Primary Peril: Multi Media Option

I finally finished my "power point" of Primary Peril...only to have my husband explain to me that it is not really power point, it's a freeware program called OpenOffice. OpenOffice is just like Microsoft Office except it is free.

That said, anyone can go and download OpenOffice for free and then you can run this program. If you are a true PowerPoint person..sorry. There are a whole bunch of really neat templates for cool people like you at http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/. Feel free to customize them however you would like.

For those of you who would like to use what I made here are the instructions.

1. Download OpenOffice from: http://www.openoffice.org/ and click on "I want to download OpenOffice.org." Then follow the instructions to install the program. REMEMBER ITS FREE.
2. Go to this link: http://sites.google.com/site/thecrazychorister/Home/game-shows-1 and download Jr. and Sr. Primary Jeopardy.
3. Feel free to customize these for your own situation.

Any questions? Ask my husband. I don't get it.

Hope this helps someone out there.

An Easier April

I was originally going to go with Beautiful Savior (I absolutely love this song) for April, but I've been feeling so anxious over the lack of time for teaching that I reviewed the theme again to see if there was another song that felt right for this month.

Someone said they were going to do Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam. That was the perfect answer. The kids, including Jr. Primary, know this song very well already, but there is a second verse to this song that would be very easy to teach and would bring a freshness to the song for the program. And, it teaches the message for the month as well.

I'm a happy chorister again.

If you are going to do Beautiful Savior and need some help with it let me know. I did have some ideas floating around on how to teach that one, but the relief I feel right now was worth giving up and being flexible.

Enjoy conference and please feel free to ask if you need help with ideas with your song choice.

Primary Triple Header- Test Sunday

There are so many things to accomplish on the 5th Sunday of this month, I asked my president if I could have the entire 40 mins of Sharing/Singing time. Since I will be loosing two weeks of teaching time in April for General and Stake Conferences, I have my work cut out for me.

So, on the fifth Sunday we will be testing and passing off My Eternal Family, reviewing our Mother's day Sacrament meeting songs, and hopefully introducing our April song, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam....thus, the idea for the "Triple Header" was born.

PREP:

1. A picture of a baseball diamond with bases. You could use a poster board to display the picture. You can easily create this with chalk on the board, or you could get really fancy and create separate paper pictures of the bases to put up on the board. I've also seen a cute set of small bases at the dollar store if that is available to you.

2. Four individual pictures of a "Primary Baseball Player" with tape or a magnet on the back for easy removal and reapplying. (I'll leave this one up to you. There are a lot of clipart ideas around that would work just great.)

3 A baseball hat for you and the pianist with the the words TEAM PRIMARY on it. (I plan to just print this out on my computer and tape it to the hat)

4. Large signs with the words Foul Ball, Strike, First Base, Double, Triple, Homerun and Timeout.

5. Baseballs with different ways to sing the song taped on them, or you can use cut out pictures of baseball with the instructions on them (for the test of My Eternal Family only)

6. An Empire Vest and Mask for the Primary President. (If you don't have access to these you can make a simple vest out of black poster board and use a baseball hat with the words Umpire on it)


Presentation:

Come to the front of the primary room with your cap on. Explain that there is an important Baseball "triple Header" today and its going to take a lot of quite concentration. Have the primary Pres. come up front and dress her in her Umpire gear. Have here hold up the different signs and explain what they mean. The first game will be to pass off there song for this month.

Foul Ball: They didn't start all together with the chorister's direction
Strike: Hardly anyone was singing or the words were not clearly being sung
First Base: Good Effort, needing some improvement with picture helps
Double: Great Effort, most everyone singing with picture helps
Triple: Fantastic Effort with picture helps
Homerun: Everyone singing, watching the chorister, words correct, without picture helps
Timeout: Randomly the Umpire will hold up this sign, if everyone goes quiet and reverent quickly, the entire Primary gets an instant homerun!

