Repetition Ideas

Fact of the matter is:

Kids learn by repetition

As much as they may not like the IDEA of singing the same song 10 times in a row...it's how they learn. 

We are always changing up ways to sing the song, and really, the kids don't realize we're singing the song as many times as we are!

A FEW REPETITION IDEAS:

Mystery Box:
I keep a box full of random items / toys in the closet.  Mine contains items like below, but be creative!  Rummage through your toys at home - you'll be amazed what you'll find!


A toy car:  sing "Vroom, vroom, etc" instead of words.  Could also sing "Beep, beep" etc.
Heart:  Sing lovingly.
Frog:  Sing while hopping, OR sing staccato.
Pirate Eye Patch:  Close your eyes while singing.
Hammer:  Beat out the rythmn of the song as we sing.
Slinky:  Loud when stretched out, softer when squished (idea in LDS sharing time outline...)
Spinning Top:  Have them turn in slow circles while singing.
Block with #'s:  I let 1 child roll the block, and whatever # it lands on, if you are that old...you sing.  :)
Toy Soldier:  Sing while marching

Headband Hero:

Invite 1 child to the front of the room.  They get to wear our "sweatband" for the round.  The sweatband has a piece of laminated paper stuck to it - mine is velcro'd, you could make your more permanent if you'd like.  Depending on the song, choose 1 key word to write on the laminated area of the headband.  The point is - everyone else EXCEPT the person wearing the headband can see this word.  Begin singing the song.  When you get to the word written - STOP!  Don't sing it!  The person wearing the headband has to guess which word comes next in the song.  Sr. Primary loves this game.  For Jr. Primary, I have the child wearing the headband cover his ears, while I tell the young kids that can't read the secret word.  I then as we sing the word put a "shooshing" finger up to my lips to help them remember not to sing it.  They do great.

Musical Note:

Have a musical note, or a CTR symbol or something that goes along with your lesson.  Have 1 child leave the room, have another child hide this object.  Invite the child who left the room back, and begin singing your song.  As the child gets closer to the hidden object - sing louder.  As the child moves away from the hidden object - sing quieter.  Never gets old to the kids...

click to enlarge - right click - save as - use as you'd like!

Sit and Stand:

Print out keywords for the song, words that are said more than once (preferably).  Have one child pick a word our of your basket.  As you sing the song, when that word is sung, everyone stands, then sits back down, and stands when word is sung again next.  Could do many different ways.  Instead of Stand/Sit, you could Clap on the keyword, or close your eyes on the key word, or fold your arms on the key word, etc.  Depends how much energy you want them to get out, or how in control you need to keep them!  :)

 Notice, for most of these ideas, they need to pick your items / papers out of a container.  Might I suggest making one?  I reuse mine ALL the time.  Icall mine the mystery can.  It's simply a large metal can (that your food storage comes in), recovered with bright fun colors and question marks all over it.  They never know what's inside, or what the things inside are for!  :)  

I keep in the closet, I never have to stress about what to use...

**Sometimes we sing ONLY the chorus, or only the 2nd verse, etc.  

Also, sometimes we are humming just the melody, which is so great to really get the melody ingrained in their memory.

Duets

I use these visuals for when we split boys/girls on "Love is Spoken Here".
Could be used for many purposes.
I'm sure you have the same problem we do - the younger kids often get confused which conductor to follow.

Simply:

click to enlarge - right click - save as

**(pictures taken from "Behold your Little One's" manual and colored by me...)

"I Can't Hear You"

Once Halloween is over, DON'T FORGET to go out and buy the BIG CLOWN EARS.

Hopefully they'll be on sale...

I hide them behind my long hair, and then during the song, I tuck my hair behind my ears and say, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU"
They love this...

Attention Getter...

I have a hard time getting the kids to watch my hands while directing. While practicing for our program, I don't even know how many times we had to practice standing at the same time.

It gave me an idea:

I got a pair of cheapy cotton gloves (choose an obnoxiously bright color if they have it)
I hot glued some "warm fuzzies" to the ends of the fingertips, in all different colors.

All I had to do, was wiggle my fingers up in the air to get their attention...and it worked! They could stand as a group!!

I didn't wear them for the program, but it sure helped during our 'prep' time, so I thought I'd pass along the idea...for next year... :)

Program Idea

We are still preparing for our program. One of the songs we are singing is "I Love to See the Temple". I had an idea this week that I wanted to try at church today. It was so wonderful, it gave me goosebumps. I thought I would pass along the idea to you.

