Wednesday, January 27, 2010

5th Sunday-Test Week "Singing Golf"

First, thank you to everyone who has left kind comments. It's been so wonderful knowing that so many of you are being helped and loving your callings. I am so grateful for the Internet and the many resources we have that assist us to teach these children in ways they learn the best.

Second, I just wanted to clear up something for everyone. Early last year, I posted my "monthly method" for teaching on the side of my blog. It was something I felt was inspired for my calling and was very helpful for me to be organized. I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that this is NOT an Official, Church Directed way to teach. This is not in the primary guide or the handbook. If it works for you, or part of it works for you, great. If not, you in no way have to use it. There are countless methods you can use, and I encourage you to pray and find what will help your primary the best.

With that said, let's move on. I realized I am doing "Test" week out of order, but I wanted a bit more time for this activity. An idea sparked in my brain from an idea suggested for a sharing time on Sugardoodle by Lisa Christiansen. I've adapted it to work for singing time. This can easily be used for your traditional 20 min or you can expand it to the entire time if you have that assignment.


PREP:

A small bucket or container

7 or more cut out pictures of Golf Balls (depending on how much time you have)

9 pieces of green paper (construction or card stock) Tape them together to form a "Green". On Each Paper have a different way to sing the song it...(Staccato, Stop/Go, Boy/Girl, Teach stands on one foot. etc)

1 Black circle paper to represent the hole...Have the words...."Teacher Challenge" written on the hole

A yard stick or something else long enough they can hit the ball with. You might even have an actual child size putter...that would be great.

1 part of the Program song written on a small piece of paper with a question and taped to each golf ball. (EX. "Wrapped in the Arms of His Gentle Love" Which verse of the song is this line in? 1st or 2nd?)

Some Lego's, or books, or something that you can put around the "Green" to contain the ball when it is putted. (I hope that makes sense...but think of it like a mini-golf course only with just this one hole. )

Presentation:

Set up the "Green" before primary begins. Tell the kids that we're going to test on our program song today. Show them the bucket with the golf balls in it (or the pictures of golf balls in the bucket). Explain that just like golf balls have holes and dents in them that help them go farther, we too, through life, will have to go through some things that will give us some dents and holes. Heavenly Father loves us so much that he gave us a perfect path to follow through the example of his son, Jesus Christ, and the things we go through can help us be stronger and go farther.

Have a child come and pick a ball. Read or have them read what the line of the song is. Have them answer the question. If they cannot, they can get help from others. When the answer has been answered correctly, have the child putt the ball. If the ball lands on the green, sing the song as suggested on the green paper the ball rests on. If they get it in the "hole" or it comes to rest on the black then the children get to choose a way for the teachers to sing the song. This can be really fun for the kids and teachers so be creative in suggestions. You might want to have a separate bucket with teacher suggestions in it the kids can choose from. Continue this process until all your golf balls are gone from the bucket.

Have them sing the entire song. Then, bare your testimony of its truthfulness.



*thecrazychorister

8 comments:

Amy Coontz said...

I am SO DOING THIS!!!! Thanks!

Kristin said...

Very fun idea! I think I'm going to use your cranium idea this week to see how well the kids know the songs for this year's program but I'm definitely saving this one for another singing time. I'm so grateful for creative people like you who are willing to share their ideas!

Daily Jot & Tittle said...

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful ideas! Your ideas have helped so much in this calling.

Natalie said...

You save my life EVERY week. Thank you.

Aubrey said...

This is going to be so much fun. Thanks!

Elena said...

Thank you so much for posting all your wonderful ideas! It's so great to learn other's ideas and ways to present the songs!

Linda said...

Good morning, mel. You are amazing! I just referred a former missionary companion to your blog so thought I'd try to catch up on some of your ideas. thanks for sharing your gifts with so many others. I love you!

leadatortilla said...

This was a great hit in our primary last week. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity on the web - I truly appreciate you. I look forward to doing the doors this week!