" etc. (Each of the pages of my book will be on half a poster board and then bound together with rings. I want it to be able to be easily seen by all the children. You can make it whatever size you wish)
Arrange the primary room by putting all teacher chairs in a semi circle. Put some blankets on the ground and have a child's size chair that you can sit in. Do not have your backs to anyone...make sure everyone is in front of you. (Check with your presidency member that will be doing sharing time to make sure they feel comfortable with this set up for their part.)
If you would like, bring a few articles of clothing you can easily put on before primary that would suggest you are from Book of Mormon times.
Presentation:
Invite the children to sit in a semi circle around your chair. Have the pianist play the melody of the song as they arrange themselves. Begin by asking the children how they would feel if I told them that the Savior Himself would walk through our Primary doors today to be with them. Let a few of the children answer this question.
Tell them that a long time ago, children just like themselves had that experience. Bring out your story book. Tell them the story of Jesus visiting the children in the Americas (You need not give every single detail...in fact, be brief and tell main points to the story . )
Tell them that for our new year and theme we also have a new song. Point to the title of your book(it should be the title of the song). Flip to the first picture that describes the first line of the song. Have the pianist play it. Have the children say and sing the line with you. Move on to the next. etc. Come back and review. When you get to the chorus, tell the children that we are going to stand and sing those lines. Help them to see that this part of the song is where they get to sing their testimony (which is very powerful).
Close by baring your testimony on how much you know the Savior loves little children, that He knows them personally, that He hears and answers their prayers.
PS... I just found an incredible flip chart that you could use for this song on Primary Singing Time Ideas..those gals are amazing! (the link is to the right of this post.)
**Thecrazychorister
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Hear what they say to you....
Merry Christmas! This activity is meant to help bring in the Christmas season by reminding all our precious primary children that their Savior lives and loves them, and that Christmas is just as alive today as it was over 2000 years ago....we just have to open our ears and hearts to hear its message.
Preparation:
(Please do not feel like you need to buy things for these costumes...just use what you have at home...it doesn't have to be "authentic" looking)
1 Samuel the Laminate outfit
1 Card board box painted to look like a wall
1 Joseph outfit with a block of wood and a fake wood workers tool (out of cardboard)
1 Mary outfit and a rocking chair
3 Shepherd outfits (bathrobes and a head band) with staffs
3 Angle outfits (Simply some scarves will do)
1 large star
A set of bells
Place all of the outfits around the primary room with numbers above the spot (#1-#5) Have 1 bell at each spot. Sing Christmas Bells (pg 54). Ring a bell at the beginning and end of every sentence of the song while the children are singing. Ask the children what the Christmas bell said to them in the song. Tell them that the Christmas bell is going to help us learn a little more about the Christmas story. Tell them that when they hear your bell, they should be as reverent as possible so you can pick someone to help you.
1. Ring the bell. Choose a reverent boy to go to spot #1. Help him quickly dress like Samuel. Have him stand on the "wall". Ask the children if they know why Samuel the Laminite is a part of the Christmas story. Sing "Samuel foretells of Baby Jesus" pg. 36 Have the child bring the bell to the front of the room. Have him ring the bell so the children get reverent. Have him place the bell next to your bell and sit down.
2. Pick another boy to to find spot #2. Help him dress as Joseph and have him hold his wood and tool so everyone can see. Tell them that Joseph provided for his family by creating beautiful and useful things out of wood. Tell them there is a song about Joseph's role as the provider and protector of the Christ Child. Sing "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem" pg 38 Have him ring his bell and place it next to the other bells.
3. Pick a Girl to find #3. Help her dress as Mary. Tell them of the love Mary had for Jesus. Sing "Once within a lowly stable" pg. 41 vs 1. Have her ring her bell and place it next to the others.
