It's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's HeeeEEERRREEEeee!

It's here, it's here, it's here, it's HERE!!!!! I don't know why, but I have been anticipating the 2014 Outline for Sharing time for WEEKS

2014 Outline for Sharing Time: Families Are Forever

I wonder how much in common there is with 2009's theme: My Eternal Family

{source}

But here is the list (and just in case you're wondering I totally snatched this list from Lesson Plans of an OCD Primary Chorister and let her dig through each page for each month to find the songs - thanks OCD Primary Chorister!!!!!!)

January:  He Sent His Son (34)

February:  I Will Follow God's Plan (164)

March:  I Stand All Amazed (hymns 193)

April:  The Family is of God (back of manual)

July:  Baptism (100)

August:  Seek the Lord Early (108)

The pdf is not out yet: but you can get the entire contents online

Thoughts: I  have no idea how I am going to get through this program! These are beautiful songs, these are wonderful songs, some of them are my very favorites. But they make me CRY!!!!! (I still am not sure how I will do when we sing "A Child's Prayer" {for heaven's sakes ----- I can barely type it without choking up} because at the suggestion from the facebook page, I have asked the Youth to sing with them [most inspired idea EVER] and there is one sweet YW that I KNOW I can't look at while directing because this song gets her as well - but it's last - so at least that is good)

May's Theme is "Families are Blessed When they Follow the Prophet" (I am not sure if I want to sing "Follow the Prophet" - again - but we just may

June's Theme is "Priesthood Ordinances and Temple Work Bless My Family" (The Priesthood is Restored would fit and we aren't singing it this year and I happen to LOVE IT! However, it IS rather short - so I guess I will just have to pray very seriously to find the right ones) I am very frightened with the prospect of having a pick your own song in June- during vacation time. I guess I will have to pick an easy one ( I could make it easy on myself for once, maybe)

I am actually quite surprised about the addition of "I Stand All Amazed". Delighted, but surprised. Some serious praying again, but I may limit it to one verse: many difficult words such as "proffers" "tremble", "descend", "rebellious", "sufficient", "redeem", "devotion", "adore" . But, because I KNOW this is inspired, I trust it. And upon second thought - how on earth could I ever not sing all verses. But I can't ever get through verse two. Ever. I guess I will have to pray for strength.

I am most excited about doing "The Family is of God". I love it and it reminds me of Finding Nemo, which also makes me cry. (In case you're wondering - since I told that to someone else and she thought I was hearing things - in the intro - those first two stanzas - but most specifically the first five notes)[I just went to hear the theme on youtube and I still hear it - but maybe that is just me].

I really hope our pianist does not get called to do something else, because I fear for anyone who isn't vastly experienced (as she is) when it comes to playing "Baptism"

June Planning

image from mycutegraphics.com

You: Hey, Henckelhouse, what's going on? Why have you stopped posting all of the sudden (with, of course, the exception of your very boring planning posts)?
Me: Well, basically I am lazy. But I want to say that Would You Like to Sing a Song is also by me, so most of my (actually everyone else's - I am a manic "borrower") other exciting stuff stays there.
You: Oh, okay. But didn't you used to post the same thing on both blogs?
Me: Yes, but hence the recent lazy remark, I must admit that I am truly lazy and have just stopped the cutting and pasting to both sites (with, of course, the exception of my very boring planning posts).
You: So, what you are saying is that I should just start checking out Would You Like to Sing a Song?
Me: Probably, since I am so very lazy AND Would You Like to Sing a Song is actually getting more views than this page (it's actually quite exciting) and the title of that blog is much cuter. However, I might continue the very boring planning posts simply because I like scouring google for different monthly graphics.
So Here is said very boring planning post:

June Planning by Laura Henckel

June 2013 Songs for Posting by Laura Henckel

May 2013 Schedule

 

image from shutterstock

Here's my schedule for May

  

May – Song for the Month: Can a Little Child Like Me CS p.9

Theme: “Prophets Teach Us to Live the Restored Gospel”

Scripture: Amos 3:7

Birthday Song: You’ve Had a Birthday p.285

Welcome Song: Our Door is Always Open p. 254

Scripture/AOF Song: The Ninth Article of Faith p.128

May 5 – Week 1: The living prophet leads the Church under the direction of Jesus Christ.

