Disguise theTurkey!

This is an idea that originated on sugardoodle.net. But instead of using a clip-art turkey, I'll be using one of the teachers.
In my case, we are reviewing the song Scripture Power, which we learned last week. I plan on going over all the words to the song, then singing the song once, before beginning this game.

Disguise the Turkey!

You will need:

•  Props to make the chosen victim teacher a turkey. I found a great turkey mask here, and shown below is an idea for a pilgrim hat I am going to place on my "turkey's" head (I am thinking, ice cream bucket + paper sack + belt with buckle):

• Items to diguise your "turkey", such as a wig, trench coat, large sunglasses, umbrella, gloves, etc. I think I'll add a sign that says "I'm not a turkey!" to hang around the neck.
• Nest: bean bag chair for the turkey to sit in.
• Phrases of the song you are going to review on slips of paper, or a list of thanksgiving songs each written on slips of paper, or ways to sing songs written on slips of paper. Attach a slip of paper to each disguise item. (I will be attaching the cards shown below, which you can download for free *Aaack! I love free stuff* over at Divine Secrets of a Primary Chorister LOVE these, I use them all the time!)

How to Play

• Choose which teacher will play the "turkey". Maybe do this by having all the children sing a phrase of the song, and whichever class sings the most ideally, then their teacher is chosen. 
• Put the turkey mask and the pilgrim hat on the teacher, then have them sit on the beanbag chair. 
• Say something like: "Boys and girls, this is our Thanksgiving Turkey, Brother ________. How old are you Brother ________?" (He answers 42.)  "FORTY TWO! Wow! You have been escaping being cooked for Thanksgiving dinner for forty-two years? What's your secret?" (Wait for response.) "Boys and girls, I think I know how to keep Brother __________ from getting cooked this year, too. Lets put a disguise on him!"
• Explain that you have brought several items that would disguise a turkey, and that each disguise has a note pinned on it, telling us how we are going to sing our song today (or which phrase, song of gratitude will be sung).
• Call up a child to choose one of the disguises to be placed on the teacher, then sing the song, phrase or style that is written on the paper.

Have Fun!

Scripture Power

 Fifty-four days ago my Primary Presidency issued a challenge to the Primary children, as well as all members of the ward, to read the Book of Mormon in 90 days. And guess what, we are doing it! Families are doing it! Friends are doing it! Individuals are doing it! I am doing it!

The primary President asked me to teach the children Scripture Power, so that the children will be prepared to sing it at the Ward Christmas Party in December, or a Sacrament Meeting special musical number, or both.

Here is flip chart I a made: Scripture Power.pdf
Open it, print it, two sided, on white card-stock. Laminate, then bind it on the left side.
 
 

I will be teaching it this coming Sunday. Nothing fancy or difficult to do; I'll just be explaining the words and how they relates to each picture in the flip chart. Then we'll sing each phrase, put them all together, and voila! Done! This is a fantastic song. Its going to be a good time!

Have fun!

Truth or Consequences

Last Sunday was my ward’s Sacrament Meeting Program, and wow, it was awesome! The children really out-did themselves in volume, reverence and following my lead. Being the primary chorister is certainly a rewarding calling! 

Since this Sunday is the last Sunday in October, I want to do something relaxed and fun. No pressure to sing well or learn music; just relax and enjoy the music, and play an old game called:

Truth or Consequences!

Truth or Consequences is a game show from the 50’s and 60’s.  Here is a random episode I found on youtube.  HILARIOUS!

( To see part 2 click on the video, you will see a link to it over at youtube.com)  

Now, here's my spin on the game show for Primary Music Time:

Truth or Consequences!

You will need:

• List of songs and Easy/Hard questions
• White board or chalk board to keep score
• Buzzer or bell for when time is up
• Basketball hoop or anything that can be used to score a point (bean bags/laundry basket, Nerf balls and a bucket, etc.)

Here is a picture of the basketball hoop I use. The kids LOVE it. It's really difficult to make a shot, but very fun to try! I bought it at a craft expo:

More stuff you will need...props for challenges:

• dice
• bubbles
• harmonica
• lei for hula
• maracas

I have a list of fun songs to sing that all the children know well. I’ll explain that the teachers will be on one team, and the primary children on the other team. A teacher and a child (from the same class) will come to the front to play at the same time, and I’ll have a question for each of them. Whoever gets the question correct will get a point, plus the opportunity to shoot hoops for additional points while we sing the song (one point per goal). But if they get the answer wrong, they have to do a challenge while we sing the song, and they will not get any points.

