Baptism

As I am sure you know, this month's song is "Baptism".  Most of your kiddos should at least be familiar with it.  Last time it was a program song, this is how I introduced it & it worked really well.  This activity works well for reviewing the song also.

Place a picture of Christ being baptized on the chalkboard/bulletin board at the front of the room.  Dress up like a news reporter...I wore a trench coat, a sticker on my chest that said "Primary Singing Time News", and carried a microphone and/or notebook & pencil.  You could also have someone else with a video camera follow you around.

Enter the room and introduce yourself...for example, "This is Sister Lewis with Primary Singing Time News".  Next ask the children "who", "what", "where", "when", "why", and "how" questions in the order of the song and take notes of their answers.  For example, for the first line of the song, point to Jesus and John the Baptist and ask, "Who are these people?"  Then ask another child "where are they?" (in Judea).  "When is this happening?"  (Long ago).  Then play their answers back... "Okay, let me make sure I have this straight.  "Jesus came to John the Baptist in Judea long ago.  Is that right?"  Have the children sing the portion of the song you've just asked questions about.  Proceed in the same fashion with the rest of the song.

As I ask questions and get the children's answers, it works well to place pictures/visuals that correspond to each portion of the song on the board.  Then as I play their answers back and as they sing, I point to each picture.

Have fun with this one!  The kids love it.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

I am SO excited that this month's song is "My Heavenly Father Loves Me".  It is my favorite primary song.

Here is an idea for week 1, Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of Heavenly Father, adapted from I Heart Primary Music.  You can see the original post here.

Tape small pictures from the song onto a globe.  Keywords from the song could also be used.  For example, a bird, blue sky, rain, wind, rose, lilac bush/tree, earth, child. Spin the globe & have a child stop it with their finger.  Pick the picture/word that it lands closest to.  Take the pictures off the globe as they are chosen & discuss how Heavenly Father placed these things on the earth to make it beautiful.  Tape the pictures to the chalkboard in order as they are chosen (Have larger pictures to put up). As the pictures are placed in the correct order, practice the song.

Determine who participates by playing "hot potato" with an inflatable globe.  When the music stops, whoever is holding the globe shares a way that they know Heavenly Father loves them & then comes up to stop the globe.

*If you don't have a globe, tape a picture of a the earth to a sack/container.  Put all of the keywords/pictures inside & have the children draw from it instead.  If you don't have an inflatable globe for "hot potato", simply use a picture of the earth.

I am a Child of God

I am so glad this song is in the sharing time outline this year!  For me, this song is what primary is all about... teaching our children that they are loved & special because they have a Heavenly Father. EVERY child will know this song already.

I actually really like the idea provided in the outline for teaching this song.  Here is the Christie spin on it:

Place a picture representing Heavenly Father in the top right corner of the chalkboard.  Place footsteps that start from the bottom left of the the board & lead up to the picture.  Have a child come up to spin/roll dice & then move a marker along the footsteps (a picture of a child would work nicely as a marker).  Assign a question to each footstep.  For example:
1.  Who leads us?
2.  What does guide mean?
3.  Why would you want someone to walk beside you?
4.  What is something we have been given to help us return to Heavenly Father?
5.  What is something we must do to return to live with our Heavenly Father one day?
6.  How do you know God loves you?
7.  If Heavenly Father visited you, what would He call you?

Alternate with singing "I am a Child of God" & other songs that reinforce the topic. Close by bearing testimony that God knows each of us by name.  Discuss our relationship with Heavenly Father.  Testify of the blessings of having parents, teachers, leaders, prophets, scriptures, & the Holy Ghost to help us find our way back to Heavenly Father.

This activity could also be played as a game with two teams.

Other songs you can sing this month to reinforce each of the weekly topics are:
"I Know My Father Lives" pg 5
"I Lived in Heaven" pg 4
"I Will Follow God's Plan" pg 164
"Choose the Right Way" 160
"He Sent His Son" pg 37