80.Wagon wheel of fortune – I think I’m going to use something like that again for the sr.I will have the choices on the wheel be ways to sing the song or a number and the number will be how many notes they get to hear to guess the song. Then I’ll have a phrase or word they have to figure out – I’m thinking of using “Chimney Rock” and then at the end of singing time when they figure it out I’ll share with them a story about the pioneers at Chimney Rock.
81.Shell Songs I stuck a piece of masking tape on each shell and numbered them, then I took a clear rubbermaid rectangular storage container and buried the shells in sand, then I let the kids come up and dig out a shell and we sang the song that went with it – I have used a beach pail too but it was too cluttered – so now I let the kids put the shells they find in a beach pail.
82.Watermelon -I took a big piece of red poster board and a cut it into a semi-circle, then I put a green border around the curve so it looked like a big piece of watermelon – I cut out a bite along the top- then I cut big black seeds and put the names of songs on the back of the seeds – this is a good one to keep on hand for a sub.
83.Firework singing time last year – I took a black poster board and then I took black tissue paper and glued glittery looking fireworks bursts on the pieces of black tissue paper, I taped them onto the posterThen the board said something about Sparkling Singers or something like that – it’s also a fun way to do a punch board for summer – over each whole you tape the tissue paper firework then the kids punch through or burst through the fireworks to get the song.
84.Camping – fill a backpack or suitcase with things you need for a trip and pick a song that goes withThen you can blindfold the child and let them dig something out of
the backpack or suitcase – they’ll pick quicker if they’re blindfolded.
85.Giant cootie catcher out of posterFor November, Under each flap was a song from the program or whatever. I had each child tell me one thing he/she was thankful for – then I would spell it and do the cootie catcher accordingly. This time, I decided to use the cootie catcher as a review tool for verse 2 & 3 in “I Lived in Heaven” My primary kids seem to be getting the first part of the phrases and then mumbling the rest. So – instead of putting a song under each flap – I put the first part of each phrase in the 2 & 3 verses (there ended up being 8 phrases which was the number of flaps I had). For example – under one flap it would say, “Father said He needed someone…..” or “Conquering evil and death through…..” or “There was another who sought….” As each child came up and picked a numbered flap – I would have them try to finish the phrase (they could ask for help). Then we would sing the phrase.
86.Bean Bag/soft ball put all the chairs up against the wall and having them sit in a circle with a soft ball or beanbag – sing a line, toss the bean bag, and whoever catches it has to repeat the line, then everyone has to sing it before you throw it again for the nextNext time through, see who knows the line without your help and toss it to them.
87.Follow the leader set up another room special you give instructions like:
stand up
fold your arms face the door
when I point to your row follow Sister . . . (who will be assigned to
lead them out the door, down the hall to the other room you have
prepared in a special way)
Sing what I sing (sing a line)
give another instruction – touch your nose
Sing what I sing (sing a line)
Turn in a circle
Sing what I sing
Put your hands on your waste
Sing what I sing
and so forth.
88.Kids act out the song and it worked great. I called one child up at a time and they made up what they wanted to do for that line then the next child etc. until the first verse wasThen we sang the song all the way through with those children still standing up
front acting out their lines. After that everyone stood up and sang and acted out the song together.
- 89.Bag of dress up stuff. After each time they sing I will choose a good singer to pick out (one thing for thing for ok job, two things for good, and 3 things for outstanding job) out of the bag and put them on me.
- Hide the musical note a heart (February), snowman (January), Christmas tree (December), etc.
- Let's have a "paper orchestra"!
How many different sounds can be made with a sheet of paper? You might
be surprised! Give each child a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Instruct
all to follow your directions.1. (this can be done with ANY song) First practice singing "We Thank
Thee Oh God for a Prophet" by having everyone roll their paper into a
tube shape. Going through the song once sing the first line and "toot"
the second through the tube, repeating through the verse:We thank thee Oh God, for a prophet
"toot-da-doot toot-da-doot- toot-da-doot"
We thank thee for sending the gospel
"toot-da-doot toot-da-doot- toot-da-doot", etc.reverse tooting and singing on second time through:
"toot-da-doot toot-da-doot- toot-da-doot"
to guide us in these latter days, etc.2. Show the children how to hold the sheet of paper loosely between two
hands and then pull hard, but not too hard to tear it, and a very snappy "pop" can be heard.3. "The Wise man and the Foolish Man" p. 281. Lay the paper across
your lap with both feet on the floor and knees together.
slap (slap hands on knees)
tickle (wiggling all fingers on paper)
rub (slide flat hand across paper)
(slap) The wise man built his house upon the rock (repeat two times)
and the rains came tumbling down
(tickle) the rains came down and the
(rub) floods came up (repeat two times)
(slap) and the house on the rock stood still.
(rub softly) The foolish man built his house upon the sand (repeat two
times)
and the rains came tumbling down
(tickle) the rains came down and the
(rub) floods came up (repeat two times)
(wave paper through air) and the house on the sand washed away.
