New and refurbished ideas for LDS Primary Music Leaders (a.k.a. Primary Choristers)

Thursday, January 19, 2012

CTR SHIELDS ON A STICK

Kids just love to do things with their hands; especially the young ones. So I’m always trying to think of ways to keep them moving and/or their hands busy.  Besides, they are less likely to be bugging their neighbor if they have to watch me in order to follow me.  Ahhhh, the things we do to trick them little ‘uns.  Kids also just looooove things on a stick; of course, mostly edible things, but as you know, it’s mighty hard to sing if their mouth is stuffed with food.  Next best thing?  A picture on a stick.  Yeah, I know, not a novel idea, but a tried and true idea that can be used in different ways in teaching music.

Every year I have made something on a stick to use here and there that coordinates with the year’s theme.  One year I took a picture of every child in the Primary, there were about 100 kids, and stuck the pictures on a stick.  The kids just loved doing activities with a “puppet” of themselves.  Oh, aren’t the children so lovably narcissistic. Last year of course, it was hearts.  This year, what else could it be for the stick . . . you guessed it—a CTR shield on a stick!

I used these to help pitch lead “As a Child of God” with the melody map.  See the previous post for a few ideas.  Next month I am going to use them to hold up whenever they hear me sing or we sing “Choose the Right” or maybe even the word “right” as well.  There are four “Choose the Right” phrases & 3 “right” words just in the first verse that they can raise their sticks to or pop up from their chairs and guess what?  Even more in the last verse.  WAHOO!
You can also use the sticks for movement with the rhythm or the beat of the music:
  • Lead the music by making a triangle (3/4), square (4/4) or rainbow (2/4 or 6/8) shapes in the air to the beat/tempo of the music.
  • Make swirls way above the head, on each side of the body and down by the feet.
  • Try swaying them back-and-forth making a big rainbow above the head.
  • Do circles up high working your way down low. 
  • Zig-zag them in front of you.
  • Let the children take turns being the leader by choosing how to move their sticks with the rest of the children following him or her. 
The children will enjoy doing these movements to the rhythm or beat of the music and of course, sing as you go.  Body movement with music is another wonderful way children learn to sing.

I like playing around on the computer and creating things, but sometimes life can get busy making it a bit difficult to find time to get things done.  The other week I had an AHA! moment.  Okay, maybe it was more like a DUH! moment because it just clicked in my little brain that I had a son who had just graduated in graphic design.  See what I mean by DUH!  I had a resource right under my nose to help me the past few years and I didn’t even realize it until the other week.
So, credit goes to him for helping me with creating the rainbow of CTR shields.  He was a good sport to help me while I was busy being so sick through the holidays.  Here is the file for the CTR shields.  I’ve tried to cover a variety of options; so hopefully, one will fit your needs.  If you are a traditionalist, one page has all green CTRs.  If you are one who loves the colors of the rainbow, there are a couple of pages of CTRs in 10 fun, loving colors to “choose” from.  If you like the simple things in life or don’t have the capacity to print in color, you can print the black and white version on white or colored card stock.  Just print the page that tickles your fancy.
All you have to do is print, cut and laminate (optional if you want more durability) and then glue them on a stick.  I use scrapbooking glue dots to adhere them to the stick: easy and clean.  Yes, I loooooove to scrapbook but haven’t done much of that since I got this calling.  Because there are only so many hours in a day, being Primary Chorister has taken over as my creative outlet for the moment.  Sorry, got a little off topic there.  Anyway, I prefer to use the tongue depressor sized sticks instead of the Popsicle size.  I find the bigger ones are easier to hold, at least for me.  I got a box of about 300 sticks a few years back at Walmart for around $6 and I still have about 1/3 left.

Oh, by the by, I just discovered a blog post that also has a link to some CTR shields if you prefer the classic version.


Go ahead and make some and then have fun using yours and your children’s creativity! 


18 comments:

  1. Your ideas are fabulous!! Please keep sharing with those of us who are lacking!! Thank you, thank you!!

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    1. I highly doubt you are lacking. We all have our own special talents to use in our own way and the kids will just love what you have to give to them. I'm just glad I can share what I can. And you are welcome, welcome.

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  2. I appreciate your wonderful ideas! I'm going to make the CTR sticks and a melody map for Choose the Right. Thanks for sharing!

    Diana

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    1. Trying it out is a compliment in itself. I'm excited for you to try. Good luck!

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  3. I love this idea, but I was wondering...Do you let the kids take the sticks home or do you collect them each week? If they keep them do you expect them to bring them back with them?

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  4. Once in a while I have made something for the children to keep like a bookmark or magnet, but for my teaching tools, I collect them after the activity. The very first time I handed something out for the children to use, some were sad to hand them back in, but I assured them that I would bring them back again and they were happy again. The children have experienced me bringing things back for them to use, so they know that they will get to use whatever it is we used another time. Since that first time, I've never had the children hesitate to hand things back in. Just assure them you will use them another time. The JR primary always love it when I have something for them to use. They love to participate and move. It is a great way to keep them involved.

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  5. Thanks, these and your ideas are great

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  6. You stuff is so cute, even the fonts, I love everything here. I will definitely be watching this blog. The instructions you give are detailed and give alternatives. It's great! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  7. I love your melody map and colorful CTR shields! But one of my favorite things is the pictures you found to use along your melody map. Have you made up any for Choose the Right yet? I'd really like a copy of them if you have. I'm definitely doing this this Sunday. It's a great combination of the different ideas I've seen floating around the yahoo group. Thanks!

    Diane Passey

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  8. Tell your son our primary appreciates his colorful CTR shields too. Thanks for sharing the link with us!

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  9. Help! The links to the shields are broken!

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    1. Hi Alberta, I just tried the link and looks like it is working. Maybe there was a glitch or something when you tried. Did you try the link at the end of the paragraph that said "CTR shield on a stick" that is just before the picture? It may take a few minutes to download. There is a second link between both "rainbow" words farther down in the post. If it still doesn't work, here is another link you could try that I just uploaded to: http://www.scribd.com/doc/82819648/CTR-Shields-Color Maybe this one will work for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

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    2. Alberta, on the web address I added in your comment reply, you will probably have to copy and past it in your browser since comments does not let you make a direct link you can click on.

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  10. The link to the CTR printable doesn't work. Any suggestions?

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  11. Fabulous idea! Are you able to email me the coloured CTR shields please? If you let me have your email address I can send you a message. Thanks

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  12. I am actually happy to read this blog posts which includes tons of helpful information, thanks for providing such statistics.

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