If I Listen with My Heart, Verse 3: Envelope Game for Older Children

• "Find a group of three or four friends.  Every group needs an envelope."  

My pianist and other adults help pass out the envelopes to each group (as well as help find a place for every child in one of the groups).  

• "I will sing this song 5 times.  See if you can put the words from the envelope in the order they are in the song before I finish singing.  Warning! not all of the words are in the envelope, only the major words." 

I start to sing the song as the groups begin to put the words in order.  If one of the groups finish first, I ask them to help the others by singing the song with me.  I walk around to the different groups to see how things are going.  If they need help on a certain word, I emphasize it as I sing.

Here are the words I put in the envelope.  I cut apart the words and make one envelope for every 3 to 4 children in my Primary.  

Verse 3 If I listen envelope game corrected 

This activity is a cooperative effort on the part of the children to solve the puzzle of which word comes where in this song.  They are active, engaged, and concentrating on the "puzzle."  The melody, rhythm, and word placement come quickly into their brains.  And it is fun!