My Eternal Family

I am going to start My Eternal Family this Sunday and am going to use hand gestures with the song. My kids love using hand signs and I love to throw in an actual American Sign Language sign every so often. Anyway here is the plan:

Verse 1

I (point to self)
am a builder (one fist on top of the other to the beat of the music) working each day
To build my family (ASL sign for family)
And I (point to self)
will do the best (hand in fist move across front of body) I can
To serve (put hands out in front)
them lovingly (hands over hearts)
I (point to self)
am a builder (one fist on top of the other to the beat of the music)
growing so tall (right hand moves from waist height upwards)
And learning every day (right hand pointer finger to head tapping to beat)
To speak (right hand pointer finger touches lips then moves outward)
with kindness (left hand over heart)
in my home (finger tips together like the point of a roof)
To help (hands out in front of you together)
at work (move right hand out)
and play (move left hand out)

My Heav’nly Father (ASL sign)
sent me here (pointer finger moves down)
And He knows (point to head and nod to beat) I can be
Strong (like flexing your arm muscle)
and righteous (point to ring finger (if you're righteous you choose the right and
your CTR ring reminds you to choose the right))
as I build (one fist on top of the other to the beat of the music)
my eternal family (ASL sign for family)

Verse 2

I (point to self)
am a builder (one fist on top of the other to the beat of the music) building
a home (finger tips together like the point of a roof)
I seek (hand above eyes)
the Lord in prayer (hands together in praying position)
And as I try (ASL sign – hands in fist with thumbs out each thumb start above chest and move out in front of you)
to live God’s word (hands like a book for scriptures)
I feel the Spirit (Hands palms toward body move up from waist as fingers "twinkle") there
I (point to self)
am a builder (one fist on top of the other to the beat of the music)
serving (hands together palms up move forward as if offering someone something ) the Lord
And following (hands together moving forward in front of you) His plan
To help my family (ASL sign)
come back home (finger tips together like the point of a roof)
And live with Him again (Right hand raises up above head, gesturing to heaven)

I watched the ASL video for the song on LDS.org here is the link:
http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8218-1,00.html

I would love any suggestions.

Transition Time & Attention Grabbers

I don't know how your primary is structured, but I hate the wasted transition minutes between activities, especially when it's going to take me a minute to gather everything and set up. I invariably have to make some alteration from how the previous leader had things (take their pictures down so I can put mine up, turn the blackboard around, help kids move closer, etc.) and it distracts the kids and wastes precious minutes.

I think it's important for the kids to move quickly from one activity to the next (especially the Junior Primary) so they don't lose focus. I also like to change things up when they've been sitting a long time.

Today in Jr. Primary we had sharing time first. Sister Friendly came in and told a story. It was a LONG story with no pictures or activity to go along with it. The kids had been sitting for a long time without any chance to wiggle about. They kept being shushed by their teachers. It was agonizing for them!

The activity I had planned required a little bit of sitting at first, though there was plenty of movement included later. I knew I needed them to move and also have their attention on me if I was going to get everything done in the shortened time I had. So while I was setting things up I started giving them instructions. I always prefaced each instruction with "if you can hear me" to make sure they weren't talking and were paying attention. Here's some of what I said:

"If you can here me":

• touch your head
• touch your toes
• touch your head, touch your toes, touch your nose, touch your head (in rapid succession)
• stand up
• jump up and down
• sit down
• stand up
• face the piano
• wave to Sister Black (our pianist)
  
• twirl in a circle
• jump up and down
• zip your lip
• fold your arms
• sit down

It worked great! They got their wiggles out. It grabbed their attention and focused it on me. It prepared them to quickly move into whatever I had planned next.

Do any of you have tips or tricks for quickly achieving reverence or focus, or for handling your transition time?