Pictionary Review and 5th Sunday Fun!

So because we have a HUGE primary that's split into Jr. and Sr. I often have to plan separate activities that are age appropriate for each group.  This week is one of those weeks!

Jr. Primary - I want to review "As a Child of God" but I want to have some fun too so here's the plan.  I found this fun "straw blowin'" activity on sugardoodle and want to use it.  I'm going to put important words of the songs inside the straws (i.e. Earth, Power, Child of God, etc.). On the back of the word will be a direction like "sing on one foot" sing with eyes closed", etc.  Then  I'm going to put four tape lines on the floor.  If they reach the first they have to sing the 1st verse, the second is the 2nd verse, the third is the chorus, and the fourth is the WHOLE song.  Should be really fun!

Sr. Primary - I will do a similar activity in Sr. Primary only with a bit of a twist.  I'll split them into two teams, boys against girls or just count them off, it all just depends on how rowdy they are that day.  The rowdier they are the more apt I am to count them off by two's instead of boys vs. girls (sshh it's my little secret).  Next I'll have a basket the word strips included below in it. The first contestant will have one minute to Pictionary style try to draw the word for his team, if they guess it correctly they will have the opportunity to earn an additional point by also choosing one of my "sing it like" cards.  We'll sing the song alternating 1st verse and second verse.  Then go to the next contestant.  If they don't get the answer the other team will get a chance to guess but cannot earn extra points.  This is always a popular activity in my primary, they love it and it's a fun way to include the kids will difficulties like autism or other challenging issues because the drawing is a fun way for them to participate.

Child of God Review Strips

As A Child of God Week 2

Yes I'm only on week 2 of getting to teach this song and yet I'm feeling quite confident it will go great.  Here's the plan.

• We're going to sing the first verse of the song two times to just review what we learned last time and refresh their little brains.  After we're done we'll have a quick review using this idea "Building a Child of God".  Once we've gone through each phrase competing girls vs. boys, I'll tell them that's it's time to start learning the second verse.
• We are doing sign language for the second verse (I have sign language pictures on my flip chart and there are tons of resources out there on to show you like here)  So phrase by phrase I'll teach them the sign language and words and go through it twice then have the competition again to see.
• I'll probably get some of the primary presidency members to be my panel of judges because it helps if I can be neutral when we're still so early in learning.

I found awesome free clipart to use for the boys and girls hangman bodies . . .check out this site   to print off a useable copy without the black border.

As A Child of God . . .

I'm in trouble this month because one, I was still on vacation on the first Sunday and two we have Stake Conference on the third Sunday so in reality I'm pretty sure we won't be learning as much of "As A Child of God" as I had hoped.  Thank goodness there are months where we'll be learning simple songs like "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" and a repeat from last year "Stand for the Right" or it would be hard to get this song learned.  I'm also in trouble this year because I have 17 sunbeams coming in. . .yes you heard that right SEVENTEEN!  Aaaah what to do with little wiggly crying three year olds?  I love them but that's going to be a challenge!

So for my first week of teaching this song I'm going to start by playing a little game we played last year about choices.  I want to emphasize that we all have been given the amazing power to choose (gift of agency) and I want to really emphasize that every choice has a consequence both good and bad depending on what we choose.  So I will tell a scenario and then ask the kids what they would choose and then we will talk about the consequence of that choice.  It's always important to let them know that if we do choose a wrong choice we have been blessed with the amazing gift of the atonement so we can repent and start fresh.  It's a fun opportunity to really get them thinking of consequences as good things too.  So it will go something like this.

Scenario:  My room is a total mess.  What should I do?
Possible Answers: Clean it up . . .Let it stay messy . . .pay my sister to clean it . . .hide it all under the bed
Consequences:  Clean it up (feeling happy for a job well done, mom and dad happy with me)
                         Let it stay messy (can't find my clothes for school, get in trouble for disobeying, lose privileges)
                         You get the idea

Then I'll introduce the first verse and chorus phrase by phrase using the flip chart pictures . . .as we learn it I will take down the pictures one or two at a time and see how they do.  I'm sure in Sr. Primary we'll be able to even start the sign language for the second verse.

As a Child of God

I'm reposting this here because it's the new year and it's time to get cracking on new music!  Good luck everyone on a fresh start with new kids and new ideas!  Have so much fun!

Part of my workshop focused on how to teach a new song using various learning styles (auditory,visual, & kinesthetic) and so I used January 2012 song "As a Child of God" to demonstrated these methods.  So here's the flipchart and sign language sheets for next year if you're interested!!

As A Child of God