Watermelon Review

As we gear up for our annual primary program, there is no such thing as too much review.  However, it can become very boring!  Our job is to put pizazz into review so no one knows that we are reviewing.

Cut several 1 inch rings out of green paper (you could color them using white paper if you would prefer).  Cut circles out of red paper big enough to fit into the green rings.  Glue the ring to the red circle.  Allow to dry.  This is now a slice of watermelon.  You could add a few black seeds to create a realistic look.  Cut the circle into wedges - I like 6 to 8 pieces.  The more wedges you have the more reviewing you can do.  On the back of each wedge write the name of each song you need to review.  I put the title of each song on 3 wedges to ensure that we sing the songs several times.

Put the the wedges on the board in circles - 3 or 4 circles (slices of watermelon).  Draw a large plate at the bottom of the board.  Have children choose a wedge from the slices and place them on the serving plate.  Try to fill the entire plate by choosing all the wedges.  Sing the song on the back each time a wedge is placed on the plate.  Try not to waste too much time in the choosing process - the goal is to sing, sing, sing!

Olympic Review

It's review time!  Make a list, large enough for the children to see, of all the songs that your Primary will be singing for the Primary Sacrament Program this fall.  Sing through each song.  After each song, ask the  children to rank or grade it with a "10" being awesome and "1" needing a lot of work.  You could ask 3 teachers and 3 children to be the judges and hold up a number much like the Olympics.  Make sure you record the grade.  Next week work on the song that receives the lowest mark.

This is a great way to help the children "own" the songs and know which ones need improvement.

Wheels a'turning

In honor of our pioneers, we are making a wagon wheel.  Using a large piece of black paper, cut a large circle, then cut the middle out leaving a large ring about 1 inch thick.  Cut a small circle for the middle of the wheel.  Now cut spokes for the wheel out of brown paper.  (If you would prefer use brightly colored paper for the wheel and spokes -  the children will love the colors!)  Depending on the time, put a phrase from several songs on the back of each spoke.  Have the children guess the song and then sing it.  See how many spokes you can put in the wheel.

Stars in the Sky

July is a great time to reflect on our pioneer heritage.  This activity is perfect for reviewing program songs or pioneer songs.

Use a large picture of a covered wagon or handcart (clipart or a picture from the library).  Place the picture in the middle of the board.  Cut out several stars (your choice of colors).  I have a bag of 50 or more stars that I have saved.  Tell the children that the pioneers slept under the stars each night.  Our goal is to put as many stars in the sky as possible.  Each time you sing a song or verse, ask a few children to choose a star and put it up on the board.  Choose the songs that need reviewing.  If the song needs to be repeated allow more stars on the board.

Activities such as this one keeps the children focused during singing time and as they sing songs more than once.

Whenever I Think about Pioneers

Regardless of where you live, July 24 is an important date to all of us.  It is important enough to sing about!  "Whenever I Think about Pioneers"  p. 222, is a great song to sing this month.  I teach all 4 verses to the children and then we work on the duet - verses 3 and 4 (which are almost the same but different melody). 
1st verse: use a picture of pioneers and talk about the children that came, too.  Sing the verse then have the children sing it a few times.
2nd verse: I use 1 or 2 words from each line - play games, fun, slept and measured.  I tell them about what "measured journey" means.  the pioneers measured the circumference of a wagon wheel and a counter was placed on the wheel to count the rotations and that's how they measured their journey.  Sing the verse. be sure to tell the children that it is a different melody.  Have the pianist play it through while you sing it.
3rd and 4th verses: you could write the two verses side by side on a poster or chalk board and then look at the differences.  Sing them both to see how they fit with the music.  Then try singing them as a duet. 

This may take two weeks to complete.

Patriotism

Every year I try to sing about patriotism.  In the Children's Songbook, p. 224, is a great song for any nationality.  I have picture prompts of a desert, mountains with pine trees, snowy landscape or an iceberg, and a heart for the first verse.  The second verse, I have a picture of a crown, a heart with the word "country" in the middle and the words "honest and free."   This is easy to teach with the picture helps.  If time and space permit, obtain your country's flag and have the children march around the room (or outside) singing this song several times.

Reviewing Songs

It's review time!  During the summer I like to review songs.  Children are in and out of town on vacation so reviewing works well to help keep the songs in the minds of the children and teachers, too.

Divide the children in half -- one side of the room and the other side, boys and girls, etc.  Make sure that there is a variety of ages on each side.  Have one side sing a phrase then have the other side sing the next phrase.  Continue through the song.  Have the teachers sing one verse then the children.  It's best if the children sing an entire phrase or more so they review songs with continuity.  Singing soft and loud is also a great variation in reviewing songs.