Choose and Review - “Jeopardy” Game

“Jeopardy,” based on the television game show, is a fun game that requires one to state a question for a given answer. The game is organized around categories with several “answers” under each category. The trick is to come up with the question. Primary choristers have been adapting this game for singing time for years! Depending on how you set it up, it takes a lot of time. The answer is given as a clue and the correct response must always include the words “what/who is...” Answers can include numbers which are used as points if you wish the game to be competetive.

Categories could include such things as “Picture That Song” where you use visual aids from songs you’ve taught for the answer clues. For instance, a picture or a simple line drawing of the golden plates should be shown. The child responds by saying “what is “The Golden Plates” and then you would sing the song. Correct responses in this category would be the title of the song. Another category could be “The Word is LISTEN” with answer clues such as “If I listen with , I’ll hear the Savior’s voice” and “He whispers ‘Love one another as Jesus loves you.” The answers would be “what is ‘my heart’” and “what is ‘the still small voice’.” A third category could be “In the Scriptures” with answer clues such as “The Lord commanded him to build a boat.” The answer would be “who is Nephi’.” The answer to “This day should always be kept holy” would be “what is ‘the Sabbath day’.”

Write category titles on small poster strips and position these along the top of the chalkboard. Write answer clues on other small posters and arrange these, face-in, under the proper categories. If you are playing for points, write the points on the front of the answer clues. Have the children take turns choosing a category and then an “answer question.” The children can choose any of the clues in the category; they don’t need to take them in order. You can divide the group into two, but I prefer to play with the whole group amassing total points. You could also play without using points for the questions, in a more “informal competition” between two groups. The junior primary could have two stuffed animals play, inviting the children to answer for “Bear” or “Rabbit.” This makes the competition less personal for these younger children.

“Jeopary” is the perfect game to play when you have lots of time, but if you don’t, you’ll have to shorten it dramatically. Try using just three categories with three questions in each. On a good day I can usually get through eight or nine songs, depending on the length of the song. You could also play the game over more than one week. It wouldn’t necessarily matter if you got through all the categories. Just write a “final Jeopardy” clue and declare an end to the game. If you are using points, add up the points at the end of your time and the game is over.

A really clear explanation of how “Jeopardy” can be used to review songs is given on page 18 of the September 2003 issue of the Friend magazine. Additional category suggestions you’ll find there are “Who is That Anyway” (using people from songs) and “It’s on the Program” (using clues from songs taught for the Sacrament Meeting Program.)

Choose and Review - “Connect Four” Game

Prepare sixteen small pictures that match the theme in some way. Choose an appropriate review song for each picture. Don’t worry -- you won’t use them all! Choose a matching scripture, question, or phrase from one of the songs. Write these on wordstrips and put them in a basket to draw from. Prepare 8-12 colored papers to use as markers.

Draw a 4x4 grid of squares on the chalkboard and randomly place the small pictures inside the squares. One at a time, draw a scripture, question or phrase from the can and make a match to a picture in the grid. Replace the picture with a colored paper marker and sing the song. When four squares are connected, end the game.

This month I could use this game to reinforce the principle that many blessings come to us as members of the church. I would choose sixteen pictures that illustrate these blessings and choose a scripture that matches. For example, the scripture in Alma 9:27 could match a picture of baptism and we could sing “When I Am Baptized.” Exodus 20:12 would go with a picture of parents and we could sing “I Am A Child of God.”

In July I might use this game to help the children review My Gospel Standards and how these standards help us be worthy to go to the temple. I would write each standard on a wordstrip and find a picture and a review song that helps to illustrate the standard.

If I wanted to use the game for a general review, I would simply choose a picture to illustrate each song I wanted to review and write a phrase or keyword from each song on the wordstrips. After drawing a strip, the children would first need to guess which song the phrase comes from and then decide which picture matches the song.