Opening: Mother Dear p. 206

Practice Mother’s Day Song: My Mother Dear 203 for next week

May 12 – Week 2: Mother’s Day! The living prophet leads the Church under the direction of Jesus Christ.

Opening: Mother, Tell Me the Story p.204-205

Introduce Can a Little Child Like Me p.9

May 19 – Week 3: Prophets teach me to pay tithing.

Opening: I Want to Give the Lord My Tenth p.150

Review 2^nd and 3^rd verse of If the Savior Stood Beside me (I know, weird, but the Senior just reads my poster when I have it and the Junior doesn't know it at all so we need some review time)

May 26 – Week 4: Prophets teach me to live the word of wisdom.

Opening: Stand for the Right p.159

Hula Hoop Review from Camille’s Primary Ideas

I will do individual posts on each activity later -- HAPPY MAY!!!

 

All you need to know

I was blog surfing again (Hey! that's where all my time goes!) And I stumbled across I Heart Primary Music (even though, yes, it is in my side bar on at least one of my blogs) and took the time to read the last post - which is a poem that she and her mother wrote titled: "All you need to know you learned from primary music" And it is great! So I took said poem and went all crazy with text effects and fonts and this is what I came up with:

All You Need to Know by Laura Henckel

Now, I haven't gotten her permission to publish yet - but I did so that I can show her what I did. So, I might be deleting this post if need be.
The preview on scribd didn't look quite like the one I have so if you would like a copy of the word doc I have, just leave a comment with an email. And -- remember -- I communicate with yahoo, so you might need to check your spam or trash.

April planning

For me, April will absolutely FLY by! First week, is of course, General Conference. And for our stake, the following week is Stake Conference.

Consequently my plan will be short. But before I realized Stake Conference was the second week of April, I did plan a song, so I just left it on my page.

The third week I plan on introducing the song I have picked for April - I Know My Father Lives. And the next week will be a memory review game where I will put names of songs on the back of memory game tiles that I plan to print up

And again, this fabulous calendar template was made by Sunbeam Singing

APRIL Planning by Laura Henckel

St. Patrick's Day

For St. Patrick's day, I was fortunate enough to find a fabulous idea from Primary Singing Time Ideas for Leaders. I am adapting it a bit and here is how I plan to do it:

Brittney paired each phrase denoting luckiness (or being blessed) with a song and I put them all on foam shamrocks

I found a package of a dozen shamrocks from the dollar store (you know, for a dollar) and bought two packages. In each package, there were 6 plain foam ones and 6 glittered ones. So I combined each group and wound up with 12 plain, 12 glittered and here is what I did with them.

Junior primary - I used the plain foam shamrocks.  I printed the statement on one side and then the song on the other. But I wanted to highlight the difference between blessed and lucky, so instead of saying it, I wrote blessed on the Shamrock, but covered with a sticker that says lucky.
I will hide the shamrocks around the primary room with the statement facing outwards
So a child will find a shamrock that says "We are lucky to have bodies". Then we will talk about where our bodies came from and how Heavenly Father has blessed us with bodies. Then the child can peel off the sticker and reveal the word blessed. Then we will turn over the shamrock and sing the corresponding song (In this case; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

Senior primary - for senior, I used both sets. I wrote the statement out again on each of the glittered shamrocks, but of course on the plain side. I will hide the glittered shamrocks around the room, glitter side facing out. I will post all of the double sided shamrocks on the board with the song facing out. The child will pick a shamrock, read the statement, then try to pick the corresponding song and we will sing it (Also removing the "lucky" sticker to reveal "blessed" on the statement.

In both singing times, the child will have the option to keep the "lucky" sticker if they wish. At the end, I will give each child a "I am blessed" sticker (that they can put over their lucky stickers if they so wish)

Now I completely just pulled clip art off of Google for the "lucky" and "I am blessed"; nothing is original and I really don't have a source to credit. If you are against that kind of thing, I apologize. But I rationalize all of this plagiarizing by keeping in mind that I am not getting paid or making any profit from the work of unnamed others. Hope that is okay in the end.

