Scatter and Gather

We are busy with Christmas songs. We've been ask to sing at the ward Christmas party, which is only 2 weeks away. Plus we are practicing to sing in Sacrament meeting just before Christmas. But I still want to do something with being thankful and showing gratitude. 

An idea hit me this morning how I can do both.

Back when I taught 'I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus' I found an idea called 'Scatter and Gather'. You can read that post HERE.

I'm going to use that same idea as we practice our Christmas songs only with turkey cards and the gatherers will have to tell us what they are thankful for.

This is a GREAT activity that is kind-of like hot and cold so you can sing the songs over and over in a fun way.

I've made a download with various cards so you can scatter and gather throughout the year.

Click HERE to download.

Happy Gathering!!

4th of July

Happy Fourth of JULY!

It seems I always have a sub for this holiday. So here are few of my go-to plans.

This is a fun and easy matching game. Just assign a song (I am reviewing program songs) to each matching picture. For my SR, I like to have them tell me facts about the picture. Example: How many red stripes on the flag, white stripes, how many stars, who made the first flag? etc. They really like showing me how smart they are!

Click HERE to download the matching.

Here is a post I did last year. It was a big HIT! It is very easy, low prep and great for a sub.

Click HERE for this activity.

The easiest one of all is 'PASS the FLAG'.

Buy a small flag on a stick. Pick a song to practice. Start passing the flag as you are singing. Have the pianist stop suddenly. Whomever is holding the flag tells something they love about our country or a freedom they enjoy.

I LOVE the song 'My Flag'. It's a great one to teach or just sing on the Sunday before Independence Day.

Here is the flip chart I use to help everyone remember the words.

Click HERE for the flip chart.

Camille has some cute ideas over on her blog for the 4th of July. She does poppers or glow sticks.

Click HERE to go to her blog.

Sugardoodle.com also has some cute ideas. You can check those out HERE

Whatever you choose to do GOOD LUCK and Happy 4th of July!

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PRAYER

Our program is over!!
WaaaHoooo!

The kids did fantastic even though the practice was horrible! But isn't it always?

So I'm going to introduce October's theme of 'Prayer' with an activity called "What's the Word" and sing a few of their favorites too.

I've blogged about 

What's the Word before and you can find a link HERE.

I'm doing the word PRAYER. I chose 6 songs and put them on the back of each letter. Songs like: Follow the Prophet, Family Prayer, The Church of Jesus Christ, The Golden Plates, Nephi's Courage, and My Heavenly Father Loves Me. For your SR you could also select a scripture for them to look up that has to do with prayer and place the reference on the back of each letter.

Kids take turns picking a letter, placing it on the board in random order, and singing the song. When all the letter have been selected, they try to unscramble the letters and make the word. I like to ask them what each song had to do with the word.

This is a very easy, low prep activity that's great for a sub or even FHE.

Click HERE to download What's the Word version 1 which includes the word PRAYER.

I try to sing the same song for opening and closing for the whole month. This helps them learn it better. I'm doing 'We Bow Our Heads' and 'I Love to Pray' in JR. And 'A Child's Prayer' and 'I Pray in Faith' in SR. I made a few flip charts for the ones they don't know. It seems my kids sing better if their teachers are singing and teachers sing better if I have a flip chart.

Click HERE to download the flip chart for 'I LOVE TO PRAY"

 Click HERE to download the flip chart for 'WE BOW OUR HEADS'

Click HERE to download the flip chart for 'I PRAY IN FAITH'

Happy Singing!

What's the Word

I need a sub for Sunday and it's the holiday (4th of July). I decided to do an oldie but goodie and very easy for me and the sub.

I call it 'What's the Word'. This is the patriotic version.

 I made some fancy letters that spell out the word AMERICA for the JR. and LIBERTY for SR. I put the songs I want them to practice on the back. I got a decorative gift bag and put the letters in it. The kids will take turns picking a letter and singing the song. Then when all the letters have been chosen, they will try to guess what word the letters make. 

SIMPLE and VERY LOW PREP!

Click HERE to download the Patriotic version.

There are 4 different words to choose from: America, Liberty, Freedom, Patriot

I've not only used this for singing time but also to introduce a lesson or sharing time theme with other words by putting scriptures or quotes on the back of the letters. It's even engaging for adults.

Click HERE to download the regular version.

There are 5 words in this version: temple, prayer, prophet, faith, baptism.

Happy Singing!

Primary Song Matching

Need a sub?

This is a GREAT activity to make and have on hand for that Sunday morning when you wake up and are too sick to go to Primary. It's great for a sub or just fun for a review.

I picked some of my Primary's favorite songs and made a matching game with scriptures.

It's a fun idea for the Nursery too but I'd minus the scriptures.

Very EASY and simple to prepare!

Click HERE to download the file.

Puzzles for Singing Time

This is an idea from way back but still fun to do. 

What child doesn't LOVE to put a puzzle together?

Buy a picture from the Distribution Center like a temple or Joseph Smith about 11x17 or larger. Cut it up into 8-12 pieces. Write a song and a question on the back. Place the pieces in a cute bag and take turns choosing a piece. Sing the song, answer the question and try to put the puzzle together.

This is a great idea to have made up ready to go for that Sunday when you can't get out of bed and need a sub.

Click HERE to download the directions.

Sing-A-Message or Scripture

I'm getting ready for Ward Conference and I wanted something that would motivate my kids, but challenge them, keep them engaged, easy, and be spiritual.

Here's what I'm doing:

I found a message and a scripture from the sharing time outline for the week so it goes along with what the Presidency is teaching and printed them. Got a cute bag and now I'm ready.

This works GREAT for a last minute substitute too!

Click HERE if you want to download these directions.

2016 Scrambled Songs

I'm excited to get started on a NEW YEAR and NEW SONGS.

So for the first Sunday of the year, I'm going to do an introduction and what a teacher might call 'a pre-test'. I decided not to start the new song 'If I Listen With My Heart' because Sunday will be crazy with all the changing of classes and teachers. 

Besides there are 5 Sunday this month too.

Here's my plan:

It's called Scrambled Phrases.

I have picked a phrase from each of the songs for the program this year. Cut them up and placed in a baggy. They are all color-coded with the handy key above so I'll know the answers. 

There's a couple of ways you could do it. Whatever works for your kiddos. I'll give each class a bag and ask them to unscramble the words to make a phrase from a song. In the Junior the teachers will need to help the little ones. I'll give the harder ones to the older classes. 

Then we'll go around the room and figure out the phrase and sing the song. I've made song posters to use for various games throughout the year and I'll make 2 piles: Songs We Know & Songs We Need to Learn. This will give me an idea of how long I'll need to spend on each song each month.

This is a great little time filler or fun for a sub throughout the year.

Next week we will do 'If I Listen With My Heart' (hard and heavy!)

Click HERE for the scrambled phrases.

Click HERE for the song posters.

My 2 song picks for April and June are: 'This Is My Beloved Son' CS page 76 and 'I'll Follow Him in Faith' from The Friend. If you'd like me to make you song posters for your 2 song picks, I'd be happy to. It only takes a few minutes. Just comment below and I'll get in touch with you. I will need an email address to send them to you. You can leave it in the comment or send it to me directly at shereerae@gmail.com

**I'VE HAD SO MANY EXTRA POSTER REQUEST. SO I ADDED 26 EXTRAS.
Click HERE to see more.
Just download, pick the ones you need, then print them.