I decided to throw another Christmas song in to the mix – and why not? We won’t be performing When Joseph Went to Bethlehem in Sacrament Meeting but that’s alright, the more Christmas songs we sing, the better!
To teach this song, I’ll be using the simple hand motions with scarves I originally found on sugardoodle. I’ve typed up the actions that you can download using my access button at the bottom of this post. Print it and take it with you :). But I’d HIGHLY suggest learning all these hand motions before primary! It will be pretty difficult to try to figure them all out as you teach!
Here are the actions:
VERSE 1
- “When Joseph went to Bethlehem” (put scarf over head to represent period head covering for Joseph or Mary)
- “I think he took great care, to place his tools” (put scarf on lap and pretend to place tools on it then fold one side over)
- “and close his shop” (used hand motion like two doors coming together to close)
- “and leave no shavings there” (use the scarf as a dusting rag and pretend to dust off a work bench)
- “He urged the donkey forward” (put scarf tight between both hands and move them together in one direction, like a rope pulling a donkey)
- “then with Mary on its back” (put scarf on head to represent Mary now)
- “and carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack” (pull the four corners of the scarf together like it is holding something and hold the very top).
VERSE 2
- “I think there at the busy inn” (here you could act as though you are trying to see through a crowd looking from side to side as if to see around someone in front of you, then up on tippy toes)
- “that he was meek and mild” (put the scarf on head to represent Joseph again, then fold arms and bow head as if in prayer to show meekness)
- “and awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child” (fold the blanket like you would if you were wrapping up a baby, and cradle the scarf bundle in the elbow of one arm kind of rocking)
- “perhaps all through the chilly hours” (wrap scarf like a shawl and act cold) “he soothed the swaddling bands”
- (wad the scarf back up and put it back in the bend of your elbow like a baby, and stroke it gently)
- “and Jesus felt the quiet strength” (leave the scarf baby on your left arm then put your finger over your lips for ‘quiet’ then make a muscle with your right arm for ‘strength’)
- “of Joseph’s gentle hands” (stroke the scarf baby again)
VERSE 3
- “and close beside the manger bed” (scarf baby still in arm)
- “he dimmed the lantern’s light” (scarf held up by two top corners in front of face like a curtain)
- “and held the little Jesus close upon that holy night” (scarf in a bundle like a baby cradled and rocked in the arm again)
These are my scarves (I bought them when I taught The Holy Ghost HERE. I use scarves a lot in primary!):
I bought mine from Amazon. Find the link in my shop HERE.
The kids LOVE the scarves! In my opinion, they are such a versatile item to have for your primary! Especially for teaching primary songs! If your primary has room in their budget, I’d suggest getting some.
I’ve also created a YouTube video demonstrating these actions if that helps. I would love it if you would like and subscribe to my channel HERE.
Mary Verses
Did you know alternate verses were written about Mary to the tune of When Joseph Went to Bethlehem? It was published in The Friend in the 70’s-80’s according to Emily HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > When Joseph Went to Bethlehem.
8 thoughts on “When Joseph Went to Bethlehem”
Hi Camille, I check your blog every week! Thanks for all the help. Does each kid get a scarf or just you as you're teaching the song?
I would also like to know if you have all your kids use a scarf or just you!…
Definitely me and all the kids have scarves. Sorry that isn't more clear.
~Camille
Hi Camille! Love all of your creative ideas! We use scarves in nursery every week so I'd love to get these uniform scarves. On Amazon I can only see them for $25. Is that the price you paid?
Hi Ashley!
Those are what I bought and I paid that price…totally worth it though.
~Camille
Hi Camille!
I'm late in planning my lesson for tomorrow and want to do the scarves! I found them at a local store, but they are only 18 inches. Do you think they would work or should I hold off until next week and order the bigger ones?
Hi Camille!
I'm late in planning my lesson for tomorrow and want to do the scarves! I found them at a local store, but they are only 18 inches. Do you think they would work or should I hold off until next week and order the bigger ones?
Hi Heather!
18 inches would work fine but I think the bigger scarves might be a little better. I've never used the smaller scarves so I could be completely wrong. That may be a question to ask the FB group if you are a member.
~Camille