4. Holding the paper by the two short ends, crumple it and pull it out
(but not too hard) with the rhythm of each prophet's name. (No crumpling during the other words!)
5. Hold the paper between two palms and clapped, this was fun because
you can try to keep the paper air borne and catch it on the clap.
6. Hold the paper tightly between your hands and blow with your lips
tight and make a squeeky sound. Follow me to see when to make noise
and when to sing the words.
7. We also rubbed palms together with the paper in-between them. On
the last time through we started at one edge and tore a strip off,and
then another until we ran out of paper. About the time you get to "if I do it fast" you can really rip into it. Then pass around a garbage can and clean up the papers.
92. You Making mistakes. Put something in a jar. Smarties, cause they are so smart to catch you when you make a mistake or Dum-Dums lollipops. When it’s full the kids get them. You could use marbles and then when the jar is filled you could give them stickers or a pencil or a special treat at the next activity day.
- Music machine Children sing well during singing time then they get to swing the top open (desktop trashcan and see if there's a surprise in the machine. stickers, sometimes a hershey kiss, a bookmark.
94. Wiggle songs
- Head Shoulders...
*We do this song by wiggling the body part mentioned instead of
pointing*I also have pictures of the body parts with magnets on the back and
have the children come up and mix up the order we sing it in
*Do the song like the song BINGO. Each time through leave out a body
part but still point to it.
- Speed up and slow down from phrase to phrase and the kids will have to match her.
Do as I'm Doing/If Your Happy and You Know it:
*I made flash cards with actions already on them and attached magnets
to both sides. A child can pick the actions random. This works
better for me because I know the actions are appropriate and fit the
rhythm of the song.*I also took an old toss across and taped on one side actions for do
as I'm doing and the other side actions for If your happy and you
Know it. This was great for a primary activity and my kids love it
for family home evening.
- "Primary Mess" I made up a story that a friend of my was called to be a primary music director and needed our help. I told them that since Sister Smith (or whoever you want to call her) wasn't really familiar with the primary songs and that she knew part of the song but not their actual titles. I made up really crazy names for our primary songs and they had to tell me the actual song that had the words/idea behind the song ie... Frosty has melted for once there was a snoman...or apricot popcorn for popcorn popping...etc. Anyway the kids had 1 minute to figure out what the song was...I thought the Jr were not going to remember any of the tittles but was I ever wrong...I think they got them faster than the Sr.
- Flashlight for SR and JR primary. When they are "letting their light shine" it is on. When they are not, the light is turned off. When the batteries run out, I have prepared little treat bags (pencils, bookmarks, stickers, candy) that they will get.
- Chaos & danger — This game came from teaching “Keep the Commandments” You plan in advance to have the pianist play a different song than you’re singing. The kids realize how important it is to STAY within the guidelines the Lord has given us. They have to figure out which song the pianist played and which song we were singing.
- Squirt gun/crying Mother poster — I use this poster for Mother’s day and for after the program. I drew a picture of a mother’s face, big on a poster board. I cut out her eye balls and hold (usually ask for help) two squirt guns in the holes. As the children sing beautifully, the mother (cries) as she is touched by the beauty. This can get out of hand easily, but each time I have used it, the spirit is strong and the kids try really hard to sing beautifully. I tell them sometimes, they bring tears to my eyes…. This has to be done in “good taste!”
- Pin the bee on flowers poster — This is just like pin the tail on the donkey game, however I have a poster board full of flowers. The flowers have #’s on them. The kids pin the bee on the flower and that tells us which song to sing, or if we’re working on a song, how many times in a row we will sing it. Of course we use a different “voice” each time. (cowboy voice, opera voice, MoTab voice, Mouse voice, boy voice, girl voice, etc.
- What Song am I? Game — This is a poster that has big colorful musical notes on it. 8-9 in all. The poster is sat on the ground and the child or I throw a beanbag and whichever note it lands on tells us either a phrase from a song, a # of a song, or tells us three words in a row in the song. They have to tell us which song it is, then we sing it.
- Birthday cake too many candles I made up birthday cake the size of a poster board. I filled it with candles. I tell the kids, I’m getting WAY TOO OLD! And I need them to help me get some of these candles off. The candles have the #’s and ideas on them. The kids love to help me not be so OLD. Can also be turned around and made to put the candles on the cake. The candles are separate and can be taped on and off as everything is laminated.
- Boy with backpack – This is a poster of a boy facing away and we’re looking at his back. He’s wearing a backpack that I’ve slit the top of. I attached a large gallons size Zip-lock bag onto it. Inside I have pictures of books, ruler, pencils, erasers, ect… things you use for school. I have used to to “fill” the backpack to get ready for school and to empty it for Spring break or the end of the school year. On the back of each of the items are the #’s or ideas for the songs we’re learning.
