Summer Olympics Singing Time

*I used this wonderful idea from Camille's blog for a Summer Olympics Singing Time.

PREP:

• Paper Olympic rings, hung in a chain. Each ring had an Olympic "way to sing" on it.
• Song Titles in a bowl.
• Printout of Olympic Rings logo to hang on the board.

Here are the Olympic "Ways to Sing":
TORCH RELAY     pass a flashlight - the class where the torch is sings the brightest! (loudest)
SYNCHRONIZED SINGING     all sing
RUNNING RACE     run in place while we sing
ARCHERY     use "bow and arrow" arms for dynamics singing
VOLLEYBALL   two sides take turns singing
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS    clap pattern (or just clap the beat)
WOMEN'S EVENT     girls only
MEN'S EVENT    boys only
CYCLING    "cycle around" and sing the song more than once
KAYAKING  "yak" (talk) the words
ROWING    each row sings a line

Picture of my stuff below:
*I actually had 10 rings in my chain. I wanted it to last the whole singing time!  

Halloween Candy Activity

This is the easy song-review activity I'm doing the day after Halloween:

1. Have a bowl of various Halloween Candy.
2. Give the Pianist a pre-determined list of songs.
3. Invite a child to choose a piece of candy. The candy they choose will determine the next song. (So they think... but really, you're just going down the song list).
4. Sing.
5. Repeat.

*Beware of peanut allergies. I did not pick any peanut candies to be in the bowl....
*Be sure that the kids are aware that they do not actually get to eat the candy... that it's just for choosing songs...

Ribbon Wrapped Box

For a Program Song Review Singing Time....  


PREP:

• Put treats/prizes/handouts in a box (enough for all!).
• Wrap the box with ribbon - each ribbon has a tag that is a song title.
• Make one for JR and one for SR.

DO:

1. Cut a ribbon to choose a song.
2. Sing.
3. Repeat
4. After all ribbons are cut, open the box and give everyone one of what's inside.

OVERVIEW of Song Hospital Lessons!

Song Hospital lessons have gotten quite overwhelming on this blog! I've done Song Hospital twice now, and did it differently both times. So many ideas have been gathered and are in need of organizing... Anyway, the purpose of this post is to try to give some direction to Song Hospital in one place.

Here they are:

The first SONG HOSPITAL LESSON;This is where the songs are "sick" and we work on Performance Value to get the "germs" off.

*The Song Hospital lesson could end there. Or, if you want to carry the theme over a few weeks.... OPTIONAL CONTINUATIONS OF SONG HOSPITAL ARE:

SONG SURGERY;
In this activity, teams put together lyric strips for the songs. Good for reviewing lyrics/words.

VITAMIN SPRAY;
Keep the songs we worked on in Song Hospital strong and healthy. Reward the kids with something different and fun!

SONG TAXI/HOSPITAL DISCHARGE;
In this activity, songs are sent home from the hospital in a "Taxi". The lesson is for working on singing loudly, with vim a vigor.

Song Hospital - VITAMIN SPRAY

You've done SONG HOSPITAL - part 1, and maybe SONG SURGERY...

---> Now we want to make sure our songs don't get sick again!

Here Goes!... 




PARAPHRASE: Last week we helped our songs get feeling better! We'll use SUPER SINGING SPRAY to make sure that our songs don't get sick again!

1. Pick a song.
2. The class singing the best gets to come up for some SUPER SINGING SPRAY (so the songs can stay healthy and strong!)
3. Repeat.

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PREP:

• Clean spray bottle filled with Kool-Aid (gentle colored... I'd advise against RED!)
• Song Hospital (bring it again if you used it in past weeks)

Staccato Sticks

1. Pass out popsicle sticks.
2. Use them to tap the tunes you're reviewing, as you very deliberately sing staccato.

Ideas to tie into themes:

• Back To School = pencils
• Doctor = tongue depressors
• Summer = popsicle sticks

Wagon Review

I'm using this idea in July to review our Program Songs (and a few Pioneer Songs).

PREP:
I'll have to revamp my Singing Meter to be Pioneer themed. Like this (but with blank spaces to affix wagons instead of faces):

In Action:

• Have a child choose a wagon
• The wagon is a "family" (song name)
• Attach wagon to the Meter Board
• See if the wagon makes it to Zion! (if not, there's an option to sing it again*)
• --->If it makes it to Zion (the other side of the board), take it off and tape it to the chalkboard or piano or something.
• REPEAT.... Call on a child to either choose a new wagon, or *help a wagon that's still trying to make it across the plains.

