New and refurbished ideas for LDS Primary Music Leaders (a.k.a. Primary Choristers)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

LATTER-DAY PROPHETS

With March's theme being about prophets, I'm sure many of you have been planning on fitting in all those fun songs about prophets—if you haven't already begun. If you don't have any visual aids, here are some I made for the "Latter-day Prophets" song.  All files are listed at the bottom of this blog.
  
It seems to AMAZE the children to visually see how many latter-day prophets there have been when they see each one unfold as the song is sung via an accordion version using the pictures of each of the latter-day prophets with their name.  To make the accordion flip chart, I just took some page protectors and with a knife and a straight-edge cut off the side with the 3-holes so I had just the page pocket. Then using clear packing tape, I butted one page protector up against another and taped them together, repeating the process until I had 18 page protectors in a row all taped together.  Make sure you tape them all on the same side.  Insert the pictures with the taped side being the back, fold accordion style and away you go.  I used page protectors because I thought that maybe sometime I may do another flip chart or visual I would like to display accordion style so, this way all I would have to do is to switch out the pictures. You could just laminate the pictures and then tape them together accordion style.  Have 3-4 children stand in a row up front all spread out to help hold the accordion flip chart up as you sing and unfold the visual revealing each prophet. There is just something more spectacular about seeing one long row of prophets versus just having pictures posted on a board.  You could purchase the pictures from the Distribution Center or their online store, but I found it a little cheaper, at least for me, to print them and I wanted the names on the pictures.

If you prefer a smaller version, I've included a file with two pictures to a page.  Cut out each picture of the prophet to be the same size leaving a white border around the picture. Mine are 5 1/2" x 7 1/2".  You can mount them on sticks and/or add magnets to the back. Here are a few ways I used the smaller version:
  • I started with the pictures mounted onto sticks having about five children come up, passing out the first five prophet pictures and having them put themselves in order as I sung the beginning of the song with the first five names. After learning that part of the song, we would repeat the process with the next group of names.


  • Also, with the pictures mounted on the sticks, I would pass them out to the children and as we sang each prophets name, the child with that name would stand up then sit back down or hold them up.
  • Another time I decided to add a magnet to the back (could just use loose magnets) so that I could post them on the board so they could see as we sung them especially when I used the fun fact clip art with actions.  More on that later. 
  • Also on the board you can mix them up and then let a child or two put them in order. 
  • What about removing one or two at a time as they begin to memorize the song. 
  • You could do a variation of playing a match up game by having the pictures mixed up and face down on the board. Then take turns letting a child come up to turn over two pictures in an attempt to try and find the first two latter-day prophets.  When they find the first two, e.g. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, put them above your "game section" in order, sing that part of the song then repeat trying to find the next two, e.g. John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, and so on.
  • Another variation match up game is to match up the prophet with the fun fact clip art about the prophet.  See below for the file. 

As you are learning to sing the song, it would be fun to learn a little bit about each prophet.  I've included a fun fact sheet about the latter-day prophets that I've put together.  Actually, it is more than one sheet, but "fun fact sheets"  just didn't sound as spiffy.  I got most of the information off of the Church's web site.  There are also quotes from the prophets in blue as well as a coordinating song to sing, in red, if you want to do a "Choose and Review" activity sometime.  Along with the fun fact sheet, there is also a file with a fun fact clip art for each prophet and a key sheet file for the actions.  I've also included the link to the current version of the song. The ending is different than what is in the songbook, so if you want the music to coordinate with what you are singing, you will need a copy for you and your pianist.  Here are some ideas on using these files.
  • Go over some of the fun facts for a few prophets each week.
  • Tape the coordinating fun fact clip art onto the picture of the prophet.
  • Sing the song using the action that goes along with each of the fun fact clip art and prophet.  This really helps the JR to learn the song.
  • Do a choose and review activity by having the children take turns picking a picture, share the quote from the prophet and sing a song that relates to that prophet.  Some song choices I picked are listed on the Fun Fact Sheet.
The kiddos love to learn and sing this song.  They especially love hearing a little bit about the prophets life.  It helps to bring the prophets alive for the children.

LATTER-DAY PROPHET FILES



43 comments:

  1. I love this idea and reviewing the prophet songs! Here's a question (I'm a relatively new Primary Music Leader): how do you fit in all the great songs you want to sing that week along with making sure the kids know the song of the month AND especially on my mind, the Easter song they're singing on 4/8 (a week after Conference, so they have to learn it this month!)? And sometimes I only get just over 10-15 minutes for Singing Time. :)

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    1. That IS the dilemma of Primary Music Leaders everywhere. After my first year I came to the realization that it wasn't so important that the children had the monthly song down pat by the end of the month. I definitely didn't want them to end up hating the song, so I figured if I can introduce the song and its concept that month (usually with the biggest focus on the song for the intro week) and if we keep reviewing it each week, sometimes every other week, then they will have it down pretty well by program time especially if I can take several weeks before the program to really focus on solidifying the songs with them. I try to teach at least one more new song to them each month besides that month's program song as well as review the songs learned in previous months. I try to sing those extra songs weekly for at least a few weeks or so to get them fairly down and then rotate them in and out with other songs to review and learn. Does it happen perfectly each week? NO! Rarely do we get through all the songs I'd like to, but at least I am prepared if I ever get lucky and have extra time, which never happens. ;-) I've learned to relax some and go with the flow so it is more enjoyable than a chore for the children to learn songs.

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  2. Fasbulous idea! I am in the process of putting it all together for this week- thanks so much!!

