Active praise songs are a great way to help preschoolers learn truths of the Faith while using their voices and bodies to enter into prayer.
This list of links are generally well-known songs and can be used with or without instrumental accompaniment. While we hope you do not show music videos during your class time, we do think the links here will be useful to help your song leader become familiar with some classic favorites in advance, as they plan.
- Jesus Loves Me, and I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart (Works with any month’s topic.)
- The Sign of the Cross (From Christine in Action: Learn the Catholic Faith through MUSIC.) The opening portion would work well at the beginning of the year.
- This Little Light of Mine
- The B-I-B-L-E (We suggest you alter the lyrics a little to fit with our Catholic understanding of Holy Scripture. See Lesson 1 in Cycle B/C for details.)
- Thy Word is a Lamp (Chorus only, with Lesson 1 on the Bible.)
- Come Lord Jesus: Come and Be Born in our Hearts would fit well with the season and the themes of Lesson 2. Any familiar Advent or Christmas song being sung at your parish could also be a good choice.
- Father Abraham Had Many Sons (Always fun, but particularly relevant with Lesson 3.)
- Thank You, Lord (Right Where We Are) (Use THESE WORDS if you use this song with Lesson 4.)
- Oh, How I Love Jesus works well with the theme and craft in Lesson 5.
- Hosanna in the Highest (The first verse could be a good procession song to go with your palm leaves in Lesson 6.)
- Praise the Lord, and Rejoice in the Lord Always could be good choices for Lesson 6.
- Father, I Adore You (One simple verse for each Person of the Trinity. Would work well with Lesson 7
- Praise the Lord (From Christine in Action: Learn the Catholic Faith through MUSIC. Would work well with Lesson 7.)
- You Are Peter (From Catholic Songs for Kids; particularly good with Lesson 8.)
SING AND LEARN Activity – Lesson 1
You may be familiar with the children’s song about the B-I-B-L-E. This activity repurposes the tune and alters the lyrics a little to fit with our Catholic understanding of Holy Scripture. Click here to hear the song.
The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me! I love to hear the Word of God; my B-I-B-L-E!
It would be easy to simply invite the children to march around in a circle (perhaps with basic rhythm instruments) as everyone sings. You could also introduce motions:
- The B-I-B-L-E (March in place.)
- yes that’s the book (Make a “book” with open hands.) for me! (Point to self.)
- I love to hear the Word of God; (Hand to ears.)
- my B-I-B-L-E! (March in place.)
LEARNING TO WAIT Activity – Lesson 3
Linus and Lucy (the Charlie Brown theme song) would be a good dance music choice for the Learning to Wait activity.
HOSANNA PROCESSION – Lesson 6
Lead a joyful procession in your classroom or some other place in your building. Here are two song suggestions that could work well.
- Rejoice in the Lord Always
- Everybody Praise the Lord
- Hosanna in the Highest (The first verse could be a good procession song.)
CLOSING PRAYER – Every Month
Preschoolers love repetition and ritual, and each month’s closing prayer suggestion will take advantage of this principle.
Music brings joy to prayer, and simple reminders of God’s goodness and love are foundational. God is So Good! is a song that is easily memorized, making it possible for the kids you teach to “bring this prayer home with them,” to sing and ponder in settings outside of your classroom.
In these lessons, the first and third verses will always be the same, and the middle verse will somehow reflect each month’s lesson in a more specific way.
Family Formation 