Primary Program Review

Dr. Diagnosis

This idea is courtesy of my creative friend who is also a chorister.  Have a man in your ward dress up like a doctor…we were fortunate to have an actual doctor in our ward who was willing to participate.  He brought his own bag and instruments.  However, a toy doctor kit would also work.  Outfit the doctor with a white lab coat and a clipboard.

Print out a form for each song beforehand with instructions on how the song needs to be improved…this is for the chorister’s and doctor’s eyes-only!  Introduce “Dr. Diagnosis” to the children and explain that he heard some of their program songs were “sick” and needed a doctor’s special attention.  Present the doctor with a patient (song) to be diagnosed (give him the form for the chosen song).  As you sing each of the songs, have Dr. Diagnosis wander around the room…he can listen to the children’s hearts with his stethoscope, shine is light in their mouths, feel their foreheads for fever, check their ears, pretend to give shots, etc.  After each song, have him give his diagnosis.

Songs may need the following:

Shot:  " shot of enthusiasm"

Alcohol:  "to clean it up...a little sloppy"

Blood Pressure Cuff:  "pump it up"

Pills:  "relieve the pain" (doesn't sound like you are enjoying it)

Tongue Depressor:  "lazy tongue...say words clearly"

Stethoscope:  "work on breathing"

Ointment:  "rub on face to smile more"

Thermometer:  "too hot...too loud...calm down a little" etc.

An incentive poster can also be made.  Title the poster “Primary Song Hospital”.  Write 3 categories across the top of the poster:  Intensive Care Unit, Recovery, and Discharge.  Make slips of paper with song titles and tape them down the side of the poster.  All songs start out in the Intensive Care Unit.  As improvements are made, songs can move to a higher ward in the Primary Song Hospital.  Once all songs have been “discharged”, the children get a reward…a sucker, bouncy ball, or other prize given at a doctor’s office would be cute.

The Greatest Show On Earth

Who doesn’t love going to the circus?  This idea was originally seen at www.iheartprimarymusic.blogspot.com.

Introduce the activity by saying, “Tickets please, tickets.  Step right up for the greatest show on earth…The (Your Ward’s Name) Primary Program!”

Place the names of your circus acts and/or games on a spinner.  Have a child spin to see which activity he or she gets to do.  If you don’t have a spinner, adhere names of acts to the sides of a large die or put them on strips of paper in a sack/container.  After the child completes the activity, sing a song.

Possible Circus Acts & Games include:

Duck pond - Place 3 rubber ducks in a row on the table. Have a child choose 1 duck.  If the duck with the “x” on the bottom is chosen, he or she gets to pick how to sing the song (use “Sing like a…” discs found at http://divinesecretsofaprimarychorister.blogspot.com/2008/11/sing-like.html).  If not, sing normal.

Tight Rope – Lay a rope out on the ground.  Have a child pick a paper strip describing how to perform tricks on the rope (while the group sings a song).  Tricks can include:  normal, sideways, backwards, one arm in air, toe to heel, eyes closed, etc.

Lion Tamer - Tape paper flames around a hula-hoop.  Pick 2 children…one to hold the hula-hoop while the other throws a stuffed lion through it. Give 3 chances…if all 3 go through the hoop, the child chooses how to sing the song. 

Clown Alley - Have a child dress up like a clown & lead the song.

Pin the nose on the clown (Hot-n-Cold) – Place a large picture of a clown on the chalkboard.  Blindfold a child and give him or her a red nose to pin on the clown.  Tell the other children to sing loud when the child is near where the nose should go and soft when he or she is far away.

Ring Toss – I found an inexpensive ring toss game at Toys-r-Us.  However, 2-liter bottles and a diving ring could also be used.  Have a child try to toss the rings on the stakes/bottles.  Determine how many rings the child has to get on to win…if he or she succeeds, have him or her pick how to sing the song.  If not, sing normal.

Juggler – Have a child try to juggle while the rest of the children sing a song.

Guess Your Weight – Bring a scale from home.  Pick two children…one to step on the scale and the other to guess how much the child weighs.  If the child guesses within 5 pounds of the actual weight, he or she gets to choose which program song to sing.

Milk Bottle Game – Place a stack of cans or bottles on a table…I used plastic bowling pins.  Have a child throw a ball and try to knock them all over.  If he or she succeeds, have him or her pick which program song to sing.

