Who has used the Hymn’s for a Kid’s Heart before? Me (raising hand).

Who loves these books? Me (raising hand).

We are on our second book and I want to show you some of our work and how we have incorporated our Word for the Day into our hymn study.

Each week we read through the story behind the hymn written by Bobbie Wolgemuth and the “From my heart to yours” written by Joni Eareckson Tada. Then we sing the song (throughout the week) with the accompanying CD. In the back of the book there is a list of words that are in the hymns with a definition-that relates to the hymn.

We have been taking the word(s) and using it for the Word of the Day. I use the same sheet from our Evan-Moor e-book. The kids write the vocab word, the definition from the book and from the dictionary. We do the synonym and antonym and then we all attempt to use the word in a sentence and everyone else says if they think we used the word correctly. Then they write one of the sentences and illustrate it.

Our vocabulary words are sticking in their brains because they aren’t just random words but from hymns we listen to and often times sing in church. They are also gaining a better understanding of what they are singing.

The above picture has the Word for the Day paper on the left for the word ‘bestow’ which was chosen from the song Trust and Obey. Then on the right is an illustrated picture of the bible verse, found in the book under ‘A verse for my heart’ chosen for that hymn.

 I have the kids illustrate it to help them “hide it in their heart”.

I also put it up on our white board – and by the end of the week it is memorized just by seeing it daily.

Our Word for the Day study happens during our circle time and I make this the last thing we do before I read aloud, so I can be reading while they are illustrating.

What do you think? How have you been using Word for the Day?