Let’s jump right in with all of these fun and varied When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Singing Time Ideas! You’ll find a great variety of activities including directional marching, hand actions, song trivia, pipe chimes, egg shakers and many others!
If you’re looking for even more wonderful songs to teach this season, head over to this massive post with 100+ Primary Christmas Songs! It will help you find wonderful songs that would be perfect to teach to your Primary children for the holiday season.
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Teaching Packet
Make the most out of teaching this song to your Primary children with this complete teaching packet! It includes all 8 of my singing time ideas with extended printables to help you teach all the verses in a variety of ways with different learning styles.
You’ll find this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Singing Time packet in my shop here. It is also available in my Etsy shop here.
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Flip Chart
You can easily display the lyrics with the help of this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Flip Chart! There’s a variety of different styles to choose from including a beautiful custom art flip chart and 3 others styles to best fit your Primary’s needs.
12 When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Singing Time Ideas
1. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Comic Strip
Bring this song to life in a new way with this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Comic Strip! You’ll illustrate each part of the song and have the children engage in making a comic strip with you.
2. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Simple Actions
Use this set of When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Simple Actions to help add meaning to the lyrics. The actions tie right into the words and add in purposeful movement as you teach the lyrics!
3. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Song Lyrics Trivia
For a super fun way to review the song lyrics, turn to this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Song Lyrics Trivia lesson plan! You’ll ask fun questions about the song that can be answered by the lyrics! Sing through the song and then ask one of the questions. Did you hear the answer?
4. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Pipe Chimes
Follow along with the steady beat of this song with this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Pipe Chimes rhythm for every other note to add to the momentum and feeling of the way you sing this song. It’s a fun and different way to use pipe chimes.
5. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Directional Marching
Get up and moving with this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Directional Marching activity. You’ll turn at the end of each line and end up facing back towards the front at the end.
6. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – At the Stable
Can you imagine what this experience might have been like for Joseph? Use this When Joseph Went to Bethlehem At the Stable activity to talk about some of the objects and the scene there along the route and at the stable.
7. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Sing & Act Skit
Let your children bring the song lyrics to life as they act out each line of the song in this simple and fun When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Sing & Act Skit! It’s a great way to engage the children and help them connect with meaning of the song as you sing.
8. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Egg Shakers
Use this fun When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Egg Shakers pattern to shake on specific keywords as you add in making your own music in the Primary room!
More Ways to Teach When Joseph Went to Bethlehem
Here are some more great ideas from other Primary music leaders! Share your additional ideas in the comments to add to this list!
1. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem – Dance Scarves
Follow along with this sweet sister as she shares Dance Scarves actions video to help teach this song.
I use dance scarves all the time they’re SO much fun to bring into your Primary! Pick up a set of Dance Scarves from Amazon here. Plus, to help you easily come up with your own Dance Scarves movement patterns, head over to grab my Dance Scarves Movement Cards.
Egg Shakers are the first instrument I always recommend to a new music leader. They’re super versatile and easy to use! Pickup a set of Egg Shakers on Amazon here. Plus, a perfect help to get you started using your egg shakers with the rhythm and in creative and fun ways, pickup the Egg Shaker Beat Rhythm Cards I created.
A laminator is an invaluable tool for music leaders! It can help preserve your printables so they can be used year after year as you teach these songs or handed down to the next music leader.
Finger lights can be SO much fun to bring into the Primary room! You can pickup a set of finger lights for really cheap on Amazon here. It’s a good idea to add a dab of hot glue to keep the battery compartment shut. Just search this blog for more ideas for using them with your Primary children.
2. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem
You’ll love this sweet cover that uses a Ukulele and sing along with the song to help bring a little different feeling to the melody.
3. Alternate Mary’s Verses
How funny and clever are these alternate verses! They were published in the friend back in the 70’s. I’m not sure that I’d teach these alternate verses, but I think they’d be fun to share or ask your Primary how the experience might have been for Mary!
See this original post on Facebook here for more details.
4. Sing Along Picture Book (Murray and Mathews Blog)
5. Quick Actions (Facebook Group)
6. Handbell Chart – Key of C (Facebook Group)
7. Scarf Actions (Facebook Group)
8. Song Story (Facebook Group)
9. When Joseph Went to Bethlehem / Mary’s Lullaby Combined Melody (Facebook Group)
10. Melody Map (Facebook Group)
For more activities, see these Away in a Manger Singing Time ideas!
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What other fun When Joseph Went to Bethlehem singing time ideas have you tried? We’d love to see your fun ideas! Share them in the comments to add to this list.
