Winter Singing Time

Make 10 or 12 snowflakes. Choose several songs that the children know - 10 or 12.  Include Choose the Right and I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus as well as Once There Was a Snowman, p. 249, and Rain Is Falling, p.241.  Tape the snowflakes on the board or all around the room.  Ask a child to choose one then sing the song.  It is always good to sing a song more than once, especially if they struggle with the words.

Snowflakes:

• Snowflakes have 6 points
• Cut 10 or 12 large circles out of white and/or light blue construction paper (dinner plate size)
• Fold circles in half then in thirds so it looks like a watermelon slice
• cut several small triangles, diamonds, etc. along the folded sides.
• unfold the circle and see the design you have made.
• Use your imagination so no two snowflakes are not alike.
• I laminate them so I can use them over and over again.

Build an Igloo

Draw an Igloo -- it's as easy as drawing a half circle.  Cut out a door, then cute the Igloo into "ice bricks."  Cut them as big or as small as you would like.  The children can put the Igloo together brick by brick after each phrase learned well or each time it is sung, or after each song is sung.  You can ask several children to put up a brick as a reward for singing in their best voices, or for being reverent in between songs.  Try to have the entire Igloo built by the end of sharing or singing time.

Winter Wonderland

Regardless of your location, snowflakes and snowmen can make a fun singing time in January and February.  I am using this activity as a way to reinforce what we have learned.  Make several snowflakes.  On the back tape word strips from the song you want to review.  I chose "If I Listen with My Heart."  Because I have all the words on the computer, it is easy to print and cut the song into word phrases.  I am putting "chorus" on one snowflake so we can sing it once. I am using two phrases from each verse, so I will have one phrase per snowflake -- that equals 6, plus one snowflake for the chorus.  I will also put this statement on 3 or 4 more snowflakes: "Tell one thing you love about Primary."  This adds some variety to singing time.  Choose children to pick a snowflake that you have taped up around the room.  Sing the verse that the phrase comes from.  Pick another snowflake.  Continue singing the verse that the phrase comes from or tell what is wonderful about primary.  If time permits, sing the entire song to close singing time.

When I explain the activity, I give an example of how we will sing the verses and what I think is wonderful about Primary, just so the children understand.

Snowflakes:

1. Cut several circles - varying sizes  (keep them at least 6 inches in diameter or larger)
2. Fold in half, then in thirds -- snowflakes are 6 pointed
3. Cut small triangle, diamond, circle or any other shapes out on the folded sides and outer edge.  Be sure to cut the tip in a arc or triangle so the middle has an interesting shape.
4. Open up the paper and there you have a beautiful -- or at least a creative snowflake.

No matter how they turn out, the children will love them.  You can also make square and rectangle shaped snowflakes, too.  (If you have grade school children, they might like to do this project for you.)  If you choose to laminate them, they will last for years.