However, the more I think about the month's song, "If My Savior Stood Beside Me", the more I feel that I need to make this singing time more spiritual.
Here are some of my ideas:
- I will open with the blindfold object lesson found HERE (thanks Nalani!). Basically, you have a child come up and ask if they know where you are. Of course they will say yes, because they can SEE you. Then blindfold them, and move to a different part of the room. Ask where you are. They will tell you, because they can HEAR you. Then stand next to them with your arm touching theirs and ask where you are. They will know, because they can FEEL you. Etc.
- Display (approved) pictures of Christ around the room
- Talk about his life and example
- Introduce and teach the first verse, using simplified ASL (from YouTube), and the two-sided question mark sign found at http://c586449.r49.cf2.rackcdn.com/ifthesavior.pdf. An excerpt of the instructions is below :
Have four 2-sided signs as below. On one side is a question mark, and on the other side is a key word for that question. Hold up the question mark sign and tell the children there are four questions the song asks. Have four children come up and hold the signs with the question marks toward the children. Tell them not to turn their sign around until the children have guessed their question.
HOWEVER, instead of having the squares be flip-over question marks, I made my own SCRATCH-OFF POSTER!! Granted, I had to make TWO of them since they will be kind of one-time use. You can buy scratch-off stickers, but I used THIS technique of using acrylic paint and dishsoap. I drew the circles on a piece of posterboard, wrote "DO" "THINK", "FOLLOW", "LIVE", and for the second verse "SAY", "KIND", "SHARE", and "REVERENTLY", and then painted over them with the mix of paint and dishsoap. Then after guessing the word, I will have the kids scratch the circle to see if they were right.
- Bring a penny for each child to put in their shoe to remind them to imagine that Jesus is standing beside them. Tell the kids at the beginning that I have a special gift they can take home if they be EXTRA reverent during this singing time.
- Perhaps add some songs such as "I'm trying to be like Jesus, etc.
More ideas to come as I think of them, suggestions welcome!!
Thank you, I really like your ideas. I also love how you said APPROVED pictures of Christ. I remember reading when I was the Primary secretary that you're not to use cartoon pictures of the Savior and I can't believe how many I have seen in the blog world...it kind of makes me uncomfortable so I'm glad that you're putting out the right info! Again, really appreciated your ideas and love the scratch cards!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute idea....I love it! I think I'm going to try it with my primary on Sunday! Thanks for sharing! =)
ReplyDeleteI did this activity today with the primary and it was a huge hit! Thank you so much for sharing! Even the teachers commented on how much fun it was!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled to hear your Primaries enjoyed it!! My Jr. Primary was extra wiggly today, which made me glad I had decided to add the simplified sign language since it helped (a little). Sr. Primary loved the whole thing though and made it through the whole song! I was surprised how well they played along with the blindfold part. The scratch-off cards made more of a mess than I would have liked, but since I did it on the chalkboard it was easy enough to sweep the shavings off of the eraser ledge.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Thanks for sharing it :)
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