Lucky vs Blessed by Laura Henckel

March planning

 

In In January, I found this super cute calendar from Sunbeam Singing and I've adapted it a bit, but here is my plan for March in her adorable format: 

March Planning by Laura Henckel

And Check back later for Easter ideas!

My Nursery Bag

Finally, finally, FINALLY! I got my nursery bag finished (actually almost a month ago and am NOW just getting around to post, but that's okay. It's DONE! and I couldn't be happier). I based my entire idea off of Camille's Nursery Bag from Camille's Primary Ideas. I changed it up a bit. NOTICE: I do have two songs not in the songbook. So I'm not sure how you feel about songs not in the book, but one of them is about ducks and I had some tiny "rubber" ducks from the closet and my daughter (in nursery) adores ducks, so I went with it.
Here is my list of songs:

Nursery Songs

1. Happy Family p. 198 (picture frames) (I cut out 5 "frames" from cardboard, spray painted them and the kids hold them and stick their heads through them - {pretending to be in the family picture that you hang on the wall}: now I have a small nursery (no more than 5 children each week), so this was not as difficult as making 12 might be. It was time consuming and quite an exercise, but the kids adore these frames.)

2. Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam p. 60 (sunbeam necklaces) (the ones in the document look like egg yolks with a starburst around them to me. If you can find foam sun cutouts [like Camille did] I would go with that - besides, they were wicked hard to cut out)

3. Popcorn Popping p. 242 (actions)

4. Five Little Ducks (ducks)

5. Itsy Bitsy Spider (actions)

6. Do As I'm Doing p. 276 (shakers)

7. Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes p. 275 (actions)

8. I Hope They Call Me on a Mission p. 169 (tags)

9. Once There Was a Snowman p. 249 (actions)

10. Follow the Prophet, chorus only p. 110 (prophet sticks)

11. I am a Child of God p. 2 (sit quietly with arms folded)

Here is the pdf of the visuals I cut out and then had laminated: 

Nursery Visual Aids by Laura Henckel

Here is the little list I printed up to remind me of my songs

Nursery Song List by Laura Henckel

Ideas for If the Savior Stood Beside me

(Hand in Hand by Greg Olsen)

If you haven't visited Sally DeFord's site - and page dedicated especially to this song - DO IT NOW! You really won't regret it (well, maybe other than spending all that time listening to ALL the different arrangements)
When looking for an image, I found this post - while it's not really a singing idea, it is a great story about how this song truly applies to life. Whether or not I tell it to the kids, I really like that I now have this perspective
Primary Singing Time Singing Magic has a great flip chart and activity

(Image from Primary Singing Time Singing Magic)

And then, something I am really excited about: A Make your Own Scratch off  Word Game!

My description does not do it any justice, so just go over to Notes From a Novice Primary Music Leader and check it out. If I was able to make the Child of God children, I think I can totally do this.

(Image from Notes From a Novice Primary Music Leader)

What do YOU know about "My Heavenly Father Loves Me?"

(This image is from lovemom.com - apparently this is a pillow case that you can buy and it comes with crayons that you use to color it)

Originally, I wanted to write a post about how my 17 year old daughter DID NOT KNOW this song. It made me cry - and laugh at the same time - it was weird. She vaguely remembered the part about "the velvet rose", but that was it. Truly - a travesty.

(from wikipedia.com)

 But that's all I had at the time and I didn't feel that it warranted a post.

However, I also didn't even know the name of the song myself. That seems terribly strange as now, after February is almost over, I have said it, sang it, and written it so many times that it seems like I have always known this song is titled as it is. But truly, when I saw the song in the Sharing Time Outline, I had NO IDEA what song "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" was. I kept on thinking that it was the one IN the outline, but when I looked it up in the songbook, I was like: "Oh yeah!!! The one about birds and roses and that goes incredibly high at the end"

Speaking of going incredibly high at the end: Was that how you learned it? Well, believe it or not, that was NOT how it was originally written. That super high part was the optional part, but was misprinted in the Sing With Me (that fabulously orange and canvas covered book) as the melody and In the Leafy TreeTops has a fabulous post about it that everyone should read.