Here are the wagons...

I put the title of the songs we're reviewing as the "Family Name".
In JR I'll say 'this' family's favorite song is ____, then we'll sing it.
In SR, I'll let them know each "Family Name" is a clue! Then I'll let them figure out what we're singing.

*One wagon got in an accident in my laminator. RIP.

*If you're playing along, the answers to the "Families" in this pic are below:

Name That Tune

It's an idea that's been around for a while.  Good for a review signing time.

1. Have the pianist play a few notes from the song.
2. Kids guess it
3. Sing it

Battleship

I haven't made my own Battleship game yet.... but I am saving this one as reference for when I do!  Sing.Play.Eat.

Scrambled Eggs 2.0

Preface: I have THIS Symbols of Easter Scrambled Eggs Lesson plan.  It is cute and it went very well. I was going to use it again this year...  BUT THEN, I realized I had different needs this year. With Stake Conference, General Conference and Easter all happening at the same time I needed BOTH an Easter activity and a review activity. So I modified my own idea, and here is Scrambled Eggs version 2.0.

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PREP (make a set for JR and one for SR):

1. Print off Song Titles
2. Cut Song Titles and put in Plastic Eggs (*Cut apart each word for SR, and just one cut in the title for JR.)

IN ACTION:

PARAPHRASE: Tell the kids that your Easter eggs got all scrambled up and you're going to need their help to unscramble them!

1. Choose a Class to come up to the table
2. Have them pick and Egg and unscramble the Song Title
3. Sing that Song
4. Repeat

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(Here's my Easter song list for this year):

• Did Jesus Really Live Again? 64
• He Died That We Might Live Again 65
• Easter Hosanna 68
• Jesus Has Risen 70
• To Think About Jesus 71

TP Snowman Bowling

Stack toilet paper rolls.
Roll up songs inside.
Make a cute top hat.
Bring a ball.

BAM. Snowman Bowling.

*NOTES:

• Have a few kids be the "snowman restackers" and "ball getter".  Makes your life easier.  ;)
• SR Primary (mine, at least) gets crazy with games. It was loud, but I expected that, so I let it happen and went with it.

Duck Pond Review

I just happen to have this Lucky Ducks game. It squeaks as the ducks go around. I think the kids will get a kick out of it. I have 4 songs to review, so this works out great...

How I'll to use it:

1. Make a chart assigning 4 songs a color (or a shape).
2. Choose a child to pick a duck.
3. See the color and Sing the coordinating song.
4. Repeat.

The 4 songs we're working on: Feb 2015

Gumball "Game"

We filled our gumball machines!
TOP: Senior Primary
BOTTOM: Junior Primary

This Gumball Game Idea on Over The Big Moon is adorable!  It'd be a great way to review a few songs.

1.  Assign each song a color

2.  *Hand out stickers to Teachers*

3.  Invite a child to operate the gumball machine.

4.  Whichever color comes out is the song we sing.

5.  *Teachers watch for Super Singers*.  If a child gets a sticker they get to come up and put it in the gumball machine.

6.  --->  WHICH SONG WILL GET THE MOST GUMBALLS?


*Here's a visual from another website: 

source

A Noteworthy Review Game

Paraphrase: 

We are going to play a game. The point of the game is to have as many "notable points" left over. If we have "no notes" left over then we are not ready for the Program!

1. Start with a number of "notable points". (I'll write on the board next to a note drawing)
2. Have pianist play a note of a song. Add notes until the kids get it.
3. Subtract how many notes it took to get the song from the total.
4. Repeat with the next song.
5. See the total at the end.
6. If you still have remaining points you are ready for a Primary Program that will surely be "Noteworty".    ;)

Backwards Blast Off!

Preface:
So.... we've mostly learned our songs for the Program. But now I want to add a few little things, like, go over where some of the songs split at the ENDS. (Namely in 2014; Love is Spoken Here and He Sent His Son). It's not necessary to do parts in songs, but if we have the time (which we do), why not give it a try?

Additional Preface/Background:
This lesson totally takes me back to my piano lessons when my Teacher (hey Rick Jones!) would have me work backwards when doing a new piece and learn the ending of the song first. 

