Picture a Christmas

It's been a busy week.

I am up SUPER late tonight (yes, I have church at 9am) finishing up a couple of flip charts for some Christmas music.  I totally justify the use of these little babies because:

1)  I've been singing church hymns my entire life (my years are not a few, btw), and I still need help with the words for most songs.  Ya gotta love a hymnal.

2)  It took me 9 years of Primary singing when I was very young to learn and internalize the words of a few select songs, so having words and pictures constantly provided can only be helpful, especially to those kids that are only in their 1st through 6th-or-so year.

3)  Those Primary kids haven't sung these Christmas songs for at least 11 months.

Flip charts are amazing.

Even if I'm up until 2am making them (did I mention it's been a busy week?).

Here are the links for the two I put together this evening:

Picture a Christmas

and

That Night in the Stable

I think tomorrow I will take my nativity set, put stickers on the bottom of each piece with a song on it (or a "you choose"), and let the kids try to complete the scene.  Simple, easy, and all I can do this week ;-)

A Rafter of Turkeys

I stayed up late last night working on these cute little turkeys... I know it's a little late to be beneficial if you were looking for a fun, somewhat quick, somewhat easy Thanksgiving Singing Time activity.

There's always next year.

So to assist you (and me), I am posting my artwork (please, no laughing) that I quickly sketched from the idea I found here.  That way, next year, should you still be the chorister in your Primary, you won't have to try and draw the turkey parts... you can just print them out from here (although some size adjustments may be needed).

You can get the pdf pages here (turkey body), here (turkey feathers), and here (turkey feet -for two).

I printed on colored cardstock, then added a few color embellishments.  I weighted the feet with pennies, and taped those birdies together (I used packing tape - my favorite, you know - which worked great.)

I put song choices on the back of each bird, and the kids had a blast getting a turkey to fall off the table by tossing a beanbag.  It was a big success, definitely an idea worth re-using!

So Much to Sing, So Little Time

My song list this week:

Can a Little Child like Me?

I Am Glad for Many Things -- We didn't get to this last week, so I'm shooting for it again.  I plan to choose a child (or two) to write something they are glad for on the whiteboard, then we will sing the "new" verse.

Scripture Power (the "extra" verses" -- we sang through it last week in Sr. Primary and the kids loved it)

Give Said the Little Stream (it is the season of giving!)

THEN I would love to start in on some Christmas songs:

When Joseph Went to Bethlehem (flip chart here)

That Night in the Stable (find the link here) -- I had my Achievement Activity Day girls learn this years ago -- they loved it, so I thought I would try it with the whole Primary.  IF we get around to it tomorrow, I plan to choose helpers to act it out...

and Away in a Manger

My problem is that I want to sing way too many songs... and the time goes so darn fast.

I plan to use this awesome Turkey Toss idea -- we'll sing what we sing.

I Am Glad for Many Things!

I haven't posted much the past month (okay -- not at all), mainly due to program practice, performance, and celebration, AND the fact that I have been very involved in the details of two (2!) weddings ~ my two eldest children, a son and a daughter, both got engaged this past month.  One wedding is on December 29th, and one is on February 4th (pending a possible last minute date change, however very unlikely).

I couldn't be more happy about my two new in-laws-to-be, but those wedding details can be overwhelming!  I hope to hold it all together, and not let my church calling slack.  I may, however, not have much time to post about what I'm doing in Primary...

I'm taking time today, though.

I truly appreciate the invaluable resources that follow bloggers provide!  I love some of the ideas I found here, and plan to use several of them the next few weeks for Singing Time.  I am going to focus on Thanksgiving songs, and possibly even start practicing for Christmas.  This season only comes once a year, and I want to take full advantage of sharing the spirit of the season with the children through music.

I also put together a flip chart this morning for Can a Little Child like Me? I'm not sure what songs the children in my Primary already know, since I have only been in the calling for about 6 months, but I figure that they could use a refresher regardless.  I had a sub last week while I was wedding-planning with my daughter in Utah, and she was comfortable just winging it, so I am guessing that they just did some random fun things.  We also got a new Primary Presidency last week, so that might make for some overall readjustments in expectations and schedules.  I just want to be prepared for whatever comes my way.

You can access the link to the pdf document here.

I am glad for many things!