Unit 3: Sing a Psalm of Joy - Psalm 81

1) Welcome Activity:

• Musical instruments are perfect today!

2) Songs: Start the Story Hour with the learning our names song. Go around the circle or table and introduce each child.

3) Prayer...

4) Theme: Remind the children of the theme of the unit: Our joy in the Lord. “Sing of psalm of joy!” Tell them that they are going to learn about a psalm today that teaches us about our joy in the Lord.

5) Reading the Psalm: In order to simplify things for the children, first summarize the main point(s) of the psalm. In Psalm 81, the psalmist is singing about our joy in the Lord. The psalm tells us that if we love and obey the Lord, he will bless us richly. We have so many reasons to love God, because He loves us so completely and cares for us each day. Then, read the psalm from the Bible. Then, repeat the main point(s) again.

6) Sing the Psalm: Sing today’s psalm with the children. You may sing all or only one stanza depending on what is appropriate for your psalm. If possible, include some hand motions to highlight key words. In this psalm, try:
shout… thrust your arm up with a clenched fist like a general leading his army into battle
heart… use your finger to draw a heart on your chest
preserver…cradle your arms around your body like you keeping it safe

7) Text… you may use a verse from the psalm in the Bible or choose a key line or two from the stanza that you chose to sing with the children. “Sing a psalm of joy, Shout with holy fervour.”
Psalm 81 (stanza 1, lines 1 & 2)

8) Craft:

• Tambourine… each child gets two paper or Styrofoam plates. Let children choose 2-3 bells (bags of different sized bells available at most craft stores) to put between the plates. Secure with wide, clear tape. Allow children to decorate with glitter, stickers, markers, etc. You could also use a hole puncher to make several holes around the outside for streamers.
  *Nearly any simple instrument craft would work well here. Check to make sure that it does not duplicate any of the other Psalm’s craft.  Tamborine also shown for Psalm 150.

• Music Time… If you can borrow a percussion instrument collection from a local school or music teacher, today would be an excellent day to introduce some of the instruments and allow the children to experiment with some of the music that we can use to sing our joy to God!

9) Closing Prayer... say the Lord's prayer together with the children

10) Going Home: Round up all the children around the table or sit in a circle again. Sing today’s Psalm together and then sing the closing song. Then, check to see if all the children have collected their crafts and coloring sheets before they go home. Say goodbye and tell them that you enjoyed learning about God together and were happy to have them today! You were, weren’t you?