|
Music helps from Maggie
Thanks Maggie from
Twin Falls, Idaho
for sharing these great ideas!
|
Baseball |
Preparation:
I drew a baseball diamond on a piece of poster board and hung it at the
front of the Primary room. I drew a baseball player swinging a bat and
made four copies of that on cardstock. I made separate signs with 1st
base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and HOME. I glued popsicle sticks to each of
them. I put baseballs inside of a bat bag and had numbers on each of them.
Directions: As a child came up he picked one of the balls and told
us the number which corresponded to a song we were learning. As the
children sang the song, the umpire (I had the Primary President wear an
umpires vest) held up the sign that showed how well they sang. If they did
it just okay she held up 1st base. If they did really terrific she held up
the HOME RUN sign. We advanced each runner as needed until they got a run.
We told
them they needed 10 runs to get the reward. I had salt water taffy with
the American flag on it for their reward. It was a great incentive to sing
especially for the boys on the back row.
SEE CLIP ART
Baseball in word
|
|
Find the Note |
|
Preparation: print out the note and tape it to a
clothes pin for an easy way to attach it to something.
Play “Hot and Cold” with music. One child goes in the
hall. Another child hides the note. As the child in the hall gets close, the
children sing louder, farther, they sing quieter until he finds the note.
Find the Note
in word |
|
Fishing |
A really
fun way to help children sing well.
Preparation: Print out the following clipart images, or make your own,
and attach paper clips to each image except the fish bowl. Write different
songs, verses to a song, favorite songs etc on the back of the fish. Make a
fishing rod from a stick, string, and a paper clip, or buy a toy one at your
local dollar store. You will need something to stand behind where the
children can "fish" such as a movable chalk board, piano, podium, table,
etc. Place the fish bowl on a bulletin board or the chalk board (you can
draw one with chalk if using the chalk board).
Directions: Each child gets to have a turn catching a fish. Hide
behind a rolling chalkboard (or other large item) and put a fish on the
line. Tug gently so it feels like they've caught a fish. If they catch the
old boot or tire they have to throw it back in and then pick someone else to
catch the next fish. Then have the children sing the song/verse on the back
of the "caught" fish. If the children want to keep the fish they must earn
it by singing the song loud and clear, without screaming. If they don't sing
well then the fish gets thrown back into the "pond." If they sing great,
then the fish is a Keeper!
Note: If you don't have something large to hide behind you can attach
a large magnet onto the string of the fishing poll, put the fish in a large
paper bag or box and have the children try to catch a fish (the paper clip
attached to the fish) with the magnet This would probably work best with
smaller fish and should be tested before using.
CLIPART
Fishing
A really fun way to help children sing well in word |
|
Follow the
Prophet |
|
Have the kids march around the podium while singing.
Have the music (piano player) stop in the middle (like musical chairs). Who
ever is in front of the microphone when the music stops tells a way they
follow the prophet (reading scriptures, obey parents).
Warn them ahead of time of what they will be doing and
tell them that they have to be ready with something to say if it’s their
turn.
Follow the
Prophet in word |
|
Hot Potato |
Hot Potato. I wrapped foil around a potato, many layers. Under each
layer
was a paper with the name of a song we were to sing next. My kids loved it
and were eager to find out if it was a real potato under it.
|
|
Singing Cube |
|
Preparation: Print out one of the following templates, cut it out, and
glue it together. Printing on cardstock will make it stronger and more
durable. You may wish to fill it with scrunched up newspaper for added
strength. Write on the squares such things as: eyes closed, whisper,
marching, don’t show teeth, leaders only, children only, clap on beats, copy
the leader (they do what ever the leader does: hands on head, finger on
nose, turn around etc.)
Directions: Have the children take turns rolling the cube, whatever
it lands on is how the children (or leaders) will sing the next song. The
child who sings the best (or most reverent) gets to roll the die.
Notes: You could make your own cube using a square box of any size.
You can also
make your own directions such as standing backwards, with the lights out, or
stomping feet... the possibilities are endless. If anyone wants a blank
template let me (Rachel) know!
CLIPART
Singing Cube in word |
|
Hum, Whistle, Sing |
|
Preparation: Create signs (such as a circle on a stick) that say Hum,
LaLa, Sing, and Whistle. Preferably use card stock to make them sturdier.
(Popsicle sticks work great as handles.)
Directions: Have a few children stand in the front of the group and
give them a sign. Instruct the children that during a song when your hand is
touching a child's head they will hold up their sign, directing the rest of
the group to either Hum, Whistle, or Sing the song. When you remove your
hand the child lowers the sign and the group stops doing that but follows
the next sign that's chosen.
Note: You can also make signs that say Boys and Girls to have just
the boys or girls sing. If both signs are up all the children sing.
CLIPART
also see more
clipart at this link :
CLICK HERE
Hum, Whistle, Sing in word |
|
Share Your Talents |
Another idea that I am just starting now,
so i don't know how well it will go over. And I will only do this with the
older kids in primary, I think.
