Review Hearts

At least once a month I try to review songs that we have learned since January. This month I'm using red and pink hearts .  I put the names of several songs on the back of each heart:

• I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus - 1st verse
• I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus - 2nd verse
• When I Am Baptized - 1st verse
• When I Am Baptized - 2nd verse
• Choose the Right - verse only
• Choose the Right - chorus only
• 2 - 5 more songs the children know.

Tap the hearts on the board or around the room.  Ask a child to pick a heart and read the name of the song.  Sing the song.  repeat the process until you have sung all the songs.  Make note of the ones the children need more work on for another week.

"Choose the Right" Review

Using the visuals from last weeks post (Jan. 8, 2017), tape them to the board and ask the children to put them in order as you sing the hymn.  If the visual is used more than once, put a tally mark next to it.

Review phrases that they need help on, then sing it again.

If they know the hymn well, try this activity as everyone sings the hymn:

• Boys stand when the word "choose" is sung.
• Girls stand when the word "right" is sung.
• As soon as they sing their word, they must quickly sit back down.

Why do I like this song?

Write the title for each song that you are singing for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program on strips of paper. You will need 2 or 3 strips for each song.   Hopefully, you will be singing at least 5 songs.  Put the papers in a basket or container.  Tell the children to be thinking about the songs that they have been learning for the program and what they like about the song.  Answers could be: I like the melody, I like how fast we sing it, I like the words, I like the part that goes like _______, I like how fun it is to sing it, I like the story it tells, etc.  The children may need suggestions to begin with.

Have a child draw a paper and read the title.  Sing the song and then ask two or three children to tell what they like about it.  Continue drawing the papers and singing the songs.  You should be able to sing each song twice during singing time.

Gathering Leaves

Whether you are reviewing or singing Fall songs, these leaves can make review or choosing time fun for the children.  Put the songs on the back and let the children "gather" the leaves and put them in a basket or a pile on the board.  Print them on colored paper or enjoy coloring them.

Sing to the Sky!

Here is an activity to cut through the norm in singing time.  Plan a review of the songs that you will be singing for any program.

• Have children stand up
• Sing to the wall
• Sing to the back wall
• Sing to the door
• Sing to the Primary President
• Sing to the piano
• Sing to the cieling
• Sing to chair in front of you
• Sing to the floor
• Sing to your neighbor
• Stand in the center o the room and have the children sing to you
• Sing with your eyes shut
• Sing standing on one foot
• Sing with your ears covered
• Hold your nose and sing (they will all laugh at this sound)
• Clap each word/syllable as you sing

The list can go on and on.  The children will never know that they are reviewing songs over and over again.
You can put these ideas on strips of paper and have the children draw one at a time out of a hat or container.

1 though 10 - How well do you know your songs?

As we continue to review and prepare for the Sacrament Meeting Program, I like to see how the children judge their knowledge of the songs. 

• Make 10 cards (quarter sheets of paper or card stock)
• Number them 1 through 10 - one number on each card

I made 5 sets of ten cards.  Choose 5 children to be "judges."  I like to have one or two teachers judge, too.
Sing one of the songs for the program.  Ask the judges to hold up one card to "grade" how well the primary sang the song.
Ten - awesome
Five - ok
One - needs a lot of work
The rest of the numbers fit in between.

Continue singing the songs and grading them.  Choose different judges for each song.
This also helps you know which songs need a little extra work

Spot the Dot

We are in the "review" mode as we draw closer to "Program" time.  There are many "review" posts on this blog that might be helpful.  Check them out and remember that it's okay to reuse your ideas and visuals.

Spot the Dot is perfect for review.

• Choose short phrases or one or two words from each song.  
• Print each of them on 11" x 8 1/2" paper  
• Cut large circles of colored paper - enough circles to equal the phrases or words that you have chosen.  (My circles are 8 1/2" in diameter. I also laminate the circles so I can use them for other activities.)
• Place the dots on the board (any pattern)
• Put the words or phrase on top of the dots
• Sing one of the songs
• Ask the children to "Spot the Dot" when they sing the words or phrase from the song.
• Move the dot with the words to the perimeter of the board (Non-readers can help with this)
• The goal is to move all the dots to the perimeter.
• Continue singing the songs and spotting the dot

Picture Review

I was recently asked if I do something different every week in Primary singing time.  Absolutely not!  I have several activities for each holiday, many, many review activities and I definitely use ideas over again, especially the ones the children love.  "Singo" is a favorite as is any matching activity. 

This week I am gathering one or two pictures that I used to teach all the songs so far for the program (a picture per song or verse).  I will put them on the board and ask a child to choose a picture and tell what song it belongs to.  We will then sing it.  I try to choose pictures that don't totally give the song away so the children have to think a little.

Back-to-School Review

You will need the following items or a picture of the items:

• pencil
• box of crayons
• eraser
• notebook
• backpack
• lunch box or sack
• apple or orange (healthy snack)
• a picture of a happy face (my happy face should always go to school)

Tape the title of each song that you need to review on each object. (There are 8 songs in the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.) Place all of the items in the backpack, then put the backpack into a large bag.

