Are you looking for a fun & easy way to get everyone involved in singing time? You will love this Family History-I am Doing It Arm Swings pattern!
Just grab a friend and try this fun partner pattern with simple actions to pair with this great song from the Come Follow Me D&C list for this year!
**See ALL Family History I Am Doing It Teaching Ideas!**
Family History-I am Doing It Partner Arm Swings
You will love this fun partner arm swings activity! This people interactions idea (archives) can be an awesome way to involve both your social butterflies and your more reserved primary kiddos.
As you review Family History-I am Doing It (archives) in primary this week, try out this partner pattern with simple claps, arm swings, and spins!
Before introducing this activity, begin with a quick review of Family History- I am Doing It (flip chart here).
Today we’re going to learn some fun actions to go along with our song! Can I have a volunteer to come up and be my partner? Choose a child to come help you demonstrate the partner actions for this song.
We’re going to use 6 different actions for this pattern. Watch closely and see if you can remember all 6 actions!
Stand facing your partner and start with a simple clap. Then, reach across with both hands for a partner clap. Our third “clapping” action will be a single-hand partner clap. Have each partner use their right hand to reach diagonally for a clap. Then, switch to left hands across to your partner.
Our next two actions will be arm swings. Clasp hands with your partner, then swing your arms back and forth. Try alternating between swinging down low and swinging up high. The last action is a spin! Who remembers all 6 actions?
Once you’ve introduced all the actions, post the first page of the pattern and have everyone pair with the person next to them. Start with 3 claps as you sing, “Fam’ly history” then swing your arms low while singing, “I am doing it.”
Use the first page of the pattern for the first 4 lines of the song. Try it a few times, then move on to the second half of the song.
Are you ready to try the entire pattern? Have some fun learning this pattern as you follow along with this upbeat song.
Since this song is usually sung as a quick tempo, don’t be afraid to slowww downnn for this activity! Slowing down the tempo a bit can help the kids really learn the song instead of just muddling through it!
Once you are more familiar with the movements in the pattern, try speeding back up to the normal tempo.
Partner Pattern:
This partner pattern uses just 6 actions that appear a few times each. I’ve included a full outline of all the actions and corresponding song lyrics below!
As you teach this pattern, be sure to grab the printable later in this post with symbols for each action.
- Clap (3X)= “Fam’ly history”
- Low Swings = “I am doing it”
- Spin = “My fam’ly histo-“
- Clap = “-ry”
- Clap Across (2X) = “And the love I feel when I’m doing it”
- High Swings = “Is very sweet to me”
- Diagonal Claps 2X (Alternate Hands) = “I tell stories of my progenitors”
- Spin= “I write their history”
- Low Swings = “I keep records”
- High Swings = “Of my loved ones”
- Spin = “On my own fam’ly”
- Clap Across = “tree”
Extension Activities:
- Switch partners halfway through the song! Once you’ve reached the end of the first page of the pattern, call out, “Switch!” and gave everyone find a new partner as fast as they can!
- To simplify this activity, have one side of the room learn the pattern for the first 4 lines and have the other side learn the last 4 lines. This can make it easier for the kids to focus on their part of the pattern!
- Follow the Leader! Choose a partnership to come up and “lead” the class through the pattern. Then, pick a new group to come up!
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this I Feel My Savior’s Love Partner Arm Swings singing time activity!
Family History-I am Doing It Partner Arm Swings Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 2-page partner pattern with 6 different types of actions, as well as a key for each symbol used in the pattern.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including a pattern guide with lyrics and a simplified pattern for Junior Primary! You’ll find these bonus files included when Family History-I Am Doing It is the featured song of the month.
Get more out of singing time with the INSTANT Primary Singing membership that includes printable lesson plans, tons of extended printables and an ad-free experience for each featured song of the month, or get immediate access to the entire song list for the year!
Learn more about INSTANT Primary Singing membership options here!
Have questions or need more help, see this FAQ page here.
For a fun way to add in movement and engagement, head over to this Family History I am Doing It Cup Pattern idea!
What other fun ways will you use this partner arm swings singing time activity in your Primary room?