Silly hat singing time — I went to a thrift store and bought a small lamp shade. I turned it upside down and attached the ugliest 3” ribbon I could find. The lamp shade is brown gingham, the ribbon is colorful circles. I cut musical notes from construction paper and laminated them. Whichever class is singing the best their teacher has to wear the “hat”…. I start out wearing it first. I have also turned it around and let the child singing best and sitting reverently wear it and lead the next song. The kids love to have their teacher be the one to wear the hat!- Leprechauns & shamrocks — This is a poster to help us learn songs. In each of the leprechauns hands are shamrocks that have phrases from the new song. I have also had the letter from each word on the shamrocks and they have to put them in the right order.
- Pictures that they choose the song that matches – I got a bunch of pictures from the library, put them in a box. The kids choose a picture and tell us which song it reminds them of. Then we sing it. This is great for taking a break after learning a new song.
108.Singing in a can – Cover a Pringles/peanut can with cute paper or musical notes, make papers that give directions to sing such as: Sing with your eyes closed, Humming only, Sing with your favorite Accent, Sing Standing Up, Sing with your Nose plugged t. If you have a gerbil don’t sing, Sing every other word, Sing with your mouth closed etc
- Shakers –(toilet paper tubes/rice) I made shakers out of toilet paper tubes filled with uncooked rice. I wrapped them with wallpaper that I got free from a yard sale. The kids love to keep time or match the rhythm to the songs. Make sure the paper you wrap them in is pretty sturdy or you’ll have rice everywhere!
- Envelope game — Print out the words to the song and cut them out. Make enough envelopes with song lyrics for groups of 3-4 children. I use pictures for Jr. primary since they can’t read. As you all sing the song, they put the words (or pictures) in the correct order. Good way to learn a song.
Target game — I made a huge cardboard target (could draw on chalkboard) and made 8 sections. I had the children made paper airplanes. As the sang the songs I picked the one sitting most reverently and smiling while they sang. They got to fly their paper plane at the target to see which # (song) we would sing next. Tons of fun! At the end of singing time, I let everyone fly their plane at the target.
Memory game — There are many variations to this game. Use your imagination fo this one. I had to boards, pictures that depicted songs. They turned over one from each board, if they matched we sang their choice if they didn’t we sang my choice.
Singing Baseball — Draw baseball diamond on chalkboard. Divide group into two teams. Coach has a player in the warm up box and one in the batters box whenever their- team is up to bat .Player steps up to pulpit when at bat. The Questions are “Pitched” (read) to players and score is kept according to value of question. Paper hats are moved around bases according to hits and runs. Each team only gets two “OUTS” per inning. After two RUNs, change team up to bat A”Bell” is rung every 3-4 minutes, then it’s time for a “MUSIC QUESTION.” Sing the song when the question is answered correctly.
- Erasure Pass – Preparation: On the board are a list of words in groups of three. Each distinct group includes one word from the song being taught and two words that mean the same or opposite. Example: The song being taught is Seek the Lord Early. I would choose SEEK as my first word and with it place the words LOOK and SEARCH. My next group might be for the word YOUTH. With it CHILDHOOD and ADOLESCENCE. Another group might be FATHER, MOTHER and HOLY GHOST. Stand in front of the children and state the rules:
1: No talking
2: No Throwing the eraser
3: Give the eraser to someone who hasn’t had it.
4: Erase only the words NOT in the song (we want the words that remain on the board to be the words in the song in the order they appear in the song).
Hand the eraser to a child and start singing the song. DO NOT STOP SINGING.
You may go through the song 10+ times before all the wrong words are erased.
The children them come up one at a time and erase one word not in the song.
Teachers may help non-readers, or you may need to prompt when few words are
left. Make sure you keep the rules in effect. If a child erases a wrong word, be prepared to write it back on without stopping your singing. After all the wrong words are erased, have the children sing only the words on the board. Then switch and have them sing all the words except the ones on the board.
- Song taboo – This is the same as the game Taboo; you make up cards for the children to pick from. They have to guess the Song Title without saying the words on the card. Then you sing the song ie:
I Am a Child of God
Heavenly
Father
Parents
Children
Yarn singers – I took 3 colors of yarn and cut them different lengths. I tied them all together in no particular order. I wound them up and put them in a paper sack decorated really cute. As the children sang a child pulled the string between their hands. Each color as it went through the space between their hands depicted who would sing, one was for boys, one for girls and one for everyone. As the string was different lengths it was fun to see the “change”.
- Quick draw songs — When the attention is wandering or I just need to bring them back, I tell them we are going to do a “quick draw”. Everyone think of your favorite song. Put both hands on your knees. When I say “go!” raise your hand. The first one I see gets to pick the song. “on your mark” “get set” “Go!” This can also be like Pictionary where they draw a picture on the chalkboard of the song they want to sing.
Scarf Movement — I bought a bolt of material at a sale really Cheap! I cut it into squares. Each child gets a square or scarf. You paint with the scarf by moving them through the air. Such as: move it gently, it’s so gentle just like this song & just like Jesus.
Clap/snap/stomp – Use it individually or with partners “Can your hands follow my hands?” Or use body rhythm pattern such as clap, clap snap, snap, stomp stomp. Partner Rhythm pattern such as patsch (pat thighs), clap, cross touch to elbows.
