Check out these singing time ideas for teaching the Primary song, Families Can Be Together Forever. My favorite is drawing stick figure families and creating a family band! But whatever you choose, these Families Can Be Together Forever singing time ideas are bound to accommodate your Primary’s learning style and needs!
Stick Figure Families & a Family Band
Combine 2 singing time activities for teaching Families Can Be Together Forever. You need the family band pencils HERE and chalk.
As you sing the song, invite children to come draw their families on the board, as suggested in the stick figure family activity HERE.
As those few children draw, the rest of the Primary pitch leads with their pencils (there are also other movement suggestions on the Family Band link).
Easy, right?!
Draw the Song
Or try this coloring activity HERE.
Puzzle
If you remember the OCD Primary Chorister’s website from way-back-when, she created a puzzle for teaching Families Can Be Together Forever. She has given me the rights to her website so I can share her material, how cool is that??
Here are the instructions:
Access this in my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
A Children's Songbook Companion
A Children’s Songbook Companion contains a singing time lesson plan for every single song in the Children’s Songbook including Families Can Be Together Forever. More details on this book can be found HERE.
Access this in my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Teach Families Can Be Together Forever with Merry Bells
Merry Bells has handbell charts for Families Can Be Together Forever There are several options to choose from:
- Play Along DVD Primary Songs HERE
- Digital Download Multi-Note Harmony HERE
- Digital Download Single-Note Melody HERE
- Printable Handbell Charts HERE
Make sure to use coupon code CPI for 10% off your entire order!
ASL
If you’d rather teach sign language for this song, Holly has wonderful videos! Check them out here:
Then make sure to check out my post HERE for more helpful tips for teaching sign language in singing time!
Sharla Dance
Sharla Dance’s singing time methods for teaching Families Can Be Together Forever include several variations! This one uses a paper plate pattern.
This demonstration begins at 5:55 using rhythm sticks:
This demonstration begins at 14:00 and uses her tell-a-story method of teaching:
More Singing Time Ideas
Primary Singing has 12 ideas for teaching Families Can Be Together Forever.
Also check out a few more ideas from LDS Primary Printables.
Families Can Be Together History
This information comes from Stories from The Children’s Songbook by Sister Pat Graham (more information on that book HERE).
In 1981, while Ruth Muir Gardner was serving as music chairman of the Primary general board, she was asked to help write a sacrament meeting presentation about temples. She liked to read and write poetry and stories, work crossword puzzles, and had been a high school English and business teacher. She began thinking of all the things children should know about temple work and her words became a poem.
Ruth made a melody for her words but was not satisfied with it. She felt this was a very important subject and needed dignified music. She asked her friend,Vanja Yorgason Watkins, a former Primary general board Member, to set the words to music. Vanja was serving on the General Music Committee and called this “a sweet opportunity.”
She prepared many versions, and always felt the song ended too soon. Finally, the idea came to emphasize the last statement, as it bears repeating. She said, “The Lord blessed me as I worked, and I completed the song for the children’s sacrament meeting presentation.”122
The song became a favorite and was number 11 on the 1983 Primary survey. Because it is also in the 1985 hymnbook, the song received a new treatment for the Children’s Songbook. It was simplified by the composer and the introduction was deleted.
Author’s Note: One of the gifts of music is that it can provide comfort and assurance. I always think of Michael Sorenson whenever this song is sung.
He was just four years old when he drowned. Michael had been sealed to his parents, and I was grateful to play this beautiful new song about eternal families at his funeral. The message seemed even more personal because the author of the song lived in our ward. Over the years, grandchildren have also sung the song at funerals to honor their grandparents.
Leave your Families Can Be Together Forever Singing Time Ideas
How will you teach Families Can Be Together Forever in singing time? Leave a comment with your suggestions!
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Families Can Be Together Forever.
