Choosing the Right

Our program this year is all about choosing the right.  After the children sing one of the program songs, ask them to tell you 3 things that they sang about the would help them choose the right - or how the song fits into the theme of "Choose the Right."  You may want to tell them what they are listening for before they sing each song.  This activity will help them understand what and why they are singing each song.

Under the Chair Review

This idea is an old one and I remember loving it when I was in Primary.  Write the title of each song on a strip of paper.  You can be fancy and use a shape -- circle, apple, flower, CTR shield, etc.  On 4 or 5 other pieces of paper or shapes write "How can I choose the right each day?"  Before Primary (if possible) tape them under several chairs in the room - make sure each class has at least one. (You can also tape them around the room and ask a child to pick one if under the chair will be too disruptive.) Ask one class at a time to look under their chairs.  Have the one with the paper on it read it and answer the question or if it is a song, have the whole Primary sing it.  Continue as you have time.

Watermelon Review

As we gear up for our annual primary program, there is no such thing as too much review.  However, it can become very boring!  Our job is to put pizazz into review so no one knows that we are reviewing.

Cut several 1 inch rings out of green paper (you could color them using white paper if you would prefer).  Cut circles out of red paper big enough to fit into the green rings.  Glue the ring to the red circle.  Allow to dry.  This is now a slice of watermelon.  You could add a few black seeds to create a realistic look.  Cut the circle into wedges - I like 6 to 8 pieces.  The more wedges you have the more reviewing you can do.  On the back of each wedge write the name of each song you need to review.  I put the title of each song on 3 wedges to ensure that we sing the songs several times.

Put the the wedges on the board in circles - 3 or 4 circles (slices of watermelon).  Draw a large plate at the bottom of the board.  Have children choose a wedge from the slices and place them on the serving plate.  Try to fill the entire plate by choosing all the wedges.  Sing the song on the back each time a wedge is placed on the plate.  Try not to waste too much time in the choosing process - the goal is to sing, sing, sing!

Olympic Review

It's review time!  Make a list, large enough for the children to see, of all the songs that your Primary will be singing for the Primary Sacrament Program this fall.  Sing through each song.  After each song, ask the  children to rank or grade it with a "10" being awesome and "1" needing a lot of work.  You could ask 3 teachers and 3 children to be the judges and hold up a number much like the Olympics.  Make sure you record the grade.  Next week work on the song that receives the lowest mark.

This is a great way to help the children "own" the songs and know which ones need improvement.

Wheels a'turning

In honor of our pioneers, we are making a wagon wheel.  Using a large piece of black paper, cut a large circle, then cut the middle out leaving a large ring about 1 inch thick.  Cut a small circle for the middle of the wheel.  Now cut spokes for the wheel out of brown paper.  (If you would prefer use brightly colored paper for the wheel and spokes -  the children will love the colors!)  Depending on the time, put a phrase from several songs on the back of each spoke.  Have the children guess the song and then sing it.  See how many spokes you can put in the wheel.

Stars in the Sky

July is a great time to reflect on our pioneer heritage.  This activity is perfect for reviewing program songs or pioneer songs.

Use a large picture of a covered wagon or handcart (clipart or a picture from the library).  Place the picture in the middle of the board.  Cut out several stars (your choice of colors).  I have a bag of 50 or more stars that I have saved.  Tell the children that the pioneers slept under the stars each night.  Our goal is to put as many stars in the sky as possible.  Each time you sing a song or verse, ask a few children to choose a star and put it up on the board.  Choose the songs that need reviewing.  If the song needs to be repeated allow more stars on the board.

Activities such as this one keeps the children focused during singing time and as they sing songs more than once.

Whenever I Think about Pioneers

Regardless of where you live, July 24 is an important date to all of us.  It is important enough to sing about!  "Whenever I Think about Pioneers"  p. 222, is a great song to sing this month.  I teach all 4 verses to the children and then we work on the duet - verses 3 and 4 (which are almost the same but different melody). 
1st verse: use a picture of pioneers and talk about the children that came, too.  Sing the verse then have the children sing it a few times.
2nd verse: I use 1 or 2 words from each line - play games, fun, slept and measured.  I tell them about what "measured journey" means.  the pioneers measured the circumference of a wagon wheel and a counter was placed on the wheel to count the rotations and that's how they measured their journey.  Sing the verse. be sure to tell the children that it is a different melody.  Have the pianist play it through while you sing it.
3rd and 4th verses: you could write the two verses side by side on a poster or chalk board and then look at the differences.  Sing them both to see how they fit with the music.  Then try singing them as a duet. 

This may take two weeks to complete.