When I Am Baptized

This song is a fun one to teach.  You will need:

•  picture of a rainbow or make one
• picture of rain or cutout of a rain drop
• picture of a child being baptized
• word strip of "forgiven"
• wash rag

Ask the children if they have been really dirty.  How did they feel when they could wash their hands or take a bath.

Ask a recently baptized child to share their feelings after being baptized.  Ask an adult or you can tell how you felt when you were baptized.

This song tells how we can be spiritually clean.

Using the pictures, sing the first verse.  Have the children sing it with you.  With the pictures, sing the second verse and have them sing with you.  Sing both phrases a few times.

Sing the chorus. Invite the children to sing it with you.  Sing it a few times then try the whole song.

Be sure to thank the children for their participation in learning this new song.

Winter Singing Time

Make 10 or 12 snowflakes. Choose several songs that the children know - 10 or 12.  Include Choose the Right and I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus as well as Once There Was a Snowman, p. 249, and Rain Is Falling, p.241.  Tape the snowflakes on the board or all around the room.  Ask a child to choose one then sing the song.  It is always good to sing a song more than once, especially if they struggle with the words.

Snowflakes:

• Snowflakes have 6 points
• Cut 10 or 12 large circles out of white and/or light blue construction paper (dinner plate size)
• Fold circles in half then in thirds so it looks like a watermelon slice
• cut several small triangles, diamonds, etc. along the folded sides.
• unfold the circle and see the design you have made.
• Use your imagination so no two snowflakes are not alike.
• I laminate them so I can use them over and over again.

"Choose the Right" Review

Using the visuals from last weeks post (Jan. 8, 2017), tape them to the board and ask the children to put them in order as you sing the hymn.  If the visual is used more than once, put a tally mark next to it.

Review phrases that they need help on, then sing it again.

If they know the hymn well, try this activity as everyone sings the hymn:

• Boys stand when the word "choose" is sung.
• Girls stand when the word "right" is sung.
• As soon as they sing their word, they must quickly sit back down.

Choose the Right

I like to start learning the hymn for the year as soon as possible so the children have plenty of time to internalize it.  this year it is Choose the Right, #239. Click the links for pictures.

Preparation:

• Make a shield with CTR printed in the middle, (Hopefully you all know that it stands for Choose the Right.)  I used heavy cardstock and made it about about 14 inches tall.
• Picture of a flashlight or light bulb (or you can use the real thing)

Sing the first and hold up the shield every time you sing choose the right or right.

Every time you sing light, hold up the flashlight or light bulb.

Sing it a few times with the children.  

Have two children hold up the two pictures as you sing them.

Chorus

• Use the shield and flashlight/light bulb as you sing the chorus.
• Picture of books with a bookmark - "let wisdom mark the way before"
• Picture of children with Christ - "and God will bless you evermore"

Sing the chorus showing the pictures as you sing.  Invite the children to sing with you.