Stand for the Right: Work and Play Categories

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At the front of the room are two signs:

1. Work

2. Play

I ask the children to look around the room and see all of the possibilities for work or play that are on word strips around the room.  

• "As I sing this song, I will tap you on the shoulder.  I would like you to choose one of these and decide whether it is work or play."

I start to sing.

• "Our prophet has some words for you...."  

I tap various children on the shoulder to choose a word and put it in the right category.  As I am singing, I am keeping the beat by doing a patsch, clap, clap pattern with my hands.  (Some of the children will then follow that pattern, but that is not the emphasis of this activity, only a management technique that allows movement.)

If you are doing this in a Younger Primary, you will need to add an additional direction.

• "I'm going to tap a younger child on the shoulder.  Go choose an older child that can read so that he or she can help you."  (This works well in a mixed age Primary, also.)

I find that I am singing the song through about 5 times or so until all the word strips are brought up to the front and categorized.

I ask the children,

• "How can you be true when you are ____________?"

(I point to one of the word strips and ask about that activity.)

When I receive an answer from one or two of the children, I then sing the last

• "Be true, be true, and stand for the right." (clapping to emphasize Stand for the Right.)  

I repeat this line of questioning for about three or four of the activities, then we sing the whole song together.  

I add in the patsch, clap, clap pattern as we sing.  On the words "Stand for the Right," I clap and emphasize each word (4 claps).

This activity is colorful, has a lot of participation, and the children hear the song over and over again without realizing how many times they are hearing it.  And it is engaging for the children!