Materials:

1. Chart paper
2. Drawing paper
3. Markers and crayons
4. Stapler

Objective:

Children will choose favorite songs, create a group songbook, and have a sing-along with family members at an end-of-the-year celebration.

Activity:

1. During group time, ask children which songs you've sung this year that they enjoyed the most. Record everyone's responses on chart paper. Review the list together, add your own suggestions, and decide which ones to sing at an end-of-the-year family sing-along.
2. Explain that besides bringing everyone together to sing, you think it would be a great idea to make a book of all the songs to give to family members. Tell children that you will write out the words to each song and they can contribute illustrations.
3. Ask everyone to draw pictures that illustrate parts of all of their favorite songs. Help children write titles and their names on the drawings. Together, make a cover for the songbook and decide whether to include other pages, such as a page with a group photo, a list of everyone's names, or a class message.
4. Make enough photocopies of the songbook for each family. Take time to look over your great work and then plan the sing-along program together. Children can take turns welcoming families and announcing the songs.

Spin-offs:

• Plan to invite families to make their own rhythm instruments at your sing-along. All you'll need are paper-towel and toilet-paper tubes, dried beans, paper plates, masking tape, staplers, markers, and stickers. Set up an area where families can work. Ask children to help you prepare and set up the materials. When family members arrive, invite them to make instruments by putting beans inside the paper tubes and covering the ends with masking tape or by placing beans on a paper plate, covering with a second plate, then stapling the two together. Use stickers and markers to decorate the instruments.
• Ask a family member to make an audio- or videotape of your sing-along. Families can then purchase copies for the nominal cost of duplication or you can use the tapes for a fundraising project.