Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Repeat Week--Pick a Primary Pocket

Since our song is new, it is really important to repeat it this week to help cement the words. Here's the repeat week idea for January.

Prep and Presentation:

1 Large Apron with 7-10 large pockets (you could use a T-shirt, or even make a large poster board with different pockets on it if you don't want to wear it. Anything that you can attach some pockets too.) Put this on when your time to teach is here.

7-10 objects that will represent different ways to sing the song

Small Slinky: When the child pulls it out (louder but not too loud). When it is pushed together we go soft.

Small Stuffed animal monkey: Sing the song in Oohs and Aahs (this helps them memorize the beat and melody of the music without the distraction of words.)

An Apple: Have the teachers sing the verse and then the children sing the chorus. Have the child who picked the apple give it to their teacher.

Small Toy Hammer: Have them "hammer" the beat with their fists on their palms (not hard) and do this while singing Staccato.

Paper Streamer: Have the child lead the music by waving the streamer to the time of the music

A Wiggle Worm (you can find these at the dollar store) : Use this for a surprise wiggle worm song of the child's choice

A pocket full of Letters: Have the child pick a letter. Skip whatever words in the song start with that letter.

Flashlight: Spot light a random child or teacher some time during the song. Ask them to say the next word or phrase.

Note that says, trade places: You sit down where the child was sitting and have them conduct the song.

A Large Coin: Heads boys sing, Tails girls sing (have the child who came up flip it)

There are many many more ideas you could use, so be creative and have fun with it. Some of you have asked in the past if I have them sing the entire song all the way through each time. The answer is no. I usually mix it up and try to notice right off where they are struggling. I go back and forth between first and second verse, chorus, etc. It never gets boring because it never stays the same. I tell them before we start that our goal is to be able to sing the song at the end in its entirety without the picture prompts. Jr still usually needs a bit of time, but Sr. has always gotten it. The important thing to remember is if you are having fun, they will. So don't make yourself board with it, just be spontaneous.

Have a great week.


*Orginal idea by my primary teacher when I was in primary
**Idea Adapted by thecrazychorister

24 comments:

Wilfert Clan said...

I'm excited to try this. I've only been doing this for a month. Our primary is used to the monotony of memorizing. They don't think to highly of me not letting them read the words. I'm a new regular!

M and M Madsen said...

I am new at this and I have a question. Do you start to play games like this before you feel like they have a good grip on the song? Or you try to get the song down first and then play games after they have a good base? I don't want to bore them by singing without games, but they just didn't seem to "get it" last week.
Thanks so much for this great site!!

Melanie said...

M and M,

I don't expect the kids to have it on Intro Sunday. The reason I have a repeat Sunday with a game such as this is to encourage the repeat singing over and over again of this song. By the end, they usually know the song really well. I always incorporate games or fun things...other wise..it's totally a drag.

-Melanie

BKB said...

You mentioned a primusic website, what is their website address exactly?? Thanks for all your ideas! I wish I were creative like you!!!

Melanie said...

BKB,

Yeah, go to Yahoo and type in Primusic group. Then sign up for it. It's great.

-Melanie

BKB said...

Thanks so much Melanie!!!!

~karina

M and M Madsen said...

thanks!! we will be using some games this week now!

Kathleen said...

Hi, I just found your site and think it is wonderful. What a creative person you are. Thanks for the idea!

Marci said...

Great ideas! Thank you so much for your updates!

mcstark1 said...

I actually thought of using an apron with pockets on it just yesterday, and needed some creative ideas to have the children repeat the song in different ways... and here is the answer to my dilemma! Thanks!

Kevin & Sheri Schmidt said...

Since I am a male chorister, I wasn't too keen on an apron, so I did this with a pair of my little boy's overalls (8 pockets) and it was great!

Kaedell said...

Thank You! That is a really cute and fun idea. I am going to try it at the end of the month!

leslie said...

this worked great today! thanks for the idea, keep 'em coming!

BKB said...

Hi Melanie,
Could you send me the template for that pizza motivator thing you are doing. I would like to do that as well for my primary!!! Man! the kids can be tough sometimes! I'm hoping this will motivate them to sing and to come practice just before our sacrament presentation.
Thanks again!!! Bye the way thanks for the apron idea. I did that today and they seemed to have liked it!!! =) My email is karinela82@yahoo.com

~karina

McNary's Blog-log said...

Oh' my...i did this today and boy was it a hit. my kids are so fun and energetic they got into it so much. i love reading you blog and look forward to a wonderful year! i just love my calling!

Gordon, Jamie, Evelyn, Claire and Bonnie said...

I just found your blog! I LOVE IT! you have so many great ideas! thanks for sharing and I will check back often!!

Kristin said...

I just discovered your blog. I LOVE your great ideas and will be stealing lots of them. Thanks for making me look good!!!

sue said...

I did this on Sunday and it was perfection. Thank you soooo very much for this wonderful blog. Your ideas are so much fun and really add so much to my primary! You make me a million times better at my calling. Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks and THANKS!

Unknown said...

Thank you so very much. I always look forward to your ideas. I'm not terribly creative in thinking up new ideas but you are so very kind to share your creativity. I so enjoy using your ideas and making singing time a fun part of Primary. I love my calling! One more thing, do you think it would work out ok if I used a hot glue gun to glue on felt pockets to an apron. I'm not much into sewing.

Heidi said...

Great ideas, please keep them coming.

tessa said...

We did this last week in primary and it was a BIG hit. Thanks for the wonderful idea.

Tracey said...

Thanks for sharing, I rely on your blog A LOT!

Jeanelle said...

Thanks so much for this wonderful idea. I have a sweet mom who sews & loves a project so she made a beautiful red, yellow and blue "pick a pocket" wall hanging. I used it today and will use it every 4th Sunday while we're learning program songs. The kids had a lot of fun and we were able to really reinforce verse 2 of "I Know that My Savior Loves Me" by doing it over and over but in the fun ways illustrated through this idea. Thanks again!

Unknown said...

Fabulous... I used brightly wrapped shoe boxes (as if they were presents) that could be opened again and again... the kids loved it so much it backfired a bit when the little ones who's names hadn't been picked left crying. I brought it to junior two weeks in a row so everyone had a chance to open one...
THIS SITE IS SO FABULOUS!!!
THANK YOU!!!!