Did You Think to Pray?

Tell me I’m not the only one who has ever forgotten to pray!?! This singing time lesson plan teaches the hymn, Did You Think To Pray? using a simple {and old fashioned} way to remember things – a string tied around your finger!

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TIP: When teaching hymns, I recommend only teaching the first verse. If you want the other verses included in your primary program, add in the congregation for the rest!

That said, this lesson plan is for the first verse only.

Singing Time Idea

To introduce the song, tie a piece of string around your finger. Tell the kids that before we had phones with reminders, people used to tie strings around their fingers. This would remind them to do a particular something.

As you and the teachers sing the song (or play it on your phone + speaker), have your primary listen for what you are trying to remember to do [pray].

Post the words like I do HERE.

Then pass out a string to each child for their finger (optional) OR try…

Pipe Cleaner

It’s not quite the REAL thing but you won’t have to tie millions of strings that will come untied throughout singing time.

I found pipe cleaner at Walmart (100 count) and cut them in half so they’re not so long. Find pipe cleaner online too (Amazon affiliate link):

Act out Did You Think to Pray

Next, have children come up one at a time and do the following actions:

Person lying down sleeping: Ere you left your room this morning
Person praying: Did you think to pray?
Person holding up a picture of Christ: In the name of Christ, our Savior
Person shrugging shoulders as if asking a question: Did you sue for loving favor
Person creating a shield by making an “X” with their arms: As a shield today
Person that is tired, discouraged: Oh, how praying rests the weary!
Person covering their eyes, then uncovering their eyes: Prayer will change the night to day.
Person that is sad, tired: So, when life gets dark and dreary,
Person holding up the string tied on their finger: Don’t forget to pray.

Most of these actions come from Sharla Dance’s website HERE (also a great lesson plan on it’s own!).

After each action has been introduced, have the rest of the primary point to the actor using their string stick/pipe cleaner as they sing the associated phrase. Add the next action with another child while singing the next phrase while the rest of the primary points.

Define Difficult Words

On the board, define any difficult words including:

Ere: before
Sue for loving favor: ask a question
Weary: tired or discouraged
Dreary: sad, tired

Rotate kids up front after completing all the actions so each child can have a turn acting. Repeat until all the children have had a turn.

Bear Testimony

Bear testimony of the importance of remembering to pray. Prayer protects, guides and directs us throughout our day.

Have the kids give you their strings/pipe cleaner when finished. You will be using them again to review in the upcoming weeks (for pitch leading and pointing to melody maps).

Demonstration Video

Check out my quick demonstration video for teaching Did You Think to Pray in singing time using this lesson plan:

You can also find this video on my YouTube channel HERE. I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe!

More Singing Time Ideas

Check out more singing time ideas for teaching Did You Think to Pray? in singing time HERE.

Find more details on the melody map review HERE.

Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:

These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Did You Think to Pray?.

Make singing time easy!

Get it to go!

Singing time just got even easier! With my Singing Time To-Go, all you have to do is print! Be prepared for the entire month – every month!

2 thoughts on “Did You Think to Pray?”

mamalaoshi
March 3, 2019 at 3:37 pm

This is wonderful. Thank you! I woke up this morning four hours before church, feeling like I should scrap my lesson plan and teach this song instead. So much help! Thank you again!

Reply
Jillian Harding
March 8, 2019 at 3:35 am

Thank you! Wonderful idea! My primary is doing this lesson this Sunday.

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