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  3. Thank you very much for sharing all the wonderful ideas you have on this blog. I know it must take a lot of time to create everything. I'm sure that the children in your ward must love you to death. It take a special and beautiful person to put forth so much hard work to help others.

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  4. WOW! I just love you! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful ideas and your amazing talents! Your efforts are surely appreciated! Everytime I see a new email in my inbox from your blog I get excited :). Thanks again!

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  5. Thank you, once again, for saving me this week! I am still very new and trying to get organized. Your blog is by far my FAVORITE! Thank you thank you for all your hard work! My kids are LOVING all of your ideas (I seriously just copy you almost every week...) You are such a life saver for me right now as I am struggling to get started.

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  6. You are a life saver. Thanks so much for your wonderful ideas! You are blessing my primary kids' lives, too!

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  7. You are so generous! I keep telling my husband how grateful I am to all these women (like yourself) that work so hard and are willing to share your efforts. This is some serious service for all of us! I am putting your ideas on my new blog that I am starting and am making sure to link back to your site directly. You are great! Thanks again! http://allmadeofhinges.blogspot.com/

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  8. Ohhhh, you guys are all so sweet. What lovely comments you leave. It makes it all worth while. Thanks for all your beautiful words of kindness. It really does mean a lot to me.

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  9. I was totally inspired by your post about this song! It's one of my favorites, and I posted a link back to it on my blog. You can see my post about it here: http://sunbeamsinging.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/latter-day-prophets/ This idea and these visuals are PERFECT. Just what my primary needs to learn this song!

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  10. Thank you for sharing such wonderful ideas.I wanted to use your idea to teach our Primary this song, I have tried several times to download the memory pictures and fact sheets but I get an error each time. Could you possibly email them to me?

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    1. Allison—Sorry you had problems downloading the files. Sometimes Scribd can get bogged down and if you try at a latter time, it ends up working. Fortunately, the files are not very large so they should email okay (sometimes they can be too big for emailing). However, I need to know what your email address is.

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  11. Thank you so much for this wonderful post! I was wondering where you got those nice sticks that you put on the back of the prophet pictures?

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  12. Thank you for putting in the time for the cute primary song. It made my job so easy to teach it. I'm very grateful. You are the best.

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  13. LOVE the fun fact sheet idea. I'm going to use it. Thanks so much!

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  14. Thank you! Using your big pictures, actions, fun facts, and symbols. Love it all! :)

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  15. My sisters and I are writing a book and wanted to include your prophet photos as one of the activities for a busy bag. Where did you get the photos and do we have permission to use them in our book. We would include your blog as to where to find them. Please let me know via email at emileenreynolds@yahoo.com. Thank you.
    Emilee

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  16. Thank you so much for doing all this!!! I cannot express enough gratitude for your kindness in sharing your brilliant ideas!! This is amazing and I am so excited to use it tomorrow with the kids. I truly appreciate the time you took into making all of this and then making it available for others to use!! Thank you!

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  17. Biblical Prophecy Teaching Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life

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  18. Just came across your site! I have been printing for the last 30 minutes! I gotta get to bed, but I am so excited for singing time !!! Thank you for the ideas and the helps!

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  19. so bummed I have to pay for a membership to have access to your files! I guess I just have to make them up myself. Great job though and good ideas.

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  20. Hi, is it possible to have you email me the full size prophet pics with the names on them? My email is heatherlynmk@hotmail.com Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put in to this!

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  21. Thank you! I'm totally using these this next month. I'm so excited!

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  22. This was so great!! Thanks so much!

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  23. Thank you for all your hard work. I am excited to teach this song to our junior primary.

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  24. OH my goodness. I have been struggling with my Junior Primary because the original idea I had (and have been trying to use) is too advanced for them and I've been at a loss. Thank you for sharing your hard work and talents with us!

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  25. I'm a brand new music leader and was told about your site by several people. Unfortunately The fun fact sheet and action key sheet for Latter-day Prophets aren't loading. Are they still available? Thank you!!!

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  26. I'd love the fun fact sheet and the action too!!!

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  27. I would love the action sheet and fun facts too please!

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  28. Any chance you're still updating this site and can add President Nelson? :)

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  29. Oh, I would LOVE the fun fact sheet if you have time to email it to me! scroft@gurulabs.com

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  30. I am definitely using this! Thanks so much for putting it together and sharing it! I'd like a copy of the fun fact sheet, if you could email it to me! Nacka106@msn.com

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  31. Hi There - This is a great idea - I love it! Can you please email me a copy of the fun fact sheet? Thank you! Brownsa74@gmail.com

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  32. I would also love a copy of the fun fact sheet! Thank you! kimijeanchristensen@gmail.com

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  33. If it’s not too much trouble could you email me the fun facts sheet too?
    Nikishalani@gmail.com
    Thank you so much!!!!

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  34. Could I please get the fun facts emailed to me? jennicaddy@cox.net. Thank you so much!

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  35. Hello. Are you able to send the fun facts memory pics via email? My address is laml.slocum@gmail.com. Thanks!

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  36. Could I please have the Latter Day Prophets Fun Facts mailed to me? This is so wonderful! Thank you from NJ! kandjmacd@hotmail.com

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  37. May I get the Fun Facts sheet too please? Michelle at momofthecentury@yahoo.com. Thank you!

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  38. Are you able to email me the Fun Facts page? I would be SO grateful!
    kerindavdubs@gmail.com
    Thank you!!

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  39. Can I get the fun fact sheet? Kristen at rkanderson35@hotmail.com Thank you!

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  40. If you can please email me the fun fact sheet. I am able to print the images, but not the fact sheet, so I don't know what the image means for all of them. Thank you! Shelyce.maxwell@gmail.com

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