Singing Time Plan: A Christmas Sampler

This is the most wonderful time of the year! I love singing Christmas songs with the children, but I do find that most don't remember the songs from year to year.  So, I like to acquaint them with several different Christmas songs, in a way that allows them to participate without knowing the words.  Sharla Dance, over at TeachingPrimaryMusic.com, had some wonderful ideas that I'm excited to use!

Junior Primary
Sharla Dance's actions for "Samuel"	"Picture a Christmas"  (p.50)  Set up nativity.  First you set up a child-proof nativity as you sing, and then you let the children take turns doing so. Sharla gave me this idea here.
	"Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus"  (p.36)  Actions and paper plates.  You suit actions to the words of the song, and then have the children join you. Next time through, repeat while holding paper plates. This is Sharla's idea, and you can find her full description here. :)
	"The Nativity Song"  (p.52)    Magic chalkboard.  Tell the children you brought your magic chalkboard today, and it will make pictures of your song appear as you sing. Sketch quickly while you sing, then act surprised to see the pictures there. The little kids eat this up. :) Ask for details you could add, then repeat.

Senior Primary
"Picture a Christmas" (p.50)    Set up nativity. See description above.
"Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus" (p.36)  Act It Out.  Before Sunday, contact a few children who already know the chorus and could act as angels. Bring simple costume pieces for yourself (Samuel) and the few children (angels). Stand on a chair or box as you begin singing and gesturing. Step back to let the angels sing. Ask for volunteer replacements, then repeat.
"The Nativity Song"  (p.52)  Hand bells.  I like to use chords, as I find them simpler for the children to follow. I use the movable chart I created, described here.

Happy Christmas singing!

4 Ways to Help Your New Sunbeams Shine

Say good-bye to Nursery, kiddos!

Oh, how fun the new Sunbeams are! They're normally wide-eyed and clueless, unless they're climbing under the chairs. :)  It goes without saying that coming from Nursery into big-kid Primary is a transition for these little darlings, so here are some of my ideas to help ease them in.

1.  Start Early

As soon as December hits, I start trying to transition the upcoming Sunbeams into Singing Time. With the Nursery leaders and your Primary presidency, discuss how this will work best in your ward. Just a short visit each week in December might be enough, for part of Singing Time, for example.

2.  Choose Songs Purposefully

Talk to your Nursery leaders to see what songs they've been singing with the children in the past couple of months.  Incorporate some of these songs into your Singing Times for the first few weeks with the new Sunbeams.  Also, whatever other songs you choose, repeat them week after week, to give the new littles a sense of familiarity.

3.  Choose Activities Purposefully

Okay, not to hammer it in, but this transition can be really hard for these children! They're not used to sitting in a chair for an hour. Like, ever. So help them out! :)  Ideally, your Junior Singing Times will always include some sort of physical movement, but it is especially crucial for the first few months with new Sunbeams.  Give them a chance to stand every week.  Just clapping their hands isn't enough. They need to get out of their seats, whether it be a simple standing wiggle song or movement that goes with a doctrinal song, like marching. 

In addition, be aware of their short attention spans with everything you do. Don't talk for more than two sentences at a time. Just DO whatever it is you want to do. Don't have any reading activities at first. Instruments and pictures are safe bets, instead.  Here is my blog post about the musical needs of this age child. They want to participate, so meet them more than half-way. 

4.  Love Them

Most importantly, look into their eyes, try to see how they're feeling, and love them. Help them feel the Savior's love for them through your own.  How blessed we are for the chance to teach them.


Happy singing!