Music can be a powerful tool for educators, not just for entertainment, but to cultivate a strong faith foundation. By incorporating age-appropriate music into the classroom, you can create a space where children explore the Catechism in fun and engaging ways. Here’s a roadmap for using music to foster the practice of Catholicism across different age groups:
Preschoolers and Kindergarteners: Begin by creating a musical environment that is warm, inviting and spiritually enriching. Use simple songs with repetitive lyrics that introduce basic concepts of God’s love, creation and kindness. Incorporate actions or movements to engage their kinesthetic learning.
Songs that are specifically religious will present and reinforce many concepts. However, many traditional songs can teach about religious concepts as well. For example, the Itsy Bitsy Spider is one of the creatures that God created (was it on Noah’s Ark?).
First and Second Graders: Build on the foundational songs by introducing more structured musical activities. Teach songs that explore biblical stories or teachings in an age-appropriate manner. Encourage children to participate in singing, playing simple instruments (like tambourines or hand percussions) and listening to recordings of hymns or religious songs. Movement is very important because children at this age have an enormous amount of energy. They take these songs and dances home, and the concepts are reinforced and shared.
Third and Fourth Graders: At this stage, children can start to delve deeper into understanding the meaning behind songs. Use music as a starting point for discussions on values, virtues and the teachings of the Catechism. Encourage them to ask questions about the lyrics and connect them to their own lives. Also, discuss how the students can apply the concepts in the songs to their everyday lives. You can tell them to use the song as a reminder. Children love doing this and ask deep questions they will take with them for the rest of their lives.
Select songs that not only teach but also inspire. Look for melodies and lyrics that resonate with children’s experiences and emotions. Include a variety of musical styles—from traditional hymns to contemporary Christian music—to appeal to different tastes and backgrounds. Ask students how they will share these songs and concepts with the world outside the classroom.
Use songs that are based on scripture passages or traditional prayers. This helps children familiarize themselves with key elements of their faith while enjoying the musical experience. Create opportunities for them to recite or read the passages alongside singing. A unit on the book of Psalms is appropriate at this point as it is an integral part of Mass. This motivates the children to participate in the Mass in a way they have not done before.
Preschoolers to Fourth Graders: Foster a sense of active participation by inviting children to contribute their own ideas for songs or lyrics. Encourage them to share how the music makes them feel or what they think it means. Provide moments for quiet reflection after singing sessions to allow children to internalize the messages conveyed through the music.
Reflection on religious songs by children can become a powerful tool for simple evangelization. As children engage with these songs, their innocence and sincerity often touch the hearts of those around them, prompting reflection and curiosity about the faith they express. These songs carry messages of love, hope and faith in ways that resonate deeply with listeners, making spiritual concepts more accessible and understandable. Through their innocence and genuine expressions, children can effectively evangelize by simply sharing the joy and meaning they find in these songs, sparking conversations and planting seeds of faith in those who hear them.
Organize musical performances or presentations where children can showcase what they have learned. These events can be a source of pride and a way for children to share their faith with others. Encourage families and the broader community to participate and support these musical endeavors. Almost everyone has a Christmas program at their school, but we tend to focus on the performance aspect, yet this is an opportunity to teach many spiritual concepts that students can take with them into their lives. Though we think of it as a performance it is a means of expressing our faith and therefore it is evangelizing.
Children’s songs are very catchy, and they will likely sing them at home. They actually evangelize their families!
By evangelizing through music, educators can create a nurturing environment where children not only learn about the teachings of the Church, but also feel connected to it on a deeper level. Through carefully chosen songs, interactive learning experiences and opportunities for reflection, preschoolers through fourth graders can embark on a journey of spiritual growth that is meaningful and joyful.
Incorporating music into the educational curriculum for young children is not just about teaching them songs—it’s about instilling values, fostering community and nurturing a lifelong relationship with faith and spirituality.
Bill Sykesis the music teacher for Pk-4 at St. John the Evangelist School, Archdiocese of Baltimore.bsykes@stjohnsp.org
