Children love the handbells. The colors on the bells make it amazingly accessible for success. Lots of children are involved at once. Here is an idea for “As a Child of God:” If you are lucky enough to have … Continued
Younger Children: Ask the children to follow your hands. Tap your thigh 3x Tap the egg to your other palm 3x Sing the song and do this pattern with a shaker. (The children don’t have an egg shaker yet.) You … Continued
Melody Maps are powerful tools! I recently taught this song in only 6 minutes using this colorful map. Here is the map, a video of how to use it, and a printable version which you will have to enlarge so the … Continued
Can you put these stars in order? UPDATE: I have been getting a lot of requests for these files so here is the download link that will print out an 8×11 per star – stars-were-gleaming Children have great visual memory. … Continued
“Teach a child a song, and the song will teach the child.” This was shared with me years ago in a music workshop. I have come to find out more and more how true it is. Hymns that … Continued
If you clapped the beat to the first verse of Praise to the Man, you would clap on the following syllables. Praise to the Man who com-muned with Je-ho–vah The steady beat of this song is ALMOST on every word, but not … Continued
How does a child differentiate between a first verse and a third verse of a song? They have to learn it with a different experience so that it categorizes into a different place in the memory. Here is an rhythmic … Continued
The 3rd Article of Faith. Music is one way we can really support the depth of the children’s understanding and memorization of that scripture. Ideas for Younger Children and Older Children (Each link has an idea for both Younger and … Continued
I posted an activity where older children follow symbols on a poster, challenging them to follow the symbols with appropriate movements. However, that isn’t developmentally what younger children need. Why? (You can skip immediately to the activity OR read the … Continued
“Here’s the beat. Can your hands follow my hands to tap the beat?” “Now let’s put it into a patsch.” (Tapping the palms of your hands on your thighs.) Patsch, patsch, patsch, patsch. Begin to sing the song. Halfway through … Continued