Did YOU know all these things? I am so very grateful for the internet and the fact that I can find out all these awesome things!!!!

Missionary Game

And your next cut and paste idea is............................(drum roll please)........................ This super awesome missionary game from Susan Fitch Design.

 

I found this on Primary Notes 29 (I love finding other people's cut and paste ideas!!! Thanks so much!)

Susan Fitch Design has all of the parts in a zip file and you have to download each jpg. I have put each jpg in a word document and if you would like to have a copy of my word doc, just comment below. {Didn't ask the author yet, so I didn't feel it would be right to post a pdf of all of her jpgs} Keep in mind, this is all Susan's work - I just copied and pasted (LOVE that control-V action!!!!!)

If the Savior Stood Beside Me activity from the Friend

I was surfing around the lds.org website and found this great activity centered around "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"

So, five years ago, this song was learned in primary as well. I'll probably use this diorama if the fabulous ladies in the primary presidency don't have the same idea. I'm going to use this for the fourth week in March (and may bring a game, just in case someone does have the same idea)

Singing Clock

Oh where, oh where would we be without the Friend? I think I forget about it way too often. In the wake of new ideas and this rambling treasure trove of the internet, I become like a kid in a giant candy store with my eyes wide and not able to focus on anything for more than a minute. So slowing down for a second, here is a fabulous idea from the Friend - a resource that I need to keep going back to way more often than I do.

 

I found this awesome singing clock via the chorister group on facebook. From the Friend, of course. October 1983, idea by Pat Graham and illustrated by Beth Maryon 

Bubble Gum Ben (or Billy or Bob)

Found a great idea on the Facebook Choristers page:

Bubble Gum Ben (Or maybe Bob or Billy or Brad - I have a son named Benjamin who might get a bit possessive, so I'll probably have to change it). The above image is from livecrafteat.com and in the post, the author said if you emailed, she would send you a pdf of the tracings of her pieces. So lets hope I get the pdf!!! (I did use my yahoo address, so I am hoping beyond hope that it doesn't go to her junkmail)

UPDATE: Got my pdf just a few hours after I emailed her! Thanks so much Katie!!!!!

Songs for posting for the Valentine's Activity

I had not originally thought that I would post the songs that I post, (how is that for confusing?) but then I decided: if I have to make this up in word, why don't I share it so others don't have to?
So here you go: All the words to all the songs that I have planned for my Valentine's Day mashup

Songs for Posting for Valentines Day by Laura Henckel

This year's Valentine's Day Lesson

Today's post title is actually a misnomer: for I plan on this year's Valentine's lesson being the Valentine lesson for EVERY year! You know, because I am lazy like that. I garnered my ideas from Camille's Primary Ideas and Primary Notes 29 and have a complete post here.
Still haven't made my snack, but it seems easy, so hopefully I will follow through.
Happy Heart Day Singing!!!!

5th Sunday Ideas

I often browse through the oodles of primary blogs (see list at right) and think: "Oh, that's a great idea - I'll do that weeks and weeks from now" and for some reason I don't stop to think "And yes, I had better write that down or make a post or something so I won't forget it"

So I forget and then consequently spend unmentionable amounts of time looking for that idea again.

As a consequence, my posts won't be as chronological as I initially planned.

So today's cut and paste idea is:
The Every Last Lyric Game from Sunbeam Singing

found on google images

And no, I never have heard of this game, but it sounds like a super game for Senior Primary. In our branch, we plan on having a Singing Time Sharing Time (Singing time for the whole block), so I am trying to come up with ideas to fill up the whole time.


Apparently you write something down continuously until someone rolls doubles. So in this case, it would be writing down lyrics to songs you are reviewing.

Songs for posting in February and Super Lame Giveaway

Like Camille from Camille's Primary Ideas, I post songs. I got the idea from her and I love it.