Since there won't be a whole lot of time for the "Test", I would suggest using 4-5 baseballs of different ways to sing the song to test their knowledge.

• Staccato 2nd verse
• Start somewhere in the middle of the song (could be considered the "curve ball")
• Western Sing
• Sing the entire song to pass it off

Have a child come and pick a ball. Sing the song how it suggests and turn to the Umpire for a call on the song. Move the player to that point and go on until that game is complete.

For many of you, this is where you will stop. But, just in case...here is what I will proceed to do. I will have Two baseballs that have the mother's days songs on them (We are singing the first verse to 'Love is Spoken Here' and 'Mother I love you first and third verse). I'll have a child come and choose a baseball, and we'll sing it through a few times with picture helps and then once without. Again, I will use the Empire to help us know how we're doing.

And Finally, if I am so blessed to have time work on my side....I'll have a Child come and pick the last "baseball" out of my bag. However, it will not be a baseball this time, it will be a picture of the Savior. I will explain that our New Song for the month is one they might already know. It is called Jesus wants me for a sunbeam. Everyone will obviously know that first verse, but I think most will be surprised to learn it has a second verse. We will sing it a few times through. If they are reverent and attentive through this process I'll inform them that they "WON" the Triple Header!

It's a whole lot for one Sunday....I think I need some Crackerjacks!

*Adapted by the crazy chorister from a baseball game suggestion from sugardoodle.

Primary Peril Q&A 2009

I was very surprised to see how many of you requested this in an email. For those of you who still desire to have this, here it is. I hope it helps.

Primary Peril Outline 2009

Program Songs

100
JR= The last line in this song is "Who unto the Savior, for refuge have fled" (HFAF)
SR= "I’ll Strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand" belong in This verse of This song. (HFAF)

200
JR= Where we lived before we were born on earth. (ILIH)
SR= Father said He need someone who had enough of This in This song. ( 2nd verse, ILIH)

300
JR= In the song, My Eternal Family, we are taught we are all THESE. (Builders)
SR= As I try to live God’s word, I feel THIS in THIS song. (The spirit there, MEF)

Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle

100
JR= I am all made of THESE, because everything bends. (Hinges)
SR= Following the leaders actions in THIS song is the best course of action. (Do as I’m doing)

200
JR= In This song, you touch your head, THESE, knees, and toes. (Shoulders)
SR= In this song your hands hide and then end up flying. (My Hands)

300
JR= In the spring, this song gives us a nice surprise. (Popcorn popping)
SR= When the sun comes out, this song disappears. (Once there was a snowman)

Blast from the Past!

100
JR= THIS place is where the heart is (Home)
SR= Chosen to witness for his name (Called to Serve)

200
JR= Would I act differently if HE stood beside me? (The Savior-If the Savior stood beside me)
SR= We Thank Thee for Sending THIS to guide us in these latter days. (The gospel-We thank thee oh God for a prophet)

300
JR= You are a child of HIM (God-I am a child of God)
SR= Here you listen and pray (the temple-I love to see the temple)

Our Savior, Jesus Christ

100
JR= In this song, you shine for Him each day. (Jesus, wants me for a sunbeam)
SR= In this song, He teaches us to ‘Treat them kindly too’. (Jesus said love everyone)

200
JR= He was a little child like me. (Jesus once was a little child)
SR= One line of this song is ‘and he was pure and meek and mild’. (Jesus once was a little child)

300
JR= In All the world around me, I can feel HIS love (I feel my Savior’s love)
SR= He knows I will follow Him, give all my life too him. (I feel my Savior’s love)

Primary Peril - program review week

I've seen an idea for Jeopardy around on many sites. I changed the name so it sounded cool. I was just waiting for the right time to do this, and Program Review week seemed like a good time. I tend to use this week to throw in a few songs that we typically don't get to sing for variety.

Prep:

4 category title strips (Program Songs, Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle (movement songs), Blast from the Past (last year program songs), Our Savior (any song with Jesus in it).)

