This is a Pioneer Day review activity I used on my FIRST DAY AS CHORISTER! I tell ya, I was sweating buckets. Luckily, this easy Roller Box idea (from The Children Sing blog) captivated my primary's attention.
I had a long strip of paper rolled up in an aluminum foil box. On the paper is a continuous landscape with pictures that correspond to a review song and way to sing it. Tell the children that today they're going to live a day in the life of pioneers by going on a pioneer trail adventure! Have a child help you pull out the paper slowly, stopping at each picture to sing.
Items needed for the Roller Box:
-white wrapping paper (one roll @ Dollar Store)
-aluminum foil/plastic wrap/wax paper box
-basic craft supplies: scissors, colored pencils, construction paper
Cut a length of the wrapping paper in half (or to the width of your aluminum foil box). I loved using the dollar store kind because 1) it was cheap and 2) the backside had grid lines that I could follow with my scissors for a straight cut. When you roll up the paper, it should fit nicely in your box and be able to pull out just like a roll of aluminum foil.
Now it's time for some art! I based most of my pictures off of those from The Children Sing blog, but added in a tipi and Indian. Below are the pictures/songs/activities I used that you could adapt to your own primary program review.
1. Scenery (a rock and flower): Everyone stand up and march, singing Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked.
2. Rattlesnake: Sing The Holy Ghost in whisper voices so as to not disturb the rattlesnake. You may choose to have them tiptoe in place as well.
3. River: Gather up imaginary bundles of your clothes and belongings to hold above your head as you pretend to wade across the river singing Come Follow Me.
4. Indian Tipi: Share the gospel with Indians you find along the trail by singing The Church of Jesus Christ. Have them hold up scriptures and sing with GUSTO (I love teaching them fun words!) as if they were really bearing testimony along the pioneer trail. I felt the spirit so strongly at this one. My primary blew me away with the power of their musical testimony
5. Big Hill: Grab the handle of your imaginary handcart and slowly trudge up the big hill, singing Follow the Prophet.
6. Nighttime Campfire: Turn off the lights and sing I Know That My Savior Loves Me, with a reverent spirit and folded arms.
P.S. The paper is wrinkly in the pictures because I forgot to bring out my camera until after coming home from singing time... Whoops...