The title of this song longs to tell a good story! And this singing time lesson plan does just that! Teach the Tell Me the Stories of Jesus by creating a simple storybook!
Some of the ideas for this lesson plan are from HERE.
Create a Storybook
The easiest way to put together a story book is to gather pictures that portray all the stories of Jesus. There are TONS of pictures to choose from.
Create your storybook with a binder then adding the printable containing the words to the song.
Cover Page
Access the printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Story Pages
Access my printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Then you need these suggested Gospel Art Pictures (or similar images) shown below. Place the images and words to the song in sheet protectors in this order:
Storybook Variation
Jenni also shared on on the Primary Music Leaders FB group what she put together and it is darling!! The clip art she used is from Susan Fitch! This variation is also available at the Resource Library to download. Thank you for sharing, Jenni!
Singing Time Idea
To use the storybook in singing time, have the children sit on the floor around you so you can read to them a book.
TIP: If you have a large primary, all the pictures and words can easily be presented on the board instead.
Tell the primary that today we’re going to learn a song about telling stories, but these aren’t pretend stories. These are real stories about Jesus. You and the teachers quickly sing the entire 1st verse (or listen to it on your phone + speakers) as you flip through the entire storybook. Post the words as needed like I do HERE.
**The secret to making this work is to keep it fast paced, so the repetition of each line is only interrupted by a small amount of talking. The purpose is not to tell any of the stories in detail, just to remind them of the story with a few words.
Afterwards, read to them the cover: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus
Tell them this is the name of the song we will be learning that goes along with our storybook.
Turn to the first page and read the first line, Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Ask, can you think of some of your favorite stories of Jesus? Take quick answers.
Turn the page to the picture of the Nativity; tell the primary about this story of Jesus. Sing the first line with the primary (turning back to the words if needed).
Repeat with pictures of Christ’s baptism, Raising Jairus’ daughter and Christ with the Nephite Children. Singing the phrase in between each picture.
Turn the page to the words with the next line of the song: Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here.
Show the picture of Christ with the Children.
Explain what it means. “If Jesus were here right now, what question would you like to ask Him? What story would you ask Him to tell?” Sing the line, choose 4 children to share their answer as you sing the line in between each answer.
Turn the page to the next line: scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea. Explain that this line tells about two places where Jesus spent lots of time: the wayside and the sea.
Turn to the page with Jesus on the boat. Ask the primary if they know of any stories of Jesus at sea (calming the storm, walking on water, the fishing boat, etc.).
Hand Actions
Optionally, add simple hand actions for Junior as each line is learned for some movement. They can help come up with the actions too.
Bear Testimony
Bear testimony that the stories of Jesus found in the scriptures are not pretend stories, but actual events that really happened! Jesus Christ is who he says he was and there are many people who witnessed those stories and miracles found in the scriptures.
More Singing Time Ideas
Find more ideas for teaching Tell Me the Stories of Jesus (including the 2nd and 3rd versesm handbell charts and more!) HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Tell Me the Stories of Jesus.
9 thoughts on “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus 1st Verse”
Thank you Camille for taking the time to share your wonderful ideas! You are blessing our primary all the way in Cambodia. 🙂
I'm going to try this tomorrow but in Spanish … Hoping for success
Thanks for sharing! I agree, the reading activities just don't cut it for the little ones. I have an activity for junior primary that I love, where I use a lot of the same pictures you show here. I hold one at a time, and I ask the children to memorize the picture while I sing the verse through. Then, I hide the picture and ask them questions about details. I repeat with another picture. Though they're not singing, the kids soak up the meaning of the song while they're hearing it over and over.
Thank you a million times over for all your hard work! I took your book idea and turned it into a google slides. I'm going to use the tv to show it to my kiddos tomorrow.
I love the updates book idea. Thank you for all your great ideas!
Hello and THANK YOU for weekly inspiration and ideas! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!
I'm not too good with facebook and wonder if you can share which "Jenni" created the Susan Fitch pictures for verse 1. I'm hoping to find versus 2 & 3 with the same illustrations.
Thanks again!!!
:)sharon
Hi Sharon,
It's from Jenni Seaver Glauser. I tried linking her original FB post but the link re-directs to another website she mentions in the post. But I'm able to find it if I search "Tell Me the stories of Jesus Jenni."
I haven't seen anything for the 2nd and 3rd verses but maybe she'll create them for you :).
~Camille
This is amazing! It is a combination of 2 ideas I was planning to do this month. I guess we were both inspired. 😉 Wish I had found it sooner. Thanks so much for all your wonderful ideas. Tina
That’s wonderful! Thanks for commenting!
~Camille