Order the Words

A great review activity for any song/songs is "find the word" and put them in order that they are sung.

Here are two examples:
I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus:

• trying
• following
• say
• tempted
• choice
• whispers
• learning
• gladness
• lessons
• gentle

When I Am Baptized

• rainbows
• ponder
• beauty
• earth
• baptized
• washed
• forgiven
• improve
• rain
• best

Make word strips of each word and tape them to the board jumbled up.  Sing the song. Ask two children to place two words (or more as time permits) in the order that they are sung in the song.  Sing the song again and follow the same procedure until all the words are in order.

A more difficult activity is to use words from two songs. Sing them both and have children take turns sorting and putting the words in order.  It's especially fun if you give them 30 seconds to see how many they can sort and/or put in order.

Diction - Singing Understandably

As I have listened to Primary programs throughout the years, although wonderful, most often we don't understand all the words - unless we know the song.

One thing that helps the most is teaching children to sing the words correctly. That means actually pronouncing all the consonants and singing on the vowels. Putting "t's" and "d's" on the end of words is probably the biggest challenge.  Children tend to think the word rather than saying/singing it. "S's" seem to be over done particularly with children - they love to "sssss."

As a primary music director, it is your job to help the children sing beautifully and understandably to help bring the spirit as we, the listeners, understand the words, hence the meaning.  Because the director already knows the words, we forget to really listen as the children sing to see if what they are singing can be understood.

To help with this challenge, here is a helpful activity to add when you teach a new song or review old songs:

• on 5" by 7" cards write the letter that you can't hear or need the children to think about saying.  I have a card for the following letters: T, D, V, K and C, P, L, B, R, G, M, N.  
• Using an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of card stock and with cotton balls outline an "S" - which means to sing a "soft" S.

These cards have helped children sing these letters so we can hear them - thus understanding the song.

When I Am Baptized - mirror activity

When teaching a new song (or even reviewing), young children need some visuals to to help them learn especially non-readers.  The older children will enjoy the visuals and it also helps keep everyone focused (even adults).

Before singing When I Am Baptized, p. 103, try the following activity:
You will need:

• a large mirror that is quite dirty so you can barely see yourself for the dirt or smudges. (bigger than a make-up compact)
• a clean rag to clean the mirror
• water or glass cleaner to clean the mirror

Show the dirty mirror to the children.  

Ask them if there is a way to clean the mirror.

Ask a child to clean the mirror.

Relate the activity to being baptized.

• What are things that we do that "smudge" ourselves?
• hit our brother/sister
• don't share
• don't obey
• the children will have other ideas
• We can always say we are sorry and try not to do it again
• When we take a bath, all our dirt is washed away
• When it rains, the earth gets a bath.
• When we are baptized, our sins or all the things we've done wrong are washed away just like cleaning the mirror.

Sing the song using any visuals from last weeks post.  Always sing a song 2 or 3 times to help it sink into the children's minds.

When I Am Baptized

This song is a fun one to teach.  You will need:

•  picture of a rainbow or make one
• picture of rain or cutout of a rain drop
• picture of a child being baptized
• word strip of "forgiven"
• wash rag

Ask the children if they have been really dirty.  How did they feel when they could wash their hands or take a bath.

Ask a recently baptized child to share their feelings after being baptized.  Ask an adult or you can tell how you felt when you were baptized.

This song tells how we can be spiritually clean.

Using the pictures, sing the first verse.  Have the children sing it with you.  With the pictures, sing the second verse and have them sing with you.  Sing both phrases a few times.

Sing the chorus. Invite the children to sing it with you.  Sing it a few times then try the whole song.

Be sure to thank the children for their participation in learning this new song.

Winter Singing Time

Make 10 or 12 snowflakes. Choose several songs that the children know - 10 or 12.  Include Choose the Right and I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus as well as Once There Was a Snowman, p. 249, and Rain Is Falling, p.241.  Tape the snowflakes on the board or all around the room.  Ask a child to choose one then sing the song.  It is always good to sing a song more than once, especially if they struggle with the words.

Snowflakes:

• Snowflakes have 6 points
• Cut 10 or 12 large circles out of white and/or light blue construction paper (dinner plate size)
• Fold circles in half then in thirds so it looks like a watermelon slice
• cut several small triangles, diamonds, etc. along the folded sides.
• unfold the circle and see the design you have made.
• Use your imagination so no two snowflakes are not alike.
• I laminate them so I can use them over and over again.

"Choose the Right" Review

Using the visuals from last weeks post (Jan. 8, 2017), tape them to the board and ask the children to put them in order as you sing the hymn.  If the visual is used more than once, put a tally mark next to it.

Review phrases that they need help on, then sing it again.

If they know the hymn well, try this activity as everyone sings the hymn:

• Boys stand when the word "choose" is sung.
• Girls stand when the word "right" is sung.
• As soon as they sing their word, they must quickly sit back down.

Choose the Right

I like to start learning the hymn for the year as soon as possible so the children have plenty of time to internalize it.  this year it is Choose the Right, #239. Click the links for pictures.

Preparation:

• Make a shield with CTR printed in the middle, (Hopefully you all know that it stands for Choose the Right.)  I used heavy cardstock and made it about about 14 inches tall.
• Picture of a flashlight or light bulb (or you can use the real thing)

Sing the first and hold up the shield every time you sing choose the right or right.

Every time you sing light, hold up the flashlight or light bulb.

Sing it a few times with the children.  

Have two children hold up the two pictures as you sing them.

Chorus

• Use the shield and flashlight/light bulb as you sing the chorus.
• Picture of books with a bookmark - "let wisdom mark the way before"
• Picture of children with Christ - "and God will bless you evermore"

Sing the chorus showing the pictures as you sing.  Invite the children to sing with you.