I’m really excited about this fun Nephi’s Courage Word Map activity that I have to share today! It’s a perfect way to teach or review this song and help the children learn the gospel principles behind the song from Nephi’s example.
This activity uses directed listening as you sing through Nephi’s Courage a bunch of times and listen for the answer to a series of questions as you build your word map of the song lyrics!
You don’t want to miss out on including and teaching Nephi’s Courage as part of this year’s 2024 Book of Mormon song for Primary list!
Nephi’s Courage Word Map
Sing through 1st verse of Nephi’s Courage (flip chart here) once, before introducing this activity. Put the first piece of the word map up on the board and tell the children this song is about keeping the Lord’s commandments.
Who does this song talk about? (Nephi, you can also add Laman and Lemuel during this step). Add the Nephi cards below the Lord Commands.
Let’s listen for what commandment the Lord gave Nephi! Sing through the song again and be listening for the commandment.
Add the commandment to go and get the PLATES to the board.
Was these commandments EASY for Nephi? How about the things we are commanded to do, are they always easy?
Let’s see how Nephi’s brother’s responded and how we can sometimes feel, too. Sing through the song again and listen for some of the feeling words!
Add Laman and Lemuel to the board, if you haven’t already. Now, let’s add how they responded (AFRAID). Do we sometimes feel afraid, too?
Even though sometimes we can have these feelings, Nephi gives us a great example of how we should respond to the Lord’s commands!
Sing through the song together and look for Nephi’s response! No matter what our initial reaction and response might be, we can remember Nephi’s example. Nephi was COURAGEOUS! Add that word to the board. Because Nephi had faith and courage, he saw miracles that helped him follow the commandments.
What steps did Nephi share to help him obey the Lord’s commands? Sing through the song as you listen to the steps! Add these keywords to the bottom of your word map or to the far right.
GO > DO > PROVIDES A WAY and OBEY! As we take actions by going and doing in faith, we’ll find a path we might not always see that will help provide a way to obey His commandments.
Finish with a simple testimony that you have seen the Lord provide a way in your own life to do hard things and keep the commandments and that he will for them, too.
Extension Activities:
- Instead of diagraming just the first verse, you can lay out all 3 verses with the similar themes at the same time. This can be a great way to help the kids see the overlapping themes and make connections across the whole song!
- Scramble all the word map cards around the room and have the kids hunt for the words while you sing. They’ll collect the ones you direct them to listen for while singing.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this The Holy Ghost Word Map singing time activity!
Nephi’s Courage Word Map Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 1-page printable guide to the word map or use it as is. This page is perfect to put on the music stand as your cheat sheet and for talking points. Then, you’ll find 6 1/4 page cards with the different keywords the kids will look for as you build your word map for the 1st verse.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including a word map for the entire song including 1-page, 1/4 page, and full page word map cards. You’ll find these bonus files included when Nephi’s Courage is the featured song of the month.
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!
Learn more about INSTANT Primary Singing membership options here!
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Continue over to see this fun and super simple no-prep Nephi’s Courage UNO Review Game! It’s a great way to review a mix of all the verses since this is a song the kids generally know pretty well.
What other fun ways will you use this singing time activity in your Primary room?
