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:

Dressing Up To Be a Pioneer

We have some Pioneer dress-ups left over from a parade. Perhaps you have some from Trek or something?  It's always fun to discover things like this in the closet!

I am going to use them for the song To Be A Pioneer....

LESSON PLAN:

1. CLOTHES LINE (learn song)

• Sing song through 1x 
• Have a child pick something off the clothesline. 
• The item has a phrase from the song - make up an action for it! 
• Repeat until all clothes are picked 

2. DESCANT

• Have dress up box on the other side of our L shaped room
• A class puts on a dress up item (1 per kid)
• The class sings the descant, while the rest of us sing the main part

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*This is how I broke up the song (the red words are highlighted to give the kids an idea of what word possibilities to make up action for.  You know, so we don't have to stand up there in an awkward state for tooooo long).

You don't have to push a handcart

Leave your family dear

Or walk a thousand miles or more  
 
To be a pioneer!  

You do need to have great courage,
  
Faith to conquer fear

And work with might for a cause that's right

ACTIONS FOR: To Be a Pioneer

Here are some actions (mixed with ASL) for the song To Be a Pioneer :

You don't have to push a handcart,     "NO" FINGER WAG / PUSH A HANDCART HANDLE
Leave your fam'ly dear,     WAVE BYE   /   ASL: FAMILY
Or walk a thousand miles or more    WALK
To be a pioneer!    ASL: PIONEER  (This long sign can be timed to go with this phrase. Just practice!)

You do need to have great courage,    HEAD NOD / ASL COURAGE
Faith to conquer fear,     ASL FAITH
And work with might for a cause that's right    ASL WORK / STRONG BICEP / THUMBS UP
To be a pioneer!    ASL: PIONEER

Hunting For Chips

This activity goes with the song Little Pioneer Children.

1. Make no bake cookies.
2. Hide them around the room.
3. Explain what "chips" are (dried "cow pies" used for fueling fire).
4. Have the kids find and collect them like the Pioneer did while you sing.
5. Repeat this activity by inviting some children to hide the "chips" while some go out in the hallway (maybe choose two classes to do these things).
6. Sing
7. Repeat from step 5 over and over.
8. Afterwards, have a cookie for everyone to take home.

*Cow pie alternative, have something for "berries" for any kids with allergies.

Actions for Little Pioneer Children

ACTIONS for Little Pioneer Children:


VERSE 1

*Have 4 children come up.

1) Pretend to pick berries
"little pioneer children gathering berries for food"
2) Hold nose (discuss what "chips" are!.... dried animal poop used for fires)
 "See the pioneer children hunting chips for wood"

3+4) Two children smile and shake hands
"Gladly helping each other, merry and happy were they"

 5!) All children walk in place
"walking along... on their way"


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*Although I've seen similar actions many times before, I'd like to give credit to Deborah C on the LDS Choristers Facebook Group for reminding me of fun actions for this song!

Pictures for Pioneer Children Were Quick to Obey

These are pictures I drew for Pioneer Children Were Quick to Obey, Verses 1 and 3.

'walking by wagons' & 'then in the firelight' are out of order. It was late when I was doing this.  ;)

1. Pioneer children were quick to obey
Walking along by the wagons all day  

Then in the firelight, kneeling to pray
Little pioneer children.                        

2. (no drawn pictures...)
Carrying water and gathering wood    
Building a campfire and cooking the food    
Learning and helping the best that they could 
Little pioneer children.

3. Children today can be pioneers too
Willing and cheerful in all that we do
Walking our pathway with heaven in view  
Little pioneer children.

EASY PROPS for To Be a Pioneer

Actions for To Be A Pioneer:

VERSE 1:

*Three children come up.

CHILD 1) Makes a pushing action with hands & arms.
"You don't have to push a handcart"

CHILD 2) Waves goodbye.
"Leave your family dear"

CHILD 3) Walks in place.
"Or walk a thousand miles or more to be a pioneer"

VERSE 2:
*Three children come up.

CHILD 1) Hand a medal around their neck with the word "courage" on it.
"You do have to have great courage"

CHILD 2) Write "fear" on a piece of paper. Child crumples the word as you sing.
"Faith to conquer fear"

CHILD 3) Holds a set of scriptures
"Work with might for a cause that's right, to be a pioneer!"

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*Thanks to Deborah C on the LDS Choristers Facebook Group for these!

As Obedient As Pioneer Children

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This activity is for the song Pioneer Children Were Quick to Obey.

1. Have cards with activities on them.
2. Tell the children that someone will come up front and we all can all be as obedient as Pioneers and we will obey whatever the child says to do.
3. Ask a child to come up front and pick a card.
4. Have the child tell the rest of the Primary what to do.
5. Do it as a Primary.
6. Repeat.

Some ideas for the cards might be:

• These Pioneer-ways-to-sing the song you're working on (that way you're getting some singing in there!)
• Pantomime these every day Pioneer activities
• Physical activity, such as; 5 jumps on one foot, roll your hands, jumping jacks, reverently applaud the Pianist, stand up and take a bow, pat yourself on the back....

