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 music leader become familiar with some classic favorites for planning purposes.
GENERAL FAVORITES
- Jesus Loves Me, and I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart (Works with any 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
- Father Abraham Had Many Sons
- Oh, How I Love Jesus
- Praise the Lord, and Rejoice in the Lord Always
- Father, I Adore You
- Praise the Lord (From Christine in Action: Learn the Catholic Faith through MUSIC.)
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 last verses will be the same, and the middle verse will typically somehow reflect each month’s lesson in a more specific way.
ALLELUIA SONGS
Are you looking for joyful praise songs to sing before your class buries your alleluia’s for Lent and afterward in the Easter season?
Try these:
- Praise Thee The Lord, Hallelujah!
- Rejoice in the Lord Always
- Everybody Praise the Lord
- Hosanna in the Highest (The first verse could be a good procession song.)
LITURGICAL COLORS – Lesson 1
The Liturgical Colors Song offers a memorable way to learn both the colors and the meaning behind them. Here are two versions we like: Fr. Mark with guitar accompaniment and this YouTube version with clear printed lyrics. Use with Lesson 1 and for review at other times throughout the year.
Living Calendar Activity: You will find lots of instrumental choices here.
BECOMING A SAINT – Lesson 2
When the Saints Go March In could work well with Lesson 2. We suggest using some or all of these verses set to the traditional tune:
- O, when the saints go marching in, when the saints go marching in, O Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.
- O when they praise and bless his name, when they praise and bless His name, O Lord I want to be in that number, when they praise and bless His name.
- O when they crown Him King of kings, when they crown Him King of kings, O Lord I want to be in that number, when they crown Him King of kings.
- When they gather, ’round the throne, when they gather ’round the throne, O Lord I want to be in that number, when they gather ’round the throne.
Lesson 3
Come Lord Jesus: Come and Be Born in our Hearts would fit well with the season and the themes of Lesson 3. Any familiar Advent or Christmas song being sung at your parish could also be a good choice.
MORNING, AFTERNOON, AND NIGHT Activity – Lesson 4
You will find lots of instrumental choices here.
RHYTHM AND RHYME INTRODUCTION GAME – Lesson 5
Use this simple song for a time of rhythm and rhyme and a lead-in to your lesson on introducing others to Jesus. Click “play” below to listen and become familiar with the game. We recommend that your co-catechists or classroom aides be the first to play so you can model it for the students.
DAYS OF CREATION SONG – Lesson 7
Normally, we recommend you do NOT play music from these YouTube links for your class, but this month’s song is an exception. There is no video and no commercials, and it’s ready to go for classroom use. Click here to play the Days of Creation Song for your class.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR HELPER Activity – Lesson 8
You will find lots of instrumental choices here.
Family Formation 