Each month I want someone to do a special musical number, maybe the first
Sunday to introduce the new song. I want kids to play their instruments in
primary and do solos. I figure it's a great opportunity for the children to
share their talents. |
|
About Primary Program |
I had a letter be handed out with the sacrament
programs at the beginning of the year. I made a list of all the songs they
will be learning each month and how to find them. Also with ideas for using
the songs in their homes and my phone number if they had any questions. Then
in the announcements of the programs each month I just have them name the
song we are working on that month. Just a reminder for the parents.
|
|
The Speaking duck |
|
The Speaking duck
I have a stuffed duck,
obviously any stuffed animal will do. They only speak when they have the
duck. When ever I ask a question I toss it to the person I choose to answer,
when they are done, they toss it back. No one else is to speak if they don’t
have the duck.
The Speaking
duck |
|
Volunteers |
|
Volunteers
Always have tons of
volunteers. For anything: holding up pictures, sometimes I just have someone
stand with me while we sing, or I have them help me lead the music, ANY
incentive works.
How get to be a volunteer:
Reverence and doing what you
should be doing
Quiet hands and quiet feet
Bottoms in chairs and feet
on floor
Singing really well
ETC.
I remind them of those
stipulations ALL the time. And I mean it too, only those kids get to be
volunteers. They catch on quick, they want to volunteer.
Volunteers |
|
Mother's Day idea for singing
time |
|
I Often Go Walking
My kids are learning, "I Often Go Walking". For sharing
time or singing time I am goign to have them make flowers out of pipe
cleaner and tissue paper. I will collect all the flowers. And on mother's
day when they perform I will hand a flower to each child and they go up to
sing. They will hold the flowers as they sing and then can give them to
their moms when they are done.
You cut out what ever color tissue paper you want. And
put one on top of the other. Then push pipe cleaners through the holes –
each end of pipe cleaner through one hole. Twist the pipe cleaners and
you’re done!
The flowers
are simple to make. Here is a pattern if you need.
I Often Go
Walking |
|
Music
Box |
Remove
those distractions in a fun and easy way!
Preparation:
Take a box and decorate it any way you like, such as musical notes, or the
words that say Primary Box.
Directions: Get the kids used to the idea that every time they walk
into primary they place all their belongings in the box, papers, scriptures,
etc.
Note: You can also use this box to put special singing time items in,
such as the items from the other singing time ideas.
Remove those distractions in a fun and easy way |
|
The hat game |
|
The hat game
"On separate pieces of paper write one word from the song you want to sing.
Put the papers in a hat, I use a sombrero but any hat would do. Pick a child
to come up and choose a word, but don't let them see it. Then have them put
on the hat while you hold up the word. The rest of the children sing the
song but leave out the word on the paper. The child wearing the hat has to
guess the word at the end of the song."
"For little children who don't read, I have the child leave the room for a
second while I tell the others what word not to sing. My primary children
just love this game. It's great for a day when you don't have time to plan a
huge lesson."
The hat
game |
|
Balloon |
Balloon
Preparation:
Blow up a large balloon. Choose a song the children are learning.
Directions: Have the children toss the balloon around the room to
each other WHILE singing the chosen song at the same time. When the piano
stops playing have everyone stop singing. Then, the child holding the
balloon must say the WORD that comes next in the song. It's a quick game but
it helps the children pay attention to the words they are singing.
Note: This works best if you start out slow and can be done faster as
the children learn the words of the song. If you don't have a piano than
stop the song on your own.
Balloon |
|
Musical Notes |
Easy and
simple ideas for making interactive musical instruments.
Preparation:
You can either make these instruments ahead of time, OR in cooperation with
the Sharing Time Leader you can have the children make them during a Sharing
Time class and then use them during Singing Time.
Directions: Instruct the children to choose ONE of the instruments
(listed below) to use or make. Then teach the children when and how they
should "play" their instruments, such as during a certain part of a song,
with the beat, or when you lower your hand on the down beat.
Optional Instruments: Decorating these instruments with fun feathers,
glitter, and other crafty stuff makes them more interesting. Possible
musical instruments to make:
-
Shakers: Rice or beans in
small envelope or tupperware containers. Printable music pouches in pdf
format:
-
Drums: Small ceramic
flowerpots (dollar stores sometimes have these) turned upside down, wooden
beads (about the size of a nickel) glued to round (dowel) sticks make
great drum sticks.
-
Tambourines: Tupperware (or
coolwhip/butter) lids with several jingle bells glued or strung onto them.
LDS Primary Singing Time Idea - Musical Notes |
|
Flowers |
Flowers
Preparation:
Take real or fake flowers and attach pieces of paper to each one with the
name and/or page number of a different primary song. Place the flowers in a
vase.
Optional Clipart:
Flowers (Scroll down to "Flowers")
Directions: Choose a child to pick one of the flowers. Tell the
children that the best singer (or attempt at singing) gets to pick the next
flower.
Note: If the flowers are real you can let the children keep them (if
you have two Singing time groups you'll need enough flowers for both
groups). Or for future use fake flowers would work the best.
Draw FLOWERS
Flowers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|