Reviewing/Mastering Songs for the Primary Program

When it gets close to the time for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation, the kids might be getting sick of singing those same few songs over and over.  But you need to keep doing it, and here are 4 ways that make it SO fun for them:

1. Song Doctor: wear a stethoscope or other Dr props.  Your Primary Program songs are the “patients” coming in for a checkup (I have a picture or title printed for each song).  Make a posterboard hospital and a big band-aid.  We "check out the patient" (sing the song), then diagnose what it needs (volume, words, etc).  We take the really sick songs to the hospital, the slightly sick songs to the band-aid, and the healthy songs go home.  Next week we work on our sick songs.  This is a good way to assess which songs need more work, without making the children feel like they are the ones doing a bad job if they don't sing it well.

2. Cut the Tie: Invite a member of the bishopric to visit and give him an old tie to wear.  Tell him the kids are going to sing songs for him today.  Tell the kids that if they sing well, they get to cut a chunk of his tie off and keep it!  Have him play along and say, “No! Don’t sing well!” Pick a different kid who gets to keep the piece of tie for each song (you actually do the cutting and give the piece to that kid).  If they sing bad, cut only a tiny piece off.  You will be amazed at how well they sing!

3. Song Cookies: wear an apron, conduct songs with a mixing spoon, spatula, or oven mitt.  Each program song is a different ingredient. (For example, say you need to add 2 cups of 'He Sent His Son,' and have a note on the bag of flour that says 'He Sent His Son.')  They have to sing that song well in order to mix that ingredient in.  You will really find out how well they know each song because they want their cookies to taste good!  Then give the dough to a presidency member to “bake.”  (have already-baked cookies on a sheet).  While she is gone, you can work on any songs that need help.   We do this every September, but you will need the whole 35 minutes for this one (Singing time plus Sharing time).  Our presidency has always been happy to oblige.  This is always the children's favorite singing time of the year.  We even made gluten-free cookies one year!

4. Cell phone caller: Have someone outside call your phone and ask for one of the children (have it on speaker phone).  The person asks that child if the primary could please sing them [program song].  We sing it and the caller says thank you and hangs up.  Then you act like you’re going to start singing time again but they call again, asking for a different kid and requesting a different song.  This continues until all the program songs are sung or singing time is over.  The kids love it!