Are you looking for a new Christmas song to teach in singing time this year? Born to Bring Us Joy (archives) is such a sweet song. It is truly a gem among our list of 100+ Christmas Primary Songs. You just can’t help but smile as you sing “JOY!”
For a simple way to introduce or review this song in primary, use this Born to Bring Us Joy Action Words activity! Use these simple actions to bring this song to life as you sing together!
Born to Bring Us Joy Action Words
To help you teach this song in primary, I’ve created simple actions to go along with each line of this sweet song. These actions range from simple hand motions to full-body movements. This word representations activity will have your kids participating and engaged right from the start!
Introduce the activity by singing through the first verse and chorus of Born to Bring Us Joy. Since this song is likely new to your primary children, be sure to grab our handy flip chart with simple lyrics and pictures for this song.
Tell the kids that you’ll be learning some fun actions to help you remember the words to the song! Post the first 4 action word cards on the board.
Demonstrate the first action words by flapping your arms while singing the word, “angel.” Can you try it with me? Then, wiggle your fingers as you slowly bring your arms down to imitate twinkling stars. Use this action while singing the phrase, “the night that Jesus was born.”
Then, cup your hands over your mouth like a big megaphone. Can anyone guess what this action is for? Then, stretch your arms out wide as you sing, “Born to bring us joy.” Let’s try those 4 actions again! Sing through the first 4 lines using the action words.
Then, post the next set of 4 action words and demonstrate the actions as you sing through the next 4 lines of the song. Have the kids try the actions with you a few times.
Lastly, teach the action words for the chorus. Since the chorus includes a lot of repetition of the word, “Joy,” hop 3 times as you sing, “Joy, Joy, Joy!” For the last phrase, “Born to bring us joy,” stretch your arms out wide like previously used in the song.
Do you think you can remember ALL the action words for the song? Let’s try it! Point to the word cards as you follow along with the actions for each line.
Action Words:
I’ve included a simple outline for ALL the action words used for the first verse and chorus of this song. You’ll find helpful visuals for each action word in our printable action word cards later in this post.
Just print out the action cards and teach 4 lines at a time or mix them up for a more challenging activity!
Lines 1-4 (Verse):
- Flap Arms = “Angel”
- Twinkle Fingers = “Night”
- Megaphone Hands = “Tell”
- Arms Outstretched = “Joy”
Lines 5-8 (Verse):
- Hand by Ear = “Hearing”
- Run in Place = “Running”
- Pat Knees = “Kneel”
- Arms Outstretched = “Joy”
Chorus:
- Hop 3x = “Joy, Joy, Joy”
- Rock the Baby = “Born”
- Hop 3x = “Joy, Joy, Joy”
- Arms Outstretched = “Joy”
Extension Activities:
- Cut out the action word cards and randomly post them on the board or tape them up around the room. Using clues from the song, put the word cards in order!
- Have one half of the room do the actions for the first four lines, and have the other half do the actions for the next 4 lines. Then, have both groups do the actions for the chorus!
- Cut out the action words cards. Randomly pass out 2-4 cards to each class. Have each class do their actions and sing the corresponding line. Each time you sing through the song, pass your cards to a different group so that you can try new actions!
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this I Believe in Christ Action Words singing time activity!
Born to Bring Us Joy Action Words Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes 12 action word cards with 1 action for each line of the first verse and chorus of this sweet Christmas song.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including action words for the entire song in 2 sizes! You’ll find these bonus files included when Born to Bring Us Joy is the featured song of the month.
Get more out of singing time with the INSTANT Primary Singing membership that includes printable lesson plans, tons of extended printables and an ad-free experience for each featured song of the month, or get immediate access to the entire song list for the year!
Learn more about INSTANT Primary Singing membership options here!
Have questions or need more help, see this FAQ page here.
For another fun way to review this song, head over to this Born to Bring Us Joy First Letters puzzle activity!
What other fun ways will you use this action words singing time activity in your Primary room?