What the teachers will soon discover is that I will only ask them ridiculous and impossible questions that they will never be able to answer (I hope). I’ll give the teacher 3- 5 seconds to answer before I sound the buzzer (or bell or whatever). Next I’ll ask the child an extremely easy question about the song, and of course, they will get it right! Since the teacher got the question wrong, he or she will choose a consequence card and do whatever it says as the song is sung. At the same time the child who answered correctly will try to score as many extra points as they can by shooting hoops while we sing. Be sure to write the score on the white or chalk board!

Songs and Questions

·         I Am Like a Star    163

o   Easy: Do the stars mostly shine in the day or in the night?

o   Hard: What are the four main types of galaxies? (spiral, elliptical, lenticular, and irregular)

·         I Hope They Call Me on a Mission   169

o   Easy: Where did somebody you know serve a mission?

o   Hard: From 1923 until 1925 David O. McKay served as president of what church mission? (European)

·         We’ll Bring the World His Truth   172

o   Easy: Who teaches you the truth?

o   Hard: Janice Kapp Perry wrote this song. Whay year was she born? (1938)

·         Rain is Falling      241

o   Easy: Raindrops are made of __________?

o   Hard: The earth's total amount of water has a volume of how many million cubic miles. (About 344)

·         Popcorn Popping   242

o   Easy: In this song, what does one see when looking out the window?

o   Hard: Popcorn is a type of maize (or corn), a member of the grass family. What is the scientific name for popcorn? (Zea mays everta)

·         Once There Was a Snowman   249

o   Easy: What happens to a snowman when the sun gets hot?

o   Hard: Slightly wet snow has a weight of how many pounds per cubic foot? (15)

·         Smiles   267

o   Easy: Name something that makes you smile!

o   Hard: When a person studies laughter they are known as a ___________? (gelotologist)

·         Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes   275

o   Easy: In the song, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, what do we touch first?

o   Hard: Sailors once thought that wearing this would improve their eyesight. (a gold earring)

·         Hinges  277

o   Easy: Show us two hinges that make your body bend.

o   Hard: Name three kinds of joints in the human body. (Hinge joints allow movement in one direction, as seen in the knees and elbows. Pivot joints allow a rotating or twisting motion, like that of the head moving from side to side. Ball-and-socket joints allow the greatest freedom of movement. The hips and shoulders have this type of joint, in which the round end of a long bone fits into the hollow of another bone.)

·         The Wise Man and the Foolish Man   281

o   Easy: When the rain comes down, what happens to the flood?

o   Name the three basic types of rock. (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic)

Challenges:

• shake maracas during the song
• blow bubbles during the song
• become a statue during the song
• do opposite actions to the song
• during the song  pantomime the story of the song
• tap dance as the song is sung
• during the song, crouch low to the low notes and stand tall and reach for the sky on the high notes. 
• play the harmonica during the song
• do the hula during the song
• do the chicken dance during the song
  

Here is a PDF I put together for this activity:
 

Truth or Consequences.pdf

Click on the above link to open the file. Print the first three pages first (I did mine on cardstock), then flip the pages over so you can print pages 4-6 on the back side of the cards. Page 7 is a list of the songs and questions.
 

Have fun!

Yay!

It's finally here! The first of two Sundays before my ward's Children's Sacrament Meeting Program!

I love it, because I finally get to see the fruits our combined labors, as a member of the Primary board. Tomorrow both junior and senior primaries, (about 100 children) will rehearse the Children's Sacrament Meeting Program. All together. In the chapel.

Chaos?
No.

Pure de-light!

They know the songs.
They know their speaking parts.
Its a matter of logistics.

I get to pop up when its my turn, and turn up the volume! See the magic first-hand. Close my eyes and feel the chills and the Spirit. If the tears come I'll let them flow. The children are going to be awesome.

You know how everyone says that the Children's Sacrament meeting Program is their favorite Sunday of the year? Well, lucky me (and you too, assuming you are also a primary chorister), I get to experience it tomorrow, next Sunday, the following Saturday, AND performance day.
I love theses children. I love this calling! Its going to be awesome.