Choose and Review - "Say What?" Again

I am really loving this “Say What?” feature in the Friend magazine. Like the feature in the July issue, the phrases on this clever list in the January, 2011 issue does not make sense until you say them fast, several times. "Say What?" this month includes ten things that we should do to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. This certainly works with our upcoming themes.

These nonsense phrases work so well for singing time. Just assign a review song for each phrase and put them in a can or basket to draw from. The kids love the absurdity! I love how it trains them to listen. I also like the flexibility. If I keep these phrases handy in my primary box, I can easily fill a few minutes of extra time. I wish I were as clever and Brother Phares. The names of primary songs, or phrases from the songs would be so fun.

Song Review - “Follow the Directions”

“Follow the Directions” is a classic way to review a song that you have recently taught or to review several songs on a week with Choose and Review. Simply write direction statements on separate slips of paper, cards, or seasonal shapes. Ask one of the children to choose a card and then have the primary follow the directions for singing the song.

Here are some examples of direction statements. I’m sure you can think of others.

• Everyone conduct the beat pattern.
• Clap the rhythm and hum.
• Clap the beat and sing.
• Girls sing while the boys clap the rhythm.
• Boys sing while the girls clap the rhythm.
• Oldest class and youngest class come to the front and sing.
• Stand back to back and sing.
• Everyone use pitch-level conducting.

You can easily put the directions in a can or you could get a little more creative about the delivery. You could use a seasonal basket or some other interesting container. You could roll them onto a flower stem and choose from a bouquet. You could put them into thematic boxes like the sports balls or the valentine hearts. Write them on cards and use fun magnets on the chalkboard. Put them in the pockets of an apron. If you can think of something else, please add your idea in a comment.

If you keep a few slips handy in the closet or your bag, you won’t panic when you are asked to fill extra time. This easy activity also lends itself really well to an emergency situation or to give to a substitute.

Music Aid - Singing Shapes

These are my singing shapes. Each shape represents a different way to sing a review song. For instance, the monkey indicates that we begin singing a song in the regular way, but then sing “ahh” whenever the monkey is held up. The kids usually choose these shapes from the pockets of my apron but sometimes I bring them in the surprise sack, or some other container for variety. I can use these shapes to review a song that I’ve recently taught or use them with several songs on a week of Choose and Review. We can use one shape throughout the whole song, or, sometimes I put them together in pairs with a rubber band and then we change from one to another in the same song. However we use them, the kids always respond well to singing shapes. This is what these shapes currently mean in our primary.

Monkey - sing “ahh”
Owl - sing “ooh”
Turtle - sing slow
Rabbit - sing fast
Lion - sing louder
Lamb - sing softer
Bee- hum
Bird - regular singing
Cowboy boot - boys sing
Princess crown - girls sing
Purse - teachers sing, or child's teacher leads
Team pennant - your class sings
Hand - choose a hand action like snapping fingers, clapping, etc.
Hammer - pound the rhythm or the beat
Parrot - echo singing with myself and the kids, or I divide the room in half or between boys and girls.
Octopus - child conducts with a sideways figure eight
Heart - sing your favorite song
Frog - everyone uses their hand to "hop" from note to note (pitch level conducting)
Snail - another shape for singing slow

Choose and Review - Who Am I?

"Who Am I?" is another easy, fun singing time that you can prepare ahead and have available for one of those weeks. Just write several clues for people or things and assign an appropriate song to sing. Put the clues in an envelope and have the children choose one. Read the clues and guess the person or thing. Sing the song. Although the following clues are already in my box, I think it would be fun to write clues about people involved with miracles to go with the theme in August.

• I went on a mission to the Lamanites and was put to work tending sheep. I was able to defend the sheep against robbers and the king listened to my message about the gospel. Who Am I? (Ammon = sing Book of Mormon Stories -118)
  
  Many beautiful things are part of me. I was created by God in just seven days. When people look at me, I can make them happy! What Am I? (The earth = sing My Heavenly Father Loves Me-228)
  
  One day as I was walking down the road I saw a man who had been beaten. I felt sorry and stopped to help him. I took him to an inn and even paid for his care before continuing my journey. Who Am I? (the good Samaritan = sing Go the Second Mile -167)
  
  No one believed Noah when he said I would come. For forty days and nights I fell on the earth and caused a great flood. Only Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark survived me. What Am I? (the rain = sing Dare to Do Right- 158 or Rain is Falling -241)
  
  I am small and round and was made by God to help Lehi’s family get through the wilderness. I can only work by faith. What Am I? (the Liahona = sing Faith -96)
  
  I was instructed by Heavenly Father to build a boat. My brothers laughed at me because they knew I didn’t know how. I prayed and God blessed me and helped me finish the boat. Who Am I? (Nephi = sing Nephi’s Courage -120)
  
  I had been taught that I should always pray, but in my country there was a law that said you could not pray. I obeyed the Lord and prayed anyway. I was put into a den of lions, but the Lord protected me and blessed me for being valiant. Who Am I? (Daniel = sing I Will Be Valiant -162)
  
  When I was young I did many things wrong, but I repented of my sings. With four of my friends, I went on a mission to the Lamanites. We became great missionaries. Who Am I? (Alma the Younger = sing We’ll Bring the World His Truth -172)
  
  I came down from heaven to help feed the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness. I taste like wafers made with honey. What Am I? (manna - sing For Health and Strength -21)
  

This makes a good singing time to prepare and leave for a substitute if you're traveling or have an emergency. If you prepare it and leave it in the closet or in your bag, it is also handy if you have extra time for some reason.

Music Aid - Category Cube

A category cube is another favorite music aid for singing time. On each side of the cube is a picture representing a category of primary songs, such as Action, Gospel, Jesus, Family, Seasons, etc. A child tosses the cube and then the children are challenged to think of a song to sing from that category. You can ask the child who rolled the cube to think of the song or open it up to the whole group. Younger kids nearly always need help.

You could adapt the idea simply by labeling pictures with the categories and then laminating them. Put the pictures in the pockets of an apron or a sack to draw from. Or, put them face up or face down on the floor and toss a bean bag to choose one. In an emergency you could just write categories on slips of paper and choose them from a basket or can, but the pictures really seem to help the kids. Rolling the cube makes the choosing more random. The same category comes up frequently when rolling the cube, but that's okay because there are so many songs still to choose in each category. If you want to remove that randomness, use either of the adaptations. This way you are sure to have each category chosen.

I have two of these 6-inch cubes with different categories. I keep one handy for when the kids have had enough of my planned activity. The cubes are also useful when I have extra time.

Music Aid - A Microphone

A "microphone" is a useful music aid. This one might look a little dated now. I'm not even sure what current microphones look like! This one is easy to make though. Use a short piece (about 8 inches) of 3/4-inch dowel. I painted mine with gray acrylic craft paint and then sealed it with a matte spray varnish. Push a 2 1/2-in Styrofoam ball on to one end of the dowel to first make a deep impression in the ball. Drip glue into the hole and push the stick in. Let it dry and then paint the ball black. Twist a short length of a silver chenille stem into an "antennae" and attach to the bottom with a thumb tack. I've seen plastic microphones at the dollar stores also.

I use the microphone mainly when I have a bit of extra time. I'll ask a child (or a teacher or leader) to come forward and will ask them a short series of questions in a "V-I-P Interview". I'll ask about their full name, chores at home, a favorite food, pets, favorite school subject, etc. Just one or two questions and then I ask what song they would like to sing.

There are lots of other ideas for a microphone, does anyone else use one?