Treasure Chests- Choosing Helpers

I love to have creative ways of choosing helpers in Primary.  

I explain how and why I do this on this post here:

Coconut Unbrellas- Choosing Children

Here is another idea I have been using and am almost through...

I have had these boxes for years.  I originally purchased them from either Michaels or Joanns.  I then stained them, hot glued jewels, and added a vinyl of Junior and Senior.

The coins I purchased on clearance but you can find them at party stores or in the party section of stores.  I use the labeling system that I explain in the original post about choosing children found here.  The white strips above on the coins are those labels with the names covered for privacy issues. :)

When I introduce a new choosing idea I like to relate it to the children or to a song.  With this, I told them how much I treasure my time with them and that they are the real treasure to me.  You can never tell them enough how special they are!!!

Primary Program Songbooks

Sometimes teachers need a little help with the program songs.

I made a booklet with the songs and the Primary Presidency added the program to it.  That way the teachers can follow along and help the children during the program.

Why print the words for teachers?

• Adults don't learn as well or as quickly as children. They may struggle to learn all the words.
• Some adults may have medical or mental conditions that limit their ability to memorize the songs.
• Teachers or leaders may have been called into Primary later on during the year and so they did not have an opportunity to learn all the songs.
• Some teachers are converts and this is their first time in Primary.  This helps them to learn the songs.
• Some teachers who may know all the songs, like to be able to see the music and words. I have had requests for songs from some of my best teacher singers/participators. :)

I am sure there are other reasons as well, but these are the ones that I personally thought of when supplying the booklets.  We have been practicing with them the past month and will use them this Sunday for our Primary Program!

 

Activity Days- Journals

Journaling is hard.

It is hard to stay consistent.

It is hard to come up with things to journal about.

(And I'm not just talking about the girls here... :) 

I think that a little push in the right direction and making it fun is just what the girls need to make this exciting!

These pages go along with the girls' binders that we use.  
You can find that post here:

Activity Days- The Girls' Binders

Here is the plan:

 When the girls come to each activity, they will be able to have a few minutes to work on their journal as we wait for everyone to arrive.  This box will be out for them to grab the journal prompt they are working on.  They will start at #1 and continue to add to their notebook as each week progresses.  That way as the girls enter Activity Days, they will still have a chance to complete all the journal pages.  They can self manage where they are in the order.

 Each page is numbered and easy to keep track.  If they are not sure where they are, they can look back in their notebook and count their pages.

 I did not come up with the journal prompts.  I found some amazing ideas from different blogs that offer free kids' journaling pages.  I purposely picked ones that can be doodled on and colored.  I mixed them up in the order I put them in to add variety each time we meet.  I also added borders to some for more coloring options and shrunk them down to a half page size so that they will fit in the notebooks. Everything is printed on cardstock for durability.  The girls will have an array of markers and colored pencils to make this fun!

Here are the links to the different blogs I used:

Adventures in Guided Journaling

Picklebums

Home Grown Hearts Academy

Here is a little more info: 

I printed 2 of them at 75% scale and then glued them to a piece of paper. I then copied the page onto cardstock. I did the same journal page twice on a page, but you could do 2 different ones. I kept the originals to copy if I need anymore later on.

 In the box of journal prompts you will see the the last group of pages are labeled "Testimony".  I have the 8-9 year old girls and I thought that it would be neat for them to write their testimony as they enter Activity Days and then again as they leave.  I am hoping that when they leave they will have another opportunity to write down their testimony and see the progress they have made in the 4 years.  :)

This page is offered by Adventures in Guided Journaling (link above) and I added the word 'Testimony' to the top.

I hope that they enjoy doing this form of journaling and that they will like to look back on the pages to remember what they were like at this age... It's such a great age to work with and their excitement is contagious!

Activity Days- Articles of Faith

Here is the system I have come up with to track the Articles of Faith for the girls.  It goes along with the girls' binders that we use.  You can find that post here:

Activity Days- The Girls' Binders

Let's get started!

 I got a small box at Walmart in the new school year supply section.  I used a little vinyl to label the bin (completely optional, but 1000% cuter... hahaha :)

This tracker is a combination of 2 different free printables I found online.  The top section can be found at LDS Lane in a number of color combinations.  The bottom section I got from My Computer is My Canvas.  Basically I took both freebies, used the portions I wanted, and then shrunk them down to fit a half piece of paper size.  Finally they were ready for the notebooks.