Tell the children that all students need to be prepared for school each year. And, each year we need to be prepared for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program. In this bag are things that we might need to be ready for school and a song is taped on each item to help us be prepared for our program.

Ask one child to pull out what is in the bag. Sing the song taped onto the backpack. Now ask on child to pick an item out of the backpack.  Sing that song.  Continue until all the songs have been sung.

Optional:

• pillow - we need plenty of sleep
• pencil box
• box of markers
• hand sanitizer
• box tissue
• picture of a healthy breakfast - gives us energy to start the day
• Scriptures - read them every day so we can hear the whispering of the Holy Ghost
• umberella
• rain boots/coat
• jacket
• gym shoes or weights - to get plenty of exercise

If you would like to reward the children, a new pencil for each of them is a great reward.

Stump the Class

Reviewing songs can become a little boring, so it is our job to liven it up.  Choose one sentence or phrase from each song to be reviewed and write it on a slip of paper.  Fold them up and put them into a container.  Choose a child to pick a paper from the container.  You and the child (and of course the pianist) will know the phrase.  On the board, draw a short line for each letter in the phrase.  Choose 5 children, one at a time, to guess a letter.  If it is in the phrase, write the letter wherever it appears in the phrase.  Hopefully, by the time the 5th child chooses a letter they can guess the phrase.

_ _  _ _ _  _ _ _ _  _ _  _ _ _ _
   e               e            e     e    e
             s   s
h      h                            h
                           t
                                m

he h_s se_ t   me  he_e
he has sent me here

With the help of teachers, this should be a fun review.  Sing the song once the children have guessed the phrase.

Word Test

One of the best ways to check to see how well children (and adults) know a song is to use 4 signs while you sing a song.

• Sing
• Hum
• Mouth Words
• No Singing (silent)

1. Cut 4 large circles out of card stock - about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. (Different colors)
2. In large letters, write each word or phrase on each circle.
3. Tape or glue two circles together (words on outside) with a large craft stick or paint stirring stick taped or glued in the middle of the two circles.
4. Now you have two two-sided signs that you can use or have a child turn them.  Obviously, only one sign should be up at a time

Great for reviewing any song!

Review in a Cup

Choose how many songs you would like to review, for instance:  I will be reviewing 6 songs.  I will need 6 paper cups plus 3 more, 9 in all.  Place cups on a table in the front of the room.  Make strips of paper with a review song on each.  On three extra strips write "Fun to Do."  Place one strip of paper  under each cup .  Choose on child to pick a cup and read the song.  Sing the song.  If they choose "Fun to Do," they must do something that would have been done during the Book of Mormon times.  Everyone sings and does the action. 
Example:

• Building a ship is fun to do
• Writing on plates is fun to do
• Hunting for food is fun to do

The children will have some great ideas.
Continue until all the cups have been chosen.

Judge that Song!

Add some fun to your reviewing by having a panel of judges.  Number 10 half sheets of paper - one number on each, 1 through 10.  Make three sets.  Make two "tally" sheets and put them on clip boards so it's easy to write.  List all the songs you wish to review on the chalk board and on the tally sheets.  Choose 3 "judges" for the first song.  Choose two older children to be "score keepers."  Explain to the children that the judges will hold up a number after we sing a song.  A score of "10" will be the very best and "1" will mean that we really need to work on that song.

You can change judges and score keepers after every song in order to give more people a chance.  It's fun to add a teacher to the mix, too.

Tally up the scores at the end of singing time and see which songs need work and which ones are awesome.

Integrating Ages

Integrating all ages in Primary is not an easy feat!  Whether it be in sharing time or singing time, a nine-year age span is a challenge.  There is the difference in attention span, readers and non-readers, back row/front row, not to mention tired and sometimes disinterested teachers.  What to do as a music leader?!?!

Enthusiasm and genuine happiness is contagious.  And, as I have stated in previous posts, be prepared, then be prepared for a little more.  Here are a few ideas on how to help the young children learn songs and the older ones to maintain attention.

• Ask some of the older children to sit among the younger ones.  They become examples to those 4, 5 and 6 year-olds.  
• When using word charts, try to have a few pictures that go along with the song and have the younger children hold them.
• Write words on the board and have an older child help a younger one erase a word or phrase while teaching or memorizing a song.
• Divide the room in half and half sing a phrase or verse and the other half sing the next phrase or verse.  Make sure that ages on each side are equal.
• Mix things up and have the boys sit on one side and the girls on the other for singing time.
• Ask a younger child to hold a sign up with "soft" on one side and "loud" on the other.  Let them turn it as the primary sings.  (other signs could be: hum/words, smile/frown, mouth words/sing words, etc.)

These are just a few ideas.  Remember to be positive and happy!

Picture Review

Here is a list of the songs for the 2013 Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  Two of them were your choice so you may not be using the two listed below.  There are 6 songs to review.

Make a word strip of each song title, fold it and put it in a basket, paper bag or jar.  Find one picture to represent each song.  I've put a suggestion after each song below.  Ask a child to draw a paper from the jar and read the title.  Then ask the children to match the title to the picture.  Sing the song.  (Sing it twice if it needs a little more review.)

