President Monson and our Prophets - 5/5 Singing Time

The first Sunday in May will be all about PROPHETS.  After all, the theme for the week IS "The living prophet leads the church under the direction of Jesus Christ".  Here is what I have planned:

At either the very beginning or the very end, we will sing "Follow the Prophet".   The previous chorister, Liz (the same one who came up with the original blow dryer box) has Pat Graham's "Follow the Prophet" faces that you can find HERE, so those are all ready for me. She even added a crazy-haired news lady/rock star face for people of today.  If you don't have them yet, just download the JPEGs, print them out large format, color, and cut out the middle so the kids can put their faces in.  I would recommend laminating and attaching a popsicle stick for the kids to hold on to.  If you have links to anything similar for President Monson, let me know - I haven't found anything yet!

I'm going to introduce the song in a way similar to Pat Graham in the music workshop - without telling them what the song IS, I'm going to ask them to step right, left foot behind right foot, step right, then feet together while SNAPPING your fingers - then go the opposite direction.  Once they have the rhythm, I will have the pianist jump in and we will start singing and dancing at the same time.  I remember cracking up when Pat did this, and think it would be fun to re-create.  Check out Camille's blog (link on the right) for video.

I will also use Pat Graham's version of the President Monson verse:

Thomas Spencer Monson

gave his Christmas toy

to a poor and lonely

little neighbor boy

Now he is our prophet

loyal, kind and true

If we serve as he does

We'll be happy too.

Since I sometimes wonder how much the young ones, especially, know about him, I want to focus on PRESIDENT MONSON.  I found THIS wonderful link (thanks to all who do so much work for the rest of us!!) to some pre-made fact cards about President Monson, complete with pictures!  I plan to print several and assign a song to them.  I will tape them under chairs, so that the kids can look for a clue about President Monson's life so far.  Then we will post the cards on the board (in order, when we can).  Some of the songs/stories I plan to include are:

President Monson loves birds: In the Leafy Treetops 240
President Monson loves books and learning: Search, Ponder, and Pray 109
Kindness towards others/boy who lost mother: I'll Walk with You 140
Rescued a girl in the river: Give, Said the Little Stream 236
Story of meeting his future father-in-law and learning his relative had helped bring his future wife's family the gospel.  He also served a mission in Canada with his family: I Want to Be a Missionary Now
Sending his wife dried flowers while in the navy: My Heavenly Father Loves Me 228 v. 1
Marriage to Frances Monson: I Love to See the Temple 95
Grandfather giving a house to a man in need; mother feeding the hungry: Jesus said love everyone 61
Family time: Families can be Together Forever 188