If you are looking for a sweet, tender song from the Children’s Songbook to teach your primary children for Mother’s Day, I love the song pick, Dearest Mother, I Love You (archives). The simple lyrics lend this song to be especially great for younger primary children.
Get some wiggles out with this Dearest Mother, I Love You Emoji Rhythms idea and follow along with this simple pattern that uses just one action for each line of this primary song!
Dearest Mother, I Love You Emoji Rhythms
Whether you are preparing to sing this song in sacrament meeting or use it as a wiggle song around Mother’s Day, you will enjoy this simple emoji rhythms movement idea (more purposeful movement activities)! Since this song is very short, it can be tricky to practice the song without the lyrics becoming too repetitive.
That’s why I decided to add some movement! Follow along with this fun emoji pattern that includes simple body rhythms for each line of this song. Both Junior and Senior primary kiddos will catch on to this pattern in a flash! Don’t forget to glance at some extension ideas later in this post if you want an extra challenge!
At the beginning of primary, sing through Dearest Mother, I Love You (flip chart). You all sound so beautiful! Let’s sing it again, but this time, we’re going to add some movements. Are you ready?
Demonstrate the first part of the pattern by cupping your hands around your mouth like you are whispering a secret. How gently can we sing this phrase?
Now, clap your hands on each word of the phrase, “Your kind hands help me each day.”
For the third line, stomp your feet as you sing, “You’re my mother kind and true.” Let’s try stomping on the rhythm, like this:
You’re / my / mo – / ther / kind / and / true
Awesome! What does it sound like if we alternate our feet? Try alternating between left and right stomps to vary the sound.
Finally, spin in a circle as you sing, “Dearest mother, I love you.” Pretty easy, right? Do you think we can do all it from the beginning?
Sing through the song a few more times with all 4 rhythms. Use the emojis as a visual reminder and point to one symbol at a time as you sing!
Emoji Rhythms:
Follow along with these 4 simple actions and rhythms below. Don’t forget to grab a copy of the printable version later in this post with large symbols to represent each action in the pattern.
📣Cup Hands 📣= “Gentle words I hear you say” (Quietly!)
👏Clap hands 👏= “Your kind hands help me each day”
👟Stomp Feet 👟= “You’re my mother kind and true”
🔄Spin Around 🔄= “Dearest mother, I love you”
Extension Activities:
- Tape up a big poster with one emoji in each corner of the room. Have the children randomly choose one corner to start in. Pointing to one corner of the time, sing the song line by line. Then, rotate to a new corner and try a new movement.
- Cut out all 4 emoji cards and tape them on the board. On the other side of the board, write each line of the song. Match each emoji to the line that best fits the picture. Swap the last action for a heart.
- Mix up the movement cards and randomly put them in order. Sing through the song with the new, silly pattern.
- Focus on the rhythm first by tapping or clapping out the rhythm. Then, try adding one action at a time.
- Swap out the last action by blowing a kiss on the line, “Dearest Mother, I Love You.”
- Pick a “conductor” to come up and lead the song while you point to the pictures. Or, choose a helper to come point to the pictures while you lead. Choose a new helper each time you sing through the song.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this The Books in the Old Testament Body Rhythm singing time activity!
Dearest Mother, I Love You Emoji Rhythms Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a single-page poster with large symbols for each action in this pattern.
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What other fun ways will you use this emoji rhythms singing time activity in your Primary room?
