Charades and Spin the Human

This is so much fun.  I purchased these charade cards from "Green Jello With Carrots."  Click here.  I'm giving them a plug because they have such awesome stuff.

Here's how I used them:

I "laminated" them with clear contact paper.  Then I borrowed a swivel chair from the bishop's office, placed the cards face down all around the chair.  Then using my "choosing can" I picked kids to come sit in the chair.  With their legs straight out, I twirled the chair and whatever card was under their feet was the one the child could act out.  There are Reverent actions and Rowdy actions.  The primary kids were to guess what type of action was being portrayed.

I had brought a portable file box filled with a whole bunch of my songs and accompanying visuals.  The child then got to pick a file, and help with the visuals while we sang.  I usually am given more time on the 4th week, so we were able to get through about 7 songs.

*WARNING!  Make sure the child is holding onto the sides of the chair when twirling.  One little sunbeam twirled off the chair and halfway across the room!  Although quite hilarious, it took a while to get the kids calmed down (especially me!).  He wasn't hurt, but was laughing so hard he could hardly stand up.  Ahhhh Primary!

Stand For The Right - Audience Participation

When I was going to College, I eventually learned that I needed to employ each sensory tactic in order to really learn something.







 That means I needed to HEAR it (via professor), SEE it (via books & notes), WRITE it (re-writing and editing my notes), and SAY it
(yes, reciting out loud to myself).

This is why I love participation more than just standing there talking to kids and asking questions.  I know I find myself daydreaming in classes like that, at times....so it's a sure thing the kids do, too.

This week I'll divide the kids into four areas.  Each area will be assigned a rhythm method for their line of the song.  (i.e. clapping, snapping, leg slapping, foot pounding, etc.)  All to the beat.  It's in 3/4 time, so the rhythm is 1- 2 -3, 1- 2 -3, 1- 2 -3, etc.  After practicing their rhythms, I'll sing the words, and the kids can sing along as they feel ready.

So Area #1 will clap 1-2-3, 1-2-3,...while singing "Our Prophet has some words for you"

Area #2 will snap to the beat while singing "And these are the words, Be True, Be True"

Area #3 will hit their legs and sing, "At work or at play, in darkness or light"

Area #4 will pound their feet to the beat and sing, "Be True, Be True and Stand for the Right."  In which EVERYONE will STAND when the words, "Stand For the Right" are sung.  That way, everyone must pay attention.

After each area knows their own line, I'll have everyone sing the whole thing, changing rhythm methods as they sing each line.  It might be fun to have a child from each area come up and do the actions while everyone sings with them.....sort of a game to see who can go through the whole song without messing up.