In My Father’s Hands – Dance Scarves

For a fun way to review In My Father’s Hands, you could act out the song with dance scarves!

This is just one of the fun ways we’ve introduce for teaching In My Father’s Hands. My Primary kids have really loved this song and have picked it up really quickly!! I’m excited to sing it for Father’s day this year.

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In My Father’s Hands
Using Dance Scarves

How to Use Action Hands:

• Draw, post, or demonstrate the scarf actions for the song.
• Have the children sing through the song once while they mirror you doing the actions before passing out the scarves.
• Pass out a set of dance scarves to the teachers and let them help you pass them out to the children. Let them get their wiggles out with the dance scarves before the music begins.
• Have the children follow along with the actions while you sing through the song two more times.
• Then, ask for volunteers to come up front and show you the actions they’ve learned and “lead” the actions! I just let everyone who would like to come up front come, usually it’s 90% of the kids up front! In a large Primary, you can have them come up front to lead by class or by side of the room.

Extension Ideas:

• Have the children help you come up with scarf actions.
• Let the children pick a partner and pass the scarf back and forth and do every other action! Or every other verse if that’s easier for your group.  

Dance Scarf Actions for
In My Father’s Hands

First Verse:

• Firm and steady – Ball scarf up in one hand
• Hold me – Lay scarf over one arm (The Waiter)
• Leap free – Ball up and toss (Toss and Catch)
• Catch me – Catch dance scarf (Toss and Catch)
• Safe – Swing scarf over one shoulder (Over the Shoulder)
• Strength – Hold both corners and spin, twisting it up like a bandana (Bandana Twist)
• Father’s hands – Switch scarf back and forth between both hands (Switch Hands)

Second Verse:

• Soft and humble – Pull the scarf slowly near the floor (Lazy River)
• Stumble – Float scarf to the floor (Float to the Floor)
• Struggle – Pull scarf up and down in high arches (Roller Coaster)
• Troubles – Hold in one hand and wave back and forth (Wave Hello)
• Loved – Hold two corners, and shake the scarf (The Wave)
• Gentle touch – Pull the scarf through one hand (Sleight of Hand)
• Father’s Hands – Switch scarf back and forth between both hands (Switch Hands)

Third Verse:

• True and worthy – Hold scarf at both corners, and out to one side (For Sale Sign)
• Power to bless me – Hold the scarf blocking your face (The Veil)
• Full of faith – Raise scarf up high and then back down (Paintbrush)
• Blessing – Lay scarf on your head (The Hat)
• God’s love – Start with the scarf low to the ground and slowly raise it up to your chest level (Open the Window)
• From above – Raise scarf high above your head (Parachute)
• He’s real – Wiggle the scarf in front of you (Wiggle Worm)
• Will is revealed – Hold in one hand and spin the scarf in a circle (Spinning Clock)
• Father’s hands – Switch scarf back and forth between both hands (Switch Hands)

See the In My Father’s Hands
Dance Scarf Actions

You can watch me demonstrate the dance scarf actions for this song! While brainstorming ideas for this song, this activity was a no-brainer for me.

However, since I only have one more week left for review, I most likely will not be using this song in my Primary. (We’re doing the Picture Word Match this week!)

Because of that, I haven’t spent ANY time practicing the actions, but I’m happy to show them to you quickly so you can get a better idea of what they mean. 🙂

If the video doesn’t load, you can always access it on my YouTube Primary Song Playlist here!

Printable Lesson Plan for
In My Father’s Hands

This printable lesson plan includes an instruction sheet and the actions so you can keep those with you in Primary to easily reference, if you need to!

I’ve also created these series of Dance Scarves movement cards available in my digital shop! The set includes 24 different ideas for fun actions to do using dance scarves and in both a full page and 1/4 page size to fit your needs.

It’s also available in a set with my other 2 action cards for Ribbon Wands and Rhythm Sticks! Plus, if you’re an email subscriber you can find a 25% off coupon code on the exclusive subscribers page!

Click here —> to Download Dance Scarves
Lesson Plan for In My Father’s Hands

Head over here to see 6 different Singing Time Ideas for In My Father’s Hands!