Studying Popular Hymns with Free Worksheets & Notebooking Pages

Published:
October 16, 2018

Sarah Shelton

Contributor:
Sarah Shelton

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A hymn study can be a great addition to your homeschool Bible time – or included in your morning basket. If you are studying hymns in your homeschool, these free worksheets and notebooking pages for popular hymns will come in handy. Be sure to grab the free printable pack with copywork in cursive and print for popular hymns.

Studying Popular Hymns with Free Worksheets & Notebooking Pages on sheet music
To hymn or not to hymn?

I grew up in  Southern Baptist church and have memories of singing the hymns, but I never really learned about them and what they really meant.

The first time that I ever participated in any type of hymn study was in a small Charlotte Mason co-op. Carrie and I were co-teachers in the middle school-aged class, and we were assigned to teach hymn study!

Honestly, we had no idea what we were doing, but we sure had a lot of fun researching the hymns and learning about hymn authors and finding printables to use with our hymn studies. We would take turns reading the background of the hymn writer and the story behind the hymn.

Then we tasked our students to fill out a notebooking page while we played the hymn off of YouTube. There were also many tears as we found out some of the backstories to these hymns! Studying hymns was one of the most meaningful lessons our students remember about co-op.

What is the difference between songs and hymns?

A Psalm, song of songs, is scripture in song. A song that is sung in churches is praise songs or worship songs. Songs, with music and lyrics, are sung in God’s praise.

The word hymn comes from the ancient Greek culture word hymnos which means “ songs of praise.” In our Christian worldview, a hymn is specifically dedicated and directed toward our one true God of the Bible. Hymns is specifically, a song sung in similar tunes like 8.8.8.8 or 8.6.8.6.

The hymns are presented in music called Chordals that include melody, harmony, and rhythm. Chordals are focused around the words of the hymn, not the other way around.

Praise songs came about in the 1960s and hymns have been around for hundreds of years.

What is the importance of hymn?

Unlike the more modern worship music, the hymns are clearly distinct. The students of our co-op slowly learned why and your children surely will too.

I am not telling you that a hymn is important. I am saying that studying a hymn is important, because of the benefits studying them will have.

A hymn is important because it is not self-focused in the sense of how we can benefit from the Lord God Almighty. It is GOD-focused which points us to God, builds our faith, and gives Him all the glory.

Another amazing thing I find about hymns is that God tells us in Ephesians 5:19 to address each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.

How precious he gives us clear guidance on what to do. I can’t help but think of how in even this we can be obedient to his instructions.

What is a hymn study?

When I first was introduced to hymns and then homeschooling my children, I never knew it was a thing to study them. I have heard only one hymn story at the time.

I think I was going through some really tough things and someone explained the story behind the hymn It is Well with My Soul. It has since been my very favorite hymn of all time.

A hymn study helps your students (and you) take a deep dive into the meaning of the words in the hymn and to study new vocabulary in the hymns.

So, now where do we start with a hymn study?

How to do a hymn study?

  1. Listen to the hymn in different versions.
  2. Make it a tradition for the singing of hymns together as a family. Your students can also student learn to play them on their musical instruments.
  3. Research the story behind the hymn in sites like Hymnary or The Hymn Society.
  4. Incorporate hymn copy work (copy work) into your lessons.
  5. Task your students to draw their ideas when hearing the hymns for art.

Your family will really enjoy learning about the hymns and hymn writers / authors with these hymn studies. They are simple ways to teach our children about God’s great power,  to get our family in the habit of praise, and a great way to include musical instruments in every hymnal music lesson.

Free Resources and Printables for Studying Popular Hymns

List of Free Hymn Studies – Weave some free hymn studies into your homeschool lesson plans during the years. You will love this list of traditional hymns that include art lessons and nature study ideas.

Printable Sheet Music – Download and print out free music scores in PDF version for beginners. If your child is learning the piano then use this sheet music for your older hymns or new hymns in your music lesson.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus Free Hymn Study – Learn all about how to do a hymn study, important things to include in a hymn study, and best of all this. Check out this absolutely free What A Friend We Have in Jesus hymn study.

