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.

Pioneer Trek

Pioneer history helps all of us to understand hardships and sacrifice.  This is a great activity for choosing/reviewing songs, as well as sharing a little pioneer history.

You will need:

• a cutout of a covered wagon or handcart that you can move across the board
• a long piece of string or yarn to represent the trail from Nauvoo to Salt Lake  (you can draw a path on the board with chalk instead)
• 10 - 12 campfire cutouts (pattern below) to tape on the path along the way

Prepare the board with the trail (draw the trail or tape the yarn up and down on the board to represent the trail the pioneers traveled - much like what you see on a map - preferably not a straight line.)  Write the names of the songs you would like to review on stripes of paper and tape them to the back of the campfires.  On the remaining fires write the word "sacrifice."   Tape the campfires along the trail spaced out from beginning to end. 

Explain to the children that pioneers sacrificed many things to come to the Salt Lake Valley.  Ask a child to move the wagon or handcart to the first campfire.  Ask another child to read what is on the back of the fire.  Sing the song.  If it says "sacrifice," ask the child to tell one thing that the pioneers may have had to sacrifice to walk across the plains.  Answers could include: homes, clothes, certain foods, toys, friends, sleep, etc. Continue in this pattern until you reach the Salt Lake Valley.

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!

Be Prepared!

Recently, I was asked how to maintain reverence among energetic children.  My best answer is BE PREPARED!!!  Many primaries have singing time for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Some incorporate singing with sharing time.  I, personally like the block of time because we can sing a song several times, work on sections or have time to play a singing game.  But, whatever time you have, you must be prepared!  Here is a list of helps for a music leader:

• Know the song or songs - memorized.  When you have the songs memorized, you can keep an eye on everyone.  You can see if the children are understanding the words, singing them correctly and if they are "zoning out."
• Have a plan.  When you have a plan as to how you are going to use your time, things will run more smoothly -- note: I didn't say perfectly - that rarely happens.
• Choose activities that will help the children learn and memorize the songs.  Keep them age appropriate.  Remember, not all children in primary can read.
• ALWAYS have a contingency plan.  If the children aren't responding well to your "plan A,"  your safety net is "plan B."  Also, you may have a little extra time and it's nice to have a little extra planned.
• Be energetic.  If you love what you do and love the children, they will know and respond back.  The reverse is true, as well.
• Sing more than you talk.  If everyone is singing, there is less chance of children loosing interest.  Singing time is just that -- SING!
• If you use visual aids, make sure that they are big enough so the back row can see.
• It's a good idea to talk with the primary president and ask that the presidency and teachers sing during singing time rather than visit.  Example is powerful!
• Enjoy yourself - it's contagious!

A Child's Prayer

The song for this month is "A Child's Prayer," p. 12.  This has been a favorite of mine since it was published some 30 years ago.  It has been used in several Primary Sacrament Meeting programs, as well.  If your primary is just learning it, here are some helps.

Every time you sing "Heavenly Father, Father, pray or prayer," fold your arms or place palms together as if praying.
"Do you hear and answer . . ."  put your hand to your ear as if listening
". . . heaven is far away"  place open hand above eyes as if looking far away
"I remember now"  point to your mind
"Jesus told disciples . . ."  use a picture of Jesus and his disciples
"Suffer the children . . ."  picture of Christ with children

I don't always like the children to do all the actions during a performance, so as they become more familiar with the words, take out one action at a time until they can sing it without any prompts.

Make sure that you sing this verse through more than 3 times so that it will "stick" in their minds.  Repetition is one of the best learning tools!

Tip: Review this year's program songs by singing them for opening and closing songs.