Choose and Review - “Password” Game

From each song that you wish to review, choose a keyword that will identify the song to the children. Write these words on colorful cards to post, face-in, on the chalkboard. Invite a child to choose a card. They will need to give the rest of the primary either a synonym or another word associated with the secret word as a clue. Be prepared to help with clues by using the dictionary and the thesaurus to find synonyms for the keywords you have chosen. Also use other words from the song as clues to the secret word.You can even write these on another small card, or on the bottom of the large word card. Tell the primary to think of songs that we know and then think of words in the songs that might match the clues given. If the child finds the word too difficult, they can ask for your help. When the word is guessed, sing the song from which the word originates.

Set a time limit for guessing and then give more obvious clues. The first time you play this game be prepared to help whisper clues. The older kids will catch on, but may still need lots of help.The younger kids will almost always need help.

These are examples of keywords and clues: repent=sorry, change, remorse, shame, confess (Repentance -CS-98) popcorn=white, fluffy, yummy, apricot, blossoms (Popcorn Popping -CS-242) valiant=courageous, bold, servants, determined, latter-days (I Will Be Valiant -CS-162) stand=upright, firm, fixed, immovable, true, not sit (Stand for the Right - CS-159) faith=belief, seed, knowing, grow (Faith -CS96) foolish=folly, silly, thoughtless, rock, sand, not wise (The Wise Man...CS-281) family=kindred, relations, household, forever, eternity (Families Can Be...CS-188) Jesus=Savior, Lord, perfect, died (Tell Me the Stories...CS-57) reverent=worship, quiet, awe, humble, bow (Reverently, Quietly -CS-26) covenant=promise, pledge, binding, obey, temple (I Love to See the Temple -CS-95)

Song Review - “Everyone Who”

“Everyone Who” is another way to choose who will sing as you review a song. Write the phrases on slips of paper and put them in a basket or can to draw from. Do the actions while you sing the song, yet one more time. If there are just a few children who stand to sing, have everyone else hum while you help those few sing. If you can think of another example to add to the list, please leave a comment.

• Everyone who has a pet at home stand and pretend you are petting your pet while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to play soccer stand and swing you leg back and forth while we sing.
• Everyone who plays a musical instrument stand and pretend to play it while we sing.
• Everyone who wants to go on a mission stand and “knock” the rhythm on a pretend door.
• Everyone who likes to take a walk stand and walk in place while we sing. Swing your arms.
• Everyone who goes to bed by 8:00 come up and pretend to sleep while we sing the song to you.
• Everyone who likes to swim stand and pretend to swim while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to read a book stand and pretend to read while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to build a snowman (or sand castle) stand up while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to ride a bike stand and pretend you are riding your bike while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to paint stand and pretend to paint the melody of the song while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to draw stand and pretend to draw the melody of the song while we sing.
• Everyone who wants to grow to be tall stand on your tip toes while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to make mud pies stand and sing.
• Everyone who likes to rake leaves stand and pretend to rake while we sing.
• Everyone who has to set the table for dinner stand and sing.
• Everyone who has to pick up their toys at home stand and sing.
• Everyone who has to fold their own laundry stand and pretend while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to cook stand stand and pretend to stir a pot while we sing.
• Everyone who likes to eat pizza stand and pretend to toss pizza dough while we sing.
• Everyone who has a birthday in the summertime (winter, spring or fall) stand and help me lead.

Choose and Review - "Answers From the Songs" Board Game

Make a list of songs you want to review. Draw a simple board game that has a space for each of the songs. It is easiest to quickly draw a simple track on the chalkboard and then just use a large seasonal magnet for a game piece. But, you can also make a reusable game board on a poster. Write questions that can be answered with specific words from the review songs. For example, you could ask the children “Why have we been saved for these latter days?” and someone would need to answer, “To build the kingdom in righteous ways.” (We’ll Bring the World His Truth, verse 2, CS-172).

Place the marker at the start. You can read the questions from a list or put them on word strips for the children to choose from a can or a basket. Give the pianist a list of the questions so she can find the page as quickly as possible. As each question is answered correctly, move the marker ahead one space and then sing the song.

