I have incorporated a lot of ideas from several places. But to make it easy for everyone, I’ve attached all the information directly to this post. I have tried to make mention where various ideas have come from so they get credit.
You’ll need:
- A blow dryer with extension cord and room freshener (optional – and I forgot to include it in my picture above)
- clip art pictures (access using the button at the bottom of this post),
- rope or thick string
- clothespins
- scripture references (also available below)
- tape
- pushpins (to hang up string if needed)
Before primary tape pictures (and scripture references for Sr. Primary) underneath chairs. Hang clothesline across the front of the room. Our primary isn’t very wide so I can hang it from wall to wall but you can hang the clothesline wherever it works for you. Against the chalkboard or strung from the ceiling, just whatever will work for your primary room set-up.
ATTENTION GETTER: Tell the kids to close their eyes. Tell them this visualization:
“Visualize you are in the country at a small farm. There is a soft breeze and the sun is warmly shining down, with a few clouds in the sky (turn blow dryer on low and lightly blow over the primary).
“Visualize you are in the country at a small farm. There is a soft breeze and the sun is warmly shining down, with a few clouds in the sky (turn blow dryer on low and lightly blow over the primary).
The long grass is soft as you lie down and listen to birds chirping (it might be fun to somehow bring in a sound effect of birds chirping). You smell wild flowers and a light scent of clean laundry hanging out to dry (spray some room freshener when you get to this part!).
You feel happy, peaceful and calm. Open your eyes.”
ASK: Who gave us these wonderful things? [Heavenly Father]
ASK: What can you think of that Heavenly Father gave you? [answers will vary!]
ASK: What can you think of that Heavenly Father gave you? [answers will vary!]
ASK: Why? [because he loves you]
We’re going to be learning a song that talks about how Heavenly Father has shown his love for you. Have everyone look under their chairs to reveal pictures (and scripture references for Sr.)
Senior Primary:
You and the teachers sing the song until all the pictures are quickly put in order on the clothesline using the clothespins. Then, line by line, figure out what
scripture references go with each picture. Sing each line gradually adding on. Tape the references to the picture(s) they correspond to.
scripture references go with each picture. Sing each line gradually adding on. Tape the references to the picture(s) they correspond to.
Junior Primary:
Sing the song line by line and as parts are sung, hang the corresponding pictures in order (do not use scripture references).
If time permits, gradually take them all down as lines are learned.
Sing the song line by line and as parts are sung, hang the corresponding pictures in order (do not use scripture references).
If time permits, gradually take them all down as lines are learned.
ANSWERS TO SCRIPTURES REFERENCES
(make sure to bring a copy of these answers!):
Verse 1:
D&C 42:50 – He who hath faith to hear shall hear.
Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Proverbs 4:25 – Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Or look at the blue, blue sky
Zechariah 10:1 – Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Psalms 78:26 – He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. Or the wind as it rushes by
Psalms 103:15 – As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Whenever I touch a velvet rose, Or walk by our lilac tree
Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heav’nly Father created for me
Verse 2:
3 Nephi 13:22 – The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be
single, thy whole body shall be full of light. He gave me my eyes that I might see
single, thy whole body shall be full of light. He gave me my eyes that I might see
Genesis 1:25 – And God made … every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. The color of butterfly wings
Jeremiah 28:7 – Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; He gave me my ears that I might hear
D&C 136:28 – If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise… The magical sound of things
Genesis 1:26-27 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them. He gave me my life, my mind, my heart; I thank him rev’rently
Genesis 1:31 – And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. For all his creations, of which I’m a part.
Proverbs 8:17 – I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.
CREDITS:
The clothespin & clothesline idea is from Pat Graham’s idea for teaching this song HERE.
The clothespin & clothesline idea is from Pat Graham’s idea for teaching this song HERE.
UPDATE: I found and edited some new clipart pictures that I liked better. They are also available to download using the button at the bottom of this post.
Download a printable for all the scripture references also available below. I found all those HERE (2 of the references there are incorrect but I have corrected them – thank you to Ashleigh for catching those!).
Find Part 2 HERE
I also have a coloring book/flip chart for this song. You can find more details HERE.
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > My Heavenly Father Loves Me.
12 thoughts on “My Heavenly Father Loves Me”
Thank you for making my job so easy. This looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Scripture list from Primary Notes 29: http://primarynotes29.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-heavenly-father-loves-me-teaching.html
I recognized my formatting.
Glad you found them useful!
🙂
-Ashlie, PN29
Amazing job! Thank you.
Thank you so much! I printed this out and used it today. Everything went really well. I laminated the pictures so I can use them again.
Did anyone else feel silly teaching the lyrics "Heavenly Father created for me" after the sharing time lesson stressed that "Jesus Christ create the earth" ? Confusing?
I was just reading in the February Ensign on page 43 and it states, "Under the direction of God the Father, Jesus Christ created the earth so that we, the children of God, could gain a physical body and experience trials in order to become like our Father…" Anyway, I thought it clarified your thoughts which did bring up a good point.
~Camille
Thank you for such a wonderful help for singing time; just love it!
Georgina xo
Thank you Camille. I am brand new to this calling and although I am super excited I am also extremely nervous about what to do. Someone recommended I follow your blog and I am so thankful for them. You are serving not only your sweet primary children but countless primary children all over the world!!! THANK YOU for helping us Primary Choristers out there too.
Warmly,
Misty
A dumb question perhaps: where do you hang the clothesline? I can't imagine it goes across the whole room?
Thank you for everything! I've recently been called as a Primary Chorister and your blog has been the most helpful resource thus far.
Also, I wanted to let you know that there are some incorrect scripture references listed for this activity. The fifth scripture – listed as Psalms 105:15 – is actually Psalms 103:15. Additionally, the tenth scripture – listed as Doctrine & Covenants 126:38 – is actually Doctrine & Covenants 136:28.
Thank you, again.
Hi Bryan,
I can hang it across most of the front of our primary room – ours isn't very wide. We have the accordian doors that divide our primary into 3rd so I can hang it from those. But hanging it along the chalkboard or corkboard would easily work.
~Camille
Hi Ashleigh,
Thanks for catching my typos! I've updated the post.
~Camille