Turkey Blessings

I love Fall!  Primary Sacrament Program is over & now we can sing & learn seasonal songs! Since it's November  thoughts turn to our blessings and showing gratitude.  One song to help the children reflect on their blessings is "I am Glad for Many Things".  Sing the song a few times then tell the children to think of something they are grateful for.  Then sing the song using the things that they are grateful for in place of the words, "many things".  Example:  I am gald for "my family", I am glad for "food to eat",  I am glad for "clothes to wear".  You can change the last phrase to be "that are mine today" or "that is mine today" depending on what works better.  For each child that was chosen to say what they are grateful for they were able to place a feather on the turkey.  You could also have songs listed on the back of the feathers for children to select or you could write different blessings on the back of the feather.  Thanks to "Lara in Idaho" for the idea of changing the words in the song.

Match Game

Make pictures (2 each) of the songs you would like to sing (i.e., picture of an ear & a heart for the song "If I Listen with My Heart").  Place the pictures face down on the chalkboard.  Call a child up front and have them choose two pictures. If they match ask the child to guess the name of the song - you can also have your pianist play a few notes to help the child guess and then sing the song!  In the Jr. Primary if they didn't guess the name of the song we just sang the song anyway.  But in the Sr. Primary we had teams and if they didn't guess the other team would have a chance to "steal" the song.  Both the Jr & Sr Primary really enjoyed this game.

Musical Notes

This game is played like "Hot Potato".  Make several musical notes and put the name of a song you would like to sing on each note, a musical staff on poster board and a containter to hold the notes.  Put the notes in a container and tell the children to pass the container around as fast as they can.  When the pianist stops playing the child holding the container picks a musical note out it and them place the note on the musical staff.  Sing the song listed on the note and continue with the game.  Once the game is complete have the pianist play the "song" the children made on the musical staff.  It's pretty funny and the kids really enjoyed it.  This activity was not my idea.  I've read so many blogs with talented choristers that I've forgotten where I found it.  Thank you for your very original idea!

Spinning Wheel

Love this wheel as it is so versatile!  Last week I put my "How To" singing cards on this wheel.  After we sang the song once through the regular way I chose a child to spin the wheel.  Whatever it landed on we sang the song as indicated (i.e., holding your nose, clapping to the beat, standing on one foot, etc..)Some clever person made this wheel and it's in our primary room for anyone to use.  I included a picture so if you're a clever person you can make one too!  I also have a much smaller wheel that fits on a tabletop but the kids love this one.

Pop a Balloon Song

Kids had a lot of fun with this but I didn't blow up the balloons big enough to pop easily!  Anyway, I wrote all the songs for the Primary Program on individual slips of paper & put each slip in a balloon & blew up the balloons.  I explained to the children that we need to practice our program songs and that the songs were inside the balloons & we needed to get them out.  I chose a child to come up front and pop a balloon.  This was really funny, as I mentioned I didn't blow up the balloons enough to pop easily.  The kids were stomping on them, sitting on them, biting them! - anything to pop them!  Sing the song inside the balloon & continue until all the balloons are popped.   Lots of fun!

Rocket Singing Meter

This is such fun and the kids loved it!  I did get this idea from someone else; unfortunately, I can't remember who to give credit to!
Materials needed:  Blue poster board, cardstock, fishing line, tape, straight pin & balloons

Prep:  Take the blue poster board and measure 15" across and cut the board in half.  Put a hole in the top and bottom of the board for the fishing line to run through.  Make some clouds and a rocket on cardstock.  Tape a straight pin to the back of the rocket and attach to the fishing line.  Put clouds on poster board.  Blow up balloon (water balloons work best) and attach to top of poster board.

The idea is for the rocket to ascend to the top of the poster board and pop the ballon.  Depending on how well the children sing, pull on the back of the fishing line to raise the rocket.  If the kids are singing great the rocket will rise to the top and pop the balloon!  The children in our Jr Primary love singing meters and so far, this one is their favorite.  However, sometimes they get a little too exuberant when the balloon pops!

Conducting Baton

Just to change things up I will call on a child that I've notice has been singing well.  I let them "lead" the children in the next song with our special conductor baton.  By pointing the baton the child leading the music has the option to have everyone sing,  just the left side or just the right side.   Oh, our baton is actually a "bubble wand" I purchased at Walmart for $1.  I've tried a wooden dowel that has glitter on it but the kids prefer this one as they call it the "Light Saber".

* Originator:  Sugardoodle

* Adapted:  Primary Music Stuff