Teaching: Hand Signs

Teaching a new song can be a challenge....especially when you have 50-100 little ones and "big kids" squiggling around in their seats or talking while you try to teach them. No matter how many ideas I see or come up with this is THE ONE that always works. It also is the one that ALWAYS works best. I always have high hopes of finding something different and better; I hate the idea of always introducing and teaching a song in the same way. After more than a decade, I have decided, though, that "they" might be right when "they" say: if it isn't broken, don't fix it. I will add that I like to use this idea in conjunction with other teaching methods, though. I usually use this idea, along with directed listening, to introduce the song and get all the words "out there" and then move on to another teaching method to really get into the song and its meaning.

This is a basic idea. Come up with a hand sign to go with each key word or small phrase in the song. You can also learn the actual sign language and teach that to the children. Either way, this method works because it gets their bodies moving, keeps them thinking, and solidifies the words with an action. I think this method is a step above the "picture method" for initial teaching because the kids can practice and use the actions anytime, anywhere; they don't need you to continally supply the pictures.

There are ways to add a little variety to this method. If you are like me and need to switch things up, try using different motivational tools or challenges for the kids as they are learning and reviewing the words and hand signs. Some examples:

• Sing each small phrase and challenge the kids to come up with an appropriate action


• Take pictures of different children doing each action as you sing through the song. You can use this in the following weeks as a "homemade" flip chart. The kids will love it!


• Hum the key words as you sign them, sing all the other words


• Only sing the key words you sign, hum all the other words


• Place a bunch of "directed listening" questions in a can and let the kids answer the questions as they learn and practice the words and sigsn for each phrase


• Play "around the world" by letting the kids face a different direction for each phrase they learn/sing. This means you will be moving around a lot!


• Have a singular goal to measure how much of the song they have learned. This can be a picture they color in as each phrase is learned, filling a vase with colored water, etc.

Last note on this topic: I have learned that kids don't get bored with this idea. You might, but they dont'.

Happy Singing!

Game: Dot To Dot

This classic activity can be adapted to your singing time to provide great fun and learning! First you will have to create a dot-to-dot picture or use one that you might find in the friend. I would suggest choosing a picture that fits with the prinicple(s) discussed in the song you are reviewing and can be completed in 1 or 2 Sundays. You can use the site http://www.picturedots.com/ to create a puzzle out of any picture you can find on the internet. Each dot on this picture will be numbered so the kids know where to go next. Each dot/number will also be assigned a particular word in the song that you want the kids to practice saying and singing.

To play the game, invite a child to come up and make the line from #1 to #2, and so forth. Each time the line is made, the children will discover what the word is. Discuss the word and its meaning. The children will then have to sing the song and stop at the word you just discussed. The key is to challenge them to watch you for the cut off because you will want to direct them to hold that word/note out for 3 or more counts. This is a great opportunity to use a puppet to highlight watching....have the kids watch the mouth of the puppet to know when their mouth should be opened or closed. You can make a game of it if you like. The goal is just to get the kids to really practice singing those difficult words and cement them in their brains.

If I were using this game for Praise to the Man, I would choose words such as: annointed, commune, crowned, dispensation, etc. To add a little excitement you might also want to include some fun motivational tools for the children to use each time they sing the song. Just be careful that the motivation does not overshadow the words they are working on.

This game is very effective for repeating songs, but if you want to use it as a choose and review, you can just pick words from different songs and follow the same rules. If you do this, I suggest choosing songs that all revolve around the theme for the month and select key words that support and review that theme.

Happy Singing!!

Games: Crossword Puzzle

I was reminded of this fantastic game last Sunday when I saw the chorister in my ward using it. Create a crossword puzzle for the kids to fill in as they either repeat a song or choose and review a list of songs. You can create a crossword puzzle using www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/.

