January Review Week 4

I started out having the kids sing through IILWMH with the flipchart (see previous posts).  Then I took the flipchart apart and placed the pages all over a table.  I used my brand-new "Golden Helpers" book that I found on this link here.  It really helped.  No more hands and little kids running up to me to pull on my dress.  Divine.  The little yellow tab on the page is to let me know that child has had a turn.  

As I called each name, the child was supposed to come up, pick a page from the flipchart and decide if it fit on row 1 (1st verse), row 2 (2nd verse), or row 3 (3rd verse)., on the board. They came up, but ... one teacher said it best, "I don't think they were really trying."  Yikes!   Luckily I brought my poster this week.  Because the pages were all so scrambled it would have taken quite some time to sort them out on the board.

So we sang with the poster.  Never mind my crooked phrases.  Next time I'll use a level....sigh...  I used the idea for "pitch sticks" I found on Kathryn's blog here.  The little kids loved it, the bigger kids broke them in pieces.  ...sigh #2...  Did I mention we have mostly boys in our primary?  I didn't even dare bring out the paint brushes I brought for "painting the music," also on Kathryn's blog.  I loved the ideas, but found them to be more geared toward the Jr. Primary-aged kids.

However!  For the 3rd verse I brought out Mr. "Crescendo Crocodile", an idea by Tifany that I found here.  And they all picked back up and sang beautifully!  The little guy was easy to make, and I could even draw it!  That's something.....

I was exhausted by the end of Primary.  It's tough keeping all ages interested when we're all together.  But now I have a better idea of what types of activities keeps everyone engaged.

If it weren't for all of you.....and your great ideas, I couldn't function in this capacity.  A big heartfelt thankyouthankyouthankyou to all you singing time bloggers   Consider yourselves hugged!

Pie Plate, Rocks, and a Sponge

Weird name for a post, but I wanted to share with you another object lesson I used in teaching "If I Listen With My Heart."  It came right out of a terrific object lesson book I picked up at Deseret Book for $12.99.

It's by Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, and it's full of great ideas for bringing home the points we're trying to make.  It's not just for kids, either.  It's for teachers in all areas of gospel teaching.  (No, I'm not getting a kickback, and I don't know the authors....It's just a great little gem!)

Anyway, I used little rocks, cuz all the big ones are outside under  8 feet of snow.  I took them from one of my  floral arrangements....   I put the rocks in one pie pan and the sponge in another.  Then asked, "Which item will soak up more water?  Then I poured half of the water over each item.  There should be no water visible with the sponge, your water is clearly seen in the pan with the rock.  Ask, "Why does one pan have more water than the other?

We are like the rock(s) when we read our scriptures without purpose or focus; the truths of the scriptures run off and cannot fully penetrate our souls.  We are like the sponge, however, when we prayerfully study the scriptures; we absorb gospel truths because the Spirit is able to teach us.

A scripture goes with this,  John 5:39;  Mosiah 1:7    I think they liked the OL.  You could hear a pin drop during the presentation.

Then I went on to teach the second verse of IILWMH.  I changed the flip chart from last week by adding some key words.  Like this:

I just thought it was sort of a stretch to expect the kids and teachers to comprehend the picture's meaning and put the right words with it.  I can take the words off later as a game after we learn it better. BTW, the CD-ROM (last post) was also $12.99 at Deseret Book.  I keep all my receipts and deduct them along with my tithing deductions at the end of the year.

If I Listen With My Heart

Ok, this is what we did today:  I decided to begin with an object lesson to introduce the new song.  I began by bringing various devices in one by one and turning them on; a CD player, a radio, an Ipod, a cell phone, my Ipad, etc. 

Then after all these machinery were doing their thing, I had a volunteer come up and read a scripture.  (Any scripture will do, since it won't be heard anyway.  That's the point.) Then I asked whether the electronic devices made a difference in how they were able to listen to the scripture.  I likened the electronic devices to the business and complexity of the world around us, explaining that sometimes the everyday noises of the world make it difficult to hear the promptings of the Spirit in our lives.  Then I asked, "How can we resolve that problem?"

That's when I introduced the concept of "listening with our heart."  (eye contact, not being busy, etc.)

In order to introduce the 1st verse about listening to the scriptures, I asked the children to imagine...what if they had been children when Jesus lived on earth, what would they have liked to do?  (This took some imagination.)  After hearing several responses, they were gently guided to, "I would have liked to walk with him and listen to his words.)

• Since we can't go back to that time, how we can hear his words today?  (Pull out scriptures)
• Read Matthew 7:26 quickly.  Ask, "Was I really listening to what I read?"
• Ask how to listen with your heart when reading (with the spirit)
• Ask them to listen with their hearts while you read again (vs. 24)

Then I brought out my flipchart and discussed the words which go with each picture.  (1st verse only)  Then I played the song on the CD with the kids singing.  (From the church website) 

I had the words on the other side for me.....

The flipchart was from a CD-ROM I found at Deseret Book, called "Singing Fun!" which has visuals and ideas for this year's theme. 

To be honest, they didn't really LEARN the first verse today, but at least they developed a concept of what the song is about, and what it means.  AND  they even seemed to like it!