Your Primary will never forget the singing time where they raced covered wagons while singing Covered Wagons! So make sure to celebrate the pioneers in singing time with these Covered Wagons singing time ideas!
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This singing time idea can be done with ANY Primary song, pioneer themed or not! I recommend singing Covered Wagons because … why not?? But really, any song will work!
Paper Cup Covered Wagons
Elizabeth shared her paper cup wagon singing time idea HERE and I just HAD to jump on that {covered} band wagon, haha!
In order to make your covered wagons, all you need are a few simple supplies! I suggest you make enough wagons per Primary class. Here’s the supplies you need in order to make 1:
- Card stock or construction paper cut into 3.5 x 4.5 or 3 x 4.5 inch rectangles (Print the optional Base Template)
Access these printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
NOTE: the template contains 2 sizes depending on the size of your bath cups. The size I purchased from Walmart is 3 x 4.5. But the Dixie cup brand tends to be 3.5 x 4.5. Both size templates are available to download. So choose the one that’s best for you.
- 2 small 3-oz (bath) paper cups
- 1 7-inch coffee stirrer straw – cut in half
- 1 regular straw
- 4 Life Savers hard candy
- Tape
- 4 brad paper fasteners
I purchased my supplies from Walmart but find them online as well.
Bath cups (Amazon affiliate link):
Coffee stirrer straws (Amazon affiliate link):
Regular straws (Amazon affiliate link):
Life Savers hard candy (Amazon affiliate link):
Brad paper fasteners (Amazon affiliate link):
Cut out the template. Then fold the long sides of the rectangles about ½ inch to create the base. Tape the bottom of the cups together and place in the base. Then tape the cups to the base.
Next, tape 2 halves of one coffee stirrer straw on the bottom of the base to create an axel. Add the candy to the ends of the axel for the wheels.
Insert brad fasteners into coffee stirrer ends to create a “cap” so the candy doesn’t come off but so the candy still freely rotates. You can also use a big wad of tape as a cap or hot glue with a button, etc.
And now you are ready to roll {pun totally intended, haha!}
Wagon Races Singing Time Idea
Before Primary, get a banquet table (optional) and set it up
Create wagon races by having racers blow into the cup using a straw. Sing Covered Wagons, posting words like I do HERE.
Select children to race when they correctly answer a directive listening question about the song to their teacher:
- (Chorus) Where did the pioneers want their covered wagons to take them? [Safely to their new home]
- (Chorus) Find two one-syllable words that are sung on two notes. [Take, our]
- (1st verse) Day after day, the wagons are rolling. Which direction must they roam?[Westward]
- (2nd verse) As we sit night after night by the campfire, what do we sing? [The songs that remind us of home]
- (3rd verse) When we someday reach the land of our dreaming, where will we settle and build? [On some land of our own]
- How can you be a pioneer today?
The first child from each class to get the answer right gets to race a wagon. Race wagons from one side of the Primary room to the other while singing. Either on the floor or set up a banquet table.
TIP: May be best if the legs are folded and the table sits on the floor. That way when wagons fall off the table, the wheels don’t fall and potentially break.
Repeat with a new question and new racers until everyone has had a turn to race.
Variation
Or, simply invite children to race a wagon while the rest of the primary sings. Good singers get a turn. Ask questions in between singing.
Chime or Handbell Charts
Time permitting, play the chimes/handbells using this chart. It utilizes chords.
Access these printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Without Wagon Racing
Optionally, you can omit the wagon racing altogether. Simply ask the questions in between singing and optionally playing the chimes or handbells.
Demonstration Video
Also check out this demonstration video for teaching Covered Wagons in singing time using this lesson plan:
You can also find this video on my YouTube channel HERE. I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe!
Bear Testimony
Bear testimony that just like the pioneers went through hard trials that helped grow their faith, our trials that we experience also help grow ours.
More Pioneer Singing Time Ideas
Scroll through all my pioneer themed singing time ideas HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > Covered Wagons.
