General Conference

Pin a Tie on an Apostle

Cute game from the Primary Facebook page by Liz Crowder found here.  A great review before General Conference.

I Stand All Amazed

To Introduce this beautiful Hymn I played the following clip on the big screen with a lovely version of "I Stand All Amazed" over the sound system.

To play the song I connected my iphone to the microphone outlet with this cable found here.

It was a powerful way to introduce the song.

I'm using a wonderful flipchart found here.

And teaching the simplified sign language. Found here. It's been really effective for the kids.

Opening:  Families Can Be Together Forever 188

Bday:  Feliz Cumplianos 282

Welcome:  Hello w/ lang flags 260

DVD listening activity 4 mins

I Stand All Amazed H 193

Jr. Ribbon Wands

Sr. Use hymnbooks and sightread entire song

Holiday Fun - St. Patrick's Day

I'm reviewing "I Stand All Amazed" this week.  We played 4 Corners explained here. And then we had time for some fun.  I "found" a box of Lucky Charms

Inside the box were some enchanted shoes that made me dance when the children were singing.  It was a little silly, and I had prepped my own two Sr. kids.  They approved the idea but looked super embarrassed afterward.  I asked them how it went, and they said my dancing was dumb.  They wanted amazing dancing...me ripping out a whole routine.  Oh well.  The kids sang through their smiles, so it was worth it.

I also hid little Irish objects around the room that the chosen child could hunt out with songs attached to review program songs and work in some spring songs.

My new invention this week was a gift from my Stake Primary Music Leader.  She gave me this little bell to use as I wished.  I decided to try getting their attention with it after games.  I had them practice being sloppy and not paying attention and then snapping to position when they heard the bell.  During our game, I used it a couple times, and it was quite effective.  (We will see how long it lasts. :)

Love: I'll Walk with You

I used this lesson for the Sunday before Valentine's Day.  It's such a great holiday for reminding us about the importance of love in the gospel:  the pure love of Christ, love one another, love the Lord, etc.

Learn:  I'll Walk With You CS 140-41

I had a child come in from the hall sitting in this wheelchair (leftover from Grandpa before he passed away).  I explained that she represents a child that can't "walk as most people do."  I said, "some people might walk away from you (name of child), but I won't."  I explained that the composer of this song had a child with special needs.  He wanted the music to sound like walking because it's something a healthy person takes for granted that some people can't do.  I had them walk their hands on their laps in time to the music while the piano played.  I was surprised at how compassionate the children while thinking about how it would feel to not be able to walk.

Then we divided into two groups:

Group 1 sang:  If you don't walk as most people do

Group 2:  Some people might walk away from you

Together:  But I won't, I won't.

Repeat with next phrase one group asks the questions, the other group answers

I used the flipchart found here.

Jesus taught us by example the way we should treat everyone.  Then I bore my testimony of how keeping our promises to Jesus includes being kind to everyone.

I used the conversation heart decorations as a choosing activity with 5 songs we are working on listed on the back:

"He Sent His Son"

"I Know that my Savior Loves Me"

"Books in the Book of Mormon"

"Article of Faith #1"

"pick a favorite"

  Then we played a game with Hershey's Kisses.  They were wrapped in 4 layers of paper.  We would pass them down the row until the piano stopped.  Whoever was holding the package when the piano stopped would unwrap a layer.  I told the kids before that whoever unwrapped the last layer had to give everyone a "kiss."  I winked when I said it, so most kids picked up the play on words.  But there were a few 10-year-old boys that passed that package as fast as they possibly could. :)