Ideas---Sister Goodrich Style

Alright, so I have been having way to much fun with my church calling the past few weeks and I thought I'd share some of my ideas. I get some from other sources and just put my own twist on them and others are mine.

I mostly use this first one for Nursery, but I did try it out on Junior for a 'wiggle' song and they got a kick out of it.

If you chance to meet a frown.

Do not let it stay.

Quickly turn it upside down and

smile that frown away.

All I used was a foam board, felt, scissors and a glue gun and just free styled it.

To practice this song I gave them all a Popsicle stick of a different color and they were only allowed to sing their own color. It helps them learn the words really well and I had them switch sticks and sing it over and over with out them tiring of the same song. Worked great!

This idea was random. I borrowed a chair from the clerks office and played "SPIN" the child. I spun them until they stopped and on the floor surrounding the chair were apples. Each apple had a song title taped the the bottom.

Sorry, lame picture for this. I would have demonstrated with myself if I had put on make up today. I took words from each song and chose a child to come up. I taped a WORD slip to their forehead and we had to sing the song leaving OUT that word. They had to figure out what it was. For Junior primary (non readers) I had them leave the room to reveal the word to everyone.

This idea was a GEM! I searched for the perfect hat. We sang through the songs we needed to work on and which ever class sung the best their teacher GOT to wear the hat. It was a hoot.

Here is Caden strutting his stuff with the hat. He plays at our home a few days a week and we love having him.

Oh yes and I forgot to mention IF everyone sings fantastic I told them our Primary President has to wear the hat. Hasn't happened yet, but it will I am sure.

I got my next idea from this blog. We sang Families can be Together Forever and then I introduced them to my Little Family. I covered them up with a blanket and during the song I took one out, hid it in my bag and they had to figure out WHO was missing. With Senior Primary we ended up with nearly 20 little people and it was pretty tricky business. I would take out more than one and I even had little Elders.

So you know I live in FOOTBALL town. Well, not only are the adults HUGE fans, but so are the children. We played OU Primary Football the beginning of football season. I downloaded the fight song on ITUNES and every time they earned a touch down by singing well I played it and the kids went wild. Ok, so it was not the most reverent activity but hey it got them to SING! The former chorister brought a big tote of OU gear for the kids to wear, ref jerseys, Dr. stuff, cheer leaders and I wore my OU hat too.

With Senior Primary our President thought up trivia questions for them to decide turns.

My last and most successful activity I got the idea from my awesome Sister-in-law Michele. We played Minute to Win it games.

I planned a whole bunch and during music time I chose a child to come up, they played the game. We timed them. If they WON the game in a minute they got to choose a song from our program list, if they LOST, I got to pick.

We played:

Kick a shoe and have it land on a table.

Bounce a ping pong ball and have it land on bread with peanut butter.

Make a tower with plastic cups. (One handed.)

Penne Pasta with a spaghetti Noodle

Pick up white paper sacks off the floor with your mouth.

Put together a puzzle cut out of a cereal box all in the same shape.

Pull a penny out of panty hose.

....and MORE. I forget off the top of my head.

I got the games. from the Minute to Win site. The kids ate it up and I still hear from many parents how awesome they all thought it was. :)

I'll say it again, I love my calling....yes all the silly-ness is fun. But I adore all the Primary songs. Each of them teach such amazing principles and gospel truths. They have been apart of my life in many ways. Just the other night I was trying to calm a crying baby to sleep and I sang him a Child's Prayer and instantly he quieted down.

Last Sunday we had an extra minute and I let them sing "Scripture Power". Holy cow, now does that song ever have some real power to it. First of all my kids sing it to their hearts content, they thrust those Book of Mormons in the air and boom, there I was standing in front of them unable to see any of their faces because my eyes were filled with tears.

I love the gospel. I know it is true! Nothing brings the spirit more into my life than music and I am indeed grateful for that.

PS. General Conference is tomorrow! Yay!