Primary 5
by Kristen Hathaway / ga01112007
 

We have the most incredible little thing we do to keep reverence. It didn't come from me, I was in the stake and learned it while visiting a ward whose Primary President is a very talented pre-school teacher. It's called Primary 5. When talking or anything seem to get out of hand the chorister, or presidency member or even the teachers in their class say "Primary 5" and then count from 1 to 5. By the time I get to five the children have to be silent and all attention on me. If I get to 5 and there is still noise or playing around, I win. If it's quiet and all attention on me, then the kids win.

Truly, when the kids hear "Primary 5" they stop what they are doing, close their mouths,
fold their arms, put feet together on the floor, and eyes are on me.  It really works. The trick is in the teaching. I have a glove that I made. On the palm it says "Primary 5" then on each finger are 1 of  the 5 things.

I explain to them that when they hear "Primary 5" these are the 5 things that need to happen. Finger 1: googley eyes. All eyes need to be on me. Finger 2: Lips. All lips need to be closed.  Finger 3: Ears. All ears listening to me. Finger 4:Feet or Shoes. All feet on the floor and feet together. Finger 5: Arms Folded. All arms folded. The kids really respond to it just as a competition between them and the teacher. You can introduce ideas like the filled starburst jar and if I will I get to take out candy (that the kids would be given at the end of month), but we really don't even have to offer the treats now. When we say "Primary 5", the sound stops and you hear their shoes clap together on the floor and see who can get their arms folded the fastest.

This has really been a life saver in our ward and now many wards in our stake use this. It's great. You can use felt for your finger lips, feet, etc. or foam shapes, or the small little wooden shapes you can get at the craft store or even just find them in a Friend magazine, laminate and attach to the glove. It's just a super simple prop that we really only used in teaching and every once in a while. Because when things start to get crazy there isn't time to grab the glove and the idea is to just say "Primary 5"if  they are being to loud they won't hear you and their neighbor next to them will get them to be quiet and fold arms, hopefully quick enough that they beat me to 5. The sunbeams love it. Sorry this is so long, just one more little idea. My friend just started last week the deal that each time the kids win "Primary 5" she adds a cookie ingredient to a mixing bowl and by the end of the month they should have all the ingredients for the cookies and she brings cookies.
 

If anyone is interested, you can get some Primary 5 clipart from Jen...click here.