What Makes a Rainbow? Tell the children, “As I sing this song, look at these statements and figure out which ones of these statements are not true, and which ones are true. Hold up your hand if you have an … Continued
I used the guitar chords to make this Hand Bell chart to use with the Older Children. (You can also use it with younger children, but you will have to have an older child paired with each three and four … Continued
Toddlers (and children) remember better than you think! Nicholas Day, the author of Baby Meets World, wrote an article about what children remember entitled “Toddlers Remember Better Than You Think.” (click the word article above to go to his piece) In … Continued
Dear friends, Courtney Edman created this great spreadsheet for planning your songs in a Multiple Intelligences, full of variety, reach every learner kind of way. I thought I would share it here (with her permission). Song Planner-2 Sit down and … Continued
Here is a way to engage the children with the song “Stand for the Right.” Hold up a handbell. Explain the rules and boundaries of the handbells briefly. Have the adults in the room help you pass out some … Continued
The Challenge! Can you tap or clap on the beat where there are numbers? Point to the poster. Tell the children: Tap with two fingers on the palm of your other hand on each number or clap. When a number … Continued
Sometimes the children in older Primary are ready to learn a harmony part or companion song. Here is one idea: Companion Song edited for Choose the Right I teach this separately from the original hymn, then ask the … Continued
In January of 2017, I taught a workshop using the 2017 Sacrament Meeting Program songs to teach different success principles about teaching children’s music (developmental differences between the ages, flow, tension and release, parameters, and many more). Many of you … Continued
Children love variety. Teach the song in three or four different ways to help the children remember the songs long term. Here are some ideas. Younger Children Draw a simple melody map – the children do specific movements on certain … Continued
Older Children Tell the children, “Here’s the pattern.” Show the pattern listed below. The children do not have plates at this point. Demonstrate for the children. Swish, swish, swish (plates in front of you), pause for one beat. Tap the plates … Continued