The Creation Story in Music. Ages 2-5.

This series ran at Mountain View Methodist Day School for 8 weeks in 2013. The remainder of the semester was spent learning Christmas songs for the Christmas program. Each class was 20-30 minutes- they tend to get longer as you add more music.  As this series was the start of a new year, I typically spend the first 3 weeks singing the "Name Song", which is my made up way of saying- I sing in 3rds- "Hello, what's your name?", and each student is to echo back their name- "Hello, my name is ___________" in thirds- a little bit of pitch matching. 

When working with young musicians, I prefer to start with movement. For this series, we started with the song- Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands which went very well with He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. Mid-way through, we added Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, which was a nice addition to the concept of God creating human-kind. 

In each lesson, we read a brief passage from the Bible, telling the story, and then learned a corresponding song. Each week we closed by singing "Go Now in Peace". One final note- for this class, I teach using a ukulele- so many ukulele-friendly chords have been written in.

Class #1

Welcome! Sing the name song. Make sure to take time with this- a student's name is the most important thing you can learn. I am terrible with names!

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.
So, for the movement with these, clap your hands where it says clap, stamp your feet where it says stamp, nod your head where it says nod, shake your head where it says shake, stretch your arms up in the air where it says stretch. In between all the movements there is a pattern of la las, which I obviously didn't type out, but the pattern is 7, 5, 7, 6 las in a a phrase. I would march the kids in a circle while circling our hands.

After movement, sit in a circle. Using the ukulele allows me to sit comfortably on the floor with everybody. I really like it as a tool for this age.

Once everyone is seated, read Genesis 1:1- "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."- whichever version you prefer.

Learn: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. I use the verses on the music pictured, but have changed the chords to make it more ukulele-friendly. No one wants to play a C-sharp diminished seventh chord on the uke- that's just cruel.

You can close out by saying that we can clap our hands because God's got the whole world in His. He created all, and He cares about it all.

Learn: Go Now in Peace.

Class #2

The Name Song. I need 3 weeks on this to be sure I remember all the names. Depending on the class size.

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Have a seat in the circle.

Review: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Read: Genesis 1:2-5. The "let there be light" verses.

Learn: This Little Light of Mine. Musically, I like the tune of the music pictured. I did change the verses to what I remember learning as a kid, which went:
Verse 1- As written- use finger as candle.
Verse 2- "Don't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine!". Add a beat at the comma to allow the kids to blow out their "candle".
Verse 3- "Hide it under a bushel, NO! I'm gonna let it shine!". Cover the candle, then shout NO, and uncover the "candle".
Verse 4- "Share my light with others, YES! I'm gonna let it shine!". Shout YES, and raise your "candle".
Verse 1- As written, just to close out.

Discuss: God created light, and we can share that. What are some of the ways that we can share the light of God with our families, our friends, and our neighbors?

Review: Go Now in Peace.

Class #3

The Name song. Last week. Give yourself a silly quiz- if you can't remember, give the kid a silly name such as Yuki McStripes. They can laugh and correct you.

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Have a seat in the circle

Review: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Review: This Little Light of Mine.

Read: Genesis 1:6-10- creation of sky.

Learn: If I Were the Wind. This was a hard day to find music for. It's not exactly sky, but it is also not of earth. Is air sky? I ran with that idea, but I'd love to hear other ideas.

Discuss: The second verse prompts us to thank God for all he's made. What are some of the things you are thankful for?

Review: Go Now in Peace.

Class #4

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Learn: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. I don't have music for it, but if you're reading this, I bet you know it! This is a great way to teach the concept of tempo- do the movements super slow, or super fast. You can also have some fun doing it backwards- again super slow, then medium, then super fast.

Have a seat in the circle

Review: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Review: This Little Light of Mine.

Review: If I Were the Wind.

Read: Genesis 1:9-10. Separation of dry land and water.

Learn: Go Tell it on the Mountain- the chorus only. Anticipating Christmas a little bit :)  We learned the chorus here, and learned the verses closer to Christmas.

Review: Go Now in Peace.

Class #5

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Movement: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.

Have a seat in the circle

Review: This Little Light of Mine.

Review: If I Were the Wind.

Review: Go Tell it on the Mountain.

Read: Genesis 1:11-12. God creates plants

Learn: I'm So Glad- FYI, tune of London Bridge. I started out with just the first 2 verses, then added verses 4 and 6 as appropriate in the next couple of weeks.

Side Note:  If it times out well, this is a great song to do right around Thanksgiving. Discuss favorite plants, favorite fruits and vegetables- plants that we eat, plants we need to survive. What are some of your favorite plants and why? If you can, feel free to add them to the song. This song pairs well with If I Were the Wind as well- both end with "Thank you God" phrases. What parts of God's creation are you most thankful for?

Review: Go Now in Peace.

Class #6

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Movement: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Have a seat in the circle.

Review: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Review: If I Were the Wind.

Review: Go, Tell it on the Mountain.

Review: I'm So Glad.

Read: Genesis 1:14-19. God creates the sun and moon, separates day from night.

Learn: This is the Day- if you've got time and want to have fun, do it as an echo song- or boys vs. girls, etc. These kids already knew this song, so there wasn't much teaching involved, just lots of fun playing around with a familiar song.

Review: Go Now in Peace.

Class #7

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Movement: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Have a seat in the circle

Review: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Review: Go Tell it on the Mountain.

Review: This is the Day.

Read: Genesis 1:20-23. God creates the sea creatures.

Learn: Creature Praise. This is far and away the most difficult song you will teach. As a matter of fact, the chord structure from the book was so odd, and I had to simplify so much, that it was easier for me to re-type the words and write in the chords that worked for me. Unfortunately, I can't find my original music, so I'm sorry for the lack of melody help- I am pretty sure it came from Lillenas' book All the Best Songs for Children- which is a great resource. I highly recommend it. For this particular group I did just the first verse and chorus.

Review: Go Now in Peace.

Class #8

This is the final class, and although there is still one more day in the creation story, this is just a full review day. Being the hardest song of the series, Creature Praise applies beautifully to the idea that God also created not only the creatures of the sea, but also the creatures of the land. It is a great opportunity to review what is a difficult and new song and tell the entire story in one class session.

Movement: Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands.

Movement: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Have a seat in the circle.

Prompt the kids. "In the beginning, God created...."

Review: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.

Prompt the kids. "Then God said 'let there be....'"

Review: This Little Light of Mine.

Prompt the kids. "What did God do next? He separated the what from the what?"

Review: If I Were the Wind.

Prompt the Kids. "Then God built up and separated?"

Review: Go Tell it On the Mountain.

Prompt the kids. "After God separated the land from the sea, He put what on the land?"

Review: I'm So Glad.

Prompt the kids. "What do plants need to grow? They need soil, which God created (land), the need water which God also created (seas), what else do they need?" God created plants, and He also made sure they had everything they needed to survive and thrive.

Review: This is the Day.

Prompt the kids. "God created life on the earth in the form of plants, what about the leftover space on the earth, the oceans? What about the skies?  What did He do next?"

Review: Creature Praise.

Prompt the kids. "What do you think God did next? This is our last class, what else do you see regularly that we haven't sung about yet? 

Read: Genesis 1:24-26

Review one more time: Creature Praise.

He also made you. From your head, all the way down to your toes.

Review: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. You can get them all worked up, then send them back with their teachers. :)

Review: Go Now in Peace.