Pioneer Paper Bag Vests and Pinafores STEP-BY-STEP

Camille's Primary Ideas posted cute vests and pinafores made form paper bags.

HERE are my instructions on how to make these:

Finished and decorated. Ashlie Johansen, Primary Notes 29.

 ----------------- VEST:

1. Fold out sides of paper bag.
2. Fold in the top.

3.Cut out arm holes.

4.Cut up the middle in the front (vest)

5a. Cut out "V" shape in front that curves around the top of the bag and completes the "V" on the other side.

5b. -curve around the top of the bag-

6. Cutting made my bag have 'flaps" at the top that needed to be taped back together.

*See the "V" and the circle all cut out. See the spots where I needed tape.

*See the progress.

7. Cut fringe at the bottom.

*Vest all cut out.

Vest.

 ------------------ PINAFORE:

1. Fold out sides of paper bag.
2. Fold in the top.

3. Cut arm holes

4. With the bag still folded (and the top still folded in) cut out a square neck.

5. (no picture) -
Cut a straight line in the middle of the back (opening for them to get it on and off).

6. Cut wavy design on the bottom.

*Pinafore cut out.

  ------------------ MESS:

 ------------------ NOTES:

• Mine turned out really big for a child to wear. I had to overlap the opening and tape the shut wo they would stay on.
• These take a lot of TIME.

Pix For Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked

These are not downloadable. They're handdrawn, I don't have a file for them. But maybe they can give you an idea so you can draw your own. Maybe some day I'll have time to scan them in. Not today...

I used them in THIS activity.

Activity for Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked and Walked and Walked...

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For Pioneer Songs (best with Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked or To Be a Pioneer [descant, especially] )...
*HERE are my pictures for Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked

Just like a cake walk, put pictures of items on the ground. Footsteps, wagons - whatever Pioneerish thing you want. Put numbers on them.

Luckily, I'd just bought a pair of socks that had a cardboard piece in them. I used that for a template.

• Sing all the way through the song, then you choose a #.

Then the chosen child(ren) picks up their number and takes it back to their chair with them. They then sing from their chair while the rest of the children continue to walk. (The number will be turned in for a treat as they exit. If they can't be reverent with it they will lost their treat). Continue singing and walking!

FOR A BIG PRIMARY (instead of sitting down one at a time...):
Number all the pictures 1-6. Sing all the way through. When they're done singing, roll a die. Children on the footstep with the chosen # can sit down. Everyone is sitting down at the end.

HARDER FOR SENIOR PRIMARY:
Only take a step when you sing "walked" and "walked" and "walked" and "walked".

*If I have extra time I'm going to put Pioneer Children on my singing meter board (attached so they move vertically) - singing well will cause the children to "walk" to Zion. We sang 3 more times to get all 3 Pioneer kids to Zion.

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NOTES, AFTER THE FACT:

• I had the kids hold their footprints so they didn't get trampled. Good idea.
• When children got "chosen" I congratulated them on making it to Zion safetly.
• I told the children who had already "made it to Zion" (sitting in their chairs) that they had to sing extra loud to help those who hadn't made it to Zion yet.
• It went okay in Junior. The Senior kids liked it so much some asked to take footsteps home.
• I did NOT give out treats and the kids still liked it.
• I have a big Primary, so I numbered #1-6. It worked out splendidly.
• I would do this activity again.

*cake walk idea adapted from Camilles Primary Ideas

Paper Bag Pioneer Wear

Camille's Primary Ideas has these Pioneer Vests (boys) and Pinafores (girls). I am super excited to make them for my Primary kids.

HERE are my instructions on how to make these.

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Pioneer Objects, Songs and Games

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*This could be done with a smaller Primary. I'm thinking my large # of kids might be too big for these fun Pioneer activities. Would also be fun as a Primary Activity.


object: small toy frog
game: Leapfrog
Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime? 245

object: hula hoop & stick

game: Rolling the Hoop

To Be a Pioneer 218

object: handkerchief
game: Drop the Handkerchief
The Handcart Song 220

object: bag of marbles
game: Marbles
Whenever I Think About Pioneers 222


object: sack/laundry bag
game: Sack Races
Lift Up Your Voice and Sing 252

object: button
game: Hot & Cold
Sing a Song 253

*Idea from Sugardoodle

Music and The Spoken Word Broadcast July 22, 2012 - Pioneers

Click to go to ---> Pioneer Music and The Spoken Word broadcast July 22, 2012

Primary Pioneer Song Trek [2013]

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*I modified this from an idea I found online. I made it for my Ward's 2013 Program Songs*

If possible, dress in Pioneer gear.

Put signs around the room with the places' names on them:

• Child of God Canyon
• Rainbow Mountain
• Savior Meadow
• Zion

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***The following is a sample narrative of how it might go:

Have the children put their chairs away and sit on the floor with you.

Brothers and Sisters, today we are going on a Primary Trek to Zion. We need to get used to pulling and pushing a handcart. Let's make sure our handcarts are ready to go...

