The Rug

Because I was the queen of last minute singing time's, I took upon myself the challenge of creating activities out of whatever I would find around the house, at the $1 store, in clearance bins, and at DI.  This is one of my favorite activities, and I'm quite frankly surprised that I haven't posted it yet!  Every time I dig in my bins (yes, there are multiple bins, much to my son's dismay as they are all stored in his closet!), I find things that I used all the time and some that I never even got around to using.  It's like a treasure hunt every time!

Anyhoo, meet The Rug.  I got it on clearance at the Target Dollar Spot after Valentine's Day a couple of years ago.  I have noticed since then that they have little rugs for just about every holiday, so depending on your mood and budget and bin situation, you could theoretically have a rug for all seasons.  Here is how to use The Rug...

Place The Rug on the floor.  Invite a group of children to come to the front (this idea is actually a perfect activity for small primaries).  As a song is played/sung, have the children walk in a circle, stepping on The Rug once in a rotation.  Here come the variations.

Variation 1:  Similar to musical chairs, have your pianist randomly stop playing.  The child standing on The Rug has to say or sing the next line.

Variation 2:  When the song is over, the child on The Rug chooses an action or Fun Way to Sing for the next section of the song.

Variation 3:  When the music stops, the child on The Rug is "out" or placed on a special team - then it's a contest of who knows the song better - the kids in the circle, or the kids that are "out."

Other uses of The Rug could be having your special helper stand on it while they're helping you; if you're standing on The Rug the kids have to sing, if you move they hum; stand on The Rug and tell them the better they sing the more you tip - they have to try and tip you off.

There's a million ways to use The Rug.  It's a fun and simple prop that you can pull out whenever, and they'll love it.  Keep it in the closet...it's worth it!

What would you do with The Rug?

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2013 Singing Time Schedule

Wow, last year I was so on the ball!  This year is another story entirely, and so I'm just now getting around to posting the schedule for next year.  Sorry!  I have been getting several emails a day wondering when it's coming, and now it's here!  Click on the link to download and print:

2013 Singing Time Schedule
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 2
2013 Singing Time schedule - version 3
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 4
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 5
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 6
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 7
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 8
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 9
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 10
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 11
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 12
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 13
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 14
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 15
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 16
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 17
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 18
2013 Singing Time Schedule - version 20
2013 Singing Time Schedule - in Finnish
2013 Singing Time Schedule - for Danna


Here are the rules, so please read through them so you know what's up!

1.  I created this document in a program called Art Explosion Publisher Pro Silver.  If you do not have this exact program, you cannot edit this schedule.  I repeat - if you do not have this exact program, you cannot edit this schedule.

2.  In light of #1, I am happy to help you edit the order of the songs so it fits your primary better.  Please email me if I can help you, and include the order you would like the songs to appear.  Give me a few days to get it done, because between mom stuff, work, school, scouts, and everything else, sometimes it takes a few days to get to my email.

3.  Use it, share it, give me your feedback, have fun, and count your blessings that you have the best calling in the church!

That's it!  Have a great 2013!

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Don't Forget To...Smile!

Whenever your primary kids are singing in front of an audience, whether it's in Sacrament Meeting or a ward activity, or even just in your weekly singing time, it's hard to get them to smile and sing loud enough to hear them!  In my infinite wisdom desperation, I came up with these little signs (click here for the PDF) that I can keep on my stand and pull them out when I need them.  In the primary room, you can put the ear to your head and the lips to your face, and in the program/special musical number you can just hold them up inconspicuously in front of you.  Simple.  Easy.  And a subtle visual that will help your kids remember to Sing Louder!  Smile!

What do you do to get your primary kids to give their best performance?
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The Smile Stick

Here is a SUPER simple idea that is fun to use any time!  I call it the Smile Stick - and it's used to make children smile.  This can be a huge tool during program prep, when we focus a lot on the children smiling and looking happy.  Use it to choose helpers, as a conducting wand, and any other way you can think of!  It's simple - just tape some feathers to a dowel.  Leave the dowel long (I bought mine at WalMart for 25cents, it's 36" long) so you can reach the kids sitting further away from you.  It's sure to bring a smile - for one, it tickles.  And for two, it's something new!

Thanks to Georgia for letting me interrupt her movie to try it out!

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So I'm the Primary Chorister...What do I Need?

