A Minute To Win It

Or..."30 Seconds To Win It".  After all, I only have 20 precious minutes for music time (and sometimes less), so every second counts!

It's the last Sunday of the month which means review time, and even more exciting, we have now learned ALL the program songs. Woohoo! *Pat yourself on the back and take a bow.*

So, game show fanatic that I am (I actually tried to get on Millionaire a few times), we are going to play A Minute To Win It, except I am cutting each game to 30 seconds to save time. I will be modifying each game so that they can be done in 30 seconds.

A Minute To Win It

 
You will need:

A stop watch or a clock or watch of any kind with a second hand.

Choose as many A Minute To Win It games as you have songs to review. You can make up your own or go to the official A Minute To Win It website and choose from all the games posted there. These are my picks:

• Back Flip
• Bite Me
• By A Thread
• Shoe Fly Shoe
• Candelier
• Chocolate Unicorn (but I will use something non-edible)
• On The Hook
• Breakfast Scramble

Write each Minute To Win It game on a strip of paper and place in a hat/fishbowl/gift-box.

 Gather all the supplies you will need for each game.

Write all the review songs (or draw a simple picture for each song) on the chalk/white board.

How to play:

Assign each class the task of choosing one contestant from their class. It could be a child or a teacher.

Each contestant comes to the front of the room and chooses a slip of paper from the hat/fishbowl/gift-box with one of the games listed on it. The contestant plays that game for their class. If they are able to complete the task in less than one minute (or in my case, 30 seconds) then the contestant chooses which program/review song to sing from the list of songs on the chalk/whiteboard. If they loose then I get to choose the review song to sing.

Explain to the children that there must be complete silence while the game is being played (no cheering or jeering) in order that the contestant has complete concentration....which will greatly aid in keeping a more reverent atmosphere!


Have fun!

WOW!

Have you seen the Primary Program Outline for 2011? Wow! My presidency handed it to me today, and I fell in love. I have been the primary chorister for three years...this is my fourth program year. I'll be so, so sad if I get released before the 2011 program!

Singing Bee

Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of a five Sunday month, which means the children know the song I am teaching (Have I Done Any Good?) quite well, and we are ready to have some fun with it!

I know others have posted this, I am not sure of the original source. It's definitely a favorite of mine. 

Singing Bee

You will need:

• A microphone, or even a hairbrush microphone if you have a small primary. I have a little karaoke player that would work too, but I like to use a regular microphone that plugs into the room's PA system.  I just check it out from the ward library. Set up your microphone on a microphone stand at the front of the room, short...for little ones.

To play:
Say the children, "Raise your hand if you know the words to Have I Done Any Good?, really, really well." Then ask,  "If you would like to sing a solo today from the song, Have I Done Any Good?, using the microphone, please raise your hand." Lots of children in my primary usually raise their hands, but that is because there are about 100 children (divided between jr. and sr.). So I choose from one class at a time. I start with the youngest class, the 3-4 year olds, and choose four or five of them to come up to the front with me, and stand in a line behind the microphone. (I have that many come up at a time to cause less commotion, and we can whip through things faster than calling them up one at a time).

Explain to the children,"We will all start singing the song together. When I cut everyone off, like this: (show them what your "cut off" is like, and of course, be dramatic!) we'll all stop singing, but whoever is at the microphone gets to sing the next phrase of the song all by themselves using the microphone, and then they return to their seat."

Sometimes a child at the microphone is scared and can't sing, or doesn't know the words at all! This is when I sing it with them, or whisper sing the next phrase in their ear, and they repeat it into the microphone. I encourage all the children to clap for each child, (and I say "Yaaaaay!" and clap) after they have done their solo.

After the 3-4 year olds have taken their turn, I move on to the next older class.

It's a lot of fun, especially hearing these young voices sing out! It's also a great way to find out who might be willing to sing a solo or sing in a group for the Sacrament Meeting Presentation.

Have Fun!

