Category Archives: Song Reviewing Ideas

Jan 29 2011

Review of “If I Listen With My Heart”

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  Review of “If I Listen With My Heart”

Senior Primary Review of the Third Verse

I printed off the two pages of the words to the third verse onto light weight paper. (You can find the words in last week’s posting.) I put a piece of light weight blue paper over the top of each page. I used double sided tape at certain points near the words so the two papers would stick together well. I pinned the two pieces of paper onto a lamp shade. When the lamp is on, the children will be able to see the words to the third verse. Tell the children that this activity is to help remind them that the light of the Holy Ghost shows and tells us the things we need to know.

Have a volunteer turn the lamp on and off (not too fast) while the children sing the song. Watch to see if the children can sing the verse when the lamp is on or off. If they have problems with any area, review the pictures and words from last week’s lesson for that part. After that, choose another volunteer to turn the lamp on and off while the children sing the verse again. Continue in this manner until you think they have the words completely memorized.

Senior and Junior Primary Review of all the Verses.

Print the lines from the verses.  Cut them out and put sticky back hook velcro on the back of each one. Put them each into an envelope.  You will need a headband. See if the hook velcro will stick to your headband. If it won’t stick, sew a piece of pad velcro on it.

Choose a volunteer who thinks they know the words to every verse. Have the volunteer put the headband around the top of their head. Have the volunteer then choose an envelope. Put the card that is in that envelope onto their headband (on their forehead) without the volunteer seeing what it is. (For junior Primary, send the volunteer outside the room while you tell the children what the words are that are on the card.)  See if the children know what verse the words are from. Tell the children they are going to sing that verse; they are to sing all the words, except for the words that are on the card. The person who has the card stuck to their head is supposed to listen, and think of the words that the children don’t sing, and then tell what words are on the card.

You could also use a headband that has a light on it for this activity. The words would have to be printed onto light weight paper. Tape it to the light and turn on the light.

Nov 8 2010

“Knock My Socks Off” Song Review

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“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.

Oct 16 2010

Colored Targets Song Review Game

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Colored Targets Song Review Game

I cut out several colored circles to use as targets. I taped them to a wall in the primary room, and put them each about a foot or two apart. I put them in an area where there were no obstructions in the path to get to the wall.  I put a piece of double sided tape in the middle of each target.

I had some different colored fuzzy balls (from Wal-Mart) in a baggie, one that matched each colored target. I blindfolded a volunteer and  had him choose a fuzzy ball from the bag. I turned him around a couple of times and then faced him towards the targets. The other children sang  the song as the volunteer tried to find the matching colored target that went with the fuzzy ball. Since he couldn’t see, the other children helped him find the right target by singing louder when he got close to the target, and softer when he moved away from the target. I stood by the child to make sure he didn’t get off track and run into something as he walked toward the targets.  After the child found the target, another volunteer was chosen and we did the same thing.

This game is a way to get the children to review the song through repetition and have fun while doing it. If the children don’t know all the words, you can post the words above the targets. Remove sections of the words after each volunteer’s turn. If the children are unsure of the words, or don’t sing,  remind them of the words and sing all they way through once before starting the game again.

Oct 11 2010

Primary Program Music Review

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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.

Sep 23 2010

Song Review for “Follow the Prophet”

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Bugs and Slime Song Choosing Activity

Primary Music: This week in junior primary we reviewed all the verses we had learned for “Follow the Prophet”.

I started off by talking about how the prophet asked us to plant gardens. I told the children that I try to be obedient and follow the prophet, but this year my garden has been plagued with bugs, and I don’t like bugs. But I try to endure, because I know that the prophet knows what is best for us. (There are many reasons gardens are important, some  include: garden produce is healthy, gardening is an economical way to obtain fruits and vegetables, and gardening knowledge is important for preparedness.)

Then I told the children that I had a choosing activity using bugs for the song “Follow the Prophet”. The bugs would help remind them that they should follow the prophet even when it is hard, because he knows what is best for us. Then I told them that some bugs secrete a slime substance. I showed them the container of slime. I told them that they had to reach into the slime to find the bugs. The bugs each had a verse title attached to its leg.

I looked for children who were singing and being reverent to be the bug retrieving helpers. They sang their hearts out. I had no idea junior Primary knew the verses so well. They all sang so well, I had to get help from the teachers in deciding who I should choose as a helper.

I made sure the child retrieving the bug from the container of slime didn’t block the view of the other children. The children enjoyed watching when the slime attached to the person’s hand and stretched and glopped. After getting the bug out, I had the child read the tag and tell what verse it was, and then I gave them a wet wipe to wash off their hands. I had attached the song titles to the plastic bugs by folding over a clear piece of tape onto one leg of each bug. The tape sealed onto the leg. Then I wrote the verse name on the tape with a sharpie.

Slime Directions: To make the slime, mix 3 teaspoons of Metamucil with 3 cups of water in a microwaveable bowl. Add some drops of green and yellow food coloring to the mix until it is the desired color. Microwave the mixture on high for about 4 minutes. Stir the mixture, then microwave again for about three minutes. Continue these two steps until the mixture is the thickness and texture you desire.  Be very careful, the mixture will be very hot. After it cools down, pour the goo into a tall, clear plastic container, or into a glass jar with a wide mouth. The clear container will allow the children to see the goo and bugs. Do not fill the container to the top. Make sure that when someone reaches into the goo, it doesn’t overflow. Put a paper plate under the container during the activity to catch any drips.

Aug 30 2010

Gift Package Review Game

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 Gift Package Review Game

To help review a song for the Primary program, I had the children play a game. I had wrapped a bag of candy with several layers of wrapping paper. The children sang the song we were reviewing as a child tried to open the package. It wasn’t easy to open  because I had the child wear heavy gloves and use only spoons to open the package. They weren’t allowed to stab the package with the spoons. As the child tried to open the package, the other children were singing the song and taking turns rolling some dice in a bowl. When one of the children got a seven on the dice, they got a turn to try and open up the package. This game was fun for the children, and they didn’t realize they were singing the song over and over again. I would review words they were having trouble with in-between changing over to a new child opening the package.  I was surprised at how well they sang during the game, even junior Primary. But I did tell them before we started the game that if they didn’t sing, we would have to stop and sing the whole song all the way through before we could continue the game.