Come Follow Me: Melody Map for Older Children

What do you see? What do you notice?

The children look at the posters and give their answers.  Some will name the shapes, some will say it has something to do with loud or soft of the song, and some will even say it has to do with the ups and downs of the melody.

What does this map have to do with the song I am singing?

I sing the song through once and receive the children's answers. Because the posters are not in order (on purpose), I ask the children which one of the posters comes first.  I sing the song again as they work out the puzzle.  I keep asking and singing until the children have put them all in order. (Can you tell which of these melody maps comes first, second, third, and fourth?)

What's the highest note in this song?  What is the lowest?

Once the maps are put in order, have the children look to see if they can find the highest note and the lowest notes of the song.  Now have them listen to the song as you sing and tell you what word comes on the highest note and the lowest note.

What does this color mean in the song?

I use my finger to point to the different circles as I sing.  I ask "What do these different colors mean in this song?," then I receive the children's answers about what the colors mean on the map. What does the yellow mean?  What does the orange mean? (I sing the song again and emphasize the words associated with that color to help them figure it out.)

(Yellow = words about the Savior)

(Orange = words about us)

Can you sing only the yellow?

Ask the children to sing only the words with the yellow and you will sing all the rest of the words.  Now switch and you sing only the yellow, and the children sing all the rest.

(What they don't realize is that they are learning to sing the song with their inside voice, a very strong musical skill, and one that is terrific for memory.)  This is a great activity for the children!