Grading Program Songs

List all the titles of the songs that you will be singing for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  List them on a poster board or large scroll of paper that the children can easily see.  Leave room to put a "grade" at the end.

Write the numbers 1 through 10 on 4" squares or circles (colored paper is great)

Sing each one of the songs.  As you finish singing each song, ask a few children to grade how well they sing the song - know the words, etc.
1- means the song needs a lot of work still
10 - means best ever (the children probably love to sing this song)
The numbers in between show varying degrees of proficiency

This activity helps you plan the next weeks on what songs need more work.  Ask the children to help figure out what needs work such as words, melody, one specific verse, etc.  Write these suggestions down so you can remember them. Each week you can focus on one or two songs that need extra rehearsing.

Teachers can be good critics, too.

*Bring this chart each week until your program and work on improving so that all songs are a solid 10.

Back-to-School Review

I try to come up with fun ways to review songs.  Many kids are back in school or will be soon.  Most are excited for new school clothes, back packs, binders, crayons, sharpened pencils, etc.  Take advantage of this enthusiasm as you review songs this week.

Gather 10 things that students might need for school and place them in a paper bag.  Examples are: binder, pencil, pen, crayons/colored pencils, glue stick, spiral notebook, scissors, ruler, pencil box, markers, highlighter, or anything else you can think of.  You will also need a back pack. (borrow one if you don't have one)

On a small piece of paper, write the titles of the songs you would like to review. Be sure to include an action/movement song ("Do as I'm Doing," etc.).  Tape each piece of paper to one of the items in the bag.

Tell the children that you need to pack your back pack for school.  They will help fill your back pack.  Choose one child to draw an item from the bag.  Sing the song taped to the item.  Have the child put the item in your back pack.  Repeat the process.  Try to sing as many songs as you can in your allotted time.

This activity will help you determine which songs need extra review.

"The Lord Gave Me a Temple" Review

Review time!  Color and cut out the circles in this pdf. (click here to download pictures)  You can enlarge them if you choose.  I like them to be as big as an 8" square so the children can see it.  I also color them with bright colors so they are easy to see.  Laminate them if you want to use them again (I always do).

Tell the children that we are going to review The Lord Gave Me a Temple.  On word strips no longer than 8 inches write the following words:

• The Lord gave  (1st verse, 1st phrase)
• If I keep  (2nd verse 1st phrase)
• Once in Heaven  (1st verse 2nd phrase)
• temple brighter - spirit free   (1st verse 3rd phrase)
• gave to me  (1st verse 4th phrase)
• clean and pure (2nd verse 2st phrase)
• claim blessings  (2nd verse 2nd phrase)
• resurrection  (2nd verse 3rd phrase
• body bright  (2nd verse 4th phrase)

Each set of words comes from one of the phrases in the song.  Place each set of words on the board.  Using the pictures used in teaching the second verse (3 pictures) and the 5 pictures below, cover the words with the pictures.  Ask a child to chose a picture and read the words behind it.  See if they can tell what verse and phrase it is.  If they can't, sing the song until you sing the words that have just been uncovered.  Ask the children to raise their hand as soon as they sing the words.

Alternate activity:

Write the last word of each phrase on strips of paper.  (They are the rhyming words)  Tape the strips on the board in jumbled order.  Sing the song and put the words in order.  Sing the song as many times as you need to get the words in order.

The Lord Gave Me a Temple 2nd verse

The second verse to this song tells about the blessings we will receive if we take care of our bodies.  You will need the following to help teach this verse:

• picture of a boy and girl dressed in Sunday clothes
• picture of a temple
• picture of the resurrected Christ word strip of "celestial glory" (perhaps sitting on top of a puffy cloud)

1. Sing the 1st line and show the picture of the boy and girl.  Have the children sing it with you a few times.

2. Sing the 2nd line showing a picture of a temple.  Sing it with the children a few times then sing it from the beginning.

3. Sing the 3rd line sowing the resurrected Christ.  Tell the children that we will all be resurrected like Christ was.  Sing it with the children a few times then sing it from the beginning.

4. Show the word strip on the cloud and explain that we all want to live with our Heavenly Father.  We need to care for our bodies so we can meet Him with our clean, perfect bodies.  Sing the last line with the children a few times then sing it from the beginning.]

Be sure to review all the songs that you are preparing for the Sacrament Program.