3...2...1....  Here goes!:

Paraphrase,
"We have songs to work on today. They are songs you already know, but we need to work on the ending a little bit. Since the part to work on is at the END, we'll be singing the songs.... BACKWARDS!"

"To help us out, we'll have a countdown. Aaaaaand, What happens at the end of a countdown? That's right! A rocket ship goes to space! (display rocketships and launcher). SO, we'll choose a song ship, we'll sing and when we've finished our countdown we'll blast the song ship!" (NOW you've got their attention!)

Have the songs already divided into the number of phrases you want. Display the highest number (which coordinates with the last phrase of the song, right?). Work on that phrase. When it's good enough add on the next phrase, and the next until you've counted all the way down and are singing the whole song. Then it's blastoff time! Have the kids join you in a countdown and BLAST OFF that song's rocket ship! Then repeat for the next song you're working on.

Wow. That was wordy. Here's the short(er) version:

1. Have a child pick a song ship.
2. Each ship comes with it's own countdown. Start with the highest number, go phrase by phrase adding on until the song is reviewed. As you finish each phrase, post the number in descending order on the board.
3. When the countdown is completed blast off that rocket and...
4. move to the next rocket.

Really bad Photoshop job by yours truly trying to show a song in 5 phrases for a "countdown".
As this is a review activity, I will be posting the countdown numbers, but not words to the song. This is MY typed up cheat sheet.  ;)  I will read and review the words to the kids, but the kids do not get the words.  :)

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For the rocket I will either use my singing meter board with rockets on it.....,

OR I might make a balloon/straw/string rocket like this one (on Science Bob):

OR I might make something like this homemade rocket launcher (from Instructables) made with tape, paper, a water bottle, a quarter and a toilet paper tube. FYI, by "me making it", I mean a family home evening lead by my Husband ;).

If I had a store bought launcher, I'd use it. But creativity's a good thing, too.   :)

Primary Pumpkin Patch

An idea for an Autumn Program Prep Music Time.

Paper Prep:
Cut out some bigger-ish crow shapes. Give the Crows "names". 

Name suggestions for the Crows might be;

• watching eyes - Ms. Attention (Ms. Alert)
• tall bodies - Mr. Stature
• smiles - Mr. Happy
• words - Ms. Melody
• volume - Mr. Loud

Cut out pumpkin shapes and write song names on them, which will be stuck on the board, or around the room to be the "Primary Pumpkin Patch"

Extra Prep:
Straw hat for yourself / Teachers.

  

Getting Helpers:
Before Primary, ask some people to be Crows. The Crows are the judges who will determine how well the kids do.

Instruct the Crows that they will "fly" away when the kids are doing well in their area (which is their Crow's name) for that song.

Tell the Crows to only fly away if the kids are actually doing well in that area. If the kids aren't doing well in that area, the Crow sticks around! And then you and the kids will discuss what they can do better to make the stuck Crows fly away. But let the Crows know not to fly away "just because", but that they are actually helping you out! Making sure that unless the song really is good, you want to sing it 2 or 3 times. You can also help them out by saying things like, "WOW! The kids looks really HAPPY, don't they?!", and such.

Also tell the Crows that they will fly back for each song. So stay around! Don't go to class!

*Extra instruction for one of the Crows - the one for "Volume" will fly down the hallway and stick on the wall at the point where he can't hear us singing anymore. The better the kids sing, the farther Volume Crow goes down the hallway! After church the kids can go see how far down the hallway Volume Crow. This also means you'll have to make one Volume Crow for each song. **Actually, when I do this Primary Pumpkin Patch activity I will be spreading it out over two Sundays. I will use the Volume Crow by himself the 2nd Sunday.

In Action:
Explain that the Primary Room has been transformed into a Primary Pumpkin Patch!

Some times Crows come and try to get the pumpkins. Scarecrows are in pumpkin patches to make the Crow go away, right?! So today we'll be Scarecrows, JUST IN CASE any Crows come.

But! Since this is the PRIMARY Pumpkin Patch, we will be SPIRITUAL Scarecrows. We will sing so Spiritually and so Lovely that the Crows will leave.

**Draw parallels about how the pumpkin patch is like our life and sometimes bad things come into our lives and we have to get them out. For instance, when you have a bad thought - you can sing a Primary song to get the bad thought out. [sing: Hum Your Favorite Hymn 152]**

 But luckily there are no crows in OUR Primary Pumpkin Patch (signal Crow helpers to come in)....