An incentive poster for passing off songs can also be used.  Title the poster “The Greatest Show on Earth”.  List songs down the side of the poster.  The object is for all songs to earn 3 tickets each.  Each one starts out with zero tickets.  As improvements are made, tape tickets beside the song titles.  Once they’ve all received 3 tickets, the children earn a “circus treat”…for example, a pixie stick, candy circus peanuts, or tootsie rolls.

Primary Singing Olympics

Choose who gets to come up by passing a torch around the room while the pianist plays (hot potato style).  I fashioned my torch out of a flashlight and colored cellophane.  This was fun because you could actually turn it on and it looked like flames.  Another idea is to make one out of a toilet paper roll and tissue or construction paper.

Place each of the game titles in a sack or on a spinner. Have each child who receives the torch draw or spin to see which game he or she will be participating in.  Once a game has been chosen, remove it from the sack or spinner (if using the spinner, add another game after one has been removed). 

The following activities serve as your "games": 


Basketball - I used my Little Tikes basketball hoop but an over-the-door hoop would also work.  Have the child try to make a basket.  If it’s made, he or she gets to choose the song.  If not, you choose it. 


Long Jump - Place three papers spaced evenly in a row on the floor that read "Chorister's Pick", "Teacher's Pick", and “Your Pick".  Have a child see how far he or she can jump.  Whatever paper the child lands on or closest to determines the song. 
 

Swimming - Have the child lead the group in "Do as I am Doing" swimming (swimmer's arms).  This would also work for running, rowing, Equestrian, Taekwando etc.


Archery - Wal-Mart & Target sell inexpensive bow and arrow sets.  Make a target and place it on the bulletin board.  Have a child try his or her skills...if the target is hit, he or she picks the song.  If not, you pick the song.  You could also make a target that has different ways to sing the song on it.  Whichever one hit is how you sing.  For example: hum, stop/go, fast/slow, quiet/loud, etc.  I have visuals I've made that say each of these...the child gets to raise and lower them while everyone else follows.  This would also work for shooting using a Nerf gun.


Volleyball - Have the children pass a beach ball around the room while singing. A balloon would also work. 


Diving - Have the child stand on a chair and try to drop a Polly Pocket into a mason jar or other container with a smaller opening.  Another idea is to use a clothespin.  If the object goes in the jar, the child gets to choose the song.  If not, you do.

Gymnastics - Sing "Hinges".  Gymnasts definitely have to have hinges!!!


Javelin - Have the child throw a swim noodle.  Again, you can place distances on the floor using tape or papers to determine how to sing the song or which song to sing.


Discus - This is the same thing as the javelin but with a paper plate "discus".

Karate - Have the child karate chop a plastic Easter egg or other object that breaks open easily.  Have the name of the song to sing inside.


High Jump - Put song titles on small squares of paper and stack them high on the wall.  Have a child jump as high as he or she can to grab a song.

Shot Putt - Put numbers representing songs in the bottom of a muffin tin.  Have a child stand at a line on the floor and see if he or she can toss a cotton ball into one.  Sing the corresponding song.

Give each child a "gold medal" at the end.  Gold candy coins or Rolos work well. 

Back to School

School Supplies – Fill a backpack with various school supplies.  Attach the saying to each one.  Have a child choose an item from the backpack and then sing the corresponding song.

Eraser                        We have been blessed with the gift of repentance.  We can “erase” our mistakes!

                                    Repentance p. 98

Glue Stick                 Stick to the Savior’s example like glue.  If you do so, you will always choose the right!

                                    I’m Trying to Be like Jesus p. 178, Jesus Once Was a Little Child p. 59

Pencil                         The scriptures contain the written words of Prophets.  We can read them to learn how to return to our Heavenly Father and Savior.

Book of Mormon Stories p. 118, Seek the Lord Early p. 108, Search, Ponder, and Pray p. 109

Crayons                    Always remember your Primary Colors.  Red is for courage to do what is right, yellow’s for service from morning til night, blue is for truth in your thought and your deed. You will be happy when this is your creed!

                                    Our Primary Colors p. 258

Sharpener                Stay “sharp” and be in-tune.  Always listen for the still small voice.  He will help you choose the right!

                                    The Holy Ghost p. 105

Calculator                The best way to “calculate” how to return to Heavenly Father

                                    is to follow His plan!

                                    I Will Follow God’s Plan p. 164

Ruler                           Always follow Heavenly Father’s “rules”.  If you do, you will be blessed!

