Fathers – pg 209
Father’s Day
Preparation
- Print the song pages, ties, and word strips. Cut out the ties, small pictures, word strips, and word boxes. Attach one set of the words to the front of the ties, one per tie.
- Put the word strips in a sentence strip holder. (A sentence strip holder can be made out of poster board, strips of page protector plastic, and clear tape.) Put the second set of words in the sentence strip holder – in their correct spots but turned around.
Presentation
Post the first song page on the board – “The father of our home leads our family.”
- Why does the father lead the family? Have you ever seen a two headed snakes. They are rare in the wild because they tend to get eaten because they want to go different directions when there is danger. A family works together and discuss issues but a father takes the lead so that they don’t end up going in opposite directions. When a father is listening to the Lord he will always go the right directions and we are safe following his direction and lead.
Post the next part of the song- “with wisdom’s light, in all that’s right.” Point out the owl in the picture, and explain that it represents the word “wisdom”. Ask if the children have ever heard the expression “a wise old owl”. Explain that because of the ability of an owl to see in the dark, owls have come to represent manifestations of wisdom. Also point out the moon in the picture, and ask the children if they ever been out at night when there is a full moon. The light from a bright, full moon can help you see where to go when it is dark. Just like an owl and the moon are useful in the dark, a father who is following the wisdom, light, and direction of the Lord can help his family see the right (CTR) ways to go in a dark world full of Satan’s temptations.
Post on the board the next line – “My father’s good to me.” Point out the child a getting a ride on his father’s shoulders. Ask the children to think about all the good and helpful things their father does for them. Invite the children to share some of them.
Post the next line on the board – “Fathers are so special. With a very special love.” Fathers have very special rolls in the family that are vitally important and needed. The next few lines tells about some of these rolls.
Post the next line on the board – “They watch us and protect us.” Point out that the father in the picture is watching his child so he doesn’t get hurt as he learns to ride a bike. Fathers do their best to take care of and protect their wives and children.
Post the next line on the board – “They guide us and direct us.” Explain that the words guide and direct have very similar meanings. They both mean to help show us the right ways to go and the right things to do.
Post the last line in the song -“Back to our home above.” Explain that the last line of the verse says that a righteous father can help guide us back to our home with Heavenly Father.
Have senior primary sing the song. (In junior primary have them sing after every couple of pages you post.)
Memorizing the Verse
Show the children the word strips. Now explain to the children that you are going to test to them  to see if they can remember certain words. Show the ties with words on them and explain that their job is to put the tie in the place they think it belongs, and then turn over the word in the slot and see if they are right. (Go in order with the junior primary. Read the lines to them and their choices. Do half of the song at a time. You can post the pictures near each word strip to help junior primary remember the words.)
After all the matches have been made, turn over two to three word strips, but leave the tie words as a clue to the sentence.  Have the children sing the song. Continue in this manner until all the word strips are covered up and the children have the song memorized.
great idea, i’m not particularly keen on that snake metaphor, as i don’t believe my marriage and our eternal family to be two-headed snake-like, but the ties and other ideas are neat.
I appreciate the feedback. I don’t always see the things that aren’t explained well. I changed it a little, so hopefully now it makes more sense.
This is a great idea for this Fathers song. We are singing it in sacrament for Father’s Day next month. Do you have verse 2 and 3 word strips and tie words as well?
Thanks Amanda. I hope it works for you. I wish I had verse two and three for you, but I only focused on verse one when I did it. Sorry.
Thanks for such a cute idea. I’m substituting tomorrow and am suppose to teach this song. I was worried about how I would teach it, but after reading your fun idea, I plan on using it. Thanks for lessening my stress!