Saturday Night Specials

Haha..new category...."Saturday Night Specials" (SNS). This is a category for anyone who has had a week like mine. CrAzY cRaZy CrAzInEsS! It will be listed under "All the Stuff" in the column on the right (scroll down) that will have ideas that can be put together in a flash!

So here I am at 11:59 PM on a Saturday night, no not the first time. I'm tired. I still have dishes to do. I have been going strong since the dog woke me up at 6:30 this morning, and now? Finally...sit down here and ....*deep breath*...I am ready to begin working on Primary. Oh, it's Ward Conference tomorrow, for me, too. We are going to have a blast with the stake leaders there.


The first SNS is great idea that that I have done previously, and The Crazy Chorister also has a good version of this game.

Stump the Chorister/Teacher

Preparation:
Gather together a bunch of dress up props.

These are the things I have:

1. a parasol (or use an umbrella)
2. old leather hat
3. tiara
4. thin plastic rain slick
5. soccer shin guard
6. lei
7. glove
8. huge toy sunglasses
9. kimono
10. flashing jack o' lantern necklace
11. scarf
12. bandanna
13. sarong
14. fanny pack
15. neck pillow
16. woman's wig
17. snorkeling goggles
18. straw hat

I have put them in my special green bag:

*Side note: My grandmother made this bag for me when I was about 13. When the children see me walk into the chapel before church meetings begin with this simple drawstring bag, the excitement is audible. They get exited because I use it for all kinds of fun games and activities. I can hear them say, "Look Mom! Sister Patterson brought the green bag!" Oh, how I love this calling.*

To Play:
You will need a bunch of questions to ask the teachers and/or leaders in the room. Or you can have the teachers write question to stump you. My questions will be focused on service because we are singing Have I Done Any Good? for the month of August, and I will be trying to stump the teachers.  

I will ask ask a teacher from each class one of my questions. If they answer correctly, I have to wear an object from my green bag. If they answer incorrectly, or they don't know the answer, they have to wear an object from my green bag. After they have given their answer, a child from their class reaches into the bag and removes the item to be worn. (Naturally, I don't want to end up wearing everything in the bag, so I am going to try to make my questions difficult, and hopefully some are ridiculously impossible!) The teacher or I puts on the item while we all sing one of the verses or the chorus of the song. We will alternate verses, then the chorus, with each turn.

So here's my list of questions that will be drawn at random:

1. Where did Sister Bagley serve her mission?
2. How many school kits did our primary complete at our activity day? 
3. Where is the scripture "Choose ye this day...we will serve the Lord." found?
4. Complete the phrase: There are chances for work all around just now, ____________ _____ __ ___ ___.
5. What might pass by in the phrase "Do not let them pass by?"
6. Guess how many words make up the song? You have three seconds.
7. Where did Bishop Allred serve a mission?
8. What is the highest note we sing in Have I Done Any Good? Guess.
9. What is the last phrase of the song? 
10. (Show a picture from the flip chart of Have I done any Good?): Recite the phrase in the song that goes with this picture.
11. In 30 seconds or less name how many times the word "today" is sung?
12. In 30 seconds or less name how many times the word "I" is sung?
13. Complete the phrase "Only he who does something helps others to live, __ __ ___ ____ ____ ____ __ _____."
14. What is wrong with this phrase: "Has anyone's burden been brighter today because I was willing to share?"
15. Who wrote the words to Have I Done Any Good?
16. Who was the first person to sing this song? (A: I have no idea.)
17. Recite the second verse
18. Recite the chorus in a language other than English.

Have Fun!

Have I Done Any Good? Week 2

Plans for Sunday's singing time include teaching the second verse to Have I Done any Good?. I'll be using my flip chart and discussing each phrase with the children, and I'll be explaining the graphics from the flip chart, such as "Love's labor has merit alone", etc.

Nothing earth-shattering...just lots of repetition and singing and having a good time!

Thanks for stopping in...and while you are here, be sure to answer my poll on the right ------------------------>


Have fun!