Think of a 'wave' at a football game.

I start on one end of the room. A few children help me sing, "I love to see the temple."
* a very small piano interlude (to pause it a bit)
More kids join along with the first group and sing, "I'm going there some day."
* small piano interlude (arpeggio)
More kids join, "To feel the holy spirit."
* piano again
More kids join, "To listen and to pray."

By this point our whole primary is singing for the chorus and the remainder of the song. I am having the organ join in for the chorus. The congregation will be joining us on the 2nd verse as our closing song for the program.

It was just wonderful. The growing voices is beautiful. I didn't divide them by classes, instead just in sections. This way, I could slowly walk in front of the group and encourage the next group to help us. They loved it. We leaders loved it. I hope you love it. :)

Review

I haven't pulled this out in a while -

HEADBAND HERO!

Always a favorite.

I normally print out the words and put felt on the back that sticks to the velcro on my headband / sweatband. When I originally created the game, I tried to use generic words that appear in lots of songs, which worked fine.

Well, a wonderful reader suggested a new way. She laminates a plain white piece of paper. Since it is laminated, and large, and permanently attached to her headband, she simply uses a dry erase marker to write the new word on the headband! Erases easily for her to write the next word for the next child. I love this. I am going to make a new headband using this idea.

Sweatbands at Walmart 2 for $1.

Cheap and seriously one of their most favorite games.

If you don't know the game, click HERE for the explanation.

Song Review Idea:

• 5 + glasses of water (however many songs you need to review)
• 1 glass full of vinegar (save the vinegar for last)
• 1 spoon for each glass of liquid
• food coloring
• baking soda
• 1 cookie sheet (under glass with vinegar)

On each spoon place a small amount of food coloring (different color for each spoon).

On top of each drop of food coloring place the baking soda - so that you can't see that food coloring is on the spoon.

Invite a reverent child up as your first volunteer. They simply place the spoon in the glass of water, and mix - and wala! A magical color appears! The children then look over at your chart stating which song goes with the corresponding color. Sing that song.

Repeat...repeat...repeat...

The last cup is full of vinegar instead of water. The kids will go crazy as the spoon is dipped in the cup, and not only does a color appear, but the cup overflows with foam! Perhaps this last color is a 'choose your favorite' or something fun.

JUNE: Seek the Lord Early

SEEK THE LORD EARLY p. 108

(click to go to website to purchase poster kit)

IDEA #1: (taken from the June 2009 Friend)
Make eight wordstrips: youth, truth, there, prayer, obey, say, abound, found. Post them in random order on the board. Tell the children that each sentence in the song has two words that rhyme. Sing the first sentence to the children. Have them listen for the word that rhymes with “youth” (truth). Put those two wordstrips next to each other on the board. Sing the first sentence together. Continue this pattern with the rest of the sentences. Next, display pictures that correspond to concepts in the song. As you sing each phrase, ask a child to choose what picture could go with the sentence. When all the pictures have been chosen, invite the children with the pictures to stand at the front of the room and raise their pictures when their phrase is sung. Sing the whole song together.

IDEA #2: (taken and combined from various friend articles)
Hide a set of scriptures somewhere in the room. Tell the children that there is an item that is very important - that will help them get closer to their Heavenly Father. They can only find it by staying in their seats and asking 'yes' or 'no' questions. (E.g., “Is it higher than your head?” “Is it under someone’s chair?”)

When they have “found” it, pick a verse to read to them (possibly Revelations 3:20). Remind them that Jesus wants you to hear His voice and feel His spirit. He loves you and wants you to feel that love. He wants to bless you. He wants you to understand what things will bring you happiness and make it possible for you to live with Him and your Father in Heaven forever.
As you search the scriptures to understand and know what you should do, you will hear His voice. This “hearing” is often a feeling that comes into your mind and your heart. If you read the scriptures with faith, desiring to believe and seeking to understand, you do more than just read words. You open a door and invite the Spirit of the Lord into your heart and mind. You will want to do what is right. You will feel the love of the Savior. His words will bless you. The scriptures will tell you all the things that you should do. Studying them will bring you closer to Him.

IDEA #3:
Help the children learn the difficult words in the song:
"Seek": Play a mini game of 'hide and seek' to demonstrate. "seek" means to find. Make sure the children understand that Heavenly Father isn't lost. Instead, we are trying to feel close to him, and feel his love.
"Youth": Perhaps have a teacher stand and a young child stand. Which is 'in their youth?" :)
"Fervent": Means with lots of feeling, earnest, meaningful.
"Abound": This means that He loves us so much, his love will surround us.

