Pictionary/Charades

Materials: Chalk

The day of the primary program I knew the kids would be tired. They had already done all their parts, sung all their songs, and got congratulated by a million people. Well, that would either make them tired or hyper.

Anyway, I decided to keep singing time really simple: I asked the kids to either draw or act out their favorite primary song. Then the kids would guess, and we would sing the song. After that the child who guessed got to draw or act out the next song.

The kids basically all wanted to draw rather than act, but they loved it. It took no prep and everyone had fun.

Below I recreated a  Sunbeam's drawing of "I Love to See the Temple." I was super impressed by how well she did. She's a sharp one.

Father's Day

I'm pretty excited about doing this with the kids!
Game involving a tie and a blindfold to pick the songs.
Materials: A Poster with spots for 6 letters, the letters to the word father, a tie, a blindfold, Pick'em sticks to choose kids at random.
Instructions:
Explain that dads guide us and today 1 child will get to wear a tie and guide another child who is blindfolded to put the letters on the poster. Show that the letters will go in order. Choose 1 child to be the dad and 1 to be the child. Take out your first letter--F--and tell the kids the "father" is going to tell the blindfolded child where to put the letter.
After 1 child directs the other, say that it's time to sing the song on the back of the letter.
Repeat with new kids until all the letters to father are up.
If you use songs listed below, explain what each of them has to do with fathers.

F--He Sent His Son p. 34 (Song about Heavenly Father)
A--Once There Was a Snowman p. 249 (Try this: replace the word "tall" with "dad." Tell them dads are tall.)
T--I Will Follow God's Plan p. 164 (Song about families)
H--Father (Mother) Tell Me the Story p. 204 (replace the word "mother" with "father")
E-- Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes p. 275 (replace 1 word with "Dad"--for example sing "Head, shoulders, knees and Dad, knees and Dad, knees and Dad."
R-- The Family is of God v. 2 (sheet music) (this is the dad verse)

(If time, sing favorite songs picked by the kids)

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"?

A Singing 4 Corners Game

Last Sunday most of the kids were less than enthusiastic about singing time. It was partially my fault--my plans were not as good as they could have been--I tried to teach them too much new.
So this week I came prepared with the help of Sunbeam Singing Time's Post I had a new idea.

Materials: Numbers 1-4 written on construction paper, a blindfold

Set-up: Tape or push pin one number in each corner of the room.

Directions:

Tell the kids that you have something fun to play, but they have to be really reverent or you can't play (I'm not great at being stern, but I made them listen today).

First we discussed what pretty singing is--I said it was loud enough to hear, but not shouting. Sing prettily. Also, make sure we can understand the words--I gave an example of mumbling while singing the kids thought was funny.

Next I explained I would pick a name from my Pick'em Sticks of a child to be a judge of pretty singing. While I put a blindfold on the child, everyone else would walk really reverently with their arms folded into a corner. I helped the judge child into the center of the room.

After that we sang our song and the judge picked the prettiest corner. "Don't just pick the corner you think your friend is in. Pick the prettiest one!"
Those not in the prettiest corner sit down, while those who were in the prettiest corner got to walk around for another round. I picked a new judge, and the kids in the winning corner got to stay in.

New Rule this round: The judge may pick the sitting group if they are prettier than the corners!

We sang each song for 2-3 rounds. At a new song, we reset and everyone was back in again.

Pros: 

This worked really well in my small primary of about 20 kids. Even a girl who hadn't come to church in over a year who came today was singing the song we learned today!

Cons:

It did take awhile to explain this game and ate up some of our time. 

Tips:

I told the Sunbeams to stick with their teachers.

Funnies

Today in singing time I had to laugh at a few points.

I introduced I Will Follow God's Plan by telling the story of the war in heaven. On a spiritual note, it's amazing to tell true stories to kids who may not have ever listened to them before! We even have some kids whose family is investigating the church. I was struck by how important it is to explain scripture truths simply and clearly.

When I got to the point where God presented a plan and Satan presented one, and what they suggested, I asked the kids whose plan they chose. Many kids said they chose God's plan. Then a new child, just old enough for primary, told me, "I chose cars!"

We also sang Follow The Prophet. After singing about Adam "we are his descendants in the latter days" I asked what descendants means.
One boy guessed it meant servants. I got a mental image of all the people in the world serving Adam.