                                    Keep the Commandments p. 146

Scissors                      “Cut” things from your life that aren’t pleasing to Heavenly Father.  When we follow the teachings of Jesus and choose the right, we will always be happy!

                                    Choose the Right Way p. 160

Folders – This idea was originally seen Sugardoodle (credit unknown).  Buy different colored school folders and label the fronts with school subjects.  On the inside, write a Primary song that corresponds to the subject.  Have a child choose a folder and then sing the song.  Possible subjects are:

Biology                      My Heavenly Father Loves Me p. 228

Art                              Our Primary Colors p. 258

Anatomy                  Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes p. 275

Music                         Hum Your Favorite Hymn p. 152

Science                     When I Am Baptized p. 103

Reading                    The Books in the Book of Mormon p. 119, Scripture Power

Recess                       Do As I'm Doing p. 276

P.E.                              Hinges p. 277

Math                          Keep the Commandments p. 146

Social Studies           Children All Over the World p. 16

History                        Book of Mormon Stories p. 118

Geography              Called to Serve p. 174

Prayer

August Week 1: The scriptures teach me how to pray.

The song for this month is "A Child's Prayer".  Most of your primary children should be familiar with this song...you may just need to review it.  The Friend magazine provides an activity that lends itself well to this week's theme.  See here.

Assign a song for practice to each person who prayed (be sure to have "A Child's Prayer" as one of the songs).  The Friend only provides 4 people so I will be adding a few additional ones.  Place cards with these people & the scripture reference in a container to draw from.  Place large visuals of the "why he/she prayed" and "what happened" cards on the chalkboard.  I will be printing mine out on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper.  Be sure to mix them up!  Choose a child to pick a card & read it out loud...the person and the scripture reference.  Have the rest of the children match the "who" and "what" that go with the person.  Sing a song for practice.

*I am going to add the following scriptural figures:
Alma - Prayed for help in teaching the Zoramites.  Asked Heavenly Father to comfort him and his companions and give them strength in their missionary work.  See chapter 31.
Ammon - See Alma 27:4-5, 10-12
King Mosiah - See Mosiah 28:6-7
The Primary Children - See Moroni 10:3-5

Pioneer Day

I like to do activities for Pioneer Day throughout the month of July.  There are so many fun pioneer songs to sing & your program songs can easily be incorporated into all of these activities.  Have fun!

Pioneer Children – Another classic made by my mother.  Choose a child to put their face through the visual while singing a Pioneer Day song.  This works especially well with “Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked” p. 214.

Bonnets – Assign a song to each bonnet.  Have a child pick a bonnet and then sing the corresponding song.

Wagon Wheel of Fortune – This idea is courtesy of “The Ordinary Adventures of a Primary Chorister” blog (www.basicprimarymusic.blogspot.com).  Select 6 graphics and tape them to a large spinner.  I used one that I bought from Oriental Trading.

Graphics can be found at http://basicprimarymusic.blogspot.com/2010/07/pioneer-wagon-wheel-of-fortune.html.  Explain that, "When the Pioneers were traveling across the prairies, plains, deserts, and mountains to reach the Salt Lake Valley, they encountered many adventures!  We are going to sings songs today that teach us about their journeys.  First we will spin the spinner on the wagon wheel.  The spinner will land on a picture of one of their adventures, and I will explain how we will sing the pioneer song."   Select a child to spin.  Sing the song according to the graphic where the spinner stops.

Ox:                              Sing very slowly

                                     "Teams of oxen were used to pull heavy wagons.

Oxen are very slow animals, but because they are stronger than horses or mules, many pioneers used them to pull their heavy wagons."

Bunny rabbit:           Sing very fast

"Rabbits were seen along the pioneer trail. Rabbits are FAST and hard to catch!"

Pioneer girl:              Only girls sing (Put girl pioneer clothes on a girl)

                                    "These are some of the things pioneer girls would wear."

Pioneer boy:            Only boys sing  (Put boy pioneer clothes on a boy)

                                    "These are some of the things pioneer boys would wear."

Cowboy boot:         Sing western style

"Lots of pioneer boys and girls your age were real cowboys and cowgirls! They drove cows and other animals all by themselves along the pioneer trek!"

Snake:                        Sing very quietly

"Yes, there were rattlesnakes! If the pioneers encountered a rattlesnake it was best to be very quiet and not disturb it!"

Native American:  Children trade seats

"There were many, many encounters with Indians along the trails.  Pioneers would 'TRADE' some of their precious items (jewelry, dishes, toys, furniture) for much needed food, or furs and blankets to keep warm."