******************

Encourage the children to "Seek the Lord Early" while they are young. Encourage them to gain a testimony of their Heavenly Father by; searching the scriptures, fervent prayer, following the prophet and keeping the commandments. If they do this, "He will be found".

Misc. Items

If you have an IKEA near you - go grab these cheap items!

A church mouse:

$1.49 at Ikea in the childrens toy section.

Idea #1: I love it when the children come to primary, we hum along with the prelude music. Sometimes, they are too loud, and it doesn't work. I think this mouse would do the trick! The first week, have the mouse near the podium, as a reminder to the children when they come into primary they need to be reverent and quiet or it scares away our 'church mouse'. After they get the idea of the church mouse - perhaps have it hidden in different locations each sunday, and as they reverently sit in their seats and hum, they can look around the room to see if they can spot it!

Idea #2: I often use a picture of a mouse to have the children sing 'quieter', and a picture of a lion to encourage them to sing 'louder'. I already had a lion puppet, but didn't have a mouse!

Silly Birthday Hat:

Clearance - $2.00 at Ikea - near the mouse! :)

(image courtesy of flickr) I'm always trying to think of a way to make the birthday child feel special. They will go wild over this. I think when we sing a birthday song, I will let the birthday child wear the hat for the song.

"Be Guided"

Our sharing time was focused on following the promptings of the Holy Ghost to make the right choices. For the singing part of this, I chose to play a fun game.

WHAT YOU NEED:
A small CTR shield (attached at bottom of post).

WHAT YOU DO:
1 child goes out of the room, while one child hides the CTR shield. The rest of the primary are our singers.

We then sang "Baptism" (we needed some review...) and as the 'seeker' would get closer to the hidden CTR we'd sing LOUDER. As they moved away from it, we'd sing QUIETER. The kids loved it. They didn't even notice that we sang "Baptism" at least 10 times through. :) And, I was able to tie it in to the listening to the Holy Ghost - if we listen, we will be guided which choices to make.

Simply 'right click' and 'save as'

(Taken from the LDS lesson manual - only I colored it in instead of it being black and white.)

May: Baptism

Sorry I'm late posting this! I got overwhelmed trying to keep up on orders - thank you everyone who purchased in the month of April, or sent donations to help the Howells Family. Wow.

BAPTISM p. 100

(click to go to website to purchase poster or kit)

Ideas for teaching:

Idea #1:

Discuss with the children the 4th Article of Faith (which you should've reviewed last month)

We Believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are 1st - Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 2nd - Repentance 3rd - Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins 4th - Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sing the 1st verse of the song Baptism, and ask the children to listen carefully to which 'ordinance' (you just discussed in the 4th article of Faith) you are singing about. (3rd Baptism by immersion)

Idea #2:

I'm a fan of the "Who" "Where" "When" "How" "Why" cards that I mentioned in previous songs. It gets the children thinking, and listening. Perhaps consider making a set of cards, laminated to use often when teaching new songs. When using these cards, when applicable, have a picture to go along with them. Let the children match the "Who" with a picture of Jesus. "Where" with the "River Jordan or Judeah", etc.

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

There's no need for tons of visuals, or games, or fillers. Teach with the spirit, and involve the children using appropriate materials.

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Nursery Age Music

Music with the nursery age children can be so fun! If you are in a building that allows you (the singing leader) to bring the nursery children into the primary room for singing time - do. It helps their transition into sunbeams so much easier.

In our nursery, all the kids hold onto a 'rope' and walk into the primary room.

Here are some ideas our nursery kids love:

MUSIC MAKERS:

I have a bright orange bag, full of noise makers (none that use the mouth of course). Sometimes we march around the room singing "Do as I'm Doing", or we sit in our chairs and use them while singing "Singing a Song is Fun to Do". I bought a set at Ikea, and I made some instruments. There are a lot of good websites that offer shakers, castanets, tambourines, etc. I homemade some with simple items like pie tins, paper cups, rice, beans, wood blocks, sand paper, etc. The love them all.

SONG CLUES:

I have a tin can that I covered with fun paper. Inside this can are 'clues' for which song we will sing next. If it were up to me, I'd forget and we'd sing the same songs everyweek! The children love to be involved, and this keeps them from shouting out which song to do next.

song clue ideas:

(you could make copies of the pictures above the songs in the children songbook instead...)

