Are you excited to teach If I Were There as your Christmas song pick this year? You and the kids will both love this perfectly themed If I Were There Picture Me There activity!
You’ll let the kids help you draw parts of the song, draw themselves at the scene, fill in something they would have helped with, or even fill the frames with pictures of the Primary children and fill up the board with a collage of all their photos!
If I Were There Picture Me There
How to Play:
Sing through If I Were There once, before introducing this activity.
Ask the children to share their answer to the question: What would you do if you were there at the manger the night baby Jesus was born? Take a couple of answers and talk about some of the different things they might have done. Such as helped prepare the manger, bring gifts to Jesus, been with the shepherds, noticed the star, etc.
Tell the children to pay attention to the words for some ideas from the song of things they might have done while they think about their answer for the activity! Sing through the song again with them specifically listening for some of the answers to the question.
Now post 3 large, printed frames (one in each style) up on the whiteboard. Ask for 3 helpers to come up and draw something they might have done if they were there in the frame while you all sing the song again.
Continue to repeat with 3 new frames and helpers. Or see the alternate activities below for more ways to use the picture frames!
Share a brief testimony that we can do many of those things mentioned today, and every day, by serving others, being kind, seeking for Him, etc. (Based on answers!)
More Ways to Use the Printable Picture Frames
- Print out the smaller sized picture frames and give one to each child. Have the children color in the scene while you sing the song 2-3 times through while they color. Then, fill up the whiteboard up front with all their drawings!
- Ask the children what specific things were mentioned in the lyrics. Let 1-2 children come up to draw one of the specific scenes in song order while everyone sings.
- You can include: seeing the angels, traveling with the shepherds, finding the stable, bowing and worshiping the Savior, feeling at peace, journeying with the wisemen, bringing treasures, etc.
- Use the completed pictures to unscramble the song order to reuse this activity on another week!
- Match the line! Have the children decide which verse (or chorus) their picture best fits. You can use our If I Were There flip chart printable to help them decide. Have the children sing ONLY their verse for a fun popcorn singing effect!
- Send the picture frames home and challenge the children to fill it with what they might have done then OR what they can do today to be seeking Jesus this holiday season! You can tie that in with a challenge to sing the song this week to practice it, as well.
- Take pictures of the children and fill in the frames with pictures of your Primary children!! Then, hand them out while singing and let the children come up front to put their picture up on the whiteboard! You might setup a nativity scene beforehand or as part of the activity before adding their pictures!
See our I Am a Child of God Mirror Pass activity with a similar premise for more ideas on how to use this activity in singing time!
If I Were There Picture Me There Printable Song Helps
Get started with these cute printable picture frames to help inspire the children to picture themselves THERE!
You can print out the large full-page picture frames or pick the smaller 1/4 sheet picture frames. There are 3 colored styles and 2 black and white options. Just pick the size and color option that works best for your needs.
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
For more information on why I use a content lock or how to create your account, you can see the FAQ page here.
Head over next to grab this free Born to Be a King handbell chart!
How else could you expand on this idea to have the children think about if THEY really were there with these cute picture frames?
