I'M TRYNG TO BE LIKE JESUS: TEACHING IDEAS

Here is my  lesson plan for introducing and teaching the first verse and chorus of the song. I know it looks long, but it should be easy to present. I just wanted to type out the lesson plan so you could have an example of how it flows and how everything ties in. The majority is just repeating the process for each phrase. I am mainly using  Directed Listening Questions to help the children focus on the words and message of the song, but I am also incorporating

movement, rhythm, 

cognitive thinking, & visual intrigue

along with the auspice of some spiritual connection to the message in the song. I've also included below some Directed Listening Questions  for verse 2 and some other ideas for reviewing the song for other weeks. This can be use with the flip chart found here or the visual imagery speech bubbles found here or use pictures you have from the Gospel Art Kit or File. 

LESSON PRESENTATION

Group Discussion & Cognitive Thinking

• Depending on if you are using the flip chart or visual imagery speech bubbles (aka speech balloons), pass out the pictures from your visual for the first verse, one to each class. If your Primary is small, you could hold onto the chorus pictures and then just hold them up for a group discussion when you come to the chorus part. You could also use similar Gospel Art pictures if you want.
• If you are using the speech bubbles visual, you can use the larger pictures from the flip chart to pass out to the classes but then post the smaller pictures on the board next to the speech bubbles or just pass out the smaller pictures for the speech bubbles.
•  Give the classes a minute to discuss in their class group the picture and select someone to be their class representative that will come up later to discuss the picture.

Wiggle Activity & Refocus

• Let’s sing “Do As I’m Doing” and let’s see how well each of you can follow the example of our leader. 
• Sing “Do As I’m Doing” 2-3 times and have a child come up each time and do an action for the children to follow. 
• Since some children may take too long to think of something, have some choices to pick from.
• Compliment the children for following the leaders example.

Directed Listening and Singing: Verse 1

•  Ask the children if they have ever wanted to be just like someone else? Maybe they want to grow up and be just like their mom or dad or even their big brother or sister. Or maybe there is a famous basketball star or a singer they would like to be like.
•  Let a few children share.
• When you are trying to be like someone, you should try and do the same things that they do and act the same way that they do.

Verse 1 Phrase 1

•  Listen to hear whom I’m trying to be like.
•  Sing the first phrase “I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways.” and receive answer. (Might be easier to sing without the piano during the directed listening portions.)
•  Post the picture of the girl in the center of the board if you are using the visual imagery viz. You could quickly describe the girl or ask the kids to share what they see, e.g. The girl is happy. She must love Jesus because she is hugging his picture. Thinking and following Jesus must make her happy.
•  Post the words from the flip chart or speech bubble from the visual imagery for the phrase just sung on the board. And say, “She is saying, (you sing) ‘I’m Trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways.”
•  How many of you are trying to be like Jesus too? Great! If you are trying to be like Jesus, sing this part with me.
•  Have the class representative holding the first picture for the song come up and tell about the picture they are holding. You may have to ask questions to help prod the younger children, e.g. “What is happening in this picture?” “What are they doing?”
•  After they share about the picture, summarize the picture and the phrase and put the picture up next to the words you just posted for the flip chart or the speech bubble.
•  Let’s sing this part again and this time let’s clap the rhythm as we sing only using two fingers on each hand.

Verse 1 Phrase 2

•  Now listen to hear what it is I’m trying to do. [Love as he did]
•  Did you also hear for when you should love as he did? Sing it again if they didn’t catch that. [All that I do and say.]
• Post the words from the flip chart or speech bubble from the visual imagery for the phrase just sung on the board.
•  Have the class representative holding the second picture for the song come up and tell about the picture they are holding. Ask questions if necessary to prod the thought process in the child.
•   After they share about the picture, summarize the picture and the phrase and put the picture up next to the words you just posted for the flip chart or the speech bubble.
•  If you are trying to love others too, sing this part with me, and this time let’s do our two-finger rhythm clap with the two fingers of one hand clapping on the palm of our other hand as we sing.

Verse 1 Phrase 3

•  Listen to hear what I am tempted to do at times. [Make a wrong choice]
•  Post the words from the flip chart or speech bubble from the visual imagery for the phrase just sung on the board.
•  I think we all get tempted to make a wrong choice at times, so sing this part with me.
•  Have the class representative holding the third picture for the song come up and tell about the picture they are holding. Ask questions if necessary to prod the thought process in the child.
•   After they share about the picture, summarize the picture and the phrase and put the picture up next to the words you just posted for the flip chart or the speech bubble.
•  Let’s sing this part again, and this time let’s do our two-finger rhythm clap with the two fingers of one hand clapping on the opposite arm as we sing.

