For Mother's Day, I taught the children "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." I brought in props for the different lines of the song (enough props so that EVERY kid could hold something), and we used the props to learn the song.
I used the props in combination with singing juice to get everyone excited and involved.
- Whenever I hear the song of a bird (bird beanie babies)
Or look at the blue, blue sky, (blue pieces of paper)
Whenever I feel the rain on my face (a spray bottle with water in it)
Or the wind as it rushes by, (kids stood up and waved their arms like tree branches in the wind)
Whenever I touch a velvet rose (flowers for the kids to hold)
Or walk by our lilac tree, (kids walk in place)
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world (make a world with your arms)
Heav'nly Father created for me. (point to yourself)
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings. (sunglasses for kids to wear)
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things. (brought in a bunch of baby rattles for kids to shake)
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: (brought in a foam heart to hold)
I thank him rev'rently (brought a thank you card)
For all his creations, of which I'm a part. (move hands out the side to symbolize all)
Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me. (nod your head)
In Senior Primary, we upped the challenge. I brought in a globe, and we visited different areas of the world and practiced the song based on those areas.
Alps: At the end of every line that had a prop, we would add a yodel.
Antarctica: Everyone was frozen until their line/prop came up. The primary kids thawed as the song went on.
Atlantic Ocean: flibber your mouth as you sing
Great Plains: parts of the song are faster to symbolize migration; kids have to keep up with the migration
Sahara Desert: sing staccato because of the prickly cacti
Cave: sing in the dark
At the end of every place we visited, we had a teacher act like an animal from that place. So after we sang in the cave, one of the teachers flew around like a bat. After we visited Antarctica, one of the teachers walked around like a penguin. It was a little extra motivation for the kids to sing well.
