I want to help encourage the use of the CD our Primary gave out as our Christmas gift last month (details on the CD are HERE). So I’ve created a “2012 Primary Music CD Challenge.” Essentially, every month, there will be a new activity the kids will need to complete that involves using their CD at home and reporting back to me. I’m planning on introducing the challenge this Sunday.
Here’s how it will work:
I made 2 simple charts (one for Sr. and one for Jr.) and taped them inside a manilla file folder (easy for me to transport as opposed to a huge poster):
Here’s the chart I made:
You can download my CD Challenge Worksheet using my Resource Library. To access my Resource Library, you will need to click on the button at the bottom of this post.
Then I will write all the kids’ names down the left side of each chart. Across the top I listed the 8 months we’ll be learning a new song (January – August), and then each week that we’ll be reviewing for the program (for us, that’s 3 weeks in September). I’ll keep the file in the back pocket of my binder so I’ll be able to access it at home or at Primary:
(See my binder details HERE if you missed that.)
For each challenge the kids complete, I’ll mark it off. When kids finish all the challenges, they will get a “reward” at the end, after the program (I haven’t figured out the reward yet – SUGGESTIONS?). I’m considering doing a “music party” after the program that someone on Yahoo Groups mentioned and hand out all the “rewards” at the party.
Here are my monthly challenges:
January – Using your 2012 Primary Songs CD, teach As A Child of God to your family during Family Home Evening or anytime when your family is together – OR – learn As A Child of God on a musical instrument and perform it in Primary the last Sunday of January (music can be found in the January 2012 Friend).
[I’m hoping that we’ll maybe get a few musical numbers from the kids that would work in our program!!]
February – Listen to Choose the Right on your 2012 Primary Songs CD this month. As you listen, write down how many times the words “choose” and “right” are sung.
March – Listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD as you go to sleep this month. Sing along to Stand for the Right each time it is played.
April – After listening to Had I Been A Child on your 2012 Primary Songs CD, read 3 Nephi 17:11-13 and 17:21-24 (if you don’t know how to read, ask someone to read it to you). Imagine yourself with the Nephites when the Savior came. Draw a picture of you with the Savior or write what it would be like if you were there. Listen to Had I Been A Child again, singing along with the CD.
May – Sing When I am Baptized to your mother, grandmother, or any other special woman you know (primary president, primary teacher, etc.)
June – Sing Nephi’s Courage to your father, grandfather, or any other special man you know (bishop, home teacher, etc.)
July – Listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD in the car this month. Sing along to Every Star is Different each time it is played.
August – Draw a picture of how you choose the right while listening to I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus. Give your picture to a member of the Primary Presidency.
[This one may be completed the last week in August during Sharing Time, but I won’t tell the kids that! We are going to try to have the kids draw pictures of how they “Choose the Right” and have those be the covers of the Sacrament Meeting program we hand out to all the members.]
Then here are my 3 review challenges the 3 weeks before our program:
Review Week 1 – Listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD and write down the 8 songs we learned this year that we will be singing in our Program.
Review Week 2 – As you listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD, write down what the songs teach about choosing the right.
Review Week 3 – As you listen to your 2012 Primary Songs CD, write your testimony.
Each month, I’m going to pass out a half size sheet of paper listing that month’s challenge and a spot for the child to write their name along with a parent/guardian signature. The kids can then return it the next Sunday, take it to my house during the week, or have their parent/guardian tell me it was completed. Here’s how it looks:
Here’s the information on it:
2012 CD Challenge!!
To help encourage the use of the 2012 Primary Songs CD the Primary gave to each family in Primary, every month there will be a new challenge the kids will need to complete that involves using their CD at home and reporting back to Sister Hill. Children who complete each challenge by program time in September will receive a special REWARD!
January’s challenge:Using your 2012 Primary Songs CD, teach As A Child of God to your family during Family Home Evening or anytime when your family is together.