If the children have trouble remembering the words from the song, especially in the beginning, as they learn how to play the game, it may help for you to sing the phrase that comes just before the answer as a kind of hint. Or, have the pianist play the phrase that includes the answer. Once the children know how to play this game, I insist that they give the exact words from the song. This helps me know whether the children know the words precisely or just “sort of.”

If you run out of time on the last couple of songs, sing just the phrases that include the answer, so that the marker can reach the finish. If you can see that you will be short of time before you even begin, you can say something like, “move ahead two spaces” on two or three of the songs and then sing fewer songs altogether.

Here is a list of questions for some random review songs.

• What did Jesus do a long time ago in a beautiful place to the children who were gathered round him? (I Know That My Savior Loves Me)
• I know something that the Spirit whispers to me and tells me it is true. What do I know? (I Know My Father Lives, CS-5)
• Who can name the whole list of things that we will bring thanks to our Father for? (Thanks to Our Father, CS-20)
• Where did the loving mother lay her baby? (Once Within a Lowly Stable, CS-41)
• Because Jesus is our loving friend, what will he do for us? (Jesus is Our Loving Friend, CS-58)
• Because saying “I’m sorry” is not easy, what will I try to do? (Repentance, CS-98)
• What do I like to do whenever there is rain? (When I Am Baptized, CS-103)
• If I listen to that still small voice, what will I do each time I make a choice? (The Holy Ghost, CS-105)

The simple board game shown in the picture could easily go with our theme this month. The following questions could be used with review songs about Jesus.

• How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death? (He Sent His Son, CS-34)
• When the boat was tossed in a tempest on Galilee, what the Master do? (Tell Me The Stories of Jesus, CS-57)
• What marks are in the hands and side of the resurrected body of Jesus? (Did Jesus Really Live Again? verse 3, CS-64)
• It shouldn’t be hard to sit very still and think which two things about Jesus? (To Think About Jesus, CS-71)
• I feel my Savior’s love. What does he know I will do? (I Feel My Savior’s Love, CS-74)
• Because I’m trying to be like Jesus, what will I do at times I am tempted? (I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus, CS-78)
• What is the one thing I’m sure Jesus will do when He comes again? (When He Comes, CS-82)
• Where was Jesus baptized, long ago? (Baptism, CS-100)
• When Christ was on the earth, what did He promise to send? (The Holy Ghost, CS-105)
• If I listen with my heart, what will I hear? (If I Listen With My Heart)
• The Lord needs certain people to do something in the latter days. Who does he need to do what? (I Will Be Valiant, CS-162)
• When we all lived in heaven and the Father said He needed someone, what did Jesus say? (I Lived in Heaven, CS-4)

I could use this game for Easter by using plastic eggs as a way to deliver the questions. This game can be as generic or as theme-oriented as you might wish.

Choose and Review - Memory Game

The Memory Game is another classic game for singing time. You've probably seen it and perhaps even played it when you were in primary years ago. This game has been around a loooong time. It is based on a very old TV game show called Concentration. One advantage to the Memory Game is that the children have to pay attention the whole time in order to remember where the pictures are.

Prepare a set of 16 pictures, with sets of two pictures that make a match. Write a number on the back side of each picture. Choose a review song for each set of matching pictures. Post the pictures, number side out, on the chalkboard.You can place the pictures into a neatly squared grid, or you can just post them randomly on the chalkboard. Invite the children to call out two numbers at a time and turn the pictures over. If the pictures match, remove them from the board and sing the song. If the pictures don’t match, turn them face in again and call on another child. As the game progresses, with more pictures being removed from the board, it becomes easier to remember where the pictures are.

To make the game even easier for the younger children, I write a number on one picture and a letter on the matching picture. On a turn, the children would call out a number and a letter. This helps them to make matches a little quicker and speeds the game so that we can get to all of the songs.