OH NO! We will have to sing really well to scare these crows out of here! Point out each Crow and it's "name", explaining that doing certain things will scare off certain Crows.

1. Choose a Pumpkin to see which song to sing.
2. Sing it until all the Crows have "flown" away.
3. Then choose another Pumpkin and...
4. the Crows come back for the next song!
5. And, repeat.

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***Adding a "competitive" element for Senior Primary:

Give each Song points for how many crows fly away, and see which song they can earn the most points for.

• 5 points each crow that flies away on the first try
• 3 points for those that leave on the second try
• 1 point for any crows the leave third try.

--Sing the song a few times, keeping track of the points, then add them up and move on.


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Making Crows and Pumpkins:

making the Crow template

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*This is a Primary Notes 29 original idea by Ashlie Johansen

Conductor Review

Before the Program I want to dedicate one singing time to a Conductor review. Sometimes during the year we forget what the Conductor does and why they are there. Pre-Program is a good time for a review!

Items to review that are incorporated below:

• watching the conductor
• who is the conductor?
• when to start and stop
• standing and sitting together
• volume control

OKAY, HERE GOES:

Besides yourself, a slinky is the only prop for this lesson.

*Choose one familiar song to do this with. I'll be using I Am a Child of God, or a Program Song.

1. Get attention: Play "Same Shape". See if they can make the same shape you are making with your hands/arms/body. Congratulate them for paying attention to you with watching eyes.

2. Explain that the Conductor tells you what to do. Something like, "When we are going to sing a song, the Pianist plays an intro and when my arm comes up that means we are about ready to start! Watch!" (Tell Pianist to play intro and a phrase or two into the song). Get feedback, did they see your arm? Maybe even mess up on purpose to see if they are watching.

3. Divide the room in half, assigning 1s and 2s. Tell the kids to sing, only if you are holding up their number. They'll have to watch closely! Sing the whole song, switching off numbers.

4. Show stand up and sit down hand motions. Do it a few times. *Invite a child up to lead standing up and sitting down.

5. Explain the cut off 'pinching' motion. Have entire Primary sing any note (yes, any random note. It sounds funny, but who cares?), then cut it off. Do it a few times. *Invite a child up to be the person cutting off. Repeat. (JR loves this)

6. Show a slinky. Wide means sing loud. Close together means sing soft. Sing while manipulating the slinky for volume variances. *Invite children to use the slinky.

7. Show "Hand on Her Ear Means She Needs to Hear" more or less volume. (The motion is one had to the ear, the other hand either going up or going down.) Sing while indicating volume this way. *Invite kids to try.

8. End by telling them that watching the Conductor is important and now they know how to do it and they will do awesome and their parents will be so proud of them.

County Fair Ribbons

This is an idea to review songs (for the Program, perhaps?).

• Print off pictures of things found at a fair. Put them on the board.
• Explain that at a fair items get ribbons. Blue ribbons are the best!
• Have a child pick a picture. The picture is the song to sing.
• Have the "judge" hang a ribbon near the picture.
• After singing all the songs, go back to the ones that didn't get blue ribbons and sing those again.

Prep:

• "County Fair / State Fair / whatever " sign
• ribbons (blue, red, yellow, green, whatever - especially the blue ones)
• pictures of things at a fair
• as someone to be the "judge"

*Idea from a comment in the Facebook Chorister's Group. I am putting it here so I can remember it later!

Fill the Font

I might try this as a review for the song Baptism p100.

1. Draw a rectangle on the board, open on the top. This is the outline for "the font".
2. Tell the kids that we will sing to fill the font. The ups and downs in the music will be the waves of the water.
3. Tell the kids that you will show them the first time, then they will get to try after that.
4. Sing and demonstrate. Draw a wave at the bottom of the font, from one side to the other as the song goes along.
5. Choose a child to add a wave above yours. Sing while they draw.
6. Repeat, adding waves on top of waves until the font is full.

Picking Flowers

Make toilet paper tube flowers. The song to sing is rolled up inside. 

Suggested Spring Songs:
In the Leafy Treetops 240
Birds in the Tree 241
Popcorn Popping 242
Little Seeds 243
Little Purple Pansies 244
Happy Song 264
Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam 60
On a Golden Springtime 88