Verse 1 Phrase 4

•  I’m going to sing a part about the Holy Ghost whispering to me. I want you to listen very carefully to hear another name used in the song for the Holy Ghost. [Still small voice]
• Post the words from the flip chart or speech bubble from the visual imagery for the phrase just sung on the board.
•  If you try to listen for the Holy Ghost to help you, then sing this part with me.
•  Have the class representative holding the fourth picture for the song come up and tell about the picture they are holding. Ask questions if necessary to prod the thought process in the child.
•  After they share about the picture, summarize the picture and the phrase and put the picture up next to the words you just posted for the flip chart or the speech bubble.
•  Let’s sing this part again, and this time let’s do our two-finger rhythm clap with both hands on our laps we sing.

Chorus

• Let’s all sing what we’ve learned so far, but when we get to the end of this verse, you stop singing and I will continue to sing what the “still small voice whispers”.  Listen carefully so you can tell me what things the still small voice whispers to me. [Love one another, show kindness, be gentle and loving in deed and in thought]
•  When you sing the chorus part, sing it in a whisper voice.
• Post the words from the flip chart or speech bubble from the visual imagery for the phrase just sung on the board.
•  Have the class representative holding the first picture for the chorus come up and tell about the picture they are holding. Ask questions if necessary to prod the thought process in the child.
•  After they share about the picture, summarize the picture and the phrase and put the picture up next to the words you just posted for the flip chart or the speech bubble.
•  Repeat with the second chorus picture.
•  Let’s sing the chorus, and this time let’s whisper sing it.

• Now let’s sing the whole song but when we get to the chorus, let’s whisper sing it again.

 SUMMARY & TESTIMONY

Heavenly Father knew it would be hard for us here on earth, so he sent us Jesus Christ to be a perfect example for us to follow. (Show picture of Jesus.)

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:15 (This is the scripture reference for the song.) (You could have the SR primary look the scripture up.)

The way Jesus lived while He was on earth is the way we should all live.  Briefly share your testimony of this.

TA-DA!!!!!

That's about it, but if there is time left, just sing some songs. I don't usually get much time on the first Sunday since the Bishopric Message seems to always go way over.  Next week our Primary will work on the second verse using the same methods as above. Because they will not need to learn as much next week, after teaching the second verse, I will review the whole song with them by using the smaller sized Directional Bird Singing cards found here that I will have children post by each of the speech bubbles. These really help the kids concentrate on the words while making it challenging yet fun.

Directed Listening and Singing: Verse 2

• Listen to hear whom I’m trying to love and serve. [My neighbor & friend]
• Listen to hear for what the day of gladness is. [When Jesus will come again]
• Listen to hear for what I try to remember. [The lessons he taught]
• Listen to hear who is it that enters into my thoughts. [Holy Spirit]

REVIEW IDEAS

• Have the children think of ways they can be like Jesus while they sing through a verse or a portion of the song. Have some of them share what they thought of. Stick a sticker of Jesus on them (optional). Repeat singing and sharing.
• If you don't have stickers of Jesus, cut out heart-shapes for each child in your Primary and have each child's name written on a heart and then tape them up scattered on the outer edges of the board or you could just hand them out to the teachers untaped to distribute to their classes and when a child shares how he/she can be like Jesus, they get to come up and put their heart next to a picture of Jesus you have on the board.
• Or, you could make a paper chain that is already connected to the picture of Jesus and then adding each child to the chain as they share.
• Use the Directional Singing Birds to help the kids concentrate on the words.
• Remove a FC or speech bubble one at a time while leaving the pictures.
• Have the children match the pictures to the words or vice-versa.
• Have the children put the visual or FC in order on the board or themselves in order.
• Gather several pictures of Jesus doing various things. Assign songs to each picture, preferably a song that correlates to the picture. Explain to the children that many of the Primary songs help you know what Jesus would want you to do to follow him. Let a child pick a picture and tell about it then sing the song. After singing each song, ask the children, "What does this song tell you Jesus wants you to do?" Here are some example songs:
• Listen, Listen
• Search, Ponder and Pray
• Love One Another
• When I Am Baptized
• Called to Serve
• I Love to See the Temple
• Choose the Right Way
• Follow the Prophet
• Keep the Commandments
• I'll Walk with You
• Oh, my goodness, these are just the ones off the top of my head. This list could go on-and-on. Just look in the songbook for songs that fit your needs.
• Here is a link to a great blogger's idea for this song too.
• What ideas do you have?????????