Spinning Chair Challenge

The idea for what I'm going to do this coming Sunday (1/29) also comes from the Primary Music Notes blog. However, instead of spinning a teacher on the chair, I'll have one child spin another child. Here's how it works:

To start, get a swivel chair (perhaps borrowed from the clerk's office) and the numbers 1 through 12 placed around it like a clock. Draw 2 children's names with choosing sticks - One to sit in the chair and another to do the spinning. The kid on the chair puts his/her legs out like a spinner. When the piano music starts the child gets to spin the teacher matching the tempo of the song. My pianist does a great job with this, really mixing it up. When the piano stops so does the spinning. Wherever his/her feet land is what number card is picked up.

Each card has a different question or singing challenge. Some examples:

1. Sing first verse and chorus of As A Child of God.
2. Fill in the blanks: I feel so _____ and _______because...
3. How do good choices bless your family?

I think you get the idea. The great thing about this activity is that it works for any song.

Choose Your Journey

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the Primary chorister for our ward forever so I thought I'd better catalog ideas and activities I do each month for future reference. I couldn't do this calling without everyone else's blogs to lift ideas from, so please know that most of what you'll see here is not my original ideas.

Yesterday's singing time came from Jodi's blog. It's called Choose Your Journey and the kids had a lot of fun with it. I told the kids we would be going on a journey together and that they got to "choose" what and where we would be going. Since we've been working on As a Child of God for a few weeks now, this was a great review game.

I wrote what choices were going to be made for our journey ahead of time on the chalkboard and wrote the choices on small pieces of paper. I put them in 5 small bowls. After the primary kids sang a verse of the song well enough, I picked a child from my choosing sticks and he/she got to reach into the bowl. I then wrote on the board which choice was drawn.

Choice #1: WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO?
Choices: The Beach, Disneyland, The Dentist

Choice #2: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO PACK?
Choices: Toothbrush, Piano, Mayonnaise

Choice #3: WHO ARE WE GOING TO TAKE WITH US?
Choices: Our pet, Our Primary Teacher, The Boogey Man

Choice #4: HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?
Choices: Jump on a pogo-stick, Fly, Pull A Handcart

Choice #5: HOW LONG WILL WE STAY THERE?
Choices: 5 minutes, 5 hours, Forever

Both Jr. and Sr. Primary had a great time with this game and played it through twice, with different journeys each time. A great singing activity for ANY song!