Mother, Tell Me the Story p. 204

How I taught it in just a few minutes with no props:
I told the kids to use their imaginations that it was night time and they were almost ready to sleep. Their mom or dad might put them to bed, but imagine this time that it's your mom.
Now sing for them the song, with hand motions.
I taught the kids' part with hand motions:

Mother tell me the story that I love to hear pretend to hold a book
Tell me of heaven and why I came here --symbolize heaven with jazz hands making a rainbow overhead
Mother, tell how you love me--cross arms in front of chest, explain it's sign language for love
and gently speak--hold 2 fingers in front of your mouth
And then I'll go to sleep--mime going to sleep

We have been learning "He Sent His Son" p. 34 and, because my ward music coordinator loves to know things in advance, I asked if the kids could sing this song for Easter. How on the ball am I?
She immediately asked what my plans were for Mother's Day and Father's Day.
My first thought? Ha!

But after my first shock, I actually started to plan.

This year's theme for Primary is "Families Are Forever."

Keeping this in mind, I noticed the song, "Mother, Tell Me the Story" p. 204. For those unfamiliar, it's 2 part. The child's part and the mother's part.

Here's the plan:
     Mother's Day-- Have the kids sing just their part. The verse is pretty on its own and the moms will love it!

     The Primary Program-- Ask the moms to learn the parent verse to sing with their kids. How exciting will it be to have the moms sing with their kids for the "Families Are Forever" program?!

Yes, I will try hard to get all the moms to sing with their kids, no matter if they are strong singers or not.

Introducing the song:
Explain to the kids that in the next song we will be pretending. Invite them to imagine that it's night and they are going to bed, but they want their mom to put them to bed. Some nights their dads put them to bed, but tonight, imagine it's their mom.*

Before singing the song for Mother's Day, you should also very quickly explain to the congregation that this is a song where the children are imagining their mother's putting them to bed. (The last line is "Tell how you love me and gently speak, and then I'll go to sleep.")

*Give care to children who don't have their mother's at home

Sunbeam "I Am Like a Star"

Regular primary time is fun, and usually works out really well. Singing in with the Sunbeams has been more difficult. The kids have been having a hard time keeping on task, so I have tried to bring in some props. It worked! The kids wanted to hold the props and were excited about singing time again.

The only problem was that they break every prop I bring in to class. I made sun smiles similar to the one pictured below. Mine were made out of poster board. All was good and happy until one boy's ripped. I told him it was okay and I'd have to tape it. The next thing I knew, three other kids' suns were ripped too. Apparently it was a challenge. 

Picture from Sugardoodle.net

A few weeks ago I brought in jingle bells to sing the song "Christmas Bells." I had bought them at the dollar store and tied the gold hanging string that came with them (they were Christmas ornaments). I was also planning to use them for Primary singing time, so I planned ahead. I put clear fingernail polish over the knots so they wouldn't come untied. All was good for a time, then like the suns, 1 broke. The moment this happened, other kids' bell strings magically broke as well. I should have just taken them all away right then.

I spent Sharing Time in the hall, re-tying the bells. The knots hadn't come out. The strings themselves had broken, probably from the nursery kids shaking too hard. But all was ready for primary singing time.

I asked in Primary for the kids to be kind to them while we sang. We passed the bells around so everyone got at least 1 turn to shake a bell. When I was collecting them, I congratulated the kids that they didn't break any of them! 

Then a teacher sheepishly approached me. He explained that he had broken one! Ha.

(In his defense, I think one of my new knots that weren't nail polished had just come untied)

The kids pick a star to wear around their necks while we sing

"I Am Like a Star"

Anyway, that's the story about why I decided to make some fabric stars for the kids to wear around their necks when they sing "I Am Like a Star." I made it 100% from materials I already had. They aren't perfect, but if I ask the kids to be nice to them, I think they will hold up well.
I cut out 2 layers of denim from old jeans in a big star shape, then used my machine to zigzag around the outside to finish them and sew them together. I did similar with the smaller orange star, just 1 layer and then attached them.
We just had half our nursery class graduate to Sunbeams, so we only have about 4 kids each week. Since I made 10 stars, that leaves plenty for when the nursery grows, and also means kids will have their choice if they want orange stripes or if they want the beaded ones.

I do worry about the yarn tangling up. I haven't thought of a fix for that yet.

Any ideas on storing them so they aren't a big, tangled mess?