As the weather warms up it's fun to talk about the things that happen in the spring. One interesting thing that happens is that bears start to come out of hibernation.  Hibernating Bears...  Explain to the children that you have some bears that are hibernating (Place 3 stuffed bears in a cave, I used a basket with blanket over it. You could use a table.)  Explain that these bears will only come out if they hear beautiful singing. As the children practice various songs I bring out one, two or three bears depending on how well they sing the verse or song. I say things like," Wow that was so great, two bears came out to hear you singing" , "We must need a little work on that verse because only one bear came out to hear us" or "Do you think we could get all three bears out of their cave?"  I even ask teachers to evaluate whether they think that one two or three bears would come out of hibernation.  On the very last song I surprised them with a fourth bear that looked like a baby bear of one of the bears. I told them that their singing was so wonderful that even a baby bear came out.  If you want to be a little more technical you could have one and one half of a bear come out (Etc...) Just have Fun and remember Primary without singing time would be Unbearable.... (Idea by Gina Nokes/ ga02232007)

   (Credit: Luana Willis) Today I was in a hurry and I didn't know until an hour before I had to leave which songs we were going to sing!  But my more-simple-than-usual idea worked out really well and was pretty fun.  I thought I'd share part of it.

 

I googled and got pictures of things that happen in the springtime, then I matched a song with it.  I had some of those "snap hands" that you stretch back and let it sling and grab one off the chalkboard. It turned out to be trickier than you'd think!  It was a good attention getter, anyway.

 

Salt Lake Temple with tulips--"Did Jesus Really Live Again" p.64 I said that spring General Conference is always close to Easter time.

 

Baby Chick--"My Heavenly Father Loves Me" p. 228

 

Daffodils--"Faith" p. 96

 

Apricot Blossoms--"Popcorn Popping" (of course!) p. 242   In seniors I had them skip every other word (remember that popcorn is one word)

and sing it slower.  It was very challenging! This turned out to be the big hit for the day.

 

Crocus flowers--4th Article of Faith (4 different colors=4 principles and ordinances, 4th article...)

 

Red Tulip--"If You're Happy" p. 266   We sang "If it's springtime and you know it clap, stomp, snap, etc."  In senior primary I had them pat their head, then rub their tummy, then do both.  They liked it.

 

Basket of different colored Easter eggs--"Follow the Prophet"  p. 110  There are lots of different prophets.

 

Girl with umbrella in the wind--"When I Am Baptized" p. 103, because of the rain in the springtime.

(The following ideas were complied by Cindee:)
 

Flowers:  Make flowers with pipe cleaner stem or use real flowers.  Write a song on each stem.  After you sing the song, have a child place the flower in a vase.  Can give to pianist. 
 

Flower Review: Make a poster with a flower garden on it.  Each flower has a way to sing on it.  Kids pick them, then sing the same song in that way.
 

Bird house: Make a bird house out of a plastic bleach bottle with a hole cut out on one side. Write songs on strips of paper and tie to yarn strips that will hang out the hole to look like grass or worms for the children to pull out.

Backpack: Make a poster of a boy with a backpack on facing backward (so you see the backpack).  Make a slit in the top of the backpack and attach a large  Zip-lock bag into it. Inside I have pictures of books, ruler, pencils, erasers. Empty at end of the year.  Attach a song to each object.
 

Strawberries: Make large strawberries with songs on. Write across the top of a poster, "You Sing Berry Well." Below, make a large green staff.  Have kids choose a strawberry, sing the song, and tape to the staff.  Play their song at the end of singing time.
 

Sun:  Draw a large circle and large triangles out of yellow poster board.  Write songs on the back.  Cut the pieces out.  Have the child pick a piece and help build the sun.
 

Catch Butterflies: Hang bugs and butterflies from fishing line from the ceiling with song names or questions for a song on back of bugs. Sing the song. OR...put the kids names on the back and they get to choose their favorite song.

  Make flowers with pipe cleaner stems. Write a number on the back of each flower, and make a list for yourself of all the songs you want to sing corresponding with each number. After you sing the song, have a child place the flower in a vase, and at the end show them what a pretty arrangement they have made.

  Make a kite out of a colorful piece of paper. Make a tail out of string with several bows on it. On the back of each bow write a number, and make a list for yourself of which number goes with each song. Have children pick bows, then sing that song.

  Fishing game: You will need a fishing pole made of a long stick with a piece of string tied to the end. At the end of the string, tie or glue a fairly strong but small magnet. (weak magnets will not work well) Cut out several fish from colorful pieces of construction of cardstock, and attach a paperclip to the mouth area of the fish. Make a list of the songs you want to practice that  day, and cut out a little piece of paper with the  song name on it. Fold up the paper and attach it to the paperclip (on the back side of the fish.)  Place a piece of blue fabric on the ground to represent water, then lay the fish on the "Water" (so the slips of paper with the song names are not showing) and let the children fish for them. A fun variation for Pioneer Day: place a seagull with a magnet on its beak at the end of your fishing line, and instead of fish, make crickets out of brown or black paper.

 

This page was  last  updated: 
   November 17,  2006

 

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