Choose the Right Way – verse one

Preparation

• Items needed: a picture of Jesus, tape, sticky tack, a recording of the song “Choose the Right Way” and a electronic device to play it on (or you can sing the song to the children).
• Print the song pages and cover strips onto heavy paper. Cut out the cover strips. Cut three additional cover strips the same width as the biggest cover strip.  Using double-sided removable tape, place the small cover strips on the song pages in the spots indicated in the pictures above.
• Before the start of Primary attach the picture of Jesus to a side wall using sticky tack.

Presentation

Tell the children you are going to play a recording of (or sing) the first two lines of the song, and they need to listen carefully because you are going to ask them questions about it afterwards. (The song can be replayed at any time during the activity if they don’t know an answer) Pause the recording after the first two lines. Show the first song page and ask the following questions – following the directions after each question.

• Can anyone tell me what the words are that are covered up on the song page? (live and be happy) When the children say what the words are, take the covers off. Put the song page on the board.
• According to the song what is the right way to live and be happy? (Choosing the Right) Show the children the second song page.
• When should we choose the right? (every day) Remove the word cover. Put the song page on the board and have the children sing those two lines.

Play the recording of the third and fourth line. (Note: If you paused the recording after playing the first two lines it should be ready to go. ) Show the third song page and ask the children the following question.

• What does the song say I am learning? (the teachings of Jesus) Put the song page on the board. Show the children the fourth song page.
• What are the two things the song says the teachings of Jesus will do?  (help me  & show me the way) Point out the two paths on the picture, and point out the stones that have the teachings of Jesus on them to help show the right way to go. Put the song page on the board and have the children sing those two lines. Then have them sing all four lines.

Memorizing Activity

Tell the children they are going to do an activity to help them memorize the verse. Have the children line up against the wall that is facing the wall where the picture of Jesus is. Tape the song pages near the picture of Jesus. Explain that you are going to cover all the words on one page (review the words with the children before covering them with the big cover strips). Tell the children they are going to sing the song, and if the majority of them remember and sing the covered words they will get to take two steps toward the picture of Jesus. If less than half the people sing the covered words they will only get to take one step. But they can earn the additional step by singing the song again and doing better.

Remind the children that the song is called “Choose the Right Way” and as we choose the right in life it brings us closer to Jesus.

Continue the activity in this manner until all the words are covered. Then start taking the song pages off the wall and doing the same activity until they can sing the song without any pictures.

Before doing this activity remind the children it is not a competition.  Also remove things and people from the aisles if the children will be walking through the chair areas.

Review Idea

Put the song pictures in a vertical row on the board with all the words covered with the big cover strips. Have a child choose which song page is the first one in the verse. If the child chose correctly ask if any of the children can remember the words that go with the picture. After the words are reviewed move the next three song pages over about a foot. Have a child either draw a line with chalk to the next song page, or tape a ribbon from the first song page to the second song page. If they are correct ask if anyone can remember  the words that go with the second song page. (Have the children sing the first two lines of the song.) After the words are reviewed move the last two song pages over about a foot and have another child draw a line, or tape a ribbon, from the second song page to the third song page. After the words are reviewed move the last song page over about a foot. The child who draws the line, or puts the ribbon on, connecting the third to the fourth song page must also be able to tell what words go with that song page. Sing the last two lines of the verse, and then sing the whole verse.

This is an activity that goes with the title of the song- “Choose the Right Way”.

Note: The pictures came from flipcharts made by Laurey Lee  and Wendy Brown that were posted on Sugardoodle. Thanks a bunch!

The memorizing activity idea came from the Friend August 2003 Sharing Time Suggestion.