3 "Answers" for every category (Example: If the category is "Program Songs" one of the answers could be "In this verse Father said He needed someone who had enough love". The question the child would say is "What is 'I Lived in Heaven' -second verse".***obviously this particular question would be for the senior primary. Believe it or not, my Sr. Primary kids would find this rather easy. It would be wise to make a separate set of answer cards for Jr. primary so the its more on their level). Remember to put numbers on the back of the answer cards such as 100, 500, 1000.

*Due to the fact that I don't have all my answer/question cards worked out yet, I'm not going to post it here. However, if you would like a copy of what I am going to do, just leave a comment with your email address and I'll send it too you as soon as I have it all done.

Presentation:

Before Primary, set up the Jeopardy board (If anyone needs instructions for this let me know). Call up a child, allow them to pick a category and a number. Tell them the answer, have them respond in question form (this will be difficult for the little ones so don't be too tight on the jeopardy rule thing) and then sing the corresponding song.



*Inspired by: The Idea Door
**adapted by: The Crazy Chorister

Singing Land! - review activity

My idea for this game came from playing my four-year-old's favorite game, Candy Land. I decided to create a "Singing Land" version of the game for my Repeat Week activity.

I will create this free hand on the chalk board in the Primary Room so it can be bigger for everyone viewing it; however, you could create your game board on a poster board in advance.

PREP:

Red, Yellow, and Blue colored chalk to create your playing board, or bring your already made poster board.

1 Spinner (I took the spinner out of my Chutes and Ladders game box. It's perfect for this and even has that happy, Primary look too it.)...or, you could make your own. You could also make one dice cube that has the different colors on it.

10-12 3X5 cards with different, quick repeat activities on them. (clap out beat while singing first verse, whisper sing, sing to the back of the room, do as I'm doing while you sing the third verse, hum the song, cut off when the chorister does...etc)

2 playing pieces. (I plan to create two different colored musical notes that have a magnet on the back of them so they can be easily moved on the chalk board from space to space. One will be for Jr. Primary and one for Sr. Primary)


Presentation:

Okay, so if you're going to create your board with chalk, you'll have to find a way to do this before Primary starts. My board will pretty much look like a candy land board with fewer spaces. The squares to land on will be bigger. After creating your board, tape up a repeat activity every few spaces or so. You can embellish it as much or as little as you would like. On space that you do not have singing activities you could put phrases such as: "You were kind too your sister, move ahead one space", "You helped your mother do work around the house move to the next blue space." (this would help to make it go along with the meaning of our song)...etc.

Simply call a child up, allow them to spin the spinner, have them move their piece to the allotted spaces and do the activity. Where ever you end for Jr. Primary, keep their piece on the board to motivate Sr. Primary.

*note: Remember, the chorister's goal with this game is not to see if the kids can get to the end (that's the kids goal) it is for the children to repeat the words as many times as possible in the allotted time. So, don't get worried if you don't go to the end of the game board.

Have a great week!

*Originator: The Crazy Chorister

MISSING TOOLS-second verse of "My Eternal Family"

Usually I have "Repeat Week" the second week of the month; however, this month has five weeks and we didn't even touch the second verse of "My Eternal Family" on Sunday. So, I decided to spend the extra Sunday working on the second verse and I will have "Repeat Week" next Sunday.

I will be posting my "Repeat Week" activity in a few days for those of you who would like to move on to bigger and better things. Or, you could adapt this activity for a repeat activity by attaching different ways to sing the song to the different tools.

With that said, here is my lesson plan for the second verse of "My Eternal Family".

Prep:

1 Diaper Box wrapped with the word TOOLS on the front.

1 garden kneeling pad

1 comforter (blanket)

1 large paper rolled like blue prints would be. On it you will have the outline of a home and a picture of the scriptures inside. (You could just go the easy way and use a Book of Mormon, ...but what's the fun in that?)

