Here is my tentative plan:
I will print two copies of the "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" review puzzle I cited in my last post. However, in addition to placing the wordstrips on the board, I am going to put copies of my popsicle stick prompts on this Tic-Tac-Toe "Toss Across" board that I picked up at the thrift store a few weeks ago:
Here's how we'll play the game:
JR: I'll tell Jr. Primary we need to know the song backwards and forwards, and will divide them into two teams. Each team will take turns picking a tic-tac-toe square, and will have to put the wordstrip in the right spot with the picture prompt next to it (for those who can't read). I have arranged the pictures so that we can go perfectly in order from the back and have BOTH teams get Tic-Tac-Toe - no one loses in Jr. Primary.
Since there are 9 squares, I will have one "Wild Card" square in the middle where the team that picks the square has to answer a trivia question about the song. If they don't get the right answer, the wild card goes back on the board and the other team can pick it on their next turn.
SR: Similar to above, but only rule is they can't go exactly in order and will throw a beanbag to pick a square from the board, then try to figure out where it goes. Random pictures will have additional trivia questions on the back that they have to answer correctly before they can claim the square.
Once a whole verse has been placed on the board, we will declare a winner (for Sr., anyway), turn those pieces over to show the picture, and set up for round 2.
Even with the game, I think the kids will get bored singing the same song, so here are my filler activities:
JR: HEAD/SHOULDERS ADAPTATION - I haven't introduced this to the kids yet. I got this great idea HERE, where she's posted a PDF of all the images, and I think it will be a lot of fun for them to switch out the body parts. I just printed the graphic and words, had them laminated, and put Velcro on the back so that it would all stick to a felt board. If you can't read it from the picture, the actions are Jump, Bend, Turn, Clap, and Stretch, while the body parts are Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes, Tummy, Back, Nose, Eyes, Hands, Neck, Mouth, Ears, Elbows, and Hips. My other ideas were to bring the Wiggle Worm Jar or Wacky Wands (I should post about this, basically a jar with star wands, an inflatable light saber, etc that the kids can use to help lead music).
I also plan to put away the Popsicle stick prompts that week and instead use hand motions with Jr. Primary - HEAR, BIRD, LOOK, RAIN, WIND, TOUCH, WALK/EYES, BUTTERFLY, EARS, MIND, HEART, THANK.
For SR, I am going to bring my spray bottle and bell again and let them mist each other when the song talks about RAIN, and ring the bell when it talks about SOUND. I will bring my WAYS TO SING BOX (with all new cards) in case I feel like we need to switch things up, and am going to have some on-topic songs (Keep the Commandments, Nephi's Courage) ready if we need to sing something different. Who knows, maybe they will want to try the Head/Shoulders poster too!
SAMPLE TRIVIA QUESTIONS:
- How many times does the first verse say "whenever"? 3
- What SENSES are used in the first verse? HEAR/LOOK/FEEL/TOUCH
- Can you name (from the 2nd verse) the FIVE things Heavenly Father has given us? EYES/EARS/LIFE/MIND/HEART (for Jr. Primary I will just ask for one)
- WHY did Heavenly Father give us all of these things?
Love your ideas!
ReplyDeleteI was just looking at the Head/Shoulders/Knees/Toes game too, over at Primary Singing Ideas for Leaders blog http://afprimarysingingtime.blogspot.ca/
I'm so grateful for all the amazing helps online that make me look good! Thanks again!
Amy
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Thank you for the link, Amy!!! I was able to update the source thanks to you. I agree, 90% of what I do comes from the great minds of other ladies, I love that the internet allows us to draw from greater resources.
DeleteI see a lot of great ideas not just here but on pinterest for singing time. I love most of them, but I wanted to make you (and anyone else who reads this) aware that competition in singing (or sharing time) between teams in primary is not appropriate. I used to do it all the time when I was the music leader, but after having served many years in our stake primary, I was made aware that "competitions" in primary are not appropriate. I'm not judging....been there; done that....just making you aware.
ReplyDeleteSuzan, thank you for your comment.
DeleteI both agree and disagree.
Caution should certainly be used in implementing competition in Primary. Any competition should be lighthearted, certainly, and not foster ill will.
However, the decision to out-rule it completely is, to my understanding, a decision to be may by your Primary Presidency, Bishop, and/or Stake Primary Presidency. As far as I am aware, there is no church-wide prohibition against games in Primary. What might be right for one area may not be right for another. As an example, some wards prohibit food of any kind; others allow it under special circumstances.
The best rule of thumb is to check with your leadership. If they allow competition but you feel uncomfortable with, by all means, don't do it. But there are certain groups (especially Sr Primary) that may benefit from it.
I don't think there's one right answer that applies to every Primary, everywhere, but absolutely agree with you that thought and consideration should be put into any decision to use a competition.
Suzan, thank you for your comment.
DeleteI both agree and disagree.
Caution should certainly be used in implementing competition in Primary. Any competition should be lighthearted, certainly, and not foster ill will.
However, the decision to out-rule it completely is, to my understanding, a decision to be may by your Primary Presidency, Bishop, and/or Stake Primary Presidency. As far as I am aware, there is no church-wide prohibition against games in Primary. What might be right for one area may not be right for another. As an example, some wards prohibit food of any kind; others allow it under special circumstances.
The best rule of thumb is to check with your leadership. If they allow competition but you feel uncomfortable with, by all means, don't do it. But there are certain groups (especially Sr Primary) that may benefit from it.
I don't think there's one right answer that applies to every Primary, everywhere, but absolutely agree with you that thought and consideration should be put into any decision to use a competition.