Mary's Canaries

Variety is the spice of primary singing time.  We haven't acted a song out in a while so that's what we're going to do this time with "The Sacred Grove". It utilizes a lot of children, which is helpful for those wiggly days. First verse: (As I introduce the song with what it's about I will be unrolling a roll of green streamers upon the ground in front of me, engaging the children's interest :)) "The sacred grove was green and fresh, the morning sun shone bright around"   The children will makeup the sacred grove, holding branches. I cut poplar-shaped leaves (cause I think the shape is pretty) out of green construction paper.   To fix them to the branches, which I collected from our backyard after pruning our out-of-control apple tree, I used 28 gauge wire taped to the back of the leaf and twisted around the limbs. The relatively soft wire made the leaves bounce a bit when moved. The sun will be a large circle of cardboard

I decided to write out the action words to this song of strips of paper, the action words that help us remember what to do to be like the Savior. Notice in the picture that I put the title over only the first two columns (or verses) of words and the third verse it different.  I wanted to differentiate between them because the first two verses start with "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and the third verse does not. First week: I asked the children to listen for questions.  It caused us to sing it many times.  Then asked to listen for action words and then stuck each one on the board as they were guessed. Second week: questions again.  Reviewed first verse and began second verse in same fashion. Third week: Put short strips of masking tape on board indicating where the word strips for second verse would be.  Choose children's names out of basket to place wordstrips, one at a time. Sing the song every time (or so) the children place a wordstrip. Fourth:  Third

A contraband picture taken unknowingly by the CTR 8 teacher (my visiting teacher).  Costume:  robe, head kerchief, slippers Props in pockets to keep me "feeling better": small teddy bear, tissue, cough drop, etc. (I lost them as the children sang the songs really well - the songs started making me feel better and so I didn't need all of my things) Red dots: construction paper with songs written on back (stuck all over my face and any skin showing, chosen child would come and pull one off - very dramatic) Bag of "vitamins": told us how to sing the song (this game utilized a couple of children each time, which always makes it more fun), easter eggs with tissue paper inside indicating which activity to be done during song Chorister: one who doesn't mind teachers taking her picture with their smart phones while she's in her robe and slippers.

Because the theme and the song of this month emphasize Jesus Christ as our Savior, my mind has been turned toward how I could testify of Him.  Easter proved itself a wonderful opportunity to finish up the month with a strong testimony of the Savior and His Resurrection.  A beautiful spring morning helped me ease my way into singing time, too.  We talked about how the earth is coming alive and what we can see that shows us. We hunted for Easter eggs with symbols of life in them.  Some applied to the Savior and some applied to Spring.   I matched each symbol with a song in the songbook.  We sang each song a couple of times with actions or signs and then used the songs for a game. Symbols and their Songs: Hosanna (pg.66) - a mini palm leaf palm leaves http://www.dltk-bible.com/ crafts/mpalm.htm    Jesus Has Risen (pg. 70) - an empty egg  I signed power words: Jesus, risen, friend, joy, hearts, lives, praises, Savior, divine)  To Think About Jesus (pg 71) - a cross (