This is another question that comes up every now and then.  What do I need?  Where do I start?  The short answer is this...you don't really need anything but love and a smile.  And possibly a songbook.  But for those of us who need a few more "things" to make us happy, I've put together a list of the things that I always have in my binder/bag.  With these few items, you can build entire singing times, fill in a few extra minutes, calm down a crazy crowd, rile up a drowsy crowd, and basically keep yourself from going crazy because you have just about everything you need.  So here is the list - as always, I love your comments!  What do you find indispensable?  Here are a few things that you might consider adding to your primary bag...(and a little goose chase, just for fun!)

1.  Masking tape.

2.  Magnets.

3.  Fun Ways to Sing Cards.  Look here, here, and here.

4.  Do As I'm Doing/Fun to Do Cards.  Look here.

5.  Mystery Word sign.  For details on this, go here.  Easy, easy singing time.

6.  Topic Cubes.  For details and the printable, see this post.

7.  Balloons and a pin.  In a pinch, write just about anything on a slip of paper and put it in the balloon for the kids to pop.  Instant success.  Perfect for subs.

8.  Outline for your pianist, laminated.  Print the one I created here, or create your own.

9.  Wet-erase markers, and if you have a white board have dry-erase markers.  Use the wet-erase markers to write on the back of visual aids and your pianist schedule.  Little hands won't smear them, and they are pretty permanent until you take a wet paper towel to it.

10.  A beanbag, small stuffed animal, or laminated musical note.  Use this item to play hot/cold - another super easy way to review a song and really pound it into memory.

So there you have it.  My top 10 items on the must-have list for primary choristers.

What can you NOT LIVE WITHOUT?

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Jeopardy!

I love to play Jeopardy.  Not the Alex Trebek version, I'm not that smart.  At all.  But I do love the primary version, and have fond memories of playing it when I was in primary!  I thought about creating a full game to post here, since it's on the plan for the coming review months, but since everyone's songs are so different I opted to create only the category headings.

I only ever use 4 or 5 of the headings at once, that way I can change things up and it's a "new" game every time we play it. 

Here is the PDF for Jeopardy Category Headings

Here are the categories and some examples of clues you can use:

Otherwise Known As...
- Emulate the Seer = Follow the Prophet
- Get Up for the Good = Stand for the Right

Actions Speak Louder
- Have wiggle songs listed that incorporate actions or movement, such as Fun to Do,
  Do as I'm Doing, Once There Was a Snowman, etc.
- List songs with Sign Language
- Post fun ways to sing and have a child pick a favorite song or program song

Who's it About?
- He helped things to grow = Adam, sing "Follow the Prophet"
- Blessed to open the last dispensation = Joseph Smith, sing "Praise to the Man"
- They walked and walked and walked and walked = Pioneer children, sing "Pioneer Children Sang..."

Next Line, Please...
- In darkness or light = Be true, be true and stand for the right, sing "Stand for the Right"
- What did I see? = Popcorn popping on the apricot tree, sing "Popcorn Popping"
- I would have liked to walk with him = and listen to his words, sing "If I Listen With My Heart"

Fill in the Blank
- I will follow __________________ for me = God's Plan
- First, ______ in the Lord, Jesus Christ = faith, sing "4th Article of Faith"
- Wherever I go the _________ grows greener still = grass

Follow the Rhythm
- Use this one to clap the rhythm to songs you are working on, and they guess the song (like name that tune)

Picture This
- Instead of written clues, put a picture from the Gospel Art kit or one page of a flip chart.  Then have a child guess which song the picture represents.

Scrambled Titles
- Ftahrse = Fathers
- Ym Hanyvele Fehtar Olsev Em = My Heavenly Father Loves Me

So there you go!  Just a few ideas for you, that way you can focus on the songs YOU need to work on for review.  This is a great program review, or even a substitute activity if you're organized.

Do you have a category that isn't listed here?  Let me know and I'll try to create a header for you.  Have fun!


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All New Fun Ways to Sing Cards

And the collection continues!!  Here is the link to 10 all-new cards for review, repetition, and just plain ol' fun.

All New Fun Ways to Sing Cards  

***If you'd like to win a complete laminated set of these 10 cards, make sure to enter the Summer Kick-Off Giveaway found HERE.


