Activity: Christmas Symbols

This Sunday I'm going to discuss with the Primary children the purpose of the decorations and things at Christmas time and how they are symbols of Christ.  I'm going to use the Sharing Time lesson in a 2004 issue of LDS Living for this Singing Time.  There are also other symbols you could use in addition to these if you choose.

The lesson suggests having enough of each ornament for each class in the Primary to decorate the tree.  I'm just going to have one of each for time's sake because it is after all, Singing Time!  The lesson does not specify songs to sing but suggests to sing Christmas songs that the children are familiar with to reinforce the concepts taught.

The symbols and songs I chose are:

• Tree
• Away in a Manger (v3)
• Star (and lights)
• Stars Were Gleaming
• Candy Canes
• Once within a Lowly Stable (v2)
• Angels
• Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus (v2)
• Red, White & Green Ornaments
• The Shepherd's Carol
• Gifts
• Little Jesus

Additional symbols I thought about but didn't include were Wreath: crown of thorns, eternal love (Mary's Lullaby); and Santa: generosity and kindness (Have a Very Merry Christmas).

I made printouts of a simple tree (for two pages) and of the symbols I listed above (on one page) that can be downloaded below:

     Tree                                     Ornaments

     

Bells Chart - Christmas Music

Here are a few bell charts I made for some Christmas music.  I converted two of the songs into the key of C in the LDS.org music library, and the others are in the original key and have either a sharp or a flat (if you only have the 8 note bell set you can just leave out those notes you don't have).  I have the 13 note bell set.  My Primary kids are really excited to get to play the bells this week!  They love them!

For the Christmas songs that we only get to since once a year I will also post the words on the board so everyone can sing along while they play.

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH: Bell Chart

CHRISTMAS BELLS: Bell Chart

JOY TO THE WORLD: key of C

Bell Chart                                 Sheet Music

       

THE FIRST NOEL: key of C

Bell Chart                                 Sheet Music