To teach the chorus and 1st verse, I’m using a lot of the ideas suggested by Sister Pat Graham found HERE.
To introduce the song, I’m going to get a copy of The Proclamation to the World from the library. And quickly discuss how important families are. So important, that we have a proclamation about them! Our new song’s words come from this document.
Pass out the bells (you can see how I use my handbells HERE) and have the kids play the chorus, without the piano, while you (and the teachers if they know it) sing the words. Switch bell ringers and play the chorus using only the bells in between asking these questions:
- How does God share His love? {by giving us families}
- Why did God give us families? {to help us become what He wants us to be}
- What words are on this melody? {have the bells play “for the family is of God”}
Sing the chorus with the piano and bells
You can access my bell chart for the chorus using my access button at the bottom of this post.
*NOTE: The notes with the black circle are the HIGH notes. Totally optional but just in case you want to use them.
We’ll hopefully spend about 10 minutes with the chorus then move on to the 1st verse. I may collect the bells temporarily while we learn the verse then pass them out again if we have time to review everything together – we’ll see.
For the 1st verse, I’m going to simply hang pictures from the Gospel Art Book (GAB) on the chalk board as we gradually learn each line (see how I use my book HERE and scroll down a bit):
For “Our Father” I’m using GAB # 90, The First Vision:
It’s one of the rare pictures we have of Heavenly Father. And, it’s where the nature of God was discovered, so I think it’s appropriate.
“Has a family, it’s me, it’s you all others too, we are his children” I’m using GAB #5 Adam and Eve Teaching Their Children:
“He sent each one of us to earth, through birth” I’m using GAB #3 The Earth:
“To live and learn here in families” I’m using GAB #108, Passing the Sacrament:
You can download and print each of these pictures HERE if you need. I’d recommend buying the actual book from the Distribution Center.
For Jr. Primary I’m going to also add simple actions for the 1st verse. I saw a really simple version on Facebook Chorister’s group and now I can’t find it. If anyone can, leave a comment! There are several options when I searched but I can’t seem to find the one I saw before. The actions were for:
- Father (ASL sign for God)
- family (ASL sign for family)
- me (point to yourself)
- you (point to others)
- all others too (hold both arms out to include “all”)
- children (“pat” children’s heads)
- earth (arms make a circle over head)
- birth (rock a baby)
- live (fingers make L’s and arms are lifted like growing)
- learn (point to temple)
- families (ASL sign for family)
Then stay tuned for my lesson plan with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th verses. I taught it a few years ago and the kids had a great time when we did it!
Find my lesson plan for teaching the 2nd – 4th verses HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > The Family is of God.
2 thoughts on “The Family is of God, Chorus & 1st Verse”
Hi,
Is this the one you are looking for?
http://kamisprimarymusicideas.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-family-is-of-god-sign-language.html?m=1
Thanks!
This is similar but the one I saw had even more simple actions. This would totally suffice, however. Thank you for the link!
~Camille