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. Posted by Kathleen at 6:16 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: choose and review, games

Pull a picture
Find a picture that illustrates each song that you wish to review. If I used pictures to illustrate the phrases when I taught the song, I like to choose one of these. Put the pictures in a manilla envelope. One at a time, slowly pull a picture out of the envelope. Ask the children to stand when they think they recognize which song the picture represents. Sing the song and repeat with the other pictures. If you ve used a flipchart to teach a song, this activity can also be used to review that song. Just put all the phrase pictures randomly into the envelope and then draw them out, one at a time. When the children recognize the phrase, begin with that phrase and sing to the end of the verse (or chorus).

Name That Tune

Name That Tune is a classic singing time activity. Primaries all over the world have surely played the game by listening to the pianist play a portion of a review song and then guessing the name of the song. The children then sing it together. There are so many variations to Name That Tune. I ve written already about a few on my list. (see Name That Tune - by humming, Name That Tune - by rhythm, Name That Tune - numbered cubes, and Name that Word) Here are three more. I sometimes just write one line from anywhere in several review songs on a strip of paper and put these in a can or basket to choose from. The children draw the strips out and read it to the other children. I accept only first lines or titles for answers and then we sing the song. Similar to the number cubes, I also use a spinner with numbers from 2-6 on it. The pianist plays that many notes of a song on my review list and the children guess the name of the song. It can be more challenging when the pianist plays the notes from the anywhere in the song. Finally, I sometimes have the pianist play the song backwards by playing the last measure first, then the second to last, then the third from the last. The children try to guess the song a measure at a time.

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 -CS242) 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) Repent, covenant, Jesus, family, valiant, faith, reverent, foolish, stand, popcorn

Song Review Five Smooth Stones

Stand for the Right is such a straightforward song to teach and most of our children know the song already. So, all this month I can have fun with review activities that focus on prophets and following their counsel and direction.

The theme of following the prophet has come up so many times over the years. I have quite a number of things in my music box that match this theme. I ve decided to post the ones that I actually have things prepared for. So, please don t wonder how I m able to do all of this in a month of four Sundays. I m not actually using all of them this month, just passing the ideas on, so that you could add them to your list, if you wish. The yearly theme for 2001 was all about prophets. So, if you check the Sharing Time pages in the back issues of the Friend magazine for the year 2001, you'll find lots of great suggestions for activities that can be adapted to singing time.

In the September 2006 issue of the Friend magazine there is a wonderful sharing time feature titled "Comfort and Courage from the Scriptures." The article is based on a message from President Monson in which he refers to the story of David and Goliath. President Monson uses David's five smooth stones as metaphors for defeating the challenges in our lives. He talks of the stones of courage, effort, humility, prayer, and duty.

So this first week, I'm putting these five stones into a bag to pass as a way to review "Stand for the Right." I'll ask the pianist to stop randomly and the child holding the bag will draw out a stone and name a way they can use the principle on the stone to meet a challenge. I'll have some challenges in mind, just in case the child needs help. For instance, I could ask the child "How can prayer help you in school?" Or,

"What can you do at home to fulfill your duty?" The stone can go back in the bag and we'll keep singing for as long as there is interest in the activity.

Song Review Pass Along

Pass along is an entry on my master list that refers to the activity of passing something up and down the rows as we sing a song. It could be a picture or a bean bag or the grab bag or a can or basket. Anyway, we just pass this object along until the music stops, at which time I ask the child holding the object to do something. They could draw another song, name a way to be obedient, tell how to follow the prophet, tell how to show love to their family, etc. Then we begin singing again. Sometimes we sing the song or a verse all the way through. Other times I ask the pianist to stop randomly. If possible, I ll pass two or even three items in order to increase the participation. Be prepared to deal with the situation of children manipulating where the object lands. If this becomes an issue, I bring out a can with further instructions like now pass the bag to the child sitting behind you. This levels the playing field again. Asking the pianist to stop the music at random times also helps with this problem. I think this could work with a larger group. Adding another object or two could help. --

Song Review Slide the Spool

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.

Sing that Phrase

The game Sing That Phrase is to one song what Name That Tune is to many songs. When I use this game to review a song, I first sing it with the children all the way through one time. Then I invite one of the children to roll the dice. The resulting number matches one of the phrases of the song. The pianist plays that melody phrase (you ll need to have the pianist mark the music) and the children guess the words that match that melody. Then we sing the phrase together and repeat for as long as the children are willing. If you keep the dice handy, this is an easy game to pull out if you have a bit of extra time. One note - If you use this idea with songs that have more than one verse, you'll have to keep reminding the kids which verse you are reviewing or they will get confused. I think it really works best with the songs that just have one verse including the chorus. If there are too many phrases that repeat musically, it will really get confusing. Follow the Directions Follow the Directions is a classic way to review a song that you have recently taught or to review several songs on a week with Choose and Review. Simply write direction statements on separate slips of paper, cards, or seasonal shapes. Ask one of the children to choose a card and then have the primary follow the directions for singing the song. Here are some examples of direction statements. I m sure you can think of others. Everyone conduct the beat pattern. Clap the rhythm and hum. Clap the beat and sing. Girls sing while the boys clap the rhythm.

Boys sing while the girls clap the rhythm. Oldest class and youngest class come to the front and sing. Stand back to back and sing. Everyone use pitch-level conducting. You can easily put the directions in a can or you could get a little more creative about the delivery. You could use a seasonal basket or some other interesting container. You could roll them onto a flower stem and choose from a bouquet. You could put them into thematic boxes like the sports balls or the valentine hearts. Write them on cards and use fun magnets on the chalkboard. Put them in the pockets of an apron. If you can think of something else, please add your idea in a comment. If you keep a few slips handy in the closet or your bag, you won t panic when you are asked to fill extra time. This easy activity also lends itself really well to an emergency situation or to give to a substitute. -------