Teach I Need My Heavenly Father in singing time with this hands-on activity using pipe cleaners! It’s easy enough that even your youngest Primary child can participate and love it.
This simple and sweet Primary song is often overlooked! But the lyrics (find the sheet music on the Church’s website) contain simple and sweet gospel truths:
I need my Heav’nly Father To help me ev’ry day. He wants me to be happy And choose the righteous way. He wants me to be happy And choose the righteous way.
I recommend teaching it during transition time, or add it as a wiggle song!
Pipe Cleaner Shapes
For this activity, provide a pipe cleaner for each child.
TIP: to simplify, these actions can also be done using arms.
Demonstrate these actions using a pipe cleaner as you and the teachers sing.
I need my Heav’nly Father: turn it to look like outstretched arms coming in for a hug. When we need help, often we need a hug
To help me ev’ry day: hold the ends together to create a circle and move it overhead to look like a sunrise for “every day”
He wants me to be happy: turn it to create a smile
And choose the righteous way: turn it to create a “C” for choose
He wants me to be happy: turn it to create a smile
And choose the righteous way: turn it to create a “C” for choose
Afterwards, pass out a pipe cleaner to each child and help them form it into a “C” shape. Before singing, practice the “C transformations” like a mini game:
“Show me C… now HUG… now SUN… now SMILE…”
Sing the song again, breaking down each of the phrases, describing the action, then singing the phrase as you do the action, gradually adding on until all the actions are learned.
Time Permitting
Create a fun competition by having all the Primary children stand up. As you sing, they create the correct shape. If they do the wrong shape, they sit down. Repeat, gradually getting faster (making it harder) until 1 child is left standing.
Bear Testimony
Bear testimony that for us to be happy everyday, we need our Heavenly Father.
Demonstration Video
Check out this demonstration video for teaching I Need My Heavenly Father in singing time using this lesson plan:
These singing time ideas for teaching the Primary song, Love Is Spoken Here will help your Primary fall in love all over again with this song! My favorite is using a match-up activity that puts the double melody together! But whatever you choose, these Love Is Spoken Here singing time ideas are bound to accommodate your Primary’s learning style and needs!
The 2nd hour of church has significantly changed for Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders Quorum and all youth classes. However, Primary received a minor change that you might not have noticed.
Add an extra touch of fun to your Primary program by passing out invitations. On the big day, pull it all together with a unique 2026 Primary program bulletin created by your Primary children!
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