Mother Tell Me the Story Hand Actions

This is a really cute Primary Mother’s Day song you could teach to your kiddos to sing in Sacrament meeting. I don’t think it’s one that’s picked most often, but it’s perfect for incorporating the Savior and Mother’s in a sweet lullaby style song.

You’ll be able to easily teach the song with this Mother Tell Me the Story Hand Actions lesson plan. You’ll use a variety of simple movements and motions to represent the keywords and build in LOTS of singing repetition!

Mother, Tell Me the Story Hand Actions

How to Play:

Sing through Mother Tell Me the Story (flip chart) once before introducing this activity. This is great as a refresher of the song or introduction if this is your first time singing the song. It also works wonderfully as a transition to just start singing the next song as an indicator to switch gears to a totally different activity!

Sing through the first line of the song, with the actions. Then pause. Did you catch my actions? Let me show you them! Sing through the first line again and show the actions a little slower. Can you do that with me? Sing the first line all together with the actions.

Build on the song next by adding the second line of the song and actions. Repeat and show the kids the actions a 2^nd time. Repeat the line a 3^rd time this time with them all following along doing the actions with you.

Sing the first 3 lines adding actions for the third line of the song. Repeat the 3^rd line and show them the actions again slower. And another time to have them follow and use the actions with you.

You’ll be building the song line by line and adding in natural repetition and a helpful clue to remember the words and what comes next with those movements on the keywords!

Finish off with the 4^th line of the song. Then, sing again from the beginning.

Call up anyone from one class a time to come up front and lead the song with the actions. Then, switch to the next group of helpers letting anyone who would like to come up front do so!

Extension Activities:

• Try singing it fast with action! Can you keep up? How about if we try the song really slow, how slow can you make your movement actions?
• Sing ONLY the words that match your actions! This will be a fun challenge for them to pick out what the symbol represents and reinforces the connection. Then, switch and skip singing the keywords for the actions and only sing all the extra words.
• Let the children help you come up with actions for the “Mother” part of the song the 2^nd and 4^th verse or combine actions with another fun activity like using ribbon wands! Switch parts after a few times through so everyone gets a chance to try the alternative.

Mother, Tell Me the Story Hand Actions Guide

1^st Verse Actions:

????????????♥????

• Mother – Hug self
• Tell me – Cup both hands by your mouth
• Story – Use both hands to form an open book
• Love – Shape both hands together to form a heart
• Hear – One hand behind your ear

????????????‍♀️????

• Tell me – Cup both hands by your mouth
• Heaven – Point one hand upward to heaven
• Why – Shrug shoulders
• Here – Point to the ground

????????♥????

• Mother – Hug self
• Tell – Cup both hands by your mouth
• Love me – Shape both hands together to form a heart
• Gently speak – Hold finger up to your lips like you’re saying “shhhh”

????????

• Go to – Point both pointer fingers to the right
• Sleep – Use your hands like a pillow and rest your head on your hands

For another fun hand actions activity, head over to see this In My Father’s Hands Actions lesson plan!

Mother Tell Me the Story Printable Action Guide

I’ve added a cute emoji’s printable guide to help your visual learners follow along with the pattern! Just post up on the the board and the kids can use it as a reference while learning the actions for each line of the song.

You will find a printable lesson plan, hand actions guide, and action chart for the 3rd verse included in the May Book of Mormon INSTANT Primary Singing membership!

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!

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Head over next to see this fun Mother Tell Me the Story Ribbon Wands pattern that coordinates with this activity for the “Mother” part of the song (verse 2 and 4!)

What other fun ways could you add or adapt this hand actions activity?