Primary Singing Time: Combo Lock Puzzle

Here's an idea to get Primary kids excited during Singing Time.

Materials needed:

• A chalkboard and chalk
• A combination lock (optional)
• A prize (e.g. bag of dum-dums)

In preparation for this singing time activity, draw something like the following on the chalkboard:The numbers around the edges are chosen at random between 1 and 100, but must include the numbers in the code for the combination lock.

In order to solve this puzzle the children will need to sing songs which will stepwise reveal the traversal of the puzzle and the solution to the combination lock. The first number in the combination, together with the first direction, is already given (down-right), and indicates the song that must be sung in order to progress. In this example, the children must sing "Praise to the Man" (to the chorister's satisfaction) in order to earn the next arrow. The chorister may choose to test how well the children know a particular song before they decide that the arrow is earned.

Once the song has been sung, the chorister gives the next arrow, which in our example is again down-right:The children must next sing "Search, Ponder, and Pray" in order to progress. And so on.

After every third or fourth song, the arrow should lead to the next number in the code for the combo lock. Thus, after 6 or 7 songs, they will have earned all three numbers to open the lock:When the arrow points to a number, the chorister may let a child choose the next song or may elect to simply give the next arrow gratis.

Though the combo lock and prize could technically be optional, the enthusiasm inherent in the activity depends on the presence of a reward. Even just a bag of dum-dums should be sufficient to make the activity a raging success. Alternatively, you could have a member of the primary presidency act as the "combo lock" and will only give the prize upon receiving the correct combination.

If you'd rather not have to draw everything up on the chalkboard the activity could be modified to be more like a scavenger hunt around the room with clues hidden bearing the name of the song and the numbers for the combination lock. Again, the chorister would simply give the directions of where to find the next clue. The challenge here would be keeping the clues with the numbers for the lock in order.

One nice thing about this activity is that to fill time you can make up the puzzle traversal on the fly (don't tell the kids!) to include more or less songs. You could even repeat a song in the traversal if you are working on a song for an upcoming sacrament program. If you have ideas for variations on this activity, please let me know! Have fun!