Each week, I have our opening song and birthday and welcome songs printed out on normal paper, put into page protector and put in a binder. I then hang said binder over the music stand and everyone is able to read the words to the songs.

Also like Camille, I have one birthday song sung for the whole month and one welcome song sung for the whole month (being a branch, there are weeks and sometime months that go by without need for a birthday or welcome song or either, so monthly rotation is the way to go for me).

Then I do have a different opening song for each week of the month. I try to plan to sing songs relating to the monthly theme and in doing so, I flip to the back of the Songbook and search under topics. (This can lead to very unknown songs, but I kind of like it.) February was "Creation" and these are the songs I found:
The World is So Big 235
All Things Bright and Beautiful 231
The World is So Lovely 233
God is Watching over All 229

I am not familiar with any of these songs - which means I have to practice a lot (and I completely forgot to do so yesterday because of my quandary and just bombed today's opening, but the singing time went SO VERY WELL!).
So I made sure that I had all of these songs for posting - as I knew most of them would be unfamiliar.

When looking up the words to post, I was looking for God is Watching over all, and even the church website did not post the words. My first thought was to type them up anyway, but I decided that if the church didn't, then I shouldn't either, so I found images via google to represent what I thought were the main words.
I had decided weeks ago that I would post them on the off chance that if any of you would like to sing this obscure song, you wouldn't have to find pictures

So here is where my Super Lame Giveaway comes in:
I accidentally printed off two copies of my songs for posting. I have an additional copy of all songs in the document except for "Choose the Right Way".
You can print the items in the document, or if you are the first person to comment and leave me your email, I will mail you mine that I accidentally printed. I didn't want to waste all that paper (10 pages) and ink by just recycling. So hopefully someone else will want them.

Yes, it is SUPER LAME, but at least someone might get some get some use out of them

Songs for Posting by Laura Henckel

1st week for My Heavenly Father Loves Me

image from azbax.blogspot.com

Well, here is a post for the first week of February! I wasn't sure I would get around to it and then I found this on Singing a Song is Fun to do, so basically all I had to do was cut and paste!:

When I've taught this song in the past I've used objects. See the list below. There are a couple of ways to do this.

1) Put the objects on a table. Sing the first line, have the kids repeat. Choose a child to pick the object that goes with that phrase and stand in line at the front of the room. Continue with the next line. This is great for Junior Primary.

2) Just start singing and handing out the objects as you go. Do the first four lines and then have the children sing with you and the kids holding the objects try to get themselves in order at the front of the room. Sing it again to see if they got it right. Then do the same for the rest of the verse. This is geared more toward Senior Primary.

Whenever I hear the song of a bird             stuffed animal bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,                       blue fabric that can be waved above the head {I'll actually  use the clip art at the top of this post}
Whenever I feel the rain on my face            small spray bottle set on mist
Or the wind as it rushes by,                         hand fan {using my airbed pump}
Whenever I touch a velvet rose                   fake rose {might actually spring for a real rose - nothing compares to that velvety feeling of a live one}
Or walk by our lilac tree,                            fake lilac branch or just a branch  
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world  small globe
Heav’nly Father created for me.                child pointing to himself

He gave me my eyes that I might see          glasses or child pointing to their eyes
The color of butterfly wings.                       toy butterfly
He gave me my ears that I might hear        child pointing to their ears
The magical sound of things.                      small bell or instrument
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:     mirror
I thank him rev’rently                                 child folding arms as if praying {i'll look for clipart: praying lds clipart}
For all his creations, of which I’m a part.  clear container filled with small toy animals, fruit, plants, etc.
Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.       paper or stuffed heart

Now, I just have to find all that stuff.