For this month, I’ve prepared eight pictures which illustrate actions that Jesus did that he wishes us to do also. These pictures are matched to eight pictures of children today who are following the example that Jesus set. I’m planning to use the poem “I Will Follow Jesus Christ,” by Elizabeth Giles (the Friend, May 1999, pg. 24) as an attention getter for this singing time activity.

Choose and Review - The List Game

The List Game is a classic add-on concentration game that challenges the memory. You may have played it as an alphabet game, adding items beginning with alphabet letters to a growing list of things to take to Grandma’s house, or on vacation, etc.

To use the List Game for singing time, I create a phrase that matches the monthly theme and leave out the action. Then I think of words that complete the phrase and a review song that teaches this principle and write these on word strips. The word strips go into a can or basket to draw from. As each word strip is drawn, we say the phrase together, and add the action to the list. Then we sing the song. The point is to remember the list of actions and affirm them each time we repeat the list. I usually include two or three word strips that are blank. In this case, the children would be asked to think of a way to complete the phrase and a song that we know that teaches that action. If I had two groups, I would write only the title of the song on the word strip. The older children would be challenged to listen and discover the action taught in the song and then add it to the list.

As an example, this month I could have used the phrase, “I strengthen my family when I         .” (am kind - “Kindness Begins with Me”) The phrase could grow with actions such as smiling, praying, obeying, being thankful, helpful and saying I’m sorry. In the case of a blank word strip, the children would be asked to think of a way to strengthen their family and a song that the primary knows. It would have be fun to staple the word strips together to make a paper chain, testifying that these actions would, indeed, make the family strong.
This is also fun to play in July with pioneer songs. "I am going across the plains and I am taking          ."

I’m thinking that I’ll use this game in September with the phrase “I prepare to serve a mission when I .” (Keep commandments, gain a testimony, exercise, save money, am friendly, pray, read the Book of Mormon, pay tithing, serve others, and listen to the Holy Ghost.)

This game is an easy one to leave in the closet for emergencies or to prepare for a substitute if you know you'll be gone. Whatever the theme, the List Game is a classic activity for singing time.

Song Review - "Slide the Spool" Game

“Slide the Spool” is a slight variation of the ring game. To use the game for singing time, thread a spool onto a long piece of string and tie the ends together. Have the children stand in a large circle, holding the string with both hands. As you sing, have the children slide the spool around the string. At the end of the song, the child who is nearest the spool names or tells something having to do with the song.

The Spool Game can easily be used to review one song. I’m using the activity this month for the song “I Will Follow God’s Plan.” I’ll have the pianist randomly stop the music and ask the children to name one way to follow God’s plan. Then we’ll pick up the song where we left off and repeat for as long as the children are interested. I won’t play the game for the whole time; it combines well with other short review activities. If this plan doesn’t come off for some reason, I could bring the game on the week we review “Stand for the Right” and ask the children to name one way they can be true and stand for the right. Our kids already know “I Love to See the Temple.” This activity could be a way for me to review this familiar song, asking the children to name one way to prepare to go to the temple.

The Spool Game is also a fun way to sing different songs on a choose and review week. In this case, each song may have a different question. For instance, tell one way you can “Keep the Commandments.” Name one thing your “Mother Dear” does to make home a lovely place. What is your favorite scripture story? (“Search, Ponder and Pray”) Tell one way we can feel “God Love.” Name one thing you can do to be ready for “When He Comes.” Or, you could choose similar songs that correspond to the monthly theme and ask the children to name or tell something about the theme like one way to obey parents, live the word of wisdom, prepare for a mission, follow the prophet, etc. As far as possible, help the children listen to discover what the song teaches.

