Teach Me About The Temple 2

The more I read about this song the more I LOVE it!!

I found an article in the Meridian Magazine that Sister Christofferson wrote about the inspiration to write this song. You can read it HERE. 

Here is my lesson plan for teaching this beautiful song.

The picture above is only the first page.

Click HERE to download the whole plan including pictures.

We are also doing a block building activity to practice it several times. The directions are in the lesson plan. But basically, we will build a tower with large Lego blocks as we sing. When we see great singers they will be given a block. They will reverently come forward and add their block to the tower. We'll keep singing until the tower is built or falls down. For Senior, I'll use Jenga blocks instead of Legos.

I have another post about this song. There is also a flip chart on that post. 

If you'd like to read or download the chart click HERE. 

I hope this is helpful.

Happy Singing!

Teach Me About the Temple

I live in Lehi, Utah and 21 years ago this month the Mount Timpanogos Temple was dedicated. It was a monumental event in our family's lives. I was a young mother with 4 children and we were all involved with the Open House and Dedication. 

My husband did ushering and parking. I took a shift playing the organ in a tent while visitors filed through displays explaining the temple. My daughter and I got to usher in the celestial room and my Primary kids got to sing on risers as the visitors entered the temple grounds. 

I was the Primary President at the time and they asked the Primaries in different wards to prepare several songs and come for about 15-20 minutes and sing outside the temple for the open house.

The whole building of a new temple was an exciting, memorable, and sacred experience for our family.

For the new temple a new Primary song appeared in a special Commemorative Edition of the local newspaper. 

It was by Sister Lynne Perry Christofferson. She had written it for the Lehi North Stake Conference the fall before the dedication to help the children prepare for the temple open house and dedication. We taught it to our Primary children and it quickly became their favorite for many, many years.

I am elated to see it finally in 'The Friend' this month!! There is even a Sing-Along video!

Click HERE for the link.

I've made a flip chart for those of us that like to use them.

Click HERE to download flip chart.

I am so EXCITED to teach this beautiful song again!

Check out my lesson plan to teach this song HERE.

Now that a new temple has been announced in Saratoga Springs, Utah, I'm grateful my grandchildren will get to experience the special spirit that comes with an open house and dedication.

 THANK YOU Sister Christofferson for composing such a wonderful song for the children!

Program Review

We are in full Program Review mode. Our PP is October 15th and my JR needs lots of practice. I want the review to be fun but not too distracting. I also get to take up ALL the sharing and singing time this week. I had a great idea come to me in the middle of the night (that's when I get most of my inspiration lol) I'm calling it 'The Super Singer Game'. 

You play it like 'The QUIET Game'.

It's VERY EASY!

Click HERE to download my directions.

I will also be using Balloon Bugs for a fun way to choose and pass off each song.

I thought I had shared this before but I couldn't find it. So here it is... maybe again!

Click HERE to download the BUGS!

I hope this can be of help to someone.

Happy Singing!

Choose the Right Simplified

As a piano teacher, I like my students to learn to play the Primary songs and Hymns. I love that the Church has their 'I Can Play It' series but sometimes these are still too hard. My students have learned to chord and I've looked all over for some of the hymns with just the melody and chords but they are hard to find. So I arranged some of my own. 

With the Primary program coming up, I thought I'd share the hymn for the year.

Here is 'Choose the Right'.

This uses the I, IV, & V7 chords for the key of C. 

There are 2 versions: 

Just melody with chords

Click HERE to download Melody.

 Or harmony with chords

Click HERE to download with Harmony

My students love these versions until they are skilled enough to play from the hymn book.

I hope this is helpful.

Happy chording!

School Supply Song Pick

School starts next week for our ward so I wanted to do something with a school theme but still continue to practice the program songs. 

I came up with a school supply song pick and the game 'Red Rover' (it has been on the LDS Chorister FB page and several blogs before).

Here's my plan: (very easy and low prep)

Click HERE to download the plan and pictures.

Happy Singing!

I'm Trying to be Like Jesus

Beautiful song, Primary classic!

The Senior kiddos know it pretty well except for the 2nd verse but the Junior kids stumble with so many words.

I used the 2017 Sharing Time Outline idea to teach it. You can check it out HERE. But my Junior needs more work. They got a little bored so I wanted to make it a little more engaging this week.

I'm going to springboard off an idea I read on the LDS Chorister's Facebook page and of course I can't find it again to give credit to the original person. 

But THANKS whomever you are!

It's a spin on Hot & Cold. She called it 'Gathering'. You make about 50 little cards (like stars, flowers, or CTR shields, etc). You place them around the room. While everyone sings, one child goes around gathering the cards (one at a time) and brings them up to the front.

So last night as I'm trying to fall asleep, I get my much needed inspiration.

I'm calling it 'SCATTER & GATHER'.

I made cards for the things that the Savior taught. I will scatter them around the room and a child will gather them as we sing. 

Here's my plan with a few rules to keep things orderly.

Click HERE to download the cards and directions.

I hope this will help us learn the song better but most importantly bring the spirit and learn how to be like Jesus.

Happy Gathering!

Pioneer Day Singing

Pioneer Day is coming up.

I know some choristers go all out for this day from making butter to dressing-up. And I know some of you don't do anything at all because of various good reasons. 

This year I needed something very simple. (I'm tending 6 grandchildren for 5 days and a little overwhelmed!)

I'm doing a simple song pick with pictures.

Click HERE to download my pictures.

I love the song 'Pioneer Children' and have a word flip chart that I use.

Click HERE to download flip chart.

Last year I made cards for 'Fun To Do' with a Pioneer theme. 

You can check that out and download them HERE.

Also, last year I taught the song 'When I Hear of Pioneer Children'. You can check out that post HERE.

I hope everyone has a Happy Pioneer Day

 and keep singing as you walk and walk and walk and walk...