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Teaching "I'll Follow Him in Faith"
by Melissa McGowan
I'm actually the President in my ward, but
my chorister was out of town the whole month, so I taught I'll Follow Him in
Faith. The way I taught it was very successful, so I thought I'd share. We
have a small primary with Jr. and Sr. combined, so this can be done successfully
for both Jr. and Sr. Primary. Just as a side note, the actions I used were
amazing! The kids
really picked up on the words quickly doing them and interestingly retained the
words better from week to week that I've ever seen them do before.
WEEK 1
I started by asking the pianist to play through the song (both verses) and asked
the kids to listen and see if they can tell me something interesting about the
melody. After the pianist finished, the children were quick to say that it was
just the same melody over and over. So, then I held up 2 fingers on each hand
and explained that yes, the song's melody repeats; twice on the first verse,
twice on the second verse. Each repeat of the melody starts with "The Lord has
blessed me". I put my left hand down and the second finger on my right hand,
leaving the pointer finger of my right hand up saying, "With Gospel truth." Then
I put my middle finger up, showing now 2 fingers on my right hand and said,
"With Simple Faith." I had them repeat after me. Then I did the same thing on my
left hand saying, "To feel His love," and "In many ways." We repeated this
several times lifting our fingers at the appropriate times. Then we sang all
four prefacing each with "The Lord has blessed me..." several times while I
posted one picture for each phrase to trigger their memory (Gospel Truth=GAK
403-The First Vision, Simple Faith=GAK 605-Young Boy Praying ; To Feel His
Love=a picture I got from Deseret Book of a girl hugging Jesus, but you could
just use a simple picture of a heart with the words "His Love" written inside
instead; Many Ways=GAK 608-Christ and Children from around the world).
Then I sang the song through (both verses and the little ending part) and let
them identify the parts we had learned and asked them to tell me if they hear
any other phrases that repeat. They got "I'll Follow Him in Faith" right away
and I posted a picture of a sunflower with "I'll Follow Him in Faith" written in
the center of the flower on the board for each time the
phrase repeated (three). Along with the last sunflower, I also posted a picture
for the little ending part. He has shown the way=GAK 208-John the Baptist
Baptizing Jesus.
Then I explained to them that the pictures on the board were the "map" to the
song...along with our fingers. These things help us to remember the words to the
song, if we follow them we'll make it through the song. Just like when we follow
Jesus, we'll make it safely through life. I went into some detail here,
explaining my analogy and relating it to the song...but
you get the point. :-)
Then we went though the song several more times. I told them they could sing the
parts they knew and hum the parts they didn't while I sang all the words. Many
children had heard the song enough times at this point to pick up words I hadn't
officially taught them yet. This was all I had time for the first week.
WEEK 2
I put up the "map" (pictures), but only briefly referred to it. It was just
there to help them remember. Then I concentrated on the first verse, teaching
them the actions I'll paste below.
WEEK 3
I put up the "map" (pictures), again, only briefly referring to it. Then
concentrated on the second verse, teaching the actions below.
WEEK 4
Reviewed verses 1 and 2 with actions and taught last little part with actions.
WEEK 5
Our chorister was back and she reviewed the song with repetition, stop and go
signs and direction cards (ie. Loud as a Lion, Slow as a Turtle, etc.). I stood
in the front with her and did the actions with the kids (the chorister didn't
know them yet) while she did her thing. And those kids know that song now! Yeah!
And they didn't even need the "map"!
Actions to I'll Follow Him in Faith
Verse 1
Both hands over head, moving down to shoulders, lengthening arms
(The Lord has blessed me)
Hold an imaginary candle out in front of body - one hand palm up with other
hand in fist placed on top
(with gospel truth)
Alternating right finger to right temple and left finger to left temple
(I have learned His ways in my early youth)
Hold imaginary candle and pass it to your neighbor on your right
(I will share my light)
Pass imaginary candle to your neighbor on your left
(for I know it's right)
Hold imaginary candle up high over your head
(to testify of Him)
Both hands over head, moving down to shoulders, lengthening arms
(The Lord has blessed me)
Fold arms one arm at a time
(with simple faith)
Bow head
(If I pray for help)
Make strong arms
(He will give me strength)
Right arm out in front - elbow to the square
(I will do his work)
Left arm out in front - elbow to the square (keeping the right arm out
simultaneously)
(I will gladly serve)
Pointer fingers together on the left of body, moving in an arching motion
over head to the right of body (to mimic the sun moving over the horizon)
(I'll Follow Him in Faith)
Verse 2
Both hands over head, moving down to shoulders, lengthening arms
(The Lord has blessed me)
Right arm over heart, then left arm over the right until arms are crossed in
front of heart
(To feel His love)
Push arms from heart position into chest and up in front of face, uncrossing
as arms lengthen down to sides
(I have felt His promptings and learned to trust)
March slowly in place to the beat while moving arms up and down at sides -
like marching in place
(So in all I do I'll be faithful to)
Move right hand around head in a circular motion, then left hand around head
then bounce both arms 3 times in front of body on "true" - ie. troo-oo-oo
(The things I know are true)
Both hands over head, moving down to shoulders, lengthening arms
(The Lord has blessed me)
Do a stacking motion with hands - one on top of the other, bringing the hand
on the bottom to the top
(in many ways)
Hands over heart, then move hands out in front of body, palms up
(With a thankful heart I will sing His praise)
Right arm extended high over head, hand in a fist on "raise", then left arm
extended high over head, hand in a fist on "voice"
(I will raise my voice and)
Bounce fists over head 3 times on "claim," "my" and "choice"
(Pro-claim my choice)
Pointer fingers together on the left of body, moving in an arching motion
over head to the right of body (to mimic the sun moving over the horizon)
(to Follow Him in Faith)
Ending line
Move right arm diagonally in front body and around until arm is extended at
your right side, then do the same motion with your left arm
(He has shown the way)
Right arm down at side on "all", then left arm down at side on "my", then
gently bounce both arms down at sides on "days"
(And through all my days)
Pointer fingers together on the left of body, moving in an arching motion
over head to the right of body (to mimic the sun moving over the horizon)
(I'll Follow Him in Faith)
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