Singing Time this past week...

I have been running out of ideas for singing time for Primary at church. I needed some new ideas to keep the kids interested so they would want to sing better, especially with our Sacrament Meeting Presentation coming up. I found a blog that had some ideas. I took the idea and adapted it to our Primary. We have such a young Primary that it makes it difficult. The older kids aren't there to "pull" the younger kids through.

This is what I made to help with that. (You can click the picture to enlarge it.)

Two weeks ago I gave a homework assignment of practicing the songs to the kids . They would have to complete the assignment during singing time and then they would be "tested."

To complete the assignment, I printed out the names of the songs on individual papers and placed them in individual folders. I placed the folders in a backpack. Whoever was singing well got to come up and choose a folder out of the backpack. The song in the folder is what we sang next. I even had them practice standing and sitting.

After that I pulled out the "Report Card". I wanted it reusable in future years or whenever I have this calling again in life. I created it with the space for nine songs with up to three verses per song. Once I had the spacing and the verses info listed I laminated the two boards (with Josh's help of course). Then I printed out the name of the song and found a picture to go with each one. I taped that in the song section. Then I printed out A, B, C, D & A+ - about 12 of each, cut them apart and laminated those (with a regular laminating machine). I put Velcro on the board at each verse and then put some on the back of each letter grade. When I am done this year I can just pull off the song name & picture and save the boards for another year.

So the kids then "tested" their song for a grade. They stood, sang the song and sat back down. I had the Primary Presidency and some of the teachers help me "grade" them. I will keep the board up and every week that we practice and review these nine songs they have the opportunity to increase their grade. At that time I will just switch out the grade on the board. Our goal is obviously to have A+ across the board for the Presentation.

It was a huge success. The kids are excited to have it come out again this week!!!!

I am excited about this week. I asked a member of our Bishopric to help me. He gladly accepted. He just doesn't know yet what he is doing. Once I do my idea I will post the result and let you know how it turned out. It will be hilarious - can we take pictures during Primary?? I would love to do that, especially with the activity that I have planned. Stay tuned for next week...