by Janel
What does a heavenly home feel like? Engage your senses with this sweet Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth Feeling Cards singing time idea. For a unique way to review this song, use word & feeling associations to better understand the message of this hymn.
See all Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth Singing Time Ideas!
Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth Feeling Cards
I’m so glad that Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth (archives) is included in this year’s song list! As families, we all work together to invite the Spirit into our homes. This song teaches our primary children that they can help make their home a place where the Spirit can dwell.
The idea behind this activity is to think about how we want our homes to feel. For this activity, we’ll be using the words, “Love,” “Happiness,” “Kindness,” and “Safety.” I think these 4 words beautifully capture the essence of how a heavenly home feels.
Throughout singing time, have your primary children share words or images that come to their minds when they see these words. In this post, I’ll explain a few different ways to use this activity and provide some helpful tips.
For this activity, you’ll want the kids to have something to write on. The easiest way to do this is to pass out sheets of paper and have the children fold their papers into 4 quadrants. This can be done by folding your paper in half horizontally, then folding it again vertically.
Another option is to give each child 4 index cards. This may work great if you only have a few kiddos in each class, but it may eat up more of your time if you have a larger primary.
At the beginning of singing time, sing through one verse of Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth. Then, write the word, “Love” on the chalkboard. I’ve also created printable feeling card posters that you can put on the board.
Ask the children: What feelings come when you see this word? Are there any people, places, or things that come to your mind? Invite the children to quietly write or draw any pictures or words that they associate with the word, “Love.”
Next, write or post the word, “Happiness.” Have the kids write words or pictures that come to their mind for this word on another section of their paper.
Continue this same process for the words, “Kindness” and “Safety.” As the children quietly write down their thoughts, have the pianist play the song in the background.
Once you have finished all 4 words, invite a few volunteers to share what they wrote or drew for each picture. How can we make our homes feel more like these positive feelings? At the end of this activity, sing through the song once more and share your testimony about families.
Feeling Card Ideas:
I’ve included just a few simple ideas to get you thinking about each of these feeling words. If your primary children are feeling stuck, you might offer a few of these options to spark some ideas. As you ponder these feeling words, what images or words come to your mind?
- LOVE – Hearts, Friendship, Flowers, Forgiveness, Hugs
- HAPPINESS – Joy, Fun, Smiling, Entertainment, Playing
- KINDNESS – Helping, Bright, Sharing, Service, Gentleness
- SAFETY – Shield, House, First Responders, Protection
Extension Activities:
- Divide the class into 4 groups. Assign each group 1 feeling word and have them write down all the words or images that come to their minds when they think of these words. Then, have each group share with the class!
- Have a “gallery-walk” experience. Post large poster boards with one of the feeling words in each corner of the room. Have the children walk around to each corner with a crayon and draw or write something associated with that word. At the end, bring all the posters to the front of the room and see what you came up with!
- Make a booklet by printing the page with the upside down words. Fold it in half hot dog style then in half again with “Love” on the front cover. Then – the 4 words should be in order! Pass out one per child.
- Extend this activity to the 2nd and 3rd verse with actions we can take and how they help us grow closer to each other as a family and closer to a home like Heaven! Challenge the kids: Which of these action words can you do this week?
- Add an action to each keyword for whenever you find it in the song lyrics!
- For each feeling word, have the children write something they can do to bring more of that specific feeling into their home.
- Bring in a sensory bin with items to represent each of these words. Have the kids come up and pick items from the sensory bin as you review the song.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this He Sent His Son My 3 Friends singing time activity!
Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth Feeling Cards Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes four, full-page posters for the feeling words for the 1st verse.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including 1/4 page cards, foldable booklet, additional action words for the 2nd and 3rd verse, and black and white printables. You’ll find these bonus files included when Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth is the featured song of the month.
Get more out of singing time with the INSTANT Primary Singing membership that includes printable lesson plans, tons of extended printables and an ad-free experience for each featured song of the month, or get immediate access to the entire song list for the year!
Learn more about INSTANT Primary Singing membership options here!
Have questions or need more help, see this FAQ page here.
PDF: Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth Feeling CardsDownload
For another neat way to review this song, watch one of these sweet Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth Spiritual Videos!
What other fun ways will you use this nature & senses singing time activity in your Primary room?
