Back Pack, Back Pack!

Back to School.  Well...I have seen this idea posted several places.  This cute drawing is my sister's design.  Most of the posts show a real backpack, but there is something about thse fun poster props that I just love.  The front pocket of this thing opens to shove the items in or pull them out?

This obviously can be done a variety of ways.  The items could just have songs on the back.  Some could have questions, like who is your favorite teacher, your favorite thing about school, ect...  I like to include FUN TO DO and IT'S AUTUMN TIME, LEAVES ARE FALLING ALL AROUND.  But it could have program songs on it.  Skies the limit.

I did just see how the item represent certain things which is clever.  This is handy when reviewing for a program.  For instance:

An Eraser:  Erase a word from a program song, like CHOOSE in the CHOOSE THE RIGHT
A Calculator:  Calculate how many times you sing JESUS in, I'M TRYING TO BE LIKE JESUS
Ruler:  Who "rules" in singing this, divide the group into two sides and have them compete
Glue:  Glue legs together, arms to the side and sing super reverently
Markers:  Hold up different colors at a time, they have to stand if they are wearing that particular color (use with a less reverent type of song)
Pencils:  WRITE your favorite program song...could use pencil to lead the children in singing
Scissors:  CHOPPY = staccato 
Sharpener:  Sharpen the words of a song that needs practice

I love back to school!

Back To School

Well....the presidency wanted to do some serious review on Sunday and so I had little time to really do anything fun.  School starts this week and I have to honor things like this, I am very seasonally oriented.  So I prepared something as a "wiggle" activity to do in the midst of singing the songs that sadly we are all tiring of quickly.

This is a simple jar full of "emotions".  This goes with HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT.  We change it up... IF YOU ARE SAD SCHOOL IS STARTING....  IF YOU ARE GLAD SCHOOL IS STARTING...

The kids got to choose their emotions...what are they feeling about summer being over and school starting.

Blah...if you are sad school is starting, then say BLAHHHHH!
Boo Hoo...if you are sad school is starting, say BOO HOO
YAWN....if you are sad school is starting, then yawn
Jump For Joy...if you are glad school is starting, jump for joy
Shout Yipee (opera style)...if you are glad school is starting, sing yippe opera style
Twirl...if you are glad school is starting, then TWIRL (spin)

They were totally into this.  It was totally silly but even the seniors got into it.  Oh did I mention, I was just called as the senior leader in addition to juniors.  So I am trying to figure out how to entertain the big kids. I have realized, they can be enticed to be silly here and there!