My Primary always really likes doing action symbols with their hands. It’s an easy way to get everyone involved, let them move a bit, and help them remember the words! A win-win-win! Here’s the simple In My Father’s Hands Action Hands.
I highly recommend pairing this lesson plan with the Hand picture Cards over here! It made it a cinch to tie in the words and the hand actions and extended the activity a bit, too.
In My Father’s Hands Action Hands
How to Use In My Father’s Hands Action Hands:
- Go line through line of the song (1 verse at a time) and introduce the hand actions.
- Sing through the verse, practicing the signs you’ve learned so far. Then, add more if you’re doing more than one verse!
- Have the one side of the room do signs only while the other side signs. Now switch having the other side sign while the first does the actions!
Extension Ideas:
- Have the children help you come up with action hand movements.
- Post the Hand Pictures keyword signs to tie in the keywords. Let the kids help you remove the signs a few at a time as you’ve learned them.
- Let the children come up front to “lead” the action hands!
- Repeat the actions with the beat (ex: beat fist down on top of the other fist 3x, tap hands in towards yourself 3x, shake hands up above your heads 3x). This is a fun way to get out lots of movement and reinforce the beat!
In My Father’s Hands Simple Action Hands Sequence
First Verse:
- Firm and steady – Make a fist with both hands, and pound one on top of the other hand.
- Hold me – Hug yourself
- Leap free – Hands wide open and up high in the air
- Catch me – Scoop hands inward to your chest
- Know – Point fingers to forehead
- Safe – Baseball sign for “safe”, start hands crossed in front of you in an X and then swipe both arms away from each other.
- Strength – Show your muscles
- Father’s hands – wiggle fingers on both hands
Second Verse:
- Soft and humble – Hands together in front like saying a prayer
- Stumble – Roll hands
- Struggle – Roll fingers together and pull apart like a tug-o-war
- Troubles – Hands in fists, pull them forward and back in front of you
- Loved – Sign language for love, cross hands across chest in an X
- Gentle touch – Run fingers softly down one arm
- Father’s Hands – wiggle fingers on both hands
Third Verse:
- True and worthy – Raise your right arm like you are sustaining
- Power to bless me – One hand on top of the other and pushed out in front
- Full of faith – Both hands in towards your chest
- Blessing – Both hands on top of your head like giving a blessing
- God’s love – Hands come together to form a heart
- From above – Both hands straight up high, then make the steps moving up with the notes
- He’s real – Sign language for Jesus, alternate touching your palms with your other pointer finger.
- Will is revealed – Both palms faced up, bring down in front
- Father’s hands – wiggle fingers on both hands
See the Action Hands for In My Father’s Hands
Watch this short video clip to see the actions live! Keep in mind, I didn’t practice or memorize the 2nd verse signs at all, since I won’t be personally using them.
Hopefully, you can give me a little grace when I don’t have them down perfectly in the video. I’m also being very distracted by my “helper.” I also CAN.NOT.REACH. those high notes, so I just didn’t sing them for you. 🙂
If for any reason this video isn’t loading for you, head over to my YouTube page to find the video there as well!
Exclusive: In My Father’s Hands Action Hands Printable Lesson Plan
You’ll find a printable version of this lesson plan and a 1-page action word guide for the 1st verse included in the INSTANT Primary Singing membership in the May New Testament packet!
Head over here to see 6 different In My Father’s Hands Singing Time Ideas!
Are there any simple hand actions you’d change?
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