"Rain Is Falling"

Is has been raining here.  And this made me break out my rain cloud.  I made this 10-12 years ago and so my directions on how to make it may be a little vague.  Also, the prop is not in perfect condition anymore, but I think it has held up pretty well considering its age! :)

Here is what it looks like.  It's pretty big in size (see measurements below) and you use it by sticking the nozzle of the spray bottle through the hole from the back and spraying.  

I use it as a wiggle song.  To get the children's attention first I usually walk around the room spraying the bottle.  If they are not paying attention, they sure will be when they feel the mist of water! (I use the mist setting on the bottle.)  Then I ask about it raining and if they saw, felt, heard the rain lately... Then I start to sing "Rain is Falling"  I usually have to sing it a couple times to get through the whole primary room.

 

 Here are the rough dimensions of the cloud and dowels used to hold it up.  I hand sketched a cloud from a poster board and then cut it out.  I then used a long dowel (just under .5" thickness) and cut it to fit the cloud.  I then hot glued the dowels to the poster board.  I also cut a hole to fit the nozzle through. (see dimensions above for my cloud)

 

 I also used hot glue around the edge of the hole so that the water would be repelled a bit and wouldn't warp the poster.  It has definitely done the trick!

 

For the front, I used batting.  I hot glued it on making sure to leave bumps and billows in the middle section to make it look fluffy.  Then trim around the edge and you have it- your own rain cloud!

Pick a Pumpkin

This is a fun Fall time game.  I am using it for a singing time around Halloween, but it could be used anytime in the Fall.  I have 12 mini pumpkins, but you could use paper pumpkins or fake ones.  Really anything pumpkin shaped would work! :)

I am using the 9 songs for the Children's Songbook that have been transposed into a minor key by the very talented Tifany Hoecherl.  She originally posted them a couple years back on the Facebook page for LDS Primary Choristers.  I asked her for permission to post them here, and she graciously agreed!  Thank you so much Tifany for your hard work!!!  She also wrote new lyrics for some of the songs.  You can decide what works for you,  the original lyrics or the new ones. :)

DO AS I'M DOING

FUN TO DO

HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES

HINGES

IF YOU'RE HAPPY

ONCE THERE WAS A SNOWMAN

POPCORN POPPING

RAIN IS FALLING ALL AROUND

SING A SONG

 Out of the 12 pumpkins, I put a star on the bottom of 3 of them.

 Next line up all 12 pumpkins and mix the 3 starred pumpkins in.

Call up a child to pick a pumpkin.  If they pick a pumpkin with a star, they get to pick the song (a treat!) and if they pick a non-star pumpkin then they get to play name that tune (a trick).  Have the pianist play a few notes of one of the songs in minor to see if the primary can guess it.  Then sing the song. This would be a fun opportunity to explain the difference between what major and minor sound like.

"Your Happy Birthday"

Another birthday idea!  

This birthday song is a favorite for the kids mostly because of the phrases:

ZIPP-A-DEE-AY

&

HEIGH-DEE-HO

Why not make those phrases even more fun?!?!?!

This idea is not mine... I found in via the Facebook group LDS Primary Choristers.  A very creative lady by the name of Sheryl came up with this and I knew I had to add it to our Primary's singing!  She provided smaller cards than I wanted, so I made my own and thought I would share...

Supplies:

plain wood box

plastic containers (you could use mason jars instead)

2 pinwheels

cake topper banner 

I painted the box white... or you could leave it plain.

I cut vinyl with the original phrases and my daughter painted them on :)

Next drill some holes to fit the dowels and sand the box to give it rustic feel.

You will need to print the phrases... These are the ones I am using (all thanks to Sheryl!) 

If you would like a copy you can find it

 here.

 

 There are 8 phrases for each original phrase.  I printed them on 2 different colors so I could keep track of which goes with which.  Each color pack goes in one of the 2 containers.

 

How to use:

The birthday child(ren) choose one phrase from each container. (So they choose 1 green and 1 pink card).  Each of those cards replace a part of the song.  See the picture below.  Sing the song like normal and just change the phrases when you get to them.

 I use the clip magnets  to put the phrases on the chalkboard because I have the birthday children do something else while we sing... I'll share that later... :)

Here is the front view:

 

Here is back:

I printed the first page in a 3x5 size and glued it to the back.

Enjoy!

"Hello Song" flags and stand

Hello, I welcome you today to this post!  

 Here is not a new idea for the

"Hello Song" (cs 260),

 but this is my take on it.

I have done the idea with flags from different countries for years. The gist of it is that you have different ways to say 'hello' in different languages.  Each flag represents their country and when the visitor chooses a flag, you sing that way in place of the 'hellos' in the song.

I recently decided to buy better quality flags and then I started thinking... I need something to display them.  The display stands online were too expensive, so I dug around the house and came up with a few pieces of wood and some tools, then got to work... 

This is how I made mine:

 I found the semi-circle piece of wood and then cut a board to match the same length of the base.  Then I drilled holes and drove screws to attach the wood together.