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”

Hymn for Ordinary Christians –  We are just normal Christians needing God every step. Check out the three versions of Great is They Faithfulness.

Thomas Chisholm Bio – Read all about Mr. Thomas O. Chisholm. He is the author of one of the most traditional hymns about our Eternal Father and his perfect love. 

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”  – There is a beautiful instrumental piano file that instantly plays along with the printable lyrics and printable sheet music for piano and guitar!

We were not able to find custom printables specifically for Great is Thy Faithfulness when we did our co-op,  so we made our own! Click here to download our hymn study printables, suitable for all grades (there are sheets for different ages/levels.)

“Amazing Grace”

Amazing Grace More than a Hymn – You don’t only need to just read the hymn lyrics. Also read all about this classic hymn still relevant today. Amazing Grace by John Newton is not just a funeral hymn for a  funeral service when people pass.

John Newton’s Letters – These letters from the writer of Amazing Grace are listed according to the various circumstances of his correspondents. There is also a link to over 300 pages of his complete letters. This would be great for an older student who wants to dive in and really study John Newton.

Amazing Grace on hymnal.net – This beautiful instrumental piano file plays along with the lyrics and sheet music for the piano or guitar. This is one of the most popular hymns of all time talking about our Dear Lord  God’s grace and his awesome wonder.

“Holy! Holy! Holy!”

Reginald Heber Biography – Read all about the writer of this favorite hymn by Reginald Heber. Also, find a list of his popular hymns from HymnsandCarolsofChristmas.com.

The Story of John Dykes and “Holy, Holy, Holy” – John Dykes is the composer who turned the hymn lyrics into one of the most precious worship songs of the Almighty King.

 “Holy, Holy, Holy” on Hymnal.net  – Here is a beautiful instrumental piano file that instantly plays along with the printable lyrics and printable sheet music for the piano and guitar!

Printable Hymn Booklet – Practical Pages has lovely hymn booklets that include the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy. There is a Hymn Schedule and a Hymn Booklet Volume 1 and Volume 2.

“How Great Thou Art”

Carl Gustaf Boberg and Stuart K. Hine Biographies – Mr. Hine wrote the composition for How Great Thou Art and Boberg wrote the lyrics which were originally a translation of the Russian version about our great Jehovah.

How Great Thou Art Background – Learn the complete background information for this absolute special delight. This is a somewhat new hymn that focuses on God’s love, sovereign love.

History of the Hymn – This truly is one of the great hymns of our faith. It is a little more novel than other older hymns. These hymn lyrics are one of my favorites to listen to often.

“How Great Thou Art” Hymn Resource -There is an entire website for this hymn! There is a biography, story of the hymn, printable lyrics, and sheet music, and you can even listen to it online.

“It is Well With My Soul”

This is Carrie’s favorite hymn and it is mine as well. When we were doing our middle school co-op hymn study class, Carrie read the story of the author’s life out loud. We were both sobbing with tears running down our faces.

Even the students were touched and had a hard time filling in their notebooking pages. I won’t give the story away, please read it yourself. All this man went through, and to have that peace in his soul through the heartbreak is only by God’s grace.

Horatio Spafford Biography – It is Well With My Soul is written by Horatio Spafford. The meaning of this great hymn changed my complete perception of hymns.

“It Is Well With My Soul” Resource – Read a devotional for this hymn, the hymn story, and the author’s biography, plus enjoy MP3 audio lessons on at the website Center of Church Music.

Musical Resource “It Is Well With My Soul” on hymnal.net – Check out this beautiful instrumental piano file that instantly plays along with the printable lyrics. Grab the printable sheet music for the piano and guitar.

It is Well with My Soul Unit Study and Printable – Contented at Home has created a complete unit study and printable pack to use with this hymn. Enjoy this hymn which may be considered one of the modern hymns around, impactful then now and always.

Popular Hymns

There are so many hymns we can share with our children. Use them to focus on God’s love divine, for inspiration/faith of ages past, and understand how Jesus loves. The true meaning of the sacrifice of the King of Kings and our hope at the cross of Christ.

