Prayer is an important part of many cultural and religious practices around the world. Use this Did You Think to Pray Prayers Around the World singing time lesson plan to help your primary children learn more about how people around the world use prayer as part of their worship.
Learn about different functions of prayer around the world as you review Did You Think to Pray in primary this month!
See all of my Did You Think to Pray Singing Time Ideas here!
Did You Think to Pray Prayers Around the World
I really enjoyed learning more about how people throughout the world use prayer in their lives. I found a lot of information from this website here, but also drew from many different sources.
As I learned about different types of prayers and different functions of prayer, I created printable “prayer posters” that include a location and a brief description of how prayer is incorporated into the lives of many people in that country.
This list is by no means all inclusive. In my research, I found some “themes” in the ways prayer is used around the world. hope you enjoy learning about prayer around the world as much as I did!
At the the beginning of primary, begin by reviewing Did You Think to Pray (flip chart). As you sing, you might invite the children to think about why prayer is important to them.
Ask the children to think about different ways that they pray. When do they typically offer prayers? What are they doing when they pray? Are they alone, or with others?
Explain that people all around the world use prayer for many different reasons. Most of all, people pray to feel closer to God. As you invite the children to learn more about prayers around the world, encourage them to be reverent and respectful of other cultures and ways that people practice their religious beliefs.
Begin by showing one of the prayer posters. Read the short excerpt at the bottom of the page and share the picture with the class. Then, sing though the song again.
Each time you sing through Did You Think to Pray, share another prayer poster from around the world. Invite the children to share any experiences they may have had with prayer.
When you finish, you should have a beautiful collection of ways that prayer is used throughout the world. Display the posters on the board and ask the children to think about how they pray. Invite them to share any differences or similarities they may notice.
Conclude with your testimony of prayer. No matter how much time is left in primary or how rowdy the children are, I always make sure to share a brief testimony. Music can be a powerful way to teach gospel principles.
Did You Think to Pray Prayers Around the World Example:
Here’s an example of one of the prayer poster found later in this post. I’ve included a short description that contains some interesting information about how prayer is incorporated into the spiritual practice of people living in that specific region.
FESTIVALS OF PRAYER: West Bengal, India
For many people around the world, prayer may be a part of larger ceremonies and festivals. In West Bengal, India, people celebrate Kali Puja. This annual festival includes decorating temples and lighting ceremonial candles. People come to the temple to offer prayers and enjoy a feast.
Print out the printable prayer posters below to learn more about how prayer is incorporated in many religious practices!
Extension Activities:
- Help the children understand some of these traditions by noticing similarities or differences. For example, you may prepare a collection of LDS temples throughout the world. Compare that to pictures you may find of temples from other world religions.
- Pass out one prayer poster to each class. Have each class read about their assigned type of prayer. You may invite them to find additional information by having their teacher look up information about the country or religion. Have each class come up and share what they learned with the group.
- As you learn about different cultures, make a list of the purposes or functions of prayer. Look at your list to see how to make our prayers more meaningful in our individual lives, and in the lives of our families.
You might also enjoy learning about missions throughout the world with this I Hope They Call Me On a Mission Around the World lesson!
Did You Think to Pray Prayers Around the World Printable Prayer Posters
There are many different ways to use these printable prayer posters for this around the world activity! Each of these posters includes one function of prayer, as well as a location in which that form of prayer is used.
I’ve also written a short description that shares more information about that form of prayer and how it is incorporated in different cultures. The picture can be a great way for children to connect the new information with what they know about prayer.
Just print out these prayer posters and put them up in primary as you learn about different forms of prayer around the world!
I’m working to add these activities in slideshow format as well, when a good fit. The slideshow presentation file will be included with March New Testament INSTANT Primary Singing membership.
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For another fun way to review this hymn, check out this Did You Think to Pray Dot to Dot activity!
Which prayer tradition did you enjoy learning about the most?
