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.

Father's Day

Father's Day is three weeks away.  Our Primary does the special number in sacrament meeting on Mother's and Father's Day.  In order to have them sound wonderful and know the songs well, they will need all three weeks to practice.  (It's really only two weeks because we sing ON Father's Day.)  We like to do "Daddy's Homecoming," "When Grandpa Comes," and "My Dad."  We have also done "Fathers" because it talks about all of our fathers.  For time sake I do the 1st verse and chorus then verse 2 and 3 and chorus.  If you are lucky enough to do a longer program during Primary sharing time and invite Dads, Adding "Love Is Spoken Here" and "Families Can Be Together Forever" makes a nice program.

My Favorite Song

Write the title of all the songs that the children know for the 2011 Sacrament Program.  (I put the titles on strips of paper so I could use them again in other activities.)  Tell the children that they are going to choose their favorite song.  They may choose one favorite song.   Sing each song then you can tally several different ways.  Choose the best way for your primary.

• Say and point to each song title.  Have children stand up if it is their favorite.  Count the children and put the number after the song title.  They could raise their hand rather than stand.
• Let each child come up to the board and make a tally mark next to their favorite song, then add them up.
• Give each child a strip of colored paper (1" by 3") and have each child tape their strip next to their favorite song.
• Put each title on a paper bag or basket.  Give each child a strip, square or any other shape of colored paper and have them put their paper in the bag with their favorite song on it.

Have a few children tally the votes while you sing the songs again with the rest of the children.  If time permits, take a vote of all the teachers/adults in the room.   The children especially like to see their teacher's favorite song.

Praise to the Man

This month's theme is "The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored."  I find it interesting that there are no "helps" for teaching the hymn "Praise to the Man."  I have been teaching our primary this hymn in sign language for the past 7 months.  Each year I decide which hymn/song will be the hardest to teach or learn and I then learn and teach the sign language for it.  The Church music web site has all the Hymns and Primary songs recorded in sign language.  The children learn it much faster than I do.  I like the fact that when the words are big and/or difficult, the sign language helps them remember them.  Sign language also keeps the children focused.  Once they know the signing, we often "sing" the hymn in just sign language.  The piano plays and the room is silent as the children focus on the words and signs.  It is quite a reverent experience.