2016 Outline Songs

Yes, as you may have heard, the 2016 Outline for Sharing Time is now available and therefore the songs are out!

You can find the Outline HERE

However, you might notice that I did not say "new" songs because they aren't new. They are the same exact songs used in 2011, when we had the same theme. In fact, (as far as I can tell, because I think I only went through January to May), the entire Outline is the same. Word for Word. Picture for Picture. Song for Song. (The only different thing is the picture on the cover - which I think actually looks like the same model used for the 2011 cover, just older)

(so cute, huh?) (You can decide if you think they look like the same child)

If you can't tell, I really wasn't excited by this discovery. Actually I was quite disappointed. The new outline form started in 2010, so I can't be 100% sure that this pattern will continue, but if I were in charge, I would definitely see the advantage in just recycling the material. 

Because it is GOOD material. And they are GOOD songs. And in my ho-humness discouraged state, I went to one of my favorite sites, that I know has been going on for more than 5 years - Sofia's Primary Ideas. Each month (for YEARS) she goes over the monthly theme and week by week, she expands on the theme presented in the manual. It is an EXCELLENT resource for the primary presidency. And occasionally, she also goes over a song (which I love!!!!).

And I tested her: I went to September of this year and September of 2010 (same exact monthly and weekly themes) AND HER ACTIVITIES FOR THE SAME EXACT THEMES WERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How super amazing is that!!!!!!!! So if she can do that for 3-4 weekly themes EVERY MONTH for the last 5+ years (not completely sure if 2008 and 2009 are repeats of 2013 and2014, because the new format started in 2010 - haven't researched that completely), I can totally come up with new ways to teach the same songs.

(I haven't hit my 5 year turn around point yet, but I was getting kind of bummed by the impending redundancy)

But no more! I am going to embrace this knowledge with fervor! I am going to remember a hallowed teaching mantra: Repetition encourages Retention! I am going to realize that this is inspired! This is what the Lord wants us to do! This is the direction He wants us to go!

However, this does encourage me to remember to not use ANY program songs from previous years as my pick your own songs. Which shouldn't be difficult, because I went through the 5 year rotation and realized that there are 18 songs from the songbook that are used for all 5 years. There are 5 "in the back of the outline" songs. And there are 4 Hymnbook songs.

HERE is my 5 year plan outline. Now, keep in mind, I wrote this for myself and it includes the songs that I personally chose for 2013, 2014 & 2015 but if you would like a reference for the next few years and to know which 18 songs are used, you might like it.

HERE is Sugardoodle's list of primary songs from 1998 to 2014 (Sugardoodle has become difficult for me to scroll through lately, but it is worth it and this is a nice list and there are a number of different songs on there - in fact, I may have to exhume "I'll Follow Him in Faith" from its buried in obscurity status: It's really cute!)

And after ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL this reading, here is the list!

2016 (I Know the Scriptures are True)

January – If I Listen with My Heart – Outline

February – I Will Follow God’s Plan – 164

March – Stand For the Right – 159

April – Song of Choice (Jesus Christ is My Savior and Redeemer) Beautiful Savior 64

May – Praise to the Man vs. 1 and 3 Hymns 127

June – Song of Choice (The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ make it Possible for me to live with God Again) Search Ponder and Pray 109

July – I Love to See the Temple – 95

August – The Lord Gave Me A Temple – 153 

Italics indicate my personal choices towards which I am currently leaning. June is more of a "song that goes with the yearly theme" than one that follows the monthly theme (basically because I missed Search Ponder and Pray)

Don't forget to check out the post on 2016 songs from the OCD Chorister (yes! She's back!!!!) - she has several links to some of the songs for which she has done lesson plans/visuals.

After our primary progam, I may delve into yearly planning! Get excited for 2016! Woo Hoo!!!!

July 2015

How did introducing "Come Follow Me" go for you today? We had a great time! I used two different things from the Come Follow Me page on sugar doodle. I used the second file listed by Maria Johnson. Then I scrolled down to the bottom and clicked on the file that had the footprints.

I sang through the song with the flip chart then had a few kids gather around one the footprints and everyone would sing when we got to their footprint (I have a small primary, so I can do that sort of thing) and it worked SO WELL!

I am really at a loss as to what to do for the next two weeks, but that is why I look forward to each and every post from Camille's Primary Ideas.

The last week, we will be doing the pioneer activity that I have been doing for a couple of years. I will not be here, so it's a nice sub activity to just hand to someone


My plan for July can be found HERE

2015 Yearly Planner

It's not really like me, but when it comes to planning for singing time, I like to knock out the whole year in one or two afternoons.

I am normally quite the "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of girl and rarely plan for anything. But maybe the thought of occupying myself with something worthwhile that lets me avoid housework for one or two afternoons (without feelings as guilty if I still avoided work for one or two afternoons just playing solitaire) is what ropes me in.

Because I am quite the thief when it comes to planning singing times geared towards the year's sharing time songs, of course those activities are not included (because they have not appeared on the internet for me to steal them yet).

I do however, have several seasonal activities already plugged in.

This calendar includes monthly birthday and welcome songs and then the weekly opening songs that I try to match to the different weekly themes.

I do not list Reverence or Closing songs simply because I almost never have time to include them.

Often, our first counselor will sing some of the books of the Bible or Book of Mormon songs, but because I am quite busy trying to wrangle my nursery child into her class, I just let her deal with that.

Here is my latest version on google docs.

And don't forget to check out my other singing time blog: Would You Like to Sing a Song? I update it much more often than I do on this one.

Lego derby for fifth Sunday in August

So, August ALSO has five Sundays in it. This past fifth Sunday I did a simplified version of the 4th of July poppers (without the cardboard tubes) and somehow it didn't seem as fun, but it occupied the whole time, so I guess I can't complain.

While I wouldn't call last Sunday an EPIC FAIL, it did make me think that I would have to work extra hard to come up with something awesome for the ridiculously soon next fifth Sunday.

I hope I have found it - although it will require some buying of lego wheels for me.

Here it is - completely plagiarized from Hum Your Favorite Hymn

My son was a new Cub Scout so I had Pinewood Derby on the brain -- I decided to do a LEGO Pinewood Derby! I made a very very simple cardboard ramp (and in the Primary room, I just propped it up against a chair at the back of the room).

For both Junior and Senior it was the same.
I put together bags of LEGOs beforehand, one per class. The same exact number and type of LEGOs. Also beforehand, we made 5 basic LEGO cars (Junior and Senior each have 5 classes) -- wheels and a base for them to build on.

I also prepared papers that listed their song choices.

So we began by singing one song together.
Then I handed out the bags of LEGOs to each class, and one of the cars, and told them they had a couple of minutes to work together to add the LEGO pieces to their car.
We then chose two classes to go first -- they raced their cars, and the winner got to pick the next song from my list of songs.
Then another class raced the winner of that race.
And so on until everyone raced.
It was kind of rowdy but fun!

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!!!!