Ax & Wood:              Sing "choppy" (staccato)

"Children had the job of collecting firewood for campfires. When there were no trees for wood, they would collect sagebrush or buffalo dung to burn in their campfires!

Beehive & Bee:        If the child holds this picture up high in the air, everyone hums. When the child hides the picture, everyone sings the words. 

                                    "The Pioneers wanted to call their new home 'Deseret', which meant 'honey bee' in the Jaredite language in the Book of Mormon. The honey bee was symbolic for how industrious or 'busy' the pioneers were, just like bees!"

Ant:                            Stomp to the beat

"Sometimes insects, like ants, invaded the pioneer camps. Pioneers had to stomp to get the ants off their bodies! Yikes!"

Cow:                          Hot-n-Cold (A child leaves the room while someone hides the cow in the room. When the child returns, the rest of the children sing loud when he/she is close to the cow and softly when he/she is not close).

                                    "If a cow wandered away from the pioneer camps, sometimes children your age had to search for them and bring them back to the camp."

Mountains:               Echo sing (Divide the children in two and have the first group sing a phrase of the song.  The second group echoes the first.  Have the pianist play each phrase twice throughout the entire song.) "When the pioneers finally reached the mountains they discovered some places in canyons, between two mountains, that would echo anything they said or sang!"

After each picture has been landed on with the spinner and used, replace it with a new picture. 

BYU Women's Conference - Primary Singing Time Ideas

I had the opportunity to create a Sharing Station for BYU Women's Conference this year.  I was beyond thrilled when I received the topic, "Primary Singing Time Fun".  I had never been to Women's Conference before so I wasn't sure what to expect...talk about a wonderful experience!  It was so great to chat with all of the amazing women who strolled through my booth.  I met many choristers and was able to share my ideas with them as well as hear some of theirs.  One thing that remained consistent with every chorister was the LOVE they all had for their calling.  It truly is the best calling in the church.  We are so blessed to teach these sweet children about the gospel through music each week & to learn from their testimonies.

You can view my virtual sharing station & handouts here.  I shared ideas for the following topics:
Games
Seasonal Activities
Wiggle Songs
Program Review Activities
New Children
Birthdays
Singing Motivators
How to Teach a Song
Song Ideas for the Weekly Themes (correspond with the Sharing Time Outline)
Monthly Planning Worksheet
Resources

Dress A Father

This visual was made by my mother YEARS ago.  It is truly vintage Primary!  It’s a classic that I continue to bring out each year and the children love it as much as I did as a child.  Display the father visual and tell the children that you are going to help him get ready for work/church…be sure to make his hair look extra messy.  Assign a song to each item and place them in a small suitcase.  Choose a child to select an item and place it on the father.  Sing the corresponding song.  Items are as follows:  a comb to straighten his hair, a razor (remove the blade or keep the cover on) to shave his face (remove the sandpaper), a hat, a shirt, a tie, and a jacket.

Week 2: If I live worthily, the Holy Ghost will help me choose the right.

Hop To It - This idea was originally seen here.  I did this a couple years ago and the children LOVED it.  You will need 6-8 plastic leaping frogs...I bought mine at the dollar store but I have also seen larger ones at JoAnn's.  Number each frog.  Place a start line with tape on the floor. Begin by asking the children what gift we are given when we are baptized.  Ask the children what the Holy Ghost helps us do.  Call 2 children up at a time and have them each share a way that they can live worthily.  Next, have them each pick a frog and place them on the start line.  As you say, "On your mark, get set, GO" the children press down on their frogs to make them leap. Whatever frog leaps the farthest is the song that you sing.

Close by bearing your testimony of the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Explain to the children that if they live worthily, the Holy Ghost will help them make correct choices.

Other songs for practice this week could include: "The Holy Ghost" p. 105, "Listen, Listen" p. 107, "The Still Small Voice" p. 106.


Listen to the Still Small Voice - The Friend magazine this month (June 2013) has a darling activity that teaches how the Holy Ghost helps us choose the right.  It can be found here.

Place the pictures in a bag and the words on the table.  Choose a child to select a picture from the bag and find the words that match the picture.  After a match is made, sing a song.

*This could also be done as classic memory.  Tape the pictures and the words to the chalkboard with the backs facing out, creating a memory game.  Have a child try to make a match.  When a match is made, sing a song.