Dress A Father

This visual was made by my mother YEARS ago.  It is truly vintage Primary!  It’s a classic that I continue to bring out each year and the children love it as much as I did as a child.  Display the father visual and tell the children that you are going to help him get ready for work/church…be sure to make his hair look extra messy.  Assign a song to each item and place them in a small suitcase.  Choose a child to select an item and place it on the father.  Sing the corresponding song.  Items are as follows:  a comb to straighten his hair, a razor (remove the blade or keep the cover on) to shave his face (remove the sandpaper), a hat, a shirt, a tie, and a jacket.

Week 2: If I live worthily, the Holy Ghost will help me choose the right.

Hop To It - This idea was originally seen here.  I did this a couple years ago and the children LOVED it.  You will need 6-8 plastic leaping frogs...I bought mine at the dollar store but I have also seen larger ones at JoAnn's.  Number each frog.  Place a start line with tape on the floor. Begin by asking the children what gift we are given when we are baptized.  Ask the children what the Holy Ghost helps us do.  Call 2 children up at a time and have them each share a way that they can live worthily.  Next, have them each pick a frog and place them on the start line.  As you say, "On your mark, get set, GO" the children press down on their frogs to make them leap. Whatever frog leaps the farthest is the song that you sing.

Close by bearing your testimony of the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Explain to the children that if they live worthily, the Holy Ghost will help them make correct choices.

Other songs for practice this week could include: "The Holy Ghost" p. 105, "Listen, Listen" p. 107, "The Still Small Voice" p. 106.


Listen to the Still Small Voice - The Friend magazine this month (June 2013) has a darling activity that teaches how the Holy Ghost helps us choose the right.  It can be found here.

Place the pictures in a bag and the words on the table.  Choose a child to select a picture from the bag and find the words that match the picture.  After a match is made, sing a song.

*This could also be done as classic memory.  Tape the pictures and the words to the chalkboard with the backs facing out, creating a memory game.  Have a child try to make a match.  When a match is made, sing a song.

When I Am Baptized

Hello!  Sorry for my lack of posting.  Life in the month of May was a little crazy around here...I am sure many of you can relate!  But now summer is upon us & I welcome the slower pace that accompanies it.  I am sure most of you have already made a visual for "When I Am Baptized", but I thought I would still share mine.

Week 3: Prophets teach me to pay tithing.

A darling idea for teaching this theme can be found here.  Why reinvent the wheel???  A PDF for a piggy bank is provided but if you do not want to make it, you can always use a real one.  Assign songs for practice to 9 quarters.  Invite a child to drop a quarter into the bank & then sing the corresponding song. Keep the tenth quarter out so you can talk about giving the Lord one tenth (put in a tithing envelope).  Bear your testimony of the blessings that are received from paying a full tithe.  Have fun!

Build-a-Mother

This idea is courtesy of www.iheartprimarymusic.blogspot.com.  I drew my own.  Have the children pick pieces and assemble the mother.  For each piece, read the poem and sing a song. 

Legs/Feet:  Her feet are busy all day long, with loving tasks to make me strong.  They lead me in the righteous way and guide me if I go astray.

Knees:  Whether playing a game or scrubbing the floors, her knees bend willingly to every chore.  And kneeling in prayer with me each night, she teaches me how to do what's right.

Lap:  There's a special place my mother has made where I can go when I'm hurt or afraid; Or if I just need a hug or nap, I climb into my mother's lap.

Heart: A mother's heart may be quite small in size, but forgiving the most, it wins the grand prize.  Her love's given freely, without any strings, but to see it returned will make her heart sing.

Arms:  When loving her children, her arms are so gentle; when protecting from harm, they can be hard as metal.  They can hold, lift, and carry heavy burdens or light.  But a mom's arms are best when they're hugging you tight.

Hands:  A mom's hands keep busy throughout the long day, preparing meals and cleaning away.  Whether mending a shirt or wiping a tear, whenever I need help, my mom's hands appear.

Shoulders:  Though she might not have the broadest of shoulder, they're able to lift some of life's heaviest boulders.  Moms are able to share your worries with care, and when you need a good cry, her shoulder's always there.

Face:  Obedient to the Lord, Mom's face is a sample of a lifetime of service and good example.  The laughter and joy lines make it special, you see, for each one was put there by children like me.

Eyes:  Her eyes shine with pride over each child's good deed, though sometimes a tear may slide down her cheek.  With protecting care they watch me at play, and seek every chance to help me each day.

Mouth:  From her mouth I hear stories of what Jesus would do.  She speaks words of truth and encouragement, too.  I love hearing her laughter and seeing her smile.  You see, Mom's my best friend--and I like her style!

Easter Ideas

"Eggs"-entration
Make or print clipart images of non-matching Easter eggs.  You will need at least 12-16 (for a total of 6-8 matches).  Write numbers, song titles, lines from songs ("Whenever I hear the song of a bird" on one & "or look at the blue, blue sky" on the other), or keywords for songs on the back of each egg.  Pictures representing the topic/keyword of the songs would also work.  Lay them out on the table or tape them to the chalkboard.  Have a child try to make a match.  Whenever a match is made, sing the corresponding song.

Easter "Do As I'm Doing"
I purchased these masks & ears from the Target dollar section, but I have seen similar items at Michael's.  Make Easter action cards that say, "Hop like a bunny", "Peck like a chick", "Roll like an egg", "Gambol like a lamb", etc.  Simply have a child draw a card & lead the rest of the children in "Do As I'm Doing" Easter style!  Have him or her wear the mask or ears that corresponds to the card chosen.

Easter Egg Hunt
Place song titles in plastic Easter eggs & hide them around the room.  Choose a child to find an egg.  Sing the song inside.

Week 4: Jesus Christ is our Savior

If you did not do the activity I posted for week 1, it would also work well for this week.  See the post here.

Another idea is to put the following scriptures in plastic Easter eggs.  Each scripture contains a message that Christ taught.  Have a child pick an egg and read the scripture.  Have the child identify what the Savior taught us & discuss it with the group.  Sing the corresponding song.

Opening song - Tell Me the Stories of Jesus p. 57

John 13:34-35 - Love One Another p. 136
Mark 16:15 - The Church of Jesus Christ p. 77
3 Nephi 11:37 - Baptism p. 100
3 Nephi 18:19 - A Child's Prayer p. 12
Matthew 5: 16 - Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam p. 60
John 15: 10-12 - I Feel My Savior's Love p. 74
John 13:15  - I'm Trying to Be like Jesus p. 78
Matthew 5:14-16 - I Am like a Star p. 163
John 13:17 - Choose the Right Way p. 160
Matthew 5:43-46 - Jesus Said Love Everyone p. 61

Bear your testimony of the Savior, His life, and the Atonement.  Testify that Jesus provided us with a perfect example to follow.  He then gave His life so we could all be saved from sin.  He is truly our Savior.  Close by singing "He Sent His Son" (p. 57).