Choose and Review - “Count the Words” Board Game

Make a standard board game on poster paper with spaces to advance from start to finish. Color the spaces, if you wish, or decorate the game board to match the theme. Write word strips with short phrases that also match the theme. For example, ways to obey the commandments, be a friend, be a missionary, follow the prophet, help others, etc. Make the phrases between one and four or five words long. Put these word strips in a can or basket to draw from. To advance, choose a word strip and read it out loud. Count the words and advance a marker that many spaces. Sing a song for each word strip chosen and continue until you reach the finish. If the track is a long one with many spaces and word strips, choose a reasonable number of songs to sing and put these on some of the word strips. Pause the game to sing the song. The point of the game is simply to move the marker from the start to the finish, briefly discussing the principles and singing the songs along the way. The picture shows the game I recently made to play on the Sunday after our program. It has a service theme for the month of November. I’ll put the game board on the chalkboard with magnets at the corners and use another magnet for a marker.




In case you are interested in making a similar board game, I’ll explain. Start with poster paper and a ruler and marker. Make some kind of track with spaces leading to a finish line. I used a pencil first to get the general shape and then used a permanent marker to draw over the pencil marking. I made this track long on purpose because I will likely have plenty of time on the Sunday we do the program. A longer track takes more time, but it does increase the participation for the kids. We won’t sing a song with every move.

After I got the track drawn, I paged through the digital copies of the Friend magazine, looking for illustrations of children performing service. When I found a likely picture, I printed the page, cut out the illustration and then glued it to the game board. After I had the big spaces filled in, I had to look specifically for smaller pictures. I trimmed some of them to fit. Depending on the track you draw, this may or may not be necessary.

After I had the illustrations in place, I colored the spaces with chalks. Crayons would work just as well, but chalks fill in large spaces fast. Unlike crayons, chalks are easily erased if I get just a little sloppy at the edges. I also liked the way the tone of the chalk matched the tone of the printed pictures, but that’s getting a little picky. The kids won’t notice or appreciate that. ;o)

There are 52 spaces in this track, so I made twenty word strips with a total of 60 words. The word strips for this service game are: dust, give a Book of Mormon, pick up toys, smile, help clean the church, donate toys, help cook supper, set the table, shovel snow, pick up litter, be kind, take cookies to someone, push the swing, hold the door, put groceries away, mow the lawn, bring a friend to Primary, be cheerful, wait my turn, say a prayer for someone. I tried to choose songs that matched the action on the word strip.

Choose and Review - "50 or Less"

"50 or Less" is a cute variation of "Name That Tune" and comes directly from the Sharing Time Ideas (#3 on pg. 57) in the May 2002 issue of the Friend. List ten songs you need to review on the board. Some kind of illustrative picture or drawing will help the juniors who don't read. Invite a child to suggest how many notes the primary may need to guess one of the songs. The pianist then chooses a song from the list and plays that number of notes. If the children don't recognize the song, the pianist should add one note at a time until the children can identify the song. Write the number of notes it took next to the song and then sing the song together. Repeat with the other songs. The goal of the game is to keep the total number of notes at 50 or less.

The "bidding" on how many notes it will take to guess the song gets easier as you get to the last few songs, because the children can see which ones are left on the list. You can make the game a little more difficult by simply listing numbers from 1 to 10 on the board and have the children guess the songs cold. This keeps them guessing until the end of the game. It is also a bit more of a challenge for the older kids who are more familiar with the songs. Try it both ways and see which your kids like best.

Choose and Review - Three in a Row

Three in a Row is a really easy review activity. Choose which songs need to be reviewed and then choose three words in a row from each song. Fold a strip of paper into thirds. Write the words on the sections of the papers and fold them back up. Put the papers into a can or basket to be chosen. Invite a child to choose a paper and read off the first word. Ask the other children if they can guess the song from just one word. If the children can't guess, have the child read the first and second words. Finally, read three in a row. If the songs are familiar, the children will guess right away. You can make things easy or hard, depending on your group.

You can play this game with just a few papers when you have a bit of time left over. Or, make it a full singing time and add in a few rest songs as well.