If you are reviewing a song, you can use definitions of key words as your clues. This works great for challenging songs like "Praise To the Man". Each time they successfully answer a clue you can write the word on the puzzle and then have the kids sing the phrase that word is found in. You can also have the kids sing through the entire song, or a portion of it omitting that particular word. Be sure to review the meaning with the kids as you review different challenging words.

If you are using this game as a choose and review, you can have each clue describe a particular gospel concept or principle and then sing a correlating song. This idea could work great for a 4th or 5th Sunday. If I were using it for the 5th Sunday in May I might choose words that remind us of the restored church. Such words might be: prophet, sacrament, priesthood, Book of Mormon. This is a great way to review the principles the kids learned during the month.

Choose and Review: Memory revisited

I just saw our ward Primary Chorister use this technique this last Sunday. She had the kids play the typical Memory game with GAK pictures. As is always the case, she had a song selected for each match the kids found.

I really liked what she did after each match. She challenged the class that found the match to describe what was happening in the picture. Each picture depicted a scene from the last week of Jesus' life. When all the matches were found she challenged the entire primary to put the events in order.

I thought this singing time was a great example of encouraging application and understanding, as we are asked to do by our leaders. I also thought it was a great example of a successful activity that does not require the "fluff" we sometimes feel we must add to our singing times. I think it is always important to remember that we are trying to help the children to feel the Spirit, and build their knowledge and testimonies of the Gospel. This activity did just that while allowing the children to review the songs they have been learning this year and those that support the Easter season.

Choose and Review: Picture Display

In this choosing method the kids get to pick objects that are set out on a table, placed in gift bags, spread out around the room....basically put out in whatever fashion you choose. Each object represents a song that you have chosen to sing that day. You can also assign a scripture (found at the bottom of each song) and/or GAK picture to go with each object to add even more meaning. All you do is have a child choose an object and then you either tell them the song they will sing or challenge them to guess the songs from the scripture you read or possibly clues you give them.

If I were using this idea on Sunday, I would center it around the Easter theme. Here is a sample of possibilities:

1. Nails: Did Jesus Really Live Again? 3 Nephi 11:11, 14


2. Rock: He Died That We Might Live Again John 15:13


3. Bell: Hosanna D & C 19:37


4. White Robe: Easter Hosanna 3 Nephi 11:8


5. Heart: I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus John 13:15


6. Star/Flower: When He Comes Again Matthew 16:27


7. CTR Ring: The Church of Jesus Christ D & C 115:4-5

Depending on the song, I would also provide a motivational tool while the children sing to keep them focused. I would probably refrain from these tools on a few of the songs that call for more reverence and respect.

I would also be prepared to help the children remember the words on some of the songs they may not sing as often. In the case of "Hosanna" and "Easter Hosanna" I might just have the kids sing the chorus or the bell part while they listen to the other words. The most important part of these songs is the message and Spirit that they will surely feel whether they are singing or listening. It is also a great way to expose them to some of those songs that they don't get the opportunity to learn or listen to as often.

Misc Ideas: Asking Questions

I love asking the kids questions and soliciting participation throughout singing time. It is one way to keep the kids focused, excited, and involved. It took me a few years, though, to figure out that if I just asked the kids a question, they would all shout out their answers. In Junior Primary that answer is almost always "Jesus!"...luckily they are correct a lot of the time. I finally learned that I needed to give them more directions and expectations before the question was asked. I needed to give them a way to let me know they had an answer without allowing them to say it aloud.

I learned to make it very clear how I wanted them to show me they wanted to answer. I also learned to preface any question with the direction to "keep your mouths closed" and "think the answer in your brain". I then would give them a way to use their "helper hands" (I love those things!) to show me they had an answer. Some examples of where to put their helper hands are: nose, ear, head, tummy. Basically I tried to pick a body part that would be easy to touch and not cause them to move too much and be distracted. I also found that it worked really well to direct all helper hands to the mouth the first few times of doing this. This helps to remind them to have closed mouths and only think the answer. If you think Senior Primary is too old for "helper hands", just omit that title for their hands.