• Glasses or eyeball (sounds odd, but I do have some): "Two Little Eyes"
• Clapper (from McD happy meal a few years back): "If You're Happy"
• frown / smile face guy (from the Friend): "Smiles" (If you chance to meet a frown)
• Rubber duck: "Happy Song" (Ducks in the pond...)
• Sunshine: "Sunbeam" (or use poster size with hole cut in middle)
• Picture of Jesus and Children: "I Am a Child of God" or "Jesus Said Love Everyone"
• A doll shoe: "Two Happy Feet"
• A worm: "I Wiggle"
• Gloves: "I Have Two Little Hands" OR "My Hands" OR "Roll Your Hands"
• A Doll: "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
• Paper guy w/ hinges (use brads): "Hinges"
• A Rock: "Wise Man and Foolish Man"
• Musical Instrument: "Do As I'm Doing"
• A #2: "I Have Two Ears"
• Picture of child standing: "Stand Up" OR "Oh, How We Love to Stand"
• Picture of Church: "Chapel Doors" (use poster)
• Snowman Cookie Cutter: "Once There Was a Snowman"
• Star Shaped something: "I am Like a Star" (let them twinkle their fingers)
• Popcorn kernels, or tree picture: "Popcorn Popping"
• Fake purple flower: "Little Purple Pansies" (fun to have big poster board so their face can poke through)

APRIL: Did Jesus Really Live Again

DID JESUS REALLY LIVE AGAIN:
(click above link to purchase poster. Be sure to select which option you want!)

When teaching this song, it's important that you sing all 3 verses. Otherwise it doesn't get the entire message to the children. We designed our visual with 2 different colors for the words. This makes it so that you can divide the primary into 2 groups. Have the one group sing the 'questions' and the other group sing the 'answers'. If your teachers are willing, I really like to have my primary teachers sing the questions, and all the children sing the answers.

For example:

Group 1: "Did Jesus really live again?"
Group 2: "Yes, when the third day came. He wakened and he left the tomb, He called Mary's name."

Group 1: "Did Jesus come to those He loved?"
Group 2: "Yes, people touched His feet, and of the fish and honeycomb, He did truly eat."

Group 2: "and there were nailprints in his hands and a spearwound in his side."
Group 1: "Did Jesus really live again after he had died?"

EVERYONE:
"Yes, and so shall I"

Some of the pictures I would suggest on the poster:

Tic Tac Toe

A FAVORITE!

Draw a large tic-tac-toe board on the chalkboard. Use our large laminated X’s and O’s.

Divide into 2 teams, (boys vs girls, teachers vs. kids, etc.) Middle square is the “theme song” for the month. To get a turn to place their teams X or O, the team must correctly answer a question about a song. Once they are correct, the primary sings the corresponding song, and that team gets to put their X (or 0) in a square. OR, play 'name that tune' instead of asking questions - better for jr. primary.

Tic-Tac-Toe Pack:

• {5} X's and {5} O's
• Approximately 8" x 8"
• LAMINATED

$7.50
FREE SHIPPING!

Blobs

I use these throughout the month on the new song we are learning. The first week, my poster is 100% visible. Then, when we practice the theme song in subsequent weeks, we use the blobs. I pick 1 child at a time to place a blob anywhere they'd like on the poster. Sometimes I do 1 blob the first week, add another blob the next week. Other times, we do them all on the same day!

blobs are:

• Different shapes and colors
• Approximately 8" x 10"
• Laminated

The kids love them and it helps us memorize the songs. I use sticky tack to hold the blobs on the poster. The sticky tack doesn't harm my posters or blobs!

$5 for 4 blobs.

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(in the USA only)

March: "My Eternal Family"

My Eternal Family

(click link to go to website to purchase poster)

I've seen a lot of ideas on how to teach this song. Although I am not opposed to 'clipart', I don't want to use 'Bob the Builder' in primary. That said, here is what I came up with.

(The first week I will only be teaching verse 1 and the chorus.)

Items Needed:

• 
  
  Construction Hat (picture above)
  


• 
  
  Pictures to go along with singing (See below)


• 
  
  Melody Dots (attached at bottom, large enough to click and save as)
  

Before primary, have your pictures set in a random order near the front of the room. Attached to each picture have the 'melody dots'. You do not need to know how to read music to use these - the children love them. It is easier than them trying to follow a leaders hand up/down/middle, etc.

Leader Sing: "I am a builder working each day to build my family". Invite a child to come up and wear the construction hat. He is our 'builder'. He needs to pick the picture that best matches the singing line. (A family). Have the primary children then sing the line.