1. Picture of Your family and a Picture of the Temple

Picture helps

Have number tags that are clearly visible on the objects. Place them around the Primary room before children enter.

Presentation:

I am going to come in with my hard hat and my "Tool" box in hand. I am going to tell them that today is so exciting because I brought my tool box that I use to build my home for them to see what's inside, but before we can do that we have to sing the first verse again to remind us what our song is about. After the song has been sung, open your tool box and looked surprised. Say, "Oh no! My tools are missing. I wonder where I left them." Call up a helper to find object #1. Place the Hart Hat on their head while they hunt for the object. Have them come and put it into your box after you talk about what it represents. Hold up your picture helps and say and sing the line two times. Continue this until the entire verse has been sung. Go back and sing the entire song together.

Line one: Garden Kneeling Pad (Represents the need for us to be on our knees to pray for guidance).

Line Two: Comforter (The word Comforter is another name for the spirit. The spirit will guide us as we invite Him to be in our homes)

Line Three: Blue Prints (Represents our Heavenly Father's plan for our lives and the guide the scriptures can be.)

Line Four: Family Picture (We want our families to be together for ever in Heavenly Father's Presence.

When you get to the chorus, just remind them they already know that part and review it with your picture helps.

*Originator: The Crazy Chorister

Following the Leader

A few of you have asked how I find ways to keep the craziness of kids under control during singing time. I am sure there are several ways to go about this, but here a few ideas that have really been successful in my primary.

1. First and foremost, these kids know I love them. I go out of my way to learn their names. When I see them in the hallway or when I enter the chapel before church begins I say hello and ask them if they are ready to have a fantastic time in Primary today. I do my very best to make coming to Primary the highlight to their week.
   
   


2. I often begin singing time with a wiggle song (especially for the Jr. Pri). This helps them get the need to move and be free out of the system a bit. I specifically choose wiggle songs that have actions that they have to follow me (Do as I'm doing, Hands, Head, shoulders knees and toes, Once there was a snowman, Popcorn Popping,). Or, you can even do some hand rhymes such as Open/Shut Them.
   
   


3. After the wiggle song, I ask them to sit down and be reverent so I can explain the fun things we get to do today. If they are still having a hard time paying attention I speak softer and softer to where I might only be moving my mouth. Kids find this really interesting and stop so they can hear what I am trying to say. I will continue to almost wispher so they have to really listen to hear me.
   
   


4. I never ask open ended questions such as "Who would like to be my helper today?" I have a cup full of popcycle sticks with every child's name on it, and the kids know that they have the same chance as anyone else to be called up. It took a few Sundays, but the kids are very used to this and there is no begging or throwing fits because they didn't get their name called. It usually takes me about a month before the rotation begins again, but everyone does get a turn eventually.
   
   


5. I let the teachers do the discipling. That is a huge reason why the children have their teachers present during Sharing/Singing time. Let the responsiblity for taking care of a child who is having a rough time fall to the teacher. I usually will stop mid sentence and wait with my arms folded until the child stops or is removed. Again, it took a few weeks, but the kids have come to understand that I'm consitant and that they all miss out on FUN when we have to stop. The kids have really become their own disciplinary group. They really all keep each other in check.
   
   


6. I hold the kids responsible to learn and sing the song their very best. I tell them that they have the opportunity, through music, to invite the spirit in to our Primary to help us learn and feel Heavenly Father's love for us and for the ward. I challenge them to take the music home, teach it to their families, and understand the meaning. For the Jr. Primary this might seem a bit much, but you would be surprised the parents of the Sunbeams that have come up to me and told me that their three year old will not stop singing our lastest primary hit.
   
   


7. Pray to know the specific needs for your primary kids. All Primary rooms are not the same and the dynamics won't be either. However, all children want to be loved and all children want to have fun. The spirit can direct you in how best to do those two things for your primary kids.
   
   Above all, Hang in there.