 Next I measured where I wanted to put the holes for the flags.  I ended up with 18 flags, but if I were to do it all again, I would get an odd number... it just looks more eye pleasing.  So instead I have one empty hole that I will need to fill with another flag someday. :)

 Next came the staining.  I used "Dark Walnut"... one of my favs...

 After the stain dried I cut vinyl lettering.  I used the vinyl as a stencil and painted these words onto the stand.

 For each flag I printed a label which then I wrapped around the flags' poles.  I reinforced the labels with clear packing tape so they won't peel off easily.
Here is a list of the countries and "hello" from each:

Australia good day (mate)		France bonjour  (bohn-zhoor)		Brazil bom dia  (bohn DEE-ah)		Germany guten tag  (gootan tag)
Israel shalom  (shuh-lohm)		Mexico hola   (OH-lah)		Denmark hej   (Hey)		South Korea anyoung  (ahn-YUNG)
Sweden god dag   (goo dahg)		Finland päivää   (PIE-vah)		Belgium hoi (hoy)		Netherlands hallo   (ha-lo)
China ni hao   (Nee HaOW)		United States hello/howdy/aloha		Czech Republic dobrý den  (dob-ree den)		Kenya Jambo  (jam-bo)
Japan konichi wa (Koh-NEE-cheewah)		India namaste (nuh-must-stay)

 And here is the finished product!  

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

"Our Primary Colors"

As a welcome song in Primary I love to use the song, 

"Our Primary Colors" (cs 258)

It is a song I grew up singing and I feel it's one I want the children to learn before leaving Primary! :)  

Here is what I use to sing the song...

 These flags in red, yellow, and blue are BIG!  They are made out of a rayon type material and the letters are felt.  This project was completely hot glued, but could be sewn as well.

The visitor (and sometimes other helpers if their are not enough visitors) hold up each of the flags.  And we sing the song.  

If the primary children don't know the song well enough yet, I print and attach the words found below to the pole of the corresponding colored flag.  

Feel free to print them and use them as well!

Another little fun thing I like to do is bring in a triangle to play.  If you listen to the song you will hear a triangle played every time a color is sung.  So every time we sing "red", "yellow", or "blue" I ring the triangle.  Fun and engaging for the children... I hope your primaries have a chance to learn this song as well!

"You've Had a Birthday!"

Birthdays are kind of one of my favorite things!  

Here is an idea for the song: 

"You've Had a Birthday" cs 285

 I have done this one for years and it's easy and fun!  I bought these megaphones from Party City.  

(note: when I bought them 6+ years ago they were $1.50 each... now they are $2.99. Boo... :(  

On a good note, they are very good quality and have held up great without fading or cracking.)

Here is what you do:

 Have the birthday child(ren) come up and choose a color megaphone.  

Then have them practice saying "Hooray!"  into the megaphone. 

 (Some are not as exuberant as others.  I sometimes have to give them a few practices... :)  

Explain when you point to them they get to say their part ("Hooray!")  with excitement because it is in fact their birthday and they have every right to be excited!  

Then we sing the song!

You've had a birthday; shout "Hooray!" 

(Singing and piano pause for the birthday child(ren) say in unison "Hooray!")
We want to sing to you today.

One year older (hold up 1 finger) and wiser, too,
Happy birthday (clap) to you.

I little bonus with these megaphones is that they already come with the word "SHOUT" on the side!  Now that's something to get excited about and definitely deserves a 'shout' out! 

No prep needed... HOO-RAY!

 

"If You're Happy" and You Know It!

I have been looking for a spinner to help with the song "If You're Happy" cs 266,  but I couldn't find one I really loved.  Sooooo I made one. :)  I used the pictures provided by the church in the sharing time outlines because I love their simplicity.  This is what I came up with!  Hope it helps someone else, but I know we are going to love it in our primary!

note: print this on 11x17 and then laminate it and attach the spinner

"Fun To Do"~ a welcome song!

This is a fun way to sing the song "FUN TO DO" cs 253

I came up with this idea 9-10 years ago.  That is actually when I made this pinwheel. :)  It has worked and has held up so well that I am still using it today! :)

Instructions on how to make:

1. Buy a pinwheel:  I got mine from the Dollar Tree. They usually carry them around the spring time.

                  *A little tip- buy one that is not a nylon material.  This is a plastic material and the vinyl adheres  so much better to this than nylon... learned this by experience :)

2. Cut vinyl lettering for each petal and adhere.

3. Buy a small bucket and using Plaster of Paris insert the pinwheel into the bucket. Let completely dry.

4. Cut vinyl again for the lettering on the bucket and adhere.

Instructions on how to use:

Have the child(ren) visiting come to the front of the primary.  Hold the pinwheel on its side so that the flower lays flat. (I do this so that if the pinwheel is a little uneven, it won't always land on the same petal.)  Have one of the visiting children spin the wheel and where it lands is how you sing the song!  Simple and easy!

I have them do different actions for each petal while they sing:

*saying 'hello'- wave at our neighbors and friends

*singing a song- wave our hands back and forth as if conducting

*shaking your hand- shake the hands of your neighbors

 *whistling a tune- sing the first line and whistle the second

*giving high 5's- give neighbors high 5's

*spin again- the visitor re-spins or if multiple visitors, have another one spin