Get moving with this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Directional Marching singing time activity! This low-prep purposeful movement idea is a great way to review When Joseph Went to Bethlehem this month!
We know how busy this time of year can be for families! That’s why we want to share our simplest singing time ideas for Christmas songs! This marching activity definitely fits the bill! March along with the beat and turn 8 different times in the song!
See all of our When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Singing Time Ideas here!!
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Directional Marching
This activity requires little to no prep! I’ve created a visual to use for this activity for an extra element of fun! You can print out my large arrow and slide it into a sheet protector to make it easier to hold. For extra durability, you can also laminate this page. Now you have a simple activity to use for nearly any primary song!
Before introducing the activity, review the first verse and chorus of When Joseph Went to Bethlehem (flip chart here). Since this activity involves movement, it might be a great one to pair with another one of our review ideas, like this song trivia game! This way, you can spend some time getting wiggles out while still reviewing the song!
Everyone stand UP! Have the pianist begin playing the intro and have the kids march in place to the tempo. Before singing, practice a turn by holding up the “TURN” arrow and having the kids turn 90 degrees. You get to choose the direction! I would recommend sticking with the same direction so that you avoid bumping into each other!
If you do a quarter turn every half of a line, you’ll end up turning around completely twice! By the end of the song, you should be facing the front of the room.
If you are using this activity with Junior primary kiddos, you may want to take it line by line. Speak or sing each line, then have the kids turn. Senior primary kids will probably be ready for the normal tempo right away.
Once you get through the entire song, try it again! This time, turn in the opposite direction. If you started clockwise, try it counter-clockwise this time!
For another fun way to add some variety in this activity, choose a leader to lead the class each time! Have the child hold up the “TURN” sign and lead the group.
It’s that simple! Activities like these are great for those busy weeks when your energy is so low by Sunday. Just grab our printable later in this post and start marching!
Directional Marching Pattern:
This pattern couldn’t be simpler! March along with the beat and turn every half a line! I’ve outlined the pattern below with each turn being marked with a slash. There are a toal of 8 turns in this pattern!
When Joseph went to Bethlehem / I think he took great care /
to place his tools and close his shop / and leave no shavings there /
He urged the donkey foward then, / with Mary on its back /
and carried bread and goat cheese in a / little linen sack /
Extension Activities:
- Try another movement besides turning! For example, try a spin instead of a turn! Spin completely around halfway through each line. Another idea is to march while doing arm movements. Instead of turning, switch arm movements! Here are some examples: swimming, rolling, clapping, snapping, side to side
- See how fast you can march! Slowly increase the tempo each time you sing through the song. See if the kids can keep up with the turns while singing!
- Divide the room into pairs of twos and have each partnership stand next to each other. March along to the beat then SWITCH spots with your partner every half a line.
- Choose directions such as side to side, forward and back to indicate the direction of the turn. See which direction you face by the end of the song!
- Divide the room into 2 or 4 groups and assign each a color. Only rotate on your colored arrow(s)! Or, assign a different action to each colored arrow.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this We’ll Bring the World His Truth Directional Marching singing time activity!
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Directional Marching Demo Video
Try this marching pattern along with me! In this short demonstration video, I explain how to use this activity in singing time and demonstrate the first verse using the directional marching pattern outlined above.
–> When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Directional Marching Demo Video <–
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Directional Marching Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a printable “TURN” arrow to signal each turn in this movement activity! You’ll also find a one-page breakdown of the song that outlines each turn in the song.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including a lyrics map for all 3 verses, additional action signs, and a larger format poster with keywords. You’ll find these bonus files included in the December Old Testament teaching packet.
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 to this fun When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Chimes activity next!
What other fun ways will you use this directional marching singing time activity in your Primary room?
