Smile!

A smile is worth a a million!  When you are teaching a song or any time you are in front of children, your smile should radiate your love for them.  A smile is also contagious -- so spread it generously! 

When practicing for the Sacrament Meeting Program, encourage the children to smile.  They will sing better and engage the congregation, as well.  If you  need a little help here is an idea:

• cut 2 circles out of heavy paper or cardboard
• draw a happy face on one (keep it simple)
• draw a frowny face on the other
• tape each one to a stick (paint stirring stick, large tongue depressor, etc.)

During singing time, when you see few children smiling, hold up the frowny face.  Most children will immediately smile.  Trade off  "faces"  as they sing.  This will also help them watch you.

I also use a circle or large cut out of an ear.  I hold it up when I need a little more volume as they sing - NOT YELLING.  Make sure the children know the difference.

Intensive Review!

We, including teachers and children, found one song to be quite weak after singing through all the songs for the program this fall.  This week I have chosen key words for each phrase and wrote them on strips of paper.  If a picture would work, I will use that.  On the board, place the word strips and pictures in a random order.  Ask the pianist to play the first phrase.  Have the children find the word or picture that is in the phrase.  Place it to the side of the board and then sing the phrase.  If it is still weak, sing it 2 more times.  Repeat the process on the rest of the phrases.  This may take the entire singing time but the children and teachers will know the song well.

1 though 10 - How well do you know your songs?

As we continue to review and prepare for the Sacrament Meeting Program, I like to see how the children judge their knowledge of the songs. 

• Make 10 cards (quarter sheets of paper or card stock)
• Number them 1 through 10 - one number on each card

I made 5 sets of ten cards.  Choose 5 children to be "judges."  I like to have one or two teachers judge, too.
Sing one of the songs for the program.  Ask the judges to hold up one card to "grade" how well the primary sang the song.
Ten - awesome
Five - ok
One - needs a lot of work
The rest of the numbers fit in between.

Continue singing the songs and grading them.  Choose different judges for each song.
This also helps you know which songs need a little extra work

Spot the Dot

We are in the "review" mode as we draw closer to "Program" time.  There are many "review" posts on this blog that might be helpful.  Check them out and remember that it's okay to reuse your ideas and visuals.

Spot the Dot is perfect for review.

• Choose short phrases or one or two words from each song.  
• Print each of them on 11" x 8 1/2" paper  
• Cut large circles of colored paper - enough circles to equal the phrases or words that you have chosen.  (My circles are 8 1/2" in diameter. I also laminate the circles so I can use them for other activities.)
• Place the dots on the board (any pattern)
• Put the words or phrase on top of the dots
• Sing one of the songs
• Ask the children to "Spot the Dot" when they sing the words or phrase from the song.
• Move the dot with the words to the perimeter of the board (Non-readers can help with this)
• The goal is to move all the dots to the perimeter.
• Continue singing the songs and spotting the dot

Picture Review

I was recently asked if I do something different every week in Primary singing time.  Absolutely not!  I have several activities for each holiday, many, many review activities and I definitely use ideas over again, especially the ones the children love.  "Singo" is a favorite as is any matching activity. 

This week I am gathering one or two pictures that I used to teach all the songs so far for the program (a picture per song or verse).  I will put them on the board and ask a child to choose a picture and tell what song it belongs to.  We will then sing it.  I try to choose pictures that don't totally give the song away so the children have to think a little.

Wagon Train

The closer we get to the Sacrament meeting program the more we need to keep up all the songs.  In honor of "Pioneer Day,"  I'm making a wagon train that will go across the board.  Decide how many songs you would like to review.  Cut out enough covered wagons to equal the number of songs you would like to review.  Remember you can use one wagon per verse if you want a longer train.  Tape the titles on the back of the wagons. 

Tape the wagons across the board and have the children take one at a time off and sing that song.  Or you can place the wagons on the floor in a line in "ready" position to start the trek to Utah.  Have the children make the wagon train and place one wagon up on the board and sing the song on the back.

Click on the image below to print a larger size.

Why are we baptized?

"Baptism" on p. 100 can always use some review.  There is a lot of doctrine taught in those 3 verses.  I like to use the picture of John the Baptist in the Jordan River with Christ for the first verse.  Help the children know that it was Jesus who asked to be baptized.

In the second verse Jesus explains to John why he is being baptized.  John knew that Christ was perfect and did not know why he need to be baptized.  I use a question mark for this verse as a prompt.

The third verse explains what we must do:

• witness faith in Jesus word
• be baptized
• show obedience as Jesus did

Use a picture of a child being baptized and one of a child being confirmed.