Emphasize the prophet’s words in this Primary song, Stand for the Right by playing handbells on all the “be true” notes! Your Primary will want to sing this song over and over and over again!
A majority of this lesson plan comes from A Children’s Songbook Companion HERE.
For an attention getter, show this image HERE from the Friend and quickly discuss ways you can “be true” and “stand for the right.”
Then you need the following:
- A picture of the current prophet. Check your ward library if need be.
- The word “WORDS” and the word “STAND” written on a piece of paper. (Available to download in the Resource Library. See the bottom of this post for access.)
- A picture that depicts “work,” The Gospel Art Book image of the boy planting flowers works nicely. Download it HERE.
- A picture that depicts “play.” The Gospel Art Kit (available online only) has a picture of children playing with blocks. Download it HERE.
- A black piece of paper (to represent the word “darkness”).
- A white/yellow piece of paper (to represent the word “light”).
- The 3-page note chart for all the “be true” notes.
Access these printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Print on card stock and place in sheet protectors or laminate (optional). See what suggested singing time office supplies I suggest every Primary music leader keep on hand HERE.
Using Handbells in Singing Time
If you need help using handbells in singing time, check out this post HERE for more details about purchasing and using them.
Singing Time Idea
In singing time, pass out all of the pictures, EXCEPT the “be true” handbell chart pages, randomly to children. Or tape them underneath chairs before Primary and have everyone look to see if they have one.
While the pianist plays, you and the teachers sing the song. Post the words like I do HERE.
The kids with the pictures will come up front and put them all in order on the board using magnets The order is:
- Prophet Picture
- “WORDS” page
- “Work” picture
- “Play” picture
- Darkness (black sheet of paper)
- Light (yellow sheet of paper)
- “STAND” page
Once in order, sing the song through and ask them to count how many times the song says “be true.” Then whenever the word “stand” is sung, have everyone stand.
Quickly ask, “how can we be true at work and at play, in darkness or light?” and take answers.
Then add the 3 pages of “be true” notes in between the images on the board. Handbell page 1 goes between “WORDS” and the “work” picture. Pages 2 and 3 go between the Light (yellow sheet of paper) and “STAND” page.
Randomly pass out the 5 bells needed (A, B, C#, D, G) including all the octaves if you have those throughout your Primary.
Sing through the song pointing to each picture and standing on the word “stand.”
VARIATION: Change the word/action on the word “stand.” Stomp, jump, spin, sit, clap etc. Thanks for sharing, Whitney!!
Repeat by having new children take turns with the handbells and sing it again. Keep passing bells after each time the song has been sung as time permits.
Video Demonstration
Also check out my video demonstration using this lesson plan to teach Stand for the Right:
You can also find this video on my YouTube channel HERE. I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe!
Stand for the Right/Dare to Do Right Medley
Check out the Stand for the Right/Dare to Do Right Medley HERE.
More Stand for the Right Singing Time Ideas
Make sure to check out more singing time ideas for teaching Stand for the Right HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Stand for the Right.
15 thoughts on “Stand For The Right”
Your idea is fabulous! I'm thinking of getting bells for our Primary. What size bell set would you recommend–the 8, 13 or expanded 20 bell set? Thanks so much! Email: stopandsmellthefamily at blogspot dot com
Oops…I just gave you my blog address, not email address. Here's the right info: stopandsmellthefamily at gmail dot com
Just in case anyone else is wondering…we have the 13 set of bells.
Awesome! We have these homemade metal pipe chimes we could use for this! Thanks!
I used this last Sunday and it was a HUGE hit! Thank you for your ideas!
I do bells as well (my kids love them), but use them for the melody. I also notate the bells just as I would regular notes, with open colored circles for 1/2 notes, filled in for 1/4 notes, and dotted for (of course) dotted notes. I explain the notation to the kids, and this way they begin to understand the timing that they see in Hymnbooks. So I'm using the bells but also teaching some music theory. So far, so good.
I can't see how to print the bells pages? If I click on the image no print option shows up. Any ideas?
This is an old post I need to update…sorry, I'll get to it soon, hopefully this week.
~Camille
Thank you SO much for posting your weekly lesson plans. I'm a new chorister and you help me so much! Your ideas are always so simple yet very effective, which I love. I haven't found very many ideas floating around for this song, and this is perfect!
Can you play the c# with just the 8 set or do you have to have the 13 set to play the c#?
Hi Kelly!
You would have to transpose the music so it doesn't use any sharps. I know you can do that on lds.org but I've never done it and then you would need different bell chart notes because your music would all be completely different. What I'd suggest is you pick one child to come play the C# on the piano each time :). They could sit next to the pianist and play a higher or lower C# when you point to it so they don't get in the way of the pianist.
Sorry I'm not more help!
~Camille
Oh those are good suggestions. I think what I'll end up doing is bringing in my little mini glockenspiel and letting a child play those two notes (high D and c#) with a mallet on the glockenspiel. I've never used the bells in primary before. I just got my set of 8. I'm a little nervous because I feel like there are a lot of moving parts and I have no idea if it will help the kids learn the song or if they'll be too focused on getting the bells right to even pay attention. I guess we'll find out tomorrow! 🙂 Thanks for all your help.
I know this is super late (because I switched my April and March songs, so we haven't tackled "Stand for the Right" yet), but it is very easy to transpose songs in the Children's Song Book. For this one, I just typed "Stand for the Right" in my search bar, and the link for the lds site was the first one on google, which is:
https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/stand-for-the-right?lang=eng
Once it completely loads, you will see Stand for the Right in very large letters. Below that, just above the music, there is a gray bar which has a volume control tab, an auto scroll tab, and then a refreshable "key" tab that has a drop down menu. Stand for the Right is in D major, but if you click on the arrow next to D Major, you can select from a variety of keys. C major is the one without any accidentals, and once you press C Major, the music will transpose (and in this case, there are no flats or sharps on the "Be True" parts) and after you have transposed it it, hit the print button (two tabs over from the Key tab), so that you can bring a copy of the music for your pianist!
DO you have music for the medley stand for the right and dare to do right?
Thnak you so much for all you ideas. we used the bell for Christmas bell. it was a hit. I'm looking forward to using them more. thank for adding the bell to this song it will be so fun.
Hi Jamie!
I found this arrangement here that I most likely will be using:
http://www.texansusan.com/AlphabeticalOrder.html
Hope it helps! I'm glad you like the bells!
~Camille