Songs for 2013 program

I Am a Child of God p. 2  

     picture of a child or children with Christ

My Heavenly Father Loves Me p. 228  

     picture of a bird

If the Savior Stood Beside Me   

     picture of the 10 commandments

I Will Be Valiant p. 162  (your choice)  

     picture of missionaries or Army of  Helaman

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet # 19 (your choice)   

     picture of Joseph Smith or Pres. Monson

When I Am Baptized p. 103  

     picture of a rainbow or a child being baptized

Families Can Be Together Forever p. 188  (July)

A Child's Prayer p. 12  (August)

Eastertime

Easter is 4 weeks away (counting this week).  There are several Easter songs listed in the index of the Children's Songbook.  I like to add a few "springtime" songs as well.  "Heavenly Father Loves Me," p. 228  fits into this genre so you could review it with the children so they keep it up for the Sacrament Meeting Program. 

This year our primary will have an "Easter Pageant" during singing time.  It isn't a "big" program, just a little different from what we usually do during that time.  I will be reviewing the Easter songs and springtime songs with the children - two or three songs a week.  We will also continue learning the rest of "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" this month.

As you review or learn the Easter songs, ask questions about this event that are answered in the songs.  Questions for "Did Jesus Really Live Again" could be:
What day was Jesus risen?  "Yes, when the third day came."
Who did He see first?   Mary
What did He eat?   Fish and honeycomb
What was in His hands?   nail prints
What was in His side?   spear wound
Is Jesus the only one who will be resurrected?  No, "and so shall I."

Reviewing Is Fun

Primary is once a week and many of the children don't practice/sing the songs outside of primary so reviewing new songs is critical.  I want the children to know the songs so well that they hum or sing them while they are playing or working -- that's when the songs become apart of them.

Pass out the pictures that were used to teach "My Heavenly Father Love Me" to several children.  You could also use words or phrases from both verses printed on a strip of paper along with the pictures.  As you sing the song, ask the children to stand when their phrase or picture is sung.

If time permits, review "I Am a Child of God" by asking the pianist to play one phrase (preferably not in order).  Ask the children to sing that phrase from each verse.
Example: And He has sent me here
               And so my needs are great
               Rich blessings are in store
               His promises are sure

This activity helps the children think about the words and the melody.

The Blizzard

Cut out 25 or more snowflakes.  Snowflakes have 6 points.  If you cut circles, fold the circle in half then in thirds, it will be an "authentic" snowflake.  With it folded, snip a few slits on each side, then open it and you have a snowflake.  You will be an expert after you cut out 25.  You can also make square ones, as well.  Choose several songs you would like to review. 

Tell the children that you would like to create a "blizzard" on the board.  As the children sing, you will be watching for super singers, reverent singers, happy singers.  You will give several children a snowflake as they sing.  At the end of the song or verse, ask the children with snowflakes to put theirs up on the board.  By the end of singing time the board will be covered with snowflakes.

This activity keeps the children focused, reverent and singing.  It is best if you can have enough snowflakes for each child to put one on the board, however, this may not be possible if you have a large primary.

Valentine Singing Time

Children love holidays, as do I.  Valentine's Day is this week so hearts will be the theme for this week's singing time.  Cut out several hearts out of red, pink, white, purple paper.  They need to be about as big as your hand.  I will be using about 25 hearts.  On the back of some of the hearts (8 to10), write one phrase from a song that you are learning.  You could use phrases from "I Am a Child of God," "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," or any other favorite song.

On the board, tape all the hearts in the shape of one big heart.  Make sure the blank hearts are mixed in with the ones with phrases.  In the middle, place a large picture of Jesus (there are many to choose from).  Have one child pick a heart.  If it has a phrase on it, figure out which song and verse it comes from.  Sing the song/verse.  If they choose a blank heart, they need to tell how they can show love to Jesus (or family members, teachers, etc., all of which show our love for Jesus).  Continue as time permits.

Snowman Review

The more children (and adults for that matter) sing a song, the more it becomes apart of them.  The trick in reviewing one song is to keep the children focused on an activity so they don't realize that they are singing the song several times.

Cut out 3 circles out of white paper - one large, one medium and one small for the head of the snowman.  Cut a hat out out of black or another color.  Cut out several black circles for eyes and mouth, and a few for the buttons down the front of the snowman.  An orange carrot for the nose and a colorful scarf will be needed.  Sticks for the arms and a shovel or broom for him to hold are optional.  Choose several phrases from the 4 verses of  "I Am a Child of God" and print them on individual slips of paper. 

Tell the children that they are going to build a snowman.  Have a child pick a slip of paper and read the phrase.  Decide what verse it comes from, then sing that verse.  Choose another child to put up a piece of the snowman.  If you only have time for singing each verse once, make sure there are only 4 pieces to the snowman or put up a few pieces to the snowman to ensure he is complete by the end of singing/sharing time..  You can sing only the verse and save the chorus to sing at the end.  That way you will have more time to sing the verses several times and use more pieces to the snowman.