Lip Syncing--a fun way to practice for memorization

Yesterday we worked on memorizing I Stand All Amazed. Here's what I told them:
Materials: Nothing. That's so easy :)

"Do you know what lip syncing is?"
An older boy explained that it's when you pretend to sing, but actually no voice is coming out.
"Today we're going to take some turns lip syncing. I want you to mouth the words 'I Stand All Amazed' really clearly, but not to make any sound."
I mouthed the words by myself and then told them to try it with me, using my hand to conduct just like we were singing.
Then I had a kid choose a picture from the "flip chart" to take down--telling them they'd need to remember the words without the prompt. I told all the boys to lip sync while the girls sang and I told them that I wanted them to mouth the words so well that I would think they were really singing.
After the boys did it, I had them sing while the girls were able to lip sync. The girls made pretty cute lip sync-ers too.

Pros: This was so funny, especially for the older boys. A few of them were so good at it. In fact, they looked more into the music than they usually do even when they're singing.
I also like that even though they kids aren't singing half the time, they are thinking about the words and notes, so they are still practicing. You'd be amazed at what you can learn just by putting mental effort into something.
Also, the kids thought it was funny, but they still kept the song reverent. They were actually pretty still because they were focusing on lip syncing.

Cons: I didn't have any overt problems.
This activity was less fun for the Sunbeams, though I let them pick some of the pictures to take down. But that's the only thing I can think of that didn't go as well, and honestly, singing time for the Sunbeams this early in the year is so often them listening while the other kids sing.

Sing-O-Meter

Honestly, after making it I wished I hadn't written "Poor" and just left it blank. Or maybe used stars...
I also think "better" is a bit confusing. Ha.

This is an activity to help your kids focus on singing well.

Materials to make your poster: 1 piece of white posterboard, folded in half to make it sturdier; 6 rectangles of colored construction paper, each 3 inches x 1 inch, 30 inches of yarn (or ribbon); the top of a juice concentrate can; hot glue gun; black Sharpie; scotch tape to "laminate" the holes the yarn goes through

The juice can lid is on a pulley system--when you pull the knot down in back, the lid rises.

Directions: Explain to the kids that as they sing well, the judge will rate how they are doing. I let kids be the judges, but you could easily do it yourself or get another adult do it. Tell the kids that they only get a "Wow" if they are singing their very best. Singing well means you sing pretty, you listen to the introduction, you watch the director, and you think about the words and try to put in some emotion. If the song has motions, do the motions, if not sit up straight.

Pros: The kids really sang well for this. The best thing is the reverence during the introduction. The kids in my primary have a really hard time listening to introductions, so the fact that all the kids were quiet was just amazing to me. Also, I did let kids judge (I drew names or let teachers pick kids in their classes who were singing well) and they enjoyed that too.

Cons: Although it worked well and the kids thought it was cool, I don't actually like to judge them all the time. I would only do this on occasions. Also, I wonder if I shouldn't have written "Poor." I know some Sing-O-Meters don't have comparisons written, but are things like a balloon that moves to the top of a pole.
But that was my concern. The kids seemed unfazed by it.
Perhaps I'll bring in another Sing-O-Meter in the future with pictures.

Any suggestions for a better word than "better"?