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"?