Today, I’m sharing a fun activity that will work great for a review week for Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Team Band activity! This Singing Time lesson plan will have everyone involved and a fun music challenge as they work together as a team band.
Head over here to see our 21 Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Singing Time Ideas! Lots of fun ways to teach and learn this song in Primary.
Tell me the Stories of Jesus Team Band
Start by singing through Tell Me the Stories of Jesus before introducing the team band activity.
Then, divide the room into “bands” or small groups that can rotate instruments.
In Junior Primary, I plan to make 3 large groups based on kiddos sitting beside each other. My front row kiddos (Sunbeams and CTR 4) will only do the egg shakers. The other two groups will take turns and rotate the other two instruments!
In Senior Primary, I’m going to ask the kids to form groups of 3. Teachers can be added to a group, if needed, or smaller groups can work as needed.
Next, I will pass out the egg shakers only. I’ll let the children know I have three different instruments, and I’m only going to introduce one first. I’ll pass out the egg shakers (to the front row in Junior Primary and one per group in Senior Primary).
We’ll sing through the song with just the egg shakers as part of our team band.
- The egg shakers rhythm is a quick beat — shake every beat of the 6 count.
- Tell / me / the / sto- / -ries / of…
Next, I’ll introduce rhythm sticks. I’ll pass these out to the next group of kiddos in the Primary room. I will be warning the kiddos to please pay attention, because they’ll get a turn with the rhythm sticks next!
- Rhythm Sticks pattern is a medium speed, every third beat.
- Tell me the / stories of / Je- / -sus / I
Now, I’ll switch and let those that didn’t have a turn try the rhythm sticks (in Senior the egg shakers can be rotated as well).
Finally, I’ll ask if they think they can handle one more instrument!! I’ll bring out the jingle bell bracelets and tell them they have to be really patient with the bells. We’ll only shake the bells once per measure.
- Jingle Bells on a slow beat, just once per measure
- Tell me the stories of / Jesus / I love to / hear
We’ll sing through the song again (or 2 more times in Senior) until everyone has had a turn with each instrument! We’ll see how well they can stay with their rhythm. To help keep the pattern going, I’ll ask for one helper group to come up front to help me lead!
If you’re loving this team band activity, see how we incorporated using Egg Cartons for Love is Spoken Here. You can also repurpose egg cartons as part of your band!
See the Team Band Activity for
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus
If the video above is not loading for any reason, you can see this video uploaded on my YouTube channel instead.
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Team Band Printable
This printable includes a reminder card you can post up on the whiteboard to help remind everyone of the different rhythm patterns. There’s a quick key to show quick for egg shakers, medium for rhythm sticks, and slow shake for the jingle bells.
I just created NEW large 1-page posters for each of the 3 different actions plus a black and white version that will be included as part of the INSTANT Primary Singing membership extended printables for Tell Me the Stories of Jesus.
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You can, of course, swap out any of these instruments with alternatives if you don’t have any of these particular instruments. Though, I highly recommend them! They’ve each topped my favorites list!
Head over here to see some of our favorite Primary essentials, including swaps you could easily make like using paper plates in place of rhythm sticks.
If you’re teaching this song, you’ll also love our Pick a Picture Tell Me the Stories of Jesus singing time idea!
What other instruments would you add (and with what rhythm?)
