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.

Singing Idea

I came up with this and the kids absolutely loved it. I created a word search as a game for choosing which song to sing. I used words instead of the whole song title, so I put in 'Child' for I am a child of God and 'Prayer' for A child's prayer, or 'Walk' for I'll walk with you... I also put in the names of all the children (we have a relatively small group) and if they found a name then that child got to choose their favourite song to sing... It worked really well. We could have gone on for hours :o)

Kind Regards

Nonni

South Africa

Song Review

The Music Measles

I bought a package of tiny red dot stickers and put them all over myself and the presidency members. I explained to the children that music is contagious, like when we hear a catchy tune.

I also told them that music has a way of making us happy, and that happiness is also contagious. Well, the music measles are contagious too.

They "caught" the music measles by singing.

The music measles were something they wanted to catch.

As they sang, we placed our stickers on them.

They had fun seeing who had the most spots.

~idea shared by Jen

Thanks for sharing!!

We'd love to hear more ideas! email us to have them posted!

Dice

I was at "Family Dollar" today.

They had some big foam dice.

2 for $1.

{I love all a dollar}

I've been using a homemade paper dice for my dice game.

It worked fine, but it gets crunched sometimes.

I was excited for this alternative.

I plan to put fun ways to sing on one of the dice:

Girls Only, Boys Only, Teachers Only, Stand Up

Slow, Super Fast, Hum, Close Eyes, Clap, Hop, etc.

Then, on the other dice, I am going to do theme songs:

Below are my clipart / clues for our songs. The dice only had 6 sides (obviously), so I picked the 6 we needed to practice most. And, I just taped them on the dice for temporary, whereas I modge podged on my other dice.

simply click - right click - save as - and size to your needs...

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.

Scripture Idea

This weeks sharing time topic is: "I can strengthen my family by reading the scriptures."

Here is a list of our theme songs (plus my 2 free choice songs) and a corresponding scripture:

I Lived in Heaven - D&C 138:56
How Firm a Foundation - Helaman 5:12
My Eternal Family - D&C 138:2
Baptism - Matthew 3:13-16
I'll Seek the Lord Early - D&C 88:63
Did Jesus Really Live Again - 3 Nephi 11:10-14
Teach Me To Walk in the Light - Isaiah 2:5

For senior sharing time, I'm thinking of a scripture chase. I'll write the scripture on the chalk board, 1st one to it gets to read it for us, and they have to decide which theme song in corresponds with, then we'll sing that song!

For junior sharing time - Let some of the older kids help me read each scripture, then we'll discuss the hard words, and decide which theme song it corresponds with and sing.

Could do this same idea for next week which is "I can strengthen my family through Family Home Evening." Play this scripture search with your family!

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.

"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.)

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!

My Eternal Family

I came across Sofia's website which had some very cute ideas for teaching "My Eternal Family".

As sharing time began, I came to the front of the room dressed as a builder with tool belt, and hard hat. I said, "I am a builder." "Do you know what I build?" (children - houses!). "Nope. I don't just build houses, I build - HOMES." "Do you know who I build homes for?" (children - families!). "Not just families, but ETERNAL families."

I then proceeded to pick one child at a time to pick a tool out of my tool belt. We then discussed how each tool helps build an 'eternal family'. Some were a little of a stretch, but it was fun, and got the point across. Some of the tools I included:

1. Scriptures - It's how I feed my eternal family
2. Safety Goggles - Helps us to only watch things that are good, avoid bad things on TV / internet.
3. Sand Paper - Helps me forgive when others make mistakes.
4. Ear plugs - Helps me (us) avoid hearing bad language, gossip, etc.
5. Knee Pad - because I'm always on my knees in prayer for my 'eternal family'.
6. Hard Hat - protects my thoughts to keep them clean.
7. Tape Measure - So I can measure how much we are growing physically AND spiritually.
8. Lip Gloss - Reminds us to speak kind words to one another.
etc.

It was a great way to remind about the good qualities of being an 'eternal family'.

IDEAS FOR FOLLOW-UP WEEKS:

Since I have now introduced the song, I plan on a few fun ways to review / sing it:
1. Let them beat out the rhythmn like they are hammering.
2. My "headband hero" game. (explained on my website - always a good way to review)
3. I will still bring my hardhat each week, and perhaps the class who is singing the best, their teacher will wear the hat during sharing time.
4. Construction signs for singing. "STOP", "GO", "SLOW". The kids love to be incharge of these and be in charge of when we are singing. I thought they were very cute with the builder hat on the volunteer child. (click on image to enlarge, then right click 'save as' and save to your computer and print!).