Your primary children are guaranteed to love shaking along with this More Jesus Jingle Bells pattern! Bring this primary song to life by using jingle bells to focus on the rhythm during singing time!
More Jesus Jingle Bells
As you teach Angie Killian’s new song, More Jesus (archives) in primary this month, consider using this jingle bells idea! Whether you decide to purchase a set of jingle bells or make your own (DIY instructions!), these instruments will be a hit!
This song has some tricky rhythms, so it may be helpful to spend a week focusing on the rhythm. Of course, you can always just clap or tap out the rhythm. But why not add something extra and incorporate instruments? In this pattern, we’ll alternate between shaking with the beat and tapping out the rhythm using jingle bells.
Let’s jump right in and I’ll share this fun jingle bells pattern with you!
Before introducing instruments, I recommend refreshing the song once. Grab a copy of our More Jesus flip chart for this song to follow the lyrics with ease.
Then, bring out your jingle bells and shake on the beat as you sing, “I wake up.” Then, do a fast shake on the word, “morning.” You’ll notice that the first shake happens before you sing Here’s an example, with steady taps on slashes and fast shakes on italicized words.
/ “I wake / up / every / mor-ning / with a /prayer in my soul“
You’ll repeat this pattern for the first four lines, with the fast shake on the last word of the phrase.
Can you try it with me? Pass out the jingle bells and sing try the first four lines. Then, tap your jingle bell on your knee on each note of the phrase, “no mat-ter what my day brings” for 7 total taps. See my example below:
No – mat – ter – what – my – day – brings
Then, do 3 steady shakes on the words, “I know just” and 3 fast shakes on “who I need.”
In the printable version, I’ve used symbols to represent all 3 actions used in this pattern. For quick reference:
- >= Steady Shake
- .=Tap on Knee
- *=Fast Shake
Try the verse pattern a few times, then jump into the chorus pattern by alternating between knee taps and steady shakes on “I need more” / “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
Then, tap your knees twice, followed by a firm, steady shake. Repeat this 3 times, but finish with a fast shake on the third repeat, as shown below:
“a little – more light, a little – more love, a little – more *hope“
Repeat this entire sequence for the last 4 lines of the chorus. Can we try the entire song? Try the jingle bells pattern together! You’ll likely need to slow it down a lot the first time through.
Jingle Bells Verse Pattern:
>> * Steady shake on beat / Fast Shake = “Wake up / morning, “With a prayer / soul”
(Repeat for first 4 lines)
. . . . . . . . Tap on knee (Every note) = “No mat-ter what my day brings”
>>> * * * 3 Steady shakes / 3 Fast Shakes = “I know just / who I need”
Jingle Bells Chorus Pattern:
Repeat the Sequence Twice –
. . . * * *Knee Taps / Fast Shakes = “I need more / Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”
.. > .. > Knee Taps / Steady Shake = “Little more light, little more love”
.. * “Little more hope”
Extension Activities:
- Have one side of the room sing and do the jingle bells pattern for the verse, then have the other side sing the chorus. Then, switch!
- Simply tap along with the rhythm to get the feel for the song. Then, try adding in some long shakes for sustained notes.
- Listen and shake on keywords like “morning, prayer, blessings, grow, need, Jesus, light, hope, love.”
More Jesus Jingle Bells Demonstration Video!
Boost your confidence and try out this jingle bells patterns a few times before using it in singing time! In this video, I’ll demonstrate the full pattern for both the verse and chorus. Grab your jingle bells and practice along with me!
–> More Jesus Jingle Bells Demo Video <–
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this I Lived in Heaven Jingle Bells singing time activity!
More Jesus Jingle Bells Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a verse and chorus pattern with symbols to represent each action in the pattern.
This activity has extended printables available including a special pattern for the refrain, a pattern key, a larger format for printing, and a colorful pattern option! You’ll find these bonus files in the More Jesus teaching packet in my shop.
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For another fun and engaging way to teach this song this year, you’ll love this More Jesus Finger Lights lesson plan!
What other fun ways will you use this jingle bells singing time activity in your Primary room?