OR
Learn As A Child of God on a musical instrument and perform it in Primary the last Sunday of January (music can be found in the January 2012 Friend). please return the completed portion below to Sister Hill.
——————————————————————————
I, ________________________, COMPLETED THE JANUARY CD CHALLENGE!
_______________________________ (PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE)_____________________________________.
_______________________________ (PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE)_____________________________________.
I will allow PLENTY of make up so if a child didn’t complete a certain month on time, they can always catch up. I want this to be a fun experience for everyone.
If at our “music party” there are kids who didn’t finish, I may see if some of the Primary Presidency can help kids finish so everyone can get a reward (like run a few kids out to their car and listen to that month’s song 😉
!**If you have any more “challenge” ideas for the month I’m missing, or a “reward” idea, PLEASE leave a comment!! I could really use your input.
UPDATE: Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!! I’ve incorporated them above.
15 thoughts on “2012 CD Challenge”
LOVE!
Love this! I followed your beautiful example and included more than just the program songs for each month on the CD since I was already using the CD's! Thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas! Love, love, love this! Those two months will depend on what song is chosen for that ward. Our Presidency just changed it on me, I thought I had 1/2 the CD's burned. I suppose it's back to the drawing board! They want to include "Come Ye Children of the Lord" for the July song. I bet that is different than anyone else!
Thanks for the wonderful idea! I wanted to try to help inspire the kids to listen to their CDs more this year & this is a perfect idea. Another idea I have is to have the children count the number of times you sing "right" & "choose" in Choose the Right and then use February's idea for April or July. Thanks for your blog. It is wonderful!
Melinda, love it! I'm changing it right now!
Camille, thanks for all the wonderful ideas you share with us – it is SO helpful for us newbies! Seriously, THANK YOU!
I am new at this. When you teach a new song, for example "As a child of God" in ASL is that all you do for singing time?? I am going to do this tomorrow, but am confused if this is all I should do or do I plan other stuff? HELP!
Sharee, You'll find that 20 minutes goes by quickly so you really don't need to plan much. Teaching the 1st verse to "As a Child of God" using ASL, for me, took about 15 minutes. Then I used the other 5 to go over my CD Challenge I'm implementing.
What I also like to do is use my "Wiggle Worm" jar (search my blog if you don't know what that is) if I have more time at the end, or I'll use it at the beginning if I know my singing time isn't going to last very long.
Hope that helps!
~Camille
Thanks so much for your time, organization, and creativity. I've organized by binder and today I introduced the CD challenge. It's going to be a great year. Thanks again.
An idea I just thought of might be to have the kids talk to the bishop or bishopric for some reason? It's always good to try to get them comfortable with the bishopric. You could have them tell the bishop how many times they listened to your April song that week?? or give the bishop a hug after listening to the song that week?
Tammy, thank you! I love it!
Just making all my challenge sheets for the rest of the year so I had to come up with an idea for April. Here is my idea (especially since we think a like & picked the same song): After listening to “Had I Been A Child” on your 2012 Primary Songs CD, read 3 Nephi 17:11-13 & 17:21-24 (if you don’t know how to read, ask someone to read it to you). Imagine yourself with the Nephites when the Savior came. Draw a picture of you with the Savior or write what it would be like if you were there. Listen to “Had I Been A Child” again, singing along with the CD.
Hope this will spark an idea!
Melinda, love it too…especially where it leads them back to reading the scriptures about this important event! Perfect.
Love this idea! I'm doing this now, too! A parent had a suggestion to make a full page sheet for every family to have right now, so they can see the year in advance. They can tear off the month, sign it and bring it in. I think I'll try it! I'm also making signs for the Primary doors as reminders. We're doing 12 songs again this year, so our kiddos are going to be busy!! So am I! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Great idea! I am enjoying looking through your blog. It's always good to find out what's worked for other people!
How did this work out for you in 2012? Are you going to do it for 2013? If yes, are you going to post it on this blog? Thanks for all you do to help us newbies.