Leader Sing: "And I will do the best I can do serve them lovingly". Again, invite a child up to wear the construction hat and find the appropriate picture. (Family helping do the dishes). Have the children sing the song up to this point.

Leader Sing: "I am a builder growing so tall, learning every day." Invite child to help find the right picture (children reading scriptures). Sing song to this point.

Leader Sing: "To speak with kindness in my home, to help at work and play." Choose reverent child to be your helper and find picture (children playing and sharing). Sing song to this point.

Leader sing the chorus: "My Heavenly Father sent me here, He knows I can be Strong and Righteous as I build My Eternal Family." (Picture of family in front of temple, or church). Repeat chorus with children.

Sing song from beginning to end.

(Repeat idea for 2nd verse next week.)

MELODY DOTS:

Purchase "My Eternal Family" poster

PICTURES I WILL BE USING:

Purchase "My Eternal Family" poster

Here is the graphic I used on my hat. Simply right click on image, save as, and resize to whatever size you need for your hats!

Teaching Tip: Popsicle Sticks

Another volunteer equality tip!

I am the new singing leader, and I have 2 boys in primary. After the 1st week I knew I was in trouble because I felt bad not knowing who to pick (and keep it fair). I've seen these before (as have you), but I thought it was still cute. Each child gets their name on a popsicle stick (color coated for Jr/Sr Sharing time), and when they've been picked, it stays upside down until everyone has had a turn. It will take a few weeks to get through the stash.

-submitted by Emily

Teaching Tip: Gumball Machine

This idea was given to me by my friend and it is a hit with the kids! I use it throughout the year.

You draw a large gumball machine on poster board and title it (I "Chews" the Right!). Then you cut out as many small circles (gumballs) as there are children and then several more for move-ins. Cut out from colored paper that is bubble gum colors. A circle punch works very well. I used 1 3/4". Put one child's name on each circle. Seperate the circles in Jr. and Sr. primary and put in bags. When I need a child to be a helper I pick out of the bag. The child gets to come up and tape it onto my bubble gum machine poster board and then be my helper. This way everyone gets a turn eventually. (It takes about three to four weeks to get through all the names.) When they are done being a helper they get to take a real penny from my penny jar. After church they can come back to get a piece of real gum from my real bubble gum machine. (I bought mine from Target for $15)

I tell them, occasionally, that if I pick out a name and I can see they are talking or misbehaving/not singing etc. I will have to put their name back into the bag to draw out another time. I remind them subtly by saying as I'm drawing out a name, "I wonder if this person was singing/participating etc.?" The kids are quiet as a mouse as you draw out names - it works great and they LOVE getting a penny to put in my bubble gum machine.

-Submitted by Brigitte

How Firm a Foundation (February)

purchase poster: HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

**Discuss with your primary presidency to make sure you don't overlap ideas too much. (Idea taken from the February 2009 Sharing Time)

Introduce the song by singing the phrase "The wise man built his house upon the rock" ("The Wise Man and the Foolish Man," p. 281). Hold up a rock and ask: Why was the man wise to build his house upon a rock (a firm foundation)? Have a child hold the rock and a picture of Jesus Christ while you sing the first line of "How Firm a Foundation." Have the children repeat the line.

Sing: "ye saints of the Lord." Ask, who are 'ye saints of the Lord?' Then have them gather in a group and take a picture of the primary children to put on your poster to represent 'saints of the Lord." Have the children repeat the line.

On the board, write "faith in his ______ ___." Have the children listen for the words to put in the blanks while you sing the second line of the first verse. Have them sing the line. Ask: Where do we find His word (scriptures)? Invite a child to come up and hold scriptures. Have the children sing the lines you've learned so far.

Sing: "What more can he say than to you he hath said?" Add to the child's scriptures until he or she is holding all the standard works, church magazine, and pictures of modern prophets to show how abundantly the Lord has given us His word. Have the children sing this line.

Ask them to listen while you sing lines four and five for the word that is repeated three times. Define refuge (place of safety), and have the children sing lines four and five.

Bear testimony that Christ is a sure foundation and that if we are built upon His gospel, we shall not fall.

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I Lived In Heaven (January)

purchase poster: I Lived in Heaven

Write the words:

WHERE, WHEN, WHAT, and WHO on cards to hold up.

Sing the first verse to the children and ask them to listen carefully. Then ask them:

WHERE did I Live? {heaven}

WHEN did I live there? {A long time ago}

WHAT did I do there? {Lived there and loved there}

WHO did I live with? {People I know}

Repeat for verses 2 and 3