4. Choose 3 children (boys or girls) to be shepherds. As they get dressed, tell of how blessed they were to hear from angles of the Christ Child's birth. Sing "There was Starlight on the Hillside" pg 40 second vs only. Have one of them ring their bell
5. Choose 3 children (boys or girls) to be angels. As they get dressed, tell how amazing a choir of Heavenly Hosts must a have been to behold. That the announcement of the royal birth came with music and Heavenly praise. Have one child hold the star. Sing "Stars were Gleaming" vs 1.
Have one child ring their bell and place it with the others.
Have 5 children come to the front (five who haven't yet participated). Sing "Christmas Bells" again, but this time have all five bells join. After you have sung the song, explain that each part of the Christmas story is special and can fill our hearts with joy. Tell them that each time they hear a bell this season to think of the little babe in Bethlehem who was born so they might have eternal joy.
(If your primary, like my primary, is not familiar with all these songs...you might want to make a poster with the words on it so they can sing along the best they can. Don't worry if they don't know all the words....the spirit will teach the message anyway..and its a great way to introduce the music too them. You could also provide a copy of the songs to your teachers so they will sing with you and help the children.)
*the crazy chorister
Preparation:
(Please do not feel like you need to buy things for these costumes...just use what you have at home...it doesn't have to be "authentic" looking)
1 Samuel the Laminate outfit
1 Card board box painted to look like a wall
1 Joseph outfit with a block of wood and a fake wood workers tool (out of cardboard)
1 Mary outfit and a rocking chair
3 Shepherd outfits (bathrobes and a head band) with staffs
3 Angle outfits (Simply some scarves will do)
1 large star
A set of bells
Place all of the outfits around the primary room with numbers above the spot (#1-#5) Have 1 bell at each spot. Sing Christmas Bells (pg 54). Ring a bell at the beginning and end of every sentence of the song while the children are singing. Ask the children what the Christmas bell said to them in the song. Tell them that the Christmas bell is going to help us learn a little more about the Christmas story. Tell them that when they hear your bell, they should be as reverent as possible so you can pick someone to help you.
1. Ring the bell. Choose a reverent boy to go to spot #1. Help him quickly dress like Samuel. Have him stand on the "wall". Ask the children if they know why Samuel the Laminite is a part of the Christmas story. Sing "Samuel foretells of Baby Jesus" pg. 36 Have the child bring the bell to the front of the room. Have him ring the bell so the children get reverent. Have him place the bell next to your bell and sit down.
2. Pick another boy to to find spot #2. Help him dress as Joseph and have him hold his wood and tool so everyone can see. Tell them that Joseph provided for his family by creating beautiful and useful things out of wood. Tell them there is a song about Joseph's role as the provider and protector of the Christ Child. Sing "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem" pg 38 Have him ring his bell and place it next to the other bells.
3. Pick a Girl to find #3. Help her dress as Mary. Tell them of the love Mary had for Jesus. Sing "Once within a lowly stable" pg. 41 vs 1. Have her ring her bell and place it next to the others.
4. Choose 3 children (boys or girls) to be shepherds. As they get dressed, tell of how blessed they were to hear from angles of the Christ Child's birth. Sing "There was Starlight on the Hillside" pg 40 second vs only. Have one of them ring their bell
5. Choose 3 children (boys or girls) to be angels. As they get dressed, tell how amazing a choir of Heavenly Hosts must a have been to behold. That the announcement of the royal birth came with music and Heavenly praise. Have one child hold the star. Sing "Stars were Gleaming" vs 1.
Have one child ring their bell and place it with the others.
Have 5 children come to the front (five who haven't yet participated). Sing "Christmas Bells" again, but this time have all five bells join. After you have sung the song, explain that each part of the Christmas story is special and can fill our hearts with joy. Tell them that each time they hear a bell this season to think of the little babe in Bethlehem who was born so they might have eternal joy.
(If your primary, like my primary, is not familiar with all these songs...you might want to make a poster with the words on it so they can sing along the best they can. Don't worry if they don't know all the words....the spirit will teach the message anyway..and its a great way to introduce the music too them. You could also provide a copy of the songs to your teachers so they will sing with you and help the children.)
*the crazy chorister
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