Here
are some materials for the Primary 2014 music curriculum from my annual workshop (see below). My intent is to save you some time and share ideas
for teaching.
First, I have made a monthly outline of all the songs needed
for each month, in singing time or sharing time. You could schedule them as opening songs so
that they are ready when needed in a sharing time activity. The outline is made from the “short list” of
songs that are available worldwide—so that is why some obvious songs that would
support a message, like Honesty, are not in the official outline. I have listed them with a ? for you to
consider.
Second, my workshop outline is the same every year but I use scheduled songs
to try and demonstrate the principles I teach.
Third, a lesson plan for every
song in the songbook is already prepared in “A Children’s Songbook
Companion.” As I have explained before, this book was part of our
assignment when preparing the Children’s Songbook. The manual was approved through Correlation,
but just before press date, a decision was made to not publish Church materials
that could not be translated and used worldwide. So, after sitting on our “gold-mine” of plans
(written by presenters at the BYU Church Music Workshop over many years, plus
additions by our committee), we published it ourselves, minus the Primary
stewardship section. The book has a new
cover, so it is no longer “The Green Bible.”
The content is exactly the same, but has an updated feel to draw
attention on store shelves.
Fourth, I have prepared
suggested lesson plans for “The Family
is of God” and the two hymns, “I
Stand All Amazed” and “Let the Holy
Spirit Guide.” They are, of course,
based on the same method we outlined on page 300 of the Children’s
Songbook: State what the message of the
song is, plan an attention-getter to start the song, and ask questions that can
be answered by listening to the singing.
Repeat the song many times using a variety of reasons (actions,
movement, stop/go, words/hum, dynamics always emphasizing understanding).
Fifth, I wrote a verse to
“Follow the Prophet” some years ago about President
Monson. I have drawn four simple
pictures that can fold into a little booklet. It is nice to help children learn words while
coloring, and then they have a way to teach it to their family for FHE. This year, “The Christmas Train” was
published by Deseret Book, which is the story I was referencing. Children may
be familiar with that book and it’s beautiful pictures.In May, the children are
to make a verse to “Follow the Prophet” during sharing time, so this could be
an example. Also see my “Lehi” verse, which goes to the tune of
“Book of Mormon Stories.”
Good
luck as you help teach children the gospel through music this year. You have a wonderful opportunity to help
strengthen our future leaders.
MONTHLY OUTLINE
