I absolutely LOVE singing the song, We Are Different in singing time! It ranks high on my favorite-primary-songs list! Something about the catchy rhythm and singing on the off-beat. It can be a little tricky but don’t let that deter you from teaching it to your primary!
It’s also a great one to sing with visitors OR (my favorite) to sing in elementary classrooms during Valentine’s Day! A song all about kindness perfect for a non-church setting as well!
We Are Different Actions
1st Verse:
- I know you: point to partner using both hands
- and you know me: point to themselves using thumbs
- We are as different as the sun and the sea: grasp hands
- I know you: point to partner using both hands
- you know me: point to themselves using thumbs
- And that’s the way it is supposed to be: have children shake hands on the beat
2nd Verse:
- I help you: hold left hands and sink to the ground together
- and you help me: switch to right hands and rise up together
- We learn from problems, and we’re starting to see: foreheads gently come together (be careful!)
- I help you: hold left hands and sink to the ground together
- and you help me: switch to right hands and rise up together
- And that’s the way it is supposed to be: have children shake hands on the beat
3rd Verse:
- I love you: backs of hands touch neighbors palms
- and you love me: both palms touch neighbors palms
- We reach together for the best we can be: touching palms raise above heads and come down
- I love you: backs of hands touch neighbors palms
- and you love me: both palms touch neighbors palms
- And that’s the way it is supposed to be: have children shake hands on the beat
Sing 1 verse or all 3 then repeat with new neighbors! I have the above actions available to download and print. You can access my printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Post the words until they become familiar. See how I do that HERE.
I have other songs we like to sing to visitors HERE if you are interested.
A Perfect Wiggle Song
Not very many visitors in primary? No problem! This song also doubles as a fun wiggle song! Check out my Wiggle Worm Jar HERE.
We Are Different Bell Chart
I also have a bell chart for We Are Different that uses chords. You can download my chart at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are at the bottom of this post.
A few things about this bell chart:
- The 2nd chord says YOU (2ND). This means it’s the second “you” sung in the song. I hope that makes sense.
- On the 3rd chord there is a dash ( – ). You don’t sing here when the bells come in. The bells come in on beat one and the singing starts on the up beat.
If you need more information on using handbells in primary, check out my post HERE. My We Are Different bell chart has no sharps so you only need the basic 8-note set.
Arrangement
This song was sung in General Conference in the middle of a talk by Sister Chieko N. Okazaki. Watch the performance HERE (the song begins at about 6:00 into the video). I’m not sure where to find a printout of the arrangement, however.
Valentine's Day Class Party
I teach this song using actions and the bell chart in my kids’ school classrooms during their Valentine’s Day parties as well! It’s a great song all about kindness and elementary students LOVE the handbells just as much as my primary kids!
Another great song to bring into elementary school during Valentine’s Day is Friends Are Fun. I do the same with that song. Check out that post HERE if you are interested.
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > We Are Different.
2 thoughts on “We Are Different”
This is one of my favorite songs too. I've always done it with rhythm instruments but I like your actions. I'll have to try it.
Super cute illustration too. Did you draw it? Is it ok to print a copy of it?
Hi mamalaoshi,
Rhythm instruments is a great idea too! The illustration is from The Children's Songbook Companion that I just digitized and colored. Feel free to print!
~Camille