Song Review - I Spy Game

“I Spy” is a singing time game that reviews several songs in a fun way. A couple of weeks ago, using this month’s theme about miracles as an example, I looked for pictures of miraculous events in the Gospel Art Picture Kit (GAK) and then assigned one of our review songs to each picture. You can adapt “I Spy” to almost any theme, providing you can locate pictures. The game would work just as well with the upcoming themes of obedience, missionary work and service to others. When you’re ready for singing time, post the pictures on the chalkboard. Demonstrate to the children how to play the game by giving clues to one of the pictures. “I spy with my little eye a picture with lots of yellow. There are people in the picture and small black insects and white birds everywhere.” (Miracle of the Seagulls) When a child correctly guesses the picture, sing the song and then let that child give clues to the next picture. Here are examples of pictures that could be used with miracles as the theme.

100-Creation or 600-The World
112-David Slays Goliath
116-Three Men in the Fiery Furnace
117-Daniel in the Lions’ Den
210-Jesus and the Fishermen
213-Christ Healing a Blind man
214-Stilling the Storm
222-Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead
233-Mary and the Resurrected Lord
243-Christ Walking on the Water
302-The Liahona
314-Samuel the Lamanite on the Wall
318-The Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord
403-The First Vision
413-Miracle of the Seagulls

Choose and Review - Pioneer Fun and Games

I think it would be fun to use a simplified pioneer game (or a combination of games) to choose either review songs or ways to sing a review song. Any of these games are just fun summertime games too, if you wanted to use the ideas other than for pioneer day.

Pioneer children would have played marbles and you could mark each marble with a number and correlate the numbers to a list of songs or ways to sing. Use thin string to mark a circle on the floor and shoot a marble to scatter the marbles within the circle. Invite a child to select a marble and try to knock it out of the circle with a marble "shooter." Then sing the song associated with that number.

Jack-Straws is another pioneer game which we call pick-up-sticks today. You could write the name of a song or a way to sing a song on the sticks and scatter them on the table top. Invite the children to choose one and pull it out of the pile without shifting any of the other sticks.

Pioneer children may have played I Spy as they walked along the trail. I Spy makes a fun singing time by choosing pictures that correlate with either the theme or with the songs you wish to review. For instance, you could post several pictures including a prophet from the scriptures, Jesus blessing the children, a girl being confirmed, a picture of the church building, Jesus calling his disciples, etc. Choose a child as a helper and ask them to study the pictures and choose something to give clues about. The other children try to guess which picture the first child is looking at. For instance, if the child were looking at a picture of Noah, they might say "I Spy a boat" or "I Spy something large and brown. People are looking at it. They are laughing." When the children guess the object or the picture, sing "Follow the Prophet."

Follow the Leader is another game that pioneer children would have played. Invite a child to think of a rhythmic action that could accompany a review song. Let them demonstrate and have the rest of the children follow while singing the song.

Dancing was a common activity in pioneer times. If you have extra time, it might be fun to do a simple line dance pattern with the kids. Choose one of the songs with 4/4 timing. Have the children spread out just a little. Play the music and review the 4/4 timing by clapping the beat for a few minutes. Then show them a simple pattern like: Right foot-heel, toe, heel, toe. Left foot -heel, toe, heel, toe. Grapevine to the left (step left foot out and step on the first beat, bring the right foot behind the left and shift the weight to it on the second beat, bring the left foot back across the front of the right foot and shift the weight to it on the third beat, then bring the right foot together with the left foot on the 4th beat.) Then do the heel-toe pattern again and grapevine to the right. Repeat for the length of the song. The younger children could just do the heel-toe pattern and clap their hands occasionally. "Follow the Prophet" or "The Church of Jesus Christ" would be fun songs to dance to.

Another fun movement idea comes from the Sharing Time ideas in the July 1998 issue of the Friend magazine. The suggestion is to have the children form a wagon wheel with four children in the middle holding their arms out to make "spokes" and other children in a circle around those four forming the "rim". The children would march as they sing, making the wagon wheel turn. Larger primaries would need to form several wheels.