And for those of you who are looking for all of the other Fun Ways to Sing cards, check out these posts with links to the downloads:  POST 1  and   POST 2

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Odd Balls

 This is an activity that can be used in several different ways.  I made it to be pretty generic, but mostly I use it to sing songs that we don't know very well (or at all) or just don't sing very often.  The balls are numbered 1-6, and I always have a master list of songs that we work off of.  Depending on the day and what visuals I have with me, I just number the songs accordingly for the pianist.  All of these songs have very simple visuals - either a one-page "flipchart" or a few small props or popsicle stick signs.  Most of them have a one-pager with something extra - I'll post them one at a time with directions on how I put them together.  (that sounds very vague...it will make more sense when you see pictures!)  I sewed a simple drawstring bag and then decorated it with felt letters, just to make it fun to look at. 

If you make this, it can be used to review program songs, choose fun ways to sing, or just about any ol' thing you can think up.  I love things that are versatile! 
How would you use Odd Balls?
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Must Have...The Sunday Binder

Most of you probably have some way of keeping yourselves organized - and keeping primary junk things organized can be a real chore!  To eliminate the Sunday-morning-scramble to gather all of my things, I had to get everything together in a binder, cuz that's the kind of girl I am.  Here is how I've got my binder organized, and a few of the things that I feel are important to have at my fingertips!

The front sleeve is where I keep my Sunday Music Schedule, a visual reminder to actually fill it out each week!

In the front, I keep the weekly singing schedules and a copy of the current program for reference.

Tab #1:  Sheet Music

For all of the loose-leaf songs that I collect.  I always hole punch them so that the pages face each other, then I don't have to turn pages back and forth.

Tab #2:  Song Lists

Do you keep track of the songs your primary knows?  This list was so valuable to me when I was called as chorister, and I keep updating it as we learn more songs.  It's a great way to keep track of how long it's been since you've sung certain songs, so you remember to keep things fresh.

Tab #3:  Directories

First is the class list, with teachers, children, and classroom numbers.  Behind that is the directory for our primary workers, so I have their phone numbers and email addresses handy.  Behind that is a ward list.  You just never know when you'll need it!

Tab #4:  Primary Program

Here is where I keep a running list of the songs I'd like to have prepared for the program.  This way I can tweak things as the year goes on without doing a lot of searching (or remembering).  I also keep the program script here so I can follow along during the actual program.

Tab #5:  Schedule.  Ours changes sometimes, so I keep the current one here so I know where I need to be and when.

Tab #6:  Ideas

I write things down as I hear about them, read about them, or see them in other wards.  When I need to refer back, they're all together and not just stuck in piles on my desk.

Tab #7:  Meetings

For agendas, presidency meeting notes, and notes from training meetings.

Tab #8:  Teaching Tools

This is where I keep all of my oft-used visual aids.  Follow the Prophet, Do As I'm Doing, color sticks, Fun Ways to Sing...they're all in there plus more.  I don't have to remember to bring them, and they're there when I'm in a pinch with 5 minutes left in singing time.  Nothing like being prepared!

So that's that! Pretty simple!

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Follow the Prophet

When I first was called as the primary chorister, I was overwhelmed (in may ways, obviously) by Follow the Prophet.  So many verses!  So many prophets!  So many different orders in which to sing it!  Thankfully, the presidency opted to only include 4 verses in the program, but it was still hard.  I was searching around the web, as I usually do, and came across this post  at I Sing U Sing and LOVED her idea of having a visual reminder of what verse we were on!  Of course my creativity only extends to clipart, so I created some reminder sticks to use for our program.  I have included all of the prophets that are in the Children's Songbook.  I know that there have been other verses written with some of the Book of Mormon prophets, so if there's a verse that your primary knows that isn't here, just send a comment or an email and I'll whip one up for you.  Oh, and you'll notice that I've changed the 'Adam' one - what can I say?  Everything's an evolution... 

Just print them out, cut & laminate for durability, and tape a popsicle stick to the back.  And of course, write the words on the back!  I don't know about you, but 9 verses of any song is a memory-overload :o)

Here is the link to the Follow the Prophet Signs PDF.  Enjoy!
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Game Markers

When we have competition-type games, such as the "game-board" or the "maze," I keep track of the progress of junior and senior primary with these handy little magnets.  Obviously, one is for Junior and the other for Senior!  At Christmas, we used the game board to review our Christmas songs, and it was so fun the first week that I brought it back again the next week.  The kids loved to see how far the other group got, and it was fun to watch them get excited about singing in order to get to the finish line.  In any event, they are just another way to make my life easier, and give the little ones a little something cute to keep their attention.

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