Charade Review

Reviewing songs is difficult because children, and sometimes teachers, don't see the point in it.  Games and activities will certainly take the "boring" out of reviewing. 

Put the title and first line of the songs to review on strips of paper.  Place the strips in a basket or container.  Explain to the children that they are going to act out the title or some part of the song.  The rest of the children will raise their hands and guess what song it is.  Then we will sing the song.  Choose one or two children to come up to the front of the room.  Have them pick a paper out of the basket.  Whisper the title and/or the first line of the song to those who cannot read yet.  Have them go out in the hall for 30 seconds (I time them) to discuss what they will do to get the rest of the children to guess the correct song.  If they have trouble guessing, you can give them hints.  Be sure to watch your time so you sing more than "act out" songs.

Sunshine review

Review time for the Sacrament meeting program can be a challenge -- keeping the children's attention, keeping singing time fresh and actually improving the songs.  With August being a warm, sunny month, try this activity:

• Cut out a large, bright yellow circle for a sun - no smaller than an 8 1/2" in diameter.
• Cut out at least 12 sun rays.  They can be strips of paper or triangles.  I like to use various colors of yellow and orange.

Place the sun in the middle of the chalk board.  Add a ray every time a song or verse is sung well, memorized or any other improvement.  The goal is to get as many rays around the sun as possible.

"Building" a Temple

This is the time that I review songs again and again so that the children are ready for the "Sacrament Program."  I am using the Salt Lake Temple line drawing and enlarging it so I can cut it out in sections and "build" the temple.  Depending on how many songs I am reviewing will depend on how many pieces I will need to make of the temple.  Most primaries will be singing 7 songs, so you will need seven pieces of the temple.  You could cut the temple up into puzzle-like pieces or cut 7 strips and start with the bottom strip and "build" up.  Each time the children sing a song 3 times or perfectly, you can add a strip to the temple.  If you are doing a puzzle, you can put the name of each song on the back of a puzzle piece.  As the children choose a puzzle piece, they will sing that song.  By the end of singing time the whole temple should be "built" or put together.  Watch your time so the picture can be completed.

Click here for temple clip art or search for the temple of your choice.

Covered Wagon Puzzle

The 24th of July is a big event in Church history -- especially in Utah!  For choosing time this week, I am helping the children put together a covered wagon.  The pieces I will use are the rectangle wooden box (the wagon, use brown paper), the cover (use white paper), two wheels - brown, 2 wheel rims -- black, the wagon tongue -- brown and the wagon seat -- brown.  That equals 8 pieces.  If using it for choosing time, 8 different songs could be on the backs of each piece.  If using it to teach a new song, 8 phrases could be sung, putting up a piece after the phrase is sung 3 times.  Activities like this help keep the children focused and anxious for the end results.  Watch the time so you can always finish the putting the wagon together.

Reverence Wagon Train

For the next few weeks, I am doing a "Reverence Wagon Train."  We all need a little reminder to be reverent now and again.  This week the children will color and cut out their wagon.  I will gather them up and tape them in a line around the room, one at a time, as they are caught being reverent -- during sharing time, singing time, closing or opening exercises, walking to and from classes.  Our hope is to have a wagon train all around the room by the end of July.  You can download a line drawing of a wagon by goggling "covered wagon line drawing free clip-art."

My Flag

It's very important that children gain a love for their country.  "My Flag, My Flag," p. 225, is a great song to teach them.  The words are simple to teach and you can draw parallel to the Book of Mormon story of "The Title of Liberty."  Have the children help retell the story then sing each phrase a few times.  Have the children tell how their flag makes them feel.

Father's Day Tie

Cut out a large man's tie -- 2 to 3 feet long out of poster board or construction paper.  Any color will work.  Then cut out 1/2 inch stripes or "quarter" size polka dots.  The children will decorate "Father's Tie." 

• You can put titles of songs on the backs of the dots or stripes.  
• Teach a new song a phrase at a time and put up a few dots or stripes after they sing a phrase correctly.  

If you want to use this activity next week or next year, laminate the tie for durability.