Name that Primary Song About Love Mashup

How I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the internet. I particularly LOVE singing time blog ladies. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! Do you know how GREAT you make me look each week? It is truly awesome.
This Sunday before Valentine's Day, I will celebrate that love by mashing up different ideas from different singing time divas. THANK YOU LADIES!!!!
Senior: Almost word for word from Camille's Primary Ideas
Have hearts with songs on them taped on board. (I will actually use hearts from the My Heavenly Father Loves Me, laminate them and just tape the names of the songs onto the laminated hearts.)A boy and girl come up and face each other at the table, hands behind their back. The pianist will play the first song on the list. The first one to ring the bell with the correct name of the song wins that round. For hints, the names of the songs are all posted on the chalkboard.
Her post is much more detailed - go check it out!
Junior: from Primary notes 29
We will play pass the hot heart: Pass a heart (I might actually find a valentine stuffed animal or a fake flower) around - when the piano stops, that child gets to come up and pick a heart with a song on the back. Pianist plays a few notes of the song. Child (or whole primary)tries to guess what song it is. Sing that song. 
I'll use the songs Primary Notes 29 listed:
Songs:
I Feel My Saviors Love 74
I Love To See The Temple 95
I'll Walk With You 140
I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus 78
Jesus Loved the Little Children 59
Jesus Said Love Everyone 61
Love is Spoken Here 190
Love One Another 136
Mother, I Love You 207
My Heavenly Father Loves Me 228
Oh How We Love to Stand 279
Reverence is Love 31
Teacher, Do You Love Me 178
We Are Different 263
Where Love Is 138 

Third Week Presentation for My Heavenly Father Loves Me

This is actually my third week presentation for "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" I will plan on doing a more sensory introduction the first week as outlined in my February planner - I may post a separate post on it, but the first week is coming up quick.
Anyway, I obtained permission from The OCD Primary Chorister to use AND publish her glorious pictures. I'll cut out and laminate each pic, then tape corresponding questions to the back of pic, cover question with heart (which I got from bestclipartblog.com via google). Post all pics on board heart shape facing out, have child pick, remove heart, answer question and place back on board picture side up. (I might have them mixed up for senior and have child put back picture in correct place.)

Visuals for My Heavenly Father loves me by Laura Henckel

Singing Time for February

Singing Time Schedule

February 2013

February 3rd:

Reverence song:  The World is So Big p. 235

Birthday song:  Have a Very Happy Birthday! (2nd verse) p. 284

Welcome song:  Hello Friends! p. 254

Article of Faith song: The Sixth Article of Faith p.125

Singing Time:  Introducing My Heavenly Father Loves Me p.228 using this idea from Sugardoodle:
We had fun reviewing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me". I had objects or pictures for each line. The children's favorites were "....I feel the rain on my face..." - a spray bottle sprayed up in the air so the drops fall on your face and "...the wind as it rushes by..." - a balloon pump to pump air as you run across the front of the room. It's fun to involve more of the senses, and it's also hard to find a good visual for the wind!!  (Idea by Elaine in California)

 {I JUST found a manual inflatable bed  pump, so I am totally doing this}

February 10th:

Reverence song:  All Things Bright and Beautiful p. 231

Birthday song:  Have a Very Happy Birthday! (2nd verse) p. 284

Welcome song:  Hello Friends! p. 254

Article of Faith song: The Sixth Article of Faith p.126

Singing Time:  Name That Primary Song About Love

                          from Camille's Primary Ideas

February 17^th:

Reverence song:  God is Watching Over All p. 229

Birthday song:  Have a Very Happy Birthday! (2nd verse) p. 284

Welcome song:  Hello Friends! p. 254

Article of Faith song: The Sixth Article of Faith p.125

Singing Time:  reviewing My Heavenly Father Loves Me p.228 adjusting the third idea in the post from the OCD Primary Chorister and use the color set, laminate, then tape question to back, then cover with heart. Place on board heart side up have children pick, remove heart then answer question and replace on board picture facing out. (These are absolutely adorable pictures! I am definitely using the last picture for the first verse even if I don't live in Holland - like the artist herself)

February 24th:

Reverence song: The World is So Lovely p. 233

Birthday song:  Have a Very Happy Birthday! (2nd verse) p. 284

Welcome song:  Hello Friends! p. 254

Article of Faith song: The Sixth Article of Faith p.125

Singing Time :Current plan is using the singing time wheel - that I still haven't made (which sits in the "Projects Not Even Started Yet" corner of my brain - right there with the Nursery Bag still)