This poster is up at the front of the room. I tell the children, “Here is the pattern.” I immediately demonstrate it using rhythm sticks (even though the children don’t have theirs in hand yet and may not read music … Continued
I’m standing in front of the children. We’ve already done a movement to another song, and they are settling back into their chairs. I tell the children that I have a story to tell them. “Mom, what does ‘commune’ … Continued
If I Listen with My Heart Monthly Plan The brain craves variety, but needs repetition Repeating that one more time: the brain craves variety, but needs repetition. How can I repeat a song with the children enough times that it will go deep … Continued
There are 32 puzzle pieces put up around the room and 8 pieces of paper up at the front. I tell the children that there are lots of puzzle pieces around the room. I will tap a person on the … Continued
Once you have taught this song in two or three different ways, a fun way to “review” it (without the children knowing it is a review) is to put some handbell harmony with the song as they sing. Children take … Continued
A melody is something you can’t touch or see, you can only hear! How do you help a concrete thinking child to visualize a melody? Try a melody map! Below is a melody map for If I Listen With My Heart. … Continued
There are words taped up all around the room, and in the front of the room are two posters. Here are the words. (Click on the last sentence) I tell the children that the words around the room are all … Continued
Idea #1 I asked a boy to come up front before Primary started, making sure it was okay for him to stand up on the chair (and warning him to be careful<grin>!) He put on the piece of cloth I … Continued
Idea #1 – Picture a Christmas using Nativity Sets (that children can touch) “Look what I have,” you tell the children. Begin singing. “Picture a stable in Judea.” Hold up the stable and set it down on a small table … Continued
Using handbells at Christmas is great fun for the children. To see how I introduce the handbells before teaching any of the songs with handbells, you can look at the post for The First Noel. This is another approach to … Continued