Here is a list of a popular choice of a hymn or two – or a few beautiful songs. You can explore them with your family to encourage them all in becoming thankful people:

  • A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther
  • Old Rugged Cross (one of our favorites) by George Bennard
  • Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson
  • Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me by Augustus Montague Toplady
  • Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us by Dorothy A. Thrupp
  • In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend 
  • Before the Throne of God Above by Charitie Lees Bancroft
  • All the Way My Savior Leads Me by Fanny J. Crosby
  • Savior, lead us by Thy Power by William Williams

Thanksgiving Hymn Studies

For each hymn that is linked to hymnal.net, there is a beautiful instrumental piano file. The file instantly plays alongside the lyrics and sheet music for the piano and guitar.

“Showers of Blessings” and a Hymn Study – Grab these two resources to read and listen to the song Shower of Blessings and complete a hymn study of it.

“We Plow the Fields and Scatter” Lyrics, Sheet Music, and Author Biography – This song talks about God being the maker of all things. You will find sheet music, lyrics, and a brief biography of the author Matthias Claudius.

“Praise to the Lord the Almighty” and Hymn Info and Author Biography – Listen to an audio recording on this site, along with the lyrics, piano, and guitar music.

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” Lyrics, Sheet Music, and Author Biography – This song reminds us to appreciate the world around us. Find the representative text, music sheet, and some information about its author, Cecil Frances Alexander.

“Come ye Thankful People Come” Lyrics, Sheet Music, and Author Biography – Fitting for the Thanksgiving season this hymn is perfect to study for the holidays.

“Praise God to Whom All Blessings Flow” and Hymn Info and Author Biography – When we stop to think about the happenings all around us, we are reminded to whom all blessings flow. This hymn study information can help.

“We Gather Together” Resource – Your family will enjoy these hymn lyrics, sheet music, and author biography. It includes a study of “We Gather Together” and printable sheet music in digital print. The Bible says all creatures of our God give thanks, and so we shall as we gather together.

“Bringing in the Sheaves” Resource – Children will enjoy these classic hymn lyrics, sheet music, and author biography with printable sheet music.

“Whole Hearted Thanksgiving to Thee Will I Bring” Resource – Grab this resource for lyrics, sheet music, and author biography for this Thanksgiving hymn. The beauty of the earth and our life leaves much to give thanks for.

“Count Your Blessings”; Hymn Info, And Author Biography; and Hymn Study Story And Meaning Of – Counting our blessings is surely something we need to teach our children. We could be reminded of this daily. Get into the meaning behind it and more.

“Father We Thank Thee for the Night” Resource – Rebecca Weston’s is one of the all-time great hymns of the faith. Kids of different ages can also be involved with a hymn study schedule. You can help them to study these hymnal lyrics, sheet music, and be read about the author’s biography.

Christmas Hymn Studies

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” on hymnal.net – Listen to the hymn play live and view the sheet music for piano and guitar. This song has always been a special delight in our church’s Christmas choir concert night.

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” Printable Piano Music – Check out this free easy piano sheet music digital printable. “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” by Felix Mendelssohn on this resource also comes with an easier arrangement for the song. It is suitable for beginners (Level 1 Piano Solos).

“Away in a Manger” Printable Piano Music – This is one of my favorite Christmas hymns with beautiful lyrics about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Studying this hymn is a simple way for kids to learn more about the power of Jesus.

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” Printable Piano Music – Our family does a yearly precious event put on by a local church called “ A Walk Through Bethlehem.” I will be using this free and simple piano digital print sheet music for my kids to learn before we go this year.

Hymns and Carols of Christmas – I did not realize how many Christmas-themed hymns there really are! You have to check out for a treasury of every Christmas hymn and carol. 

Bible Printables and 12 famous Christmas Carol Hymns – Explore Bible Printables for Christmas hymn-themed printables you can print out for singing and caroling.

Christmas Song Lyrics and Coloring Pages – Explore this entire page of Christmas time lyrics and coloring pages. They are listed in alphabetical order with carols, hymns, and regular Christmas songs.

Ready for More Music Study? 

Check out this free printable on musical instruments of the Old Testament. This amazing musical resource will teach your students about 12 musical instruments of the Old Testament. Learn all about bagpipes, sistrums, trimbels, and other instruments talked about in the Word of God, the Bible.

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