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

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!