One more pioneer game that I thought of is Chain Tag. To adapt it to singing time I would start singing and tag a child who would then stand up and sing with me. They would then tag another who stands and joins the singing and tags another, and so on until all the children are singing together.

Song Review - Yoke the Ox to the Wagon

This is a cut-out ox to use in a variation of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey." Draw a wagon on the chalkboard (so that the children can't feel where to put the ox). Don't worry about how good you are at drawing, all you really need is a box with two wheels and a yoke sticking out the front. A cover on the wagon is optional. Making the ox is a little harder! This one is on poster paper and simply colored with crayons. If you can't face drawing, have one of the children do it. Or, here is a link to a nice clipart image. Put a magnet on the back of the ox so that he'll stick to the chalkboard. When you are ready to review the song, blindfold one of the children. Tell the rest of the primary to sing the song louder and softer as a musical cue to guide the blindfolded child in placing the oxen at the front of the wagon. They should sing softly until the child has the ox in the right spot (or close enough) and then they should sing stronger. Spin the child a couple of times, point him in the right direction and begin singing. If the blindfolded child is smart, he will pay attention to the music as he tries to get the ox in the right place. It is fun to help the rest of the children learn how to give the cue as they sing.

Song Review - "Hotter/Colder" - Find the Ox

Do you remember the pioneer story of Mary Fielding Smith and her lost (cows) ox? She is such an inspiration to me. Mary certainly did her best to follow the Savior and to follow the prophet. I thought that hiding and finding an ox would fit well with the pioneer-ish motif this month. I had the great idea to take the ox from our Christmas nativity set and use it for the “Hotter/Colder” song review activity after I teach “Come Follow Me.” So, I dug the box out of the cupboard and unwrapped every piece looking for the oxen. There were no oxen, only a donkey, a camel and a couple of sheep attached to shepherds. Hmmm, I guess the oxen are in the other, beautiful, white porcelain nativity set. Aaack! I’m not taking that.

I thought about making an ox out of clay, but I really didn’t want to spend that much time. I thought about using one of our many small plastic farm animal figures, but wanted something a little bigger. I thought about driving 45 miles to town to check out the larger plastic animals at Michael’s craft store or to look for something at the dollar store. Instead, I got out my trusty Teaching, No Greater Call manual and read again in the Methods section the directions for making paper stand-up figures. Now I have an ox to hide.

It was pretty simple to make. I didn’t have any heavy brown paper so I glued some thin brown paper to card stock and that worked pretty well. After I got it finished I realized that I could have used a brown paper grocery sack, but would probably still have glued it to cardstock. After I studied the illustration in the book, I sketched a pattern because I didn’t want to make a mistake on my brown paper. Then I traced and cut out the body of the ox. Because it seemed easier, I traced and cut out the head separately and then glued it on. Finally, I touched up the whole thing with simple crayon details.

When I’m ready to review the song, I’ll have a child leave the room and invite another child to hide the ox. Then we’ll have the first child come back in and look for the ox. The rest of the children will give clues to the hiding place by singing the song louder (hotter) as the child gets closer to the ox and softer (colder) if she moves away.

The ox from the nativity would have been perfect. This paper one is not as sturdy, but it will work.

Name That Tune -By Rhythm

This musical game gives the children an opportunity to remember the rhythms of Primary songs that they know. Use a percussive rhythm instrument like sticks or wood blocks. A tone block with a wooden striker makes a clear sound. Whatever you use should make a sound loud enough that the children can hear it well.

Start by tapping the rhythm of a familiar song and ask the children if they recognize the song. This might be harder than you think because many Primary songs have similar rhythms. The kids will have to concentrate, and might just guess. Help them out if they need it. After they guess the correct song, invite them to sing it with you. After a few examples, give the children a chance to come up and tap out a song. The point of this game is not just to provide another way to choose review songs, although it does do that, but rather to help the children pay attention to and remember the rhythm of the songs. If the song you are teaching has many different rhythms in the phrases, you can also use this game to help review. Tap out the rhythm of a phrase and ask the children to guess which phrase. Have the children sing the phrase.

