Christmas Pageant

This year we will be preparing a Christmas Pageant that we will sing during Primary singing and sharing time at the end of this month. It's just for us in the Primary so it's not a big fanfare.  By singing about Christ's birth, the children learn about and come to love the true meaning of Christmas.  The following is a list of the songs that we will be singing that talk about the birth of Christ.

• O, Hush Thee, My Baby  p. 48
• Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus p. 36
• When Joseph Went to Bethlehem  p. 38
• Stars Were Gleaming  p. 37
• Once Within a Lowly Stable  p. 41
• Mary's Lullaby  p. 44
• Picture a Christmas  p. 50
• Christmas Bells  p.54

We will gradually put up a manger scene after each song.  The children will tell about Christ's birth in their own words as we sing each song.  The only thing that we will rehearse will be the songs during singing time throughout this month.

There are other Christmas activities in earlier posts for more ideas.

Pick a Thankful Activity

I have posted several Thanksgiving singing time activities over the years.  I have listed below links to some "Thankful" posts for your convenience. Every year, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, I use my "Turkey" activity.  The children begin asking for it at the first of November.  I either have the children "pluck" the feathers or put them on the turkey.  The feathers all have song titles on the back of each. The children love either one. 

Thanksgiving Turkey
The Thankful Chain
The Thankful Tree
The Thankful Turkey
I Am Glad for Many Things
Gratitude

The Thankful Chain

We've all made paper chains for Christmas whether it be for decorations or a count-down chain.  How about a "Thankful" chain?!?

Cut 25 1" strips of fall colored paper 8 1/2" long.  Write the titles of the songs you would like to sing during singing time - 5 or 6 songs.  On the rest of the strips write "I am thankful for __________."  Mix the songs with the other strips and make a paper chain.

 Hang the chain on the chalkboard, podium, piano, several chairs, any place where the children can see and reach it.  Tell the children that on each chain there is a song or an "I am thankful for __________." sentence.  If the link has a song on it, the primary will sing it.  If it has "I am thankful for __________.", the child will tell something that he or she is thankful for.

Encourage the children to make their own "Thankful" chain at home with their family and see how long they can make it by writing things that they are thankful for.

The "Thankful" Tree

Whether your are reviewing or learning a new song, this activity will help children think of what they are thankful for.

• Cut out enough autumn leaves for everyone in your primary.  (all different colors)  Die cutting is fast and school supply stores have them already cut into packages of 25 or more.
• On a poster board, draw a tree with branches (no leaves)
• pencils

Every time  you sing a song (or phrase if it is a new song) have a child write something that they are thankful for on a leaf and tape it to the tree. 

If you are using this "Thankful" tree activity for the entire month, keep track of who has put up a leaf and
continue throughout the month.  By the end of November the tree should be covered with "thankful" leaves!

If you are doing this activity one or two weeks, ask several children to write on a leaf after each song so that the tree is covered by the end of singing time.

The Reverence Thermometer

Reverence has been and will continue to be a challenge forever.  When I feel that it's time to do something about it, I put my creative mind in gear.  There are many ideas out there to encourage reverence, which is "more than just quietly sitting."

The following is an oldie but goodie.
The Reverence Thermometer
You will need the following:

• one heavy piece of cardboard or foam core board
• two colors of ribbon (contrasting colors) about 24" long
• markers - 2 colors

1. Sew or safety pin one end of one color ribbon to the other color ribbon.  (Sewing is preferable so the ribbon will slide easier.)
2. Draw a thermometer - see picture below
3. Cut a slit at the bottom and top of the thermometer for the ribbon to slide in
4. Measure the ribbon so both colors are even and are both the length of the thermometer
5. I sewed a piece of velcro on the ends of each piece of ribbon so it can be fastened to each other on the back side of the thermometer (a safety pin will work, too)
6. Thread the ribbon in the slits and fasten in the back
7. Move the ribbon up and down to measure the children's reverence

Decorate a Pumpkin!

Decorate a pumpkin! 

• Cut a large pumpkin shape from orange paper - use construction paper or poster-board
• cut out a green or brown stem 
• cut several curly vines and a few leaves
• cut two eyes, one nose, a mouth and two eyebrows from bright yellow paper

Put the orange pumpkin up on a board.  On the back of the stem, vines, leaves, eyes, noes, etc. write a page number of the songs you would like to sing during singing time.  Encourage reverent singing.  Choose children that sing and are reverently singing to help decorate the pumpkin after each song.  You can ask teachers to help you choose the children.  Use enough items to decorate with as you have songs.  Make sure you get the face completed by the end of singing time.

Singing Time Apron

This is a fun way to teach, review or have choosing time.  You will need an apron.  If you want to make one, sew 8 or more pockets on it.  If you don't make one, any apron will do and you will need 8 or more large safety pins.

On slips of paper, write the titles of songs you would like to review or songs the children love to sing including action songs.  If you are teaching a new song, write one phrase per slip of paper. 

If your apron has several pockets, fold the slips of paper and put them in the pockets.  If your apron has no pockets, fold each slip of paper and with a safety pin, pin each piece on to the apron.

Put the apron on and explain to the children that you are wearing your "singing time" apron.  Choose a child to pick a pocket or unpin a paper.  Sing the song or phrase.  Continue until all the papers have been chosen - or you run out of time.

If you have a holiday apron, use it at that time of year.  A Christmas apron is especially fun for the holidays and Christmas songs.