Valentine's Day Eve

I have been neglecting my blogging responsibilities this month!  Life seems to take priority:)

For the month of February, I taught my primary "I Will Follow God's Plan" and "Scripture Power".  I used props to teach both songs.  Because of Stake Conference this weekend, we had just 3 weeks to learn/review the 2 songs.   The kids did a FANTASTIC job!  For week 2, I just wanted to focus on "I Will Follow God's Plan" & get it down.  Week 3 we'll just do "Scripture Power" by playing Hot/Cold.

Because it was Valentine's Day Eve on the 2nd week, I laminated 10 hearts.  (They'll definitely get more use than just this once:)   I wrote on the back of them a way to sing the song, "I Will Follow God's Plan".  I place the hearts around the room (on the walls, piano, podium, closet doors) & had a child choose one.  We then sang the song accordingly.  Once it was sung, we placed the heart on a much larger heart that was posted on the chalkboard.  We wanted to see how many we could get up there.  When our time was up in Jr. Primary, various kids couldn't stand not having ALL the little hearts up there so they went & grabbed the hearts & had me place them up on the big heart to fill it up.  They were giddy with excitement just to see all the hearts up there.  Easy to please!!  Here's the list of ways I wrote on the back of the hearts:

• Paint a Picture (Jr. Only)
• Pitch Sticks
• Crescendo the Crocodile
• Hold hands and sway to the beat (Jr. Only)
• Use Girl/Boy signs
• Your Choice (Sr. Only)
• Stand/Sit on key word (My, I, will)
• Take it in (Sr. Only)
• Color Blobs
• Skip a word (My, I, will)
• Use Hum Sign
• Rhythm accompaniment

So far, the favorite review help objects for both Jr. & Sr. Primary is the Pitch Sticks and Crescendo the Croc.  But they all vote the Croc #1!  The Sr. Primary ended up doing most of the hearts.  They did a wonderful job with Taking It In.  The Primary Pianist & I were amazed at how well they did.  The Jr. Primary didn't get through as many hearts. But the one that made the biggest difference for them was the Rhythm Accompaniment.  I explained to them what a rhythm was by having them place their hand over their heart.  They had to be really, really quiet so that they could concentrate on feeling their heart beats.  Then I had them just lightly tap their fingers on their chest to their own heart beat.  When they understood what the rhythm was, we sang the song & clapped our hands or our laps to the beat.  I would change it up & they'd copy me, always staying on beat.  They loved it!