Smiley Beanbag

This is my smiley beanbag. I have lots of beanbags (see this post) and some are made for specific choose and review activities, but this is just a generic beanbag. There are a number of ways I use a beanbag.

"Pass the Melody" is a musical game that you can play with a beanbag. I think it is best played with a smaller group, so it works pretty well in a small primary. Or, it works in a class. There may be some time to fill while waiting for a substitute teacher to arrive! Gather into a circle and start off singing a song. After a few words, pass the beanbag and the song off to the person beside you. That person sings and then passes the song and the beanbag to the next person. On around the circle it goes until the song is finished. Repeat the song so that everyone has a turn. Emphasize to the children to keep the transitions as smooth as possible. Use familiar songs until everyone is well acquainted with how to play. Then the game could be used to review a new song. Remember that young children often don't have a singing voice yet, so they can just pass the beanbag along if they don't wish to sing.

I often pass a beanbag up and down the row while we sing a song. At the end of a verse or when the piano stops, I can ask a question of the one who is holding the beanbag, or invite them to share their thoughts about something or other. I could ask them to answer a question or tell something they can do to get ready for family night, get ready for church, help a neighbor, etc. Then sing another appropriate song and pass the beanbag again.

Sometimes I will pass more than one beanbag so that more children can participate. I may also have to be prepared for the kids to manipulate who gets the beanbags. I have used a beanbag to play a "hit the target" kind of game for choosing songs. I can use the beanbag with pictures and an assigned song. The kids toss the beanbag to choose one of the pictures.

Matilda recently had a post about beanbags. I really don't think Primary could function without beanbags. Does anyone else use them for singing time?

Singing Time Review Game - "Who's the Leader?"

"Who's the Leader" is a fun game described on page 16 of the November 2003 issue of The Friend. I think it could be adapted to singing time by adding a review song(s) to the actions the children are doing.

Play the game by gathering into a circle. Send a child from the room. Choose another child to be the leader and have them choose actions like marching in place, waving a hand, patting their head, etc. They'll need to have several in mind and change them during the round of play. The rest of the children follow the leader's actions. Begin singing a review song and invite the first child back into the room. This child stands in the circle and tries to discover who the leader is by watching the children follow him. After the discovery is made you can repeat the game with two more children as often as interest or time allows.

The game fits perfectly with our theme in March and would be a good game to use to review the song "Follow the Prophet" (CS-110).

Song Review - Keyword Actions

I've planned this review activity to use as I begin to review program songs. Start with three or four key words from the song and write them on the chalkboard. Use pictures, if possible, for those who don't read. Write action directions (stand up, raise hand, hands on hips, hands on head, turn around, hands together, etc.) on slips of paper and put them in a can or basket to draw from. (You can also put the keywords on slips of paper in order to give more children a chance to choose something.) Invite a child to choose an action slip and then write the action next to the keyword on the chalkboard as a reminder. Explain to the children that every time they hear the keyword in the song they should do that action. Continue to choose and add actions to the key words, repeating the song each time. The more keyword actions you add, the more challenging it becomes. Stop before it gets frustrating.

Song Review - Bell Game

I like to use a bell as an aid to review a song. I direct the children to start singing out loud and to listen for the bell. When I ring the bell they should continue to sing in their mind. When they hear the bell again, they should again sing out loud. Of course, the kids all want a turn with the bell and will sing the song several times. Getting the song "stuck in their mind" is the point of the game. Isn't it nice that children are so willing to think of simple things as a game?

I used the bell this last week to review "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." It was especially challenging for the kids because we didn't have a pianist to help, so coming back in at the same time was tricky! But, this actually worked in my favor as it compelled the kids to concentrate on the tempo. After a couple of times through the song, they did very well and we had lots of fun.