Sing,
1. The Handcart Song 220

Now that we have our handcart, lets get going.
First we must go through Child of God Canyon. Oh! We must be very careful in Child of God Canyon! There are jagged rocks and rattlesnakes!

Sing as you walk [carefully!] through Child of God Canyon;
2. I Am a Child of God 2 (1V in JR, 4V in SR)

Hooray! We did it! We've made it through the canyon. We are so thankful that we've been lead, and guided to help us find the way out.

Hmmm, do you think the pioneers got tired? They had to walk up to 15 miles a day!  Think they maybe even got a little bored? Let's see if we can make it a little more fun while we walk to Rainbow Mountain.

Walk half way to Rainbow Mountain, while singing;
3. Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked 214

Whew. We've been walking a while, but we don't have any time to stop and rest - We must keep walking until we find Zion!

Walk the rest of the way to Rainbow Mountain, singing;
4. Teach Me to Walk in the Light 177

We made it to Rainbow Mountain! We can see so clearly up here, it's nearly an eternal view. Look, it's raining a little bit. Just enough of a sprinkle to make some rainbows over the valley. Do you see them? Aren't they beautiful?

5. When I Am Baptized 103

OK, We need to get to down off this mountain and into the meadow by sundown or we will get lost. Let's take comfort in the Savior because He is always near, though we do not see Him there.

Walk to Savior Meadow while singing;
6. If The Savior Stood Beside Me (sheet music)

We made it just in time, let's set up camp and play a few games!

7. Pioneer Fun to Do 253 (see this post)
or, Little Pioneer Children

• riding a wagon (bounce in a bumpy wagon)
• forging a river (swimming motions with arms)
• milking a cow (squeeze fists)
• walking to Zion (walking feet)
• picking berries (picking with fingers)
• rolling the dough (invisible rolling pin)
• churning the butter (invisible butter churn)
• darning the socks (hand sewing motion)
• rocking the baby (arms rocking baby)
• reading the scriptures (book hands)
• lighting the fire (rub two fingers together like rubbing two sticks together to start a fire)
• crossing the plains (ride a horse)

Alright, it's time to settle in the for the night and have a bedtime story. Tonight's stories will be about children from all around the world...

8. Holding Hands Around the World (sheet music)

Goodnight brothers and sisters. Have sweet dreams....
*Pretend to sleep*

(it would be fun to have a cow bell to wake them up with...)
Wake up! It's time to get up and back to on the Trail! We are almost to Zion, but still have a long journey ahead of us.

OH NO! There's a storm coming! We will get wet and it will be hard to get through the mud, but our Prophet said if we if we stay this course, we can make it through.

*A Teacher flips the lights on and off during the storm. Another Teacher "rains" on us with a spray bottle.*

Look! Can you see it? There…just over there, it's the Salt Lake Valley! Let's get through this one final stretch and we'll be home. While we walk this final part of our journey, take a moment to look around you and see all the beauty that surrounds you in Zion...

Walk and sing;
9. My Heavenly Father Loves Me 228 (2 verses)

It was hard work, but we made it to Zion! Whew, please sit down reverently and take a rest.

Did the Pioneers have a hard job to do? Do you think back it Pioneer times it might have been hard hard to get across the plains? They didn't have cars. Just wagons and handcarts. They had to walk a very long way - and when they got here they didn't even have houses to go home to. They had to build everything. They had to grow everything. They worked very hard for their families. They worked very hard for their prosperity. Prosperity means their children who would live after they were long gone. They worked very hard for themselves, but also for US - we live in Utah today - right now! Yes, us here in Clinton, Utah! We get to enjoy the benefits of what the Pioneers worked so very hard for.

10. Whenever I Think About Pioneers 222 (2 verses)

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*Modified from an idea found on Sugardoodle

Pioneer Pantomime "Fun To Do"

Have fun with Pioneer-themed actions to the song Fun To Do:

• crossing the plains (ride a horse)
• riding a wagon (bounce in a bumpy wagon)
• forging a river (swimming motions with arms)
• milking a cow (squeeze fists)
• walking to Zion (walking feet)
• picking berries (picking with fingers)
• rolling the dough (invisible rolling pin)
• churning the butter (invisible butter churn)
• darning the socks (hand sewing motion)
• rocking the baby (arms rocking baby)
• reading the scriptures (book hands)
• lighting the fire (rub two fingers together like rubbing two sticks together to start a fire)

Pioneer Sing-Like-A....

• PIONEER GIRL - only girls
• PIONEER BOY - only boys
• OX- sing slow. 
• 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.
• RABBIT - sing very fast!
• Rabbits were seen along the pioneer trail. Rabbits are FAST and hard to catch!
• 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, hold out "ssssss's"
• Yes, there were rattlesnakes! If the pioneers encountered a rattlesnake it was best to be very quiet and not disturb it!
• NATIVE AMERICAN CHILD - pass an item while singing
• "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 - 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.
• BEE - hum. 
• 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 - play hot/cold (use toy cow).
• 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, while the second group echoes them.
• When the pioneers finally reached the mountains they discovered some places in canyons, between two mountains, that would echo anything they said or sang!

*Adapted from Ordinary Adventures