After prayer and much flipping through the Children's Songbook, our ward chose "I Lived in Heaven" for our song of choice this month. This Sunday, I'll introduce the song to the Junior Primary in a super simple way, with an activity called Sway and Freeze, which I learned from Sharla over at TeachingPrimaryMusic.com.
Presentation
"Everyone stand up, and see if you can make your body match what mine is doing!" I immediately start singing the song, having prearranged with the pianist to only play the melody line. As I sing, I sway right and left and swing my arms side-down-side, side-down-side, as shown in the video below.
Variations
The first time through, I sway with no pauses, unlike in the video. My video shows how I would change for the second sing-through. The first, repetitive time gives my tiny Sunbeams a chance to get the movement down pat. The next variation is to call, "Freeze!" at different times, and then check to see if the children's arms are pointing the same way as yours before continuing. You can also sing again and have your pianist surprise you and choose when the music will stop, and you can all freeze then. The children love this playful interaction with the pianist.
Why It's So Great
It gets the children up out of their seats.
They get to move to a reverent song in a reverent way.
Movement across the midline of the body and being called on to freeze are developmentally fantastic for young children.
The children become familiar with the melody of the song without being asked to sing right away.
Hooray for a living prophet! I love teaching the children songs about the blessing of having a prophet today. Even more, I love helping the children see how that teaching comes to life. I present this Singing Time activity after every General Conference, choosing one prophet-focused song. The second verse of "If I Listen With My Heart" is a natural choice this time, since we're already learning it for the program this fall.
Prep
Listen to General Conference! Take special note of the commandments, challenges, and invitations that we are given, especially by President Monson. After Conference, get the exact quotes for several invitations from lds.org and type them up. Print them and cut into strips of paper, placing them in a jar.
Presentation
Remind the children that the reason we're so happy to have a living prophet is because we can hear what Jesus wants us to know. Sing the first line or two of the second verse of "If I Listen With My Heart," while offering the jar to a child to choose one paper strip. Let the children know that these are things the Lord just asked us to do, through his servants. Either you or the child can read the quote. Then sing the next line or two of the song, while offering the jar to another child. Repeat until you've sung the whole song a couple times, or until your kiddos start getting restless. ;)
This activity works for both older and younger kids. I find the younger children can listen best when I purposefully choose short, understandable quotes to share with them, and when I read the quotes with an animated voice and face. Throughout the whole activity, you will have opportunities to bear testimony that this is the Lord's prophet and the Lord's church. And who doesn't love that?
Happy singing!
Looking for more? To see what types of activities pair well with this one, see a Singing Time plan that incorporates this idea, here.
"Everyone stand up, and see if you can make your body match what mine is doing!" I immediately start singing the song, having prearranged with the pianist to only play the melody line. As I sing, I sway right and left and swing my arms side-down-side, side-down-side, as shown in the video below. 
