This is one of my favorite Primary songs. I find myself humming this song more than any other just because it gets stuck in my head.
The melody phrases are all different and none of them repeat, so this makes it interesting and fun to sing. The rhythms are also interesting and varied in even and uneven beats. So it’s fun to clap or tap the rhythm for this song. The rhythms seem to emphasize the action words of KNOW, FOLLOW, BELIEVE, HONOR, DO, and PROCLAIM. Together with the melody and words, the rhythm supports the powerful, confident message that we actively commit to follow Jesus Christ. This is a testimony song!
I’m going to use a combination of questions and the action keywords to teach the song. I’ll ask the children to listen for the two things that we know and then the six things we do because we belong to the church. As they discover the answers, I’ll continue to sing and post wordstrips for the actions words (2x for KNOW and 2x for FOLLOW.) After all the wordstrips are up, I’ll help them sing it through using the keywords as a reminder. Then we’ll repeat, removing a key word each time we sing.
The melody phrases are all different and none of them repeat, so this makes it interesting and fun to sing. The rhythms are also interesting and varied in even and uneven beats. So it’s fun to clap or tap the rhythm for this song. The rhythms seem to emphasize the action words of KNOW, FOLLOW, BELIEVE, HONOR, DO, and PROCLAIM. Together with the melody and words, the rhythm supports the powerful, confident message that we actively commit to follow Jesus Christ. This is a testimony song!
I’m going to use a combination of questions and the action keywords to teach the song. I’ll ask the children to listen for the two things that we know and then the six things we do because we belong to the church. As they discover the answers, I’ll continue to sing and post wordstrips for the actions words (2x for KNOW and 2x for FOLLOW.) After all the wordstrips are up, I’ll help them sing it through using the keywords as a reminder. Then we’ll repeat, removing a key word each time we sing.
This song just makes you want to get up and move! I’m going to have to think of some fun movement activities to review it. Maybe a rhythm band of some kind. Do you think I could get away with it? Sofia also has some great ideas that I think will work to introduce and review the song. You might need to scroll down a little way.
Thank you so much for this post! I've been stumped on how to teach this song in a way that would be fun for the kids and easy for me. (I've got small children of my own, which doesn't leave me with much free time.) This is perfect!
ReplyDeleteThank-you for all your thoughts. You have helped me more than once think though my ideas.
ReplyDeleteDid you decide to use instruments with this song? I may bring my pipe chimes one day, and just play them on the notes with the action words.
ReplyDeleteKristen, I haven't yet used the instruments, but plan to at some point. I like your idea to play on the key words, that would help reinforce these words.
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