 

 Also included in the box are the Articles of Faith individually printed out.  I printed them on different colored cardstock and hole punched them all... ready to be put in the notebooks.

 Here is a close up of a few of them.  I got these free from the Cedar Creek Kids website.  The great thing about these is that they already print off the right size (half sheet).  I used a few different colors so that the girls have a choice of what color they would like to collect next.

 How it works...

The girls are given the tracker sheet to put in their binder.  Then during an activity (at the beginning or if there is time at the end) they can pass of any of the Articles of Faith with a leader.  They DO NOT need to go in order.  When they pass it off, they put a jewel sticker on the tracker sheet with the corresponding number.  Then they pick out an Article of Faith insert to add to their binder.  Once they have completed all 13 they will have each one of the Articles of Faith printed out on cute paper to look back on.

 Also, they get a prize when they complete all 13 Articles of Faith.  I have picked up a few eraser packages on clearance and will continue to add to the prize box as I find things.  

The girls are excited to get started, 

and well, so am I!!! :)

Activity Days- The Girls' Binders

I know there have been other great ideas for binders for LDS Activity Day Girls, but I thought I would still share mine.  This is what we are using and I'm very excited for the girls to have this!  When I was in Primary, in "Merrie Miss", my teacher gave us each a mini binder that was covered in fabric... Remember those days!?!?!  Anyway, every week during the lesson she would give us another page to add to the binder.  I LOVED it and still have it today.  I wanted to bring some of these memories to these girls as well! :)

Since I have 12 girls I had each girl pick up a mini size notebook instead of providing them.  That helped to keep the cost down. Plus, they were able to pick out one that fit their personality!  They sell them at Target and Walmart for $3-4.  The girls brought them to our "organizing party"!  At our meeting they were given vinyl to put on the front cover and their names cut out in vinyl as well for the inside cover.

 I also suggested, but it was not necessary, to purchase the binder dividers.  Walmart has them for $2.50.  But the binder is still very functional without it.  I had most of the girls decide to bring them.

I typed out labels for the tabs and gave them to the girls so that we could REALLY get organized! :)

 INFO SECTION:

 My partner and I got together and planned out the year.  Then we put together a 5 month calendar for the girls to put in their notebooks.  The second page that goes in there is the contact info for us as leaders and the list of girls and birthdays.  I will be updating both at the beginning of the new year.

 ARTICLE OF FAITH SECTION:

This is probably my favorite section!  I have taken a couple of different free printables available online and mashed them together... :)  I will be doing an entire post later about what exactly I have in this section and how we will be motivating the girls to pass off the Articles of Faith! :)

UPDATE: I have a post about the A of F section in this notebook!!!
Click this link:
Activity Days- Articles of Faith

JOURNAL SECTION:

Journaling is hard but can be fun! I am hoping to help the girls out with these journal prompts.  I will be doing a separate post about these as well.... :)  Check back soon...
Update:  The Journal Section post is done!
Click this link:
Activity Days- Journals

HANDOUTS SECTION:

This section will be added to with each activity we have in the future.  My partner and I will be making handouts that fit the theme of the activity for the week.  The girls will be able to collect up to 2 years worth of handouts before they move up to the next group.  This handout above is the first one they are receiving for their next activity...

 

EXTRA STUFF SECTION:

 I told the girls that this section is kind of a 'catch all' place.  If I have something to give them that doesn't fit into the other categories, then it will find a home here! :)  I also purchased cheap pencil zipper pouches.  The ones that fit these size binders were too expensive so I bought regular ones.  I trimmed the edge off that had the holes punched for a normal size binder and then re-punched them to fit the mini binders.  This is where they will store the Faith in God booklets, pens, or anything else small that they may need.

This has been a very fun and fulfilling project!  I love to keep things organized and where I can find them.  I love the chance to be able to help the girls learn a little about this skill for their future selves! :)

p.s. I will post later about the BAGS we made to carry and store this mini notebook!  These bags were also part of our "organizing party"!

 UPDATE: The post about these adorable bags is done!
Activity Day Girls- Tote Bags