Create an authentic pioneer day and bring in the chimes for teaching To Be a Pioneer in your singing time lesson plan!
Also, don’t feel like you can’t celebrate the pioneers because you don’t live in Utah! The pioneers are part of our entire church’s heritage and it’s worth celebrating wherever you live.
A few months ago, I purchased a set of chimes (find my post HERE for details) that I’ve been hankering to pull out. I had the thought that they would be super appropriate for Pioneer Day! Kind of old-fashioned, homemade instruments that pioneers may have used to create music!
See how I like to use handbells (which also applies to the chimes) in primary HERE. If you have never used handbells or chimes in primary, I highly recommend reading this post.
I purchased them without tags so I am in the process of labeling them. I wanted my own tag so they would match all my handbell charts…
You can print my Tag document using the access button at the bottom of this post. I simply printed the document on card stock, laminated it and cut the circles out. Then I punched holes, cut small slits (see below), put them on the strings and taped the slits shut…
There are several pioneer pictures in the Gospel Art Book [GAB] found HERE that I’ll post on the chalkboard:
I’ll quickly discuss how pioneers and their children did lots of singing. Music brought joy into their lives that would otherwise be very monotonous and dull. Just like pioneers, we can also bring joy into our own lives through music!
Then I’ll pass out the chimes and we’ll ring and sing To Be a Pioneer (we’ll also be ringing and singing Little Pioneer Children – you can find details on that song HERE). The handbell charts are for the optional descants. Download my note chart for To Be a Pioneer using the access button below.
If you find mistakes – let me know ASAP! How embarrassing!!
You can easily use this singing time with the KidsPlay Handbells if you don’t have chimes!
I also have a list of all my Pioneer Day singing time activities HERE.
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > To Be a Pioneer and Category Title > Make-Your-Own Handbell Charts (for the chime tags).
7 thoughts on “To Be a Pioneer”
I LOVE how you added tags!!! I have a set someone donated to the school, but they're numbered. I'm totally going to make tags like yours. Thanks!
Just curious how you managed this song? Did you direct the chimes descant while the pianist played the melody along with children singing the melody or did you sing the melody as a whole group first and then sing the descant along with the chimes second? My children do not know this song so I would have to teach it first if they were singing along. I could also see playing the cd of the song and having children follow along singing while I directed the children with chimes to follow the chart as I pointed to each note. Just curious how you have managed this best!
Hi Lynn,
I think most of your quesions can be answered with my post here called "Using Handbells in Primary" that goes into a lot more detail:
http://camillesprimaryideas.com/search?q=using+handbells+in+primary
But let me directly answer a few of your questions:
I always direct the descant. I get another leader (usually a primary presidency member) to lead the rest of the group with the song. The pianist always just plays the melody. Usually the kids are unfamiliar with the song but that's okay. We'll sing it through maybe twice before pulling out the bells/chimes either with the CD or just with the piano and we just plow through it, posting the words too. Since we are repeating the song over and over again, by the end of singing time, they get pretty familiar with it. And even if they don't KNOW the song by the end, at least they've been exposed to yet another song in the songbook – which I'd call a win :).
I hope that answers your questions some.
~Camille
I see that the chimes company only has music with the chimes playing the whole song and that makes it impossible to have children sing along with them since it makes it very slow. I see your wisdom in having the chimes or bells playing the descant and not taking away from the singing and also using the ideas you shared on the section on how to use chimes/bells to add variety. So, thanks again. I am working on a way to get the bells either with my own money or going in on it with the other ward in our building. Do you own any of the instruments you use in primary or just use ward budget?
A majority of what I use, I purchase myself. I figure that other choristers who follow me may or may not use what I buy so I hate to waste church funds. Our primary did purchase the handbell set using ward funds. They aren't cheap and I'm not sure I'd be okay with the primary kids handling the bells if they were my own. The pipes were pretty inexpensive and there's really no way to break those :).
Im looking to making or buy some chimes, what set is best for primary. i'm learn all the in and out of teaching music from you blog. thank you so much for your blog. it is awewsome filled with great ideas and hints.
Hi Jamie,
Above in this post is a link to where I purchased mine – they've been great. I've never made my own so I'm no help there. I hope that helps some – good luck!
~Camille