This is an arrangement I wrote to Tell Me the Stories of Jesus. It is on Pg 57 of the Children’s Songbook. In our primary, we got a late start on learning this song, so let me share what we did to make it look like we were better prepared! I taught everyone in the primary the first verse. I arranged a small group of 2 or 3 singers to sing verse 2 and another group for verse 3, then everyone came back in and joined to repeat the first verse in this arrangement. I worked one time during the week with both groups, then we put it together for the first time at the primary program practice. It worked lovely.
You might notice that I flipped the words of the second and third verses. I felt it flowed better that way. You are free to change it up however you feel.
Visual Aids
I’ve had these pictures in my file for a long time, so I don’t know who to credit it for, but I won’t take creative credit for them. They could be used in several ways. You could color them up for help teaching the song. You could take them to a copy place and have them reduce the size and make a “book” for each primary child to take home to color themselves and practice the song. I gave my small singing groups their verses and had them practice the words and memorize them on their own.
A Few Tips for Teaching
Since this song talks about the stories of Jesus….take time to have the kids tell their favorite stories! You could make it even more challenging by having them think of stories by the wayside and stories by the sea. They could tell their favorite story that they would love to have Jesus tell them.
You could explain what a wayside is. (someplace out of the way of the city; the countryside)
Try to keep the talking fast-paced, possibly limiting the stories to one sentence. My motto is more singing less talking.
Gospel Teaching
This would be a great time to talk about make-believe stories and true stories. Bear your testimony of the truth of the scriptures. Share your favorite story and why. Encourage the primary children to consider writing down stories from their lives in a journal. What stories have they read about their ancestors? Explain that Jesus taught the people around Him in stories or parables. Ask the children why they think He did that.