“Knock My Socks Off”  Song Review Idea

We are currently reviewing songs for the primary program, and I used an activity called “Knock My Socks Off” to help motivate the children to sing well.  I put the above sign on the board, and the socks on the ledge of the chalkboard. I asked the children if they knew what the expression “Knock My Socks Off” meant? I told them it symbolicaly meant that when someone is so amazed by something, then that powerful emotion goes through their body and down to their feet like electricity and knocks their socks off. 

In each sock was a paper with a song title written on it. I had a child choose a sock, get the song title out, and post the title on the board. I told the children that the Primary secretary was going to hold that sock, and as they sang the song well and amazed her, then that sock would shake down until it was finally knocked completely off.

Sock Assembly Instructions

I cut out each one piece leg and foot from a piece of peach foam board (poster board would probably work too). The legs were 16 inches long from the knee to the bottom of the heel, and they were 4 inches wide. The feet were 4 inches wide, and 8 inches long (from heel to toe).  

I purchased 1/4 of a yard of flannel or fleece fabric  for each sock. I cut out the leg of the socks to be 21 inches long, seven inches wide. The foot area was 10 inches long and 5 1/2 wide. The socks were bigger than the foam leg and foot to be able to fit over the heel. I sewed the socks inside out with a 1/4 inch seam, and I rounded the edges of the heel and toe area. Then I turned them outside out and put them on the foam legs. 

Easy Method

 Instead of making the socks, use long socks, or leg warmers attached to short socks. I made the socks because I needed the different colors to match the ribbons on a reward box. The children got to cut a matching colored ribbon on the box when they sang so well that they knocked a sock off. When all the ribbons were cut, they got their reward.

I used this activity to review several songs for the primary program, but it could be used for just one or two songs by using just one or two socks and legs.  

The idea for this activity came from my friend Vickie from Arkansas. She has very clever ideas.

Balloon Popping Meter Chart

This week I made a balloon meter to check if the children were ready for the Primary Program.  As the children sang a song, someone pulled the ribbon that was attached to that songs balloon. If they sang really well, the balloon would go all the way to the top and pop on a pin.  

To make the meter, I purchased a large foam board during a half price sale at Hobby Lobby. I tied different colored ribbons all the way around the board. (The ribbon that curls needs to be stretched before you tie it onto the board, or it will stretch and become loose as you do the activity. Run scissors along the ribbon a couple of times (as if you were curling it) and that should do it.)

I made long song labels for each of the different songs I was checking them on. I printed each song label onto a different colored paper. The papers matched the different ribbons. I taped each label under its matching colored ribbon. I tied a matching colored, blown up balloon to each ribbon. I had left about three inches of ribbon attached when I tied the ribbon onto the board. I used that ribbon to tie on the balloons. I pushed the balloon up against the ribbon and taped the back of the balloon up onto the ribbon so that it couldn’t move to the left or right. This allowed the needle to pierce the balloon. I took a large clip and taped a long needle to it. I taped it in such a manner that the needle could not move to the right or left.

When you put the clip onto the top of the board, above a balloon, it needs to go under the ribbon on the front and the back of the board. This allows the ribbon to freely move up and down. I asked our Primary secretary to operate the meter. She watched the children sing, and she moved the balloon up toward the needle as they sang well, and she stopped at parts they had trouble with. After they sang a song, we went over the parts they had problems with, and then we sang the song again. Our secretary moved the balloon some more as they sang well. When she felt like they knew the song well enough, she moved the ballloon to the top and it popped on the needle.   

Ribbon Wrapped Box

I had also wrapped a box of treats with the same colored ribbons I had used on the chart. Inside the box was Tootsie “Pops”. Each time the children pop a balloon they will get to cut a ribbon. When all the ribbons are cut, it means they know all the songs and are ready for the program. As a reward for all their hard work, they get the tootsie pops. The ribbon cutting activity could be used separately, and would be a great motivational activity on its own.

I got the gift wrapping idea from a friend several years ago. She may have gotten the idea off the internet from someone else. I got the balloon popping idea from a website several months ago. I looked and couldn’t find where I found it, so once again, thank you to all the people who inspire us with their great ideas.

Note: Be sure to test out the balloon meter at home before using it in Primary, to make sure it works properly and is set up correctly.