Once the kids are showing you they are ready to answer it is time to pick one (or more) kids to say their answer aloud. I usually do this (especially when first introducing this technique) by saying, "Mary, your helper hands are telling me that you have an answer". This helps to reinforce the idea and praises the reverent behavior instead of reminding another child to not shout out their answer. Those kids who always shout out the answer will eventually pick up on the expectation and thier teacher will usually help them remember as well. The final piece to this technique occurs after you have chosen one or more children to give the answer(s). You have to thank all the children for thinking and saying their answers and invite them to put their helper hands back in their laps.

I use this technique all the time and have found that it helps to promote and increase reverence and participation much more than saying "shhhhhhhh","don't shout out the answer", "quietly raise your hands if..." and other such phrases commonly used in sharing and singing times. In print the idea of helper hands may seem silly and simple, but I promise it works. I have gotten to help out in many primaries and have had reverent participation and success with it. Give it a try!

Happy Singing!

Choose and Review: Spell It Out

Assigning songs to specific letters of a particular word is a great way to incorporate a variety of songs in your singing time and create a complimentary singing lesson to the sharing time and theme of the month. In April the theme is: Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Of course theme lends itself to words like "Jesus", "Savior", "Redeemer", and "Christ". I took a look at the different weekly themes and found that in Week 2, sharing time focused on "Jesus Christ is the perfect example for me". I decided to go with that idea and chose to use the word "PERFECT". Of course you can use any type of letters you want. I have some magnetic letters pictured, but you can also use larger letters made out of paper, posterboard, or even fabric....whatever you have at home. Here is how this singing time might look:

1. Place your letters around the room before the children enter the room in whatever fashion you wish.


2. Use an attention-getter to introduce the theme for the day. In my case I might go with the idea given in the 2011 Outline for Week #2. It suggests singing "Do As I'm Doing" to introduce the idea of following Jesus because he is the only perfect person that ever lived.


3. Invite the children to look around the room and search for the letters you have left out and explain that each letter represents one way we can follow Jesus' example.


4. Invite a child to select a letter. Once selected, reveal the word it stands for. Briefly discuss this word and then sing an applicable song. This is where you have the freedom to choose songs you want the children to work on or songs you feel they don't sing as often. It's up to you!

• P = Prayer, "A Child's Prayer/If I Listen With My Heart/I Kneel To Pray


• E = Example (to others), "Dare To Do Right"


• R = Read (read the scriptures), "Scripture Power"/"Book of Mormon Stories"


• F = Faith, "Faith"


• E = Everyone ( love everyone), "Jesus Said Love Everyone"/"Love One Another"


• C = Caring, "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus"/"I'll Walk With You"


• T = Teacher, "Called to Serve"/any of the Articles of Faith

5. Once all the letters have been selected you have two options. For Junior Primary you can either challenge them to figure the word out or spell the word for them and then discuss its relevance to Jesus. In Senior Primary I would challenge them to spell the word and then tell you that it has to do with Jesus.

6. Close with a scripture and your testimony

Modifications/Tips/Tricks:

• As always, you can try to involve more children (especially in JP) by challenging them to find a particular letter. They can use their "helper hands" to point to the letter once they find it and then you can go get it. If you use a different color for each letter, you can help the little ones by challenging them to find the "Red E" since they may not know their letters just yet.


• You can give the Senior Primary a little more freedom with the songs if you choose. Once the letter is found and selected invite the children to think of a song that applies to the word you discuss for that letter. You can also challenge them to come up with a word for each letter. This method also encourages understanding.


• To encourage application, invite the children to think of one way they can follow Jesus for each word you discuss.


• If you need to extend this singing time, you can assign a scripture to each word to help explain and discuss the concept further.


• You can use a variety of motivational tools for each song the children sing. This can help to keep their attention and excitement. Tools can include: slinky, glowing bulb, singing signs designating who sings, stop/go. Keep in mind that the tools should not distract from the message and spirit of the song.