You’re going to love this fun rhythm pattern to help you teach I Know That My Redeemer Lives! Bring in your Maori Sticks and follow 4 simple actions throughout the song that match the lyrics as you move through the melody. You’ll find the I Know That My Redeemer Lives Maori Sticks pattern and how to use the actions below.
I think this is a great hymn to teach as part of the New Testament Come Follow Me Primary Songs list. It’s not included in any of the other year rotations, so spend a little bit of time with it this year if you want to teach it!
* See all I Know That My Redeemer Lives Singing Time *
I Know That My Redeemer Lives Maori Sticks
How to Play:
Sing through I Know That My Redeemer Lives (flip chart here) once, before introducing this activity.
Add just one of the patterns at a time, and try it throughout the whole song. This is a great way to help the kids get familiar with each sequence.
Show them the four different actions. Can you do those too? Let’s try this one first! Do the X X pattern to cross your maori sticks and form an x with a tap tap as you sing “He Lives” (or just “Lives). Try it with your arms! Sing through the song with just this one pattern first all the way through the song.
Remind the children if you see children not using the maori sticks appropriately, we’ll need to put them away and switch to a different activity!
Pass out a canvas tote bag with maori sticks to the teachers and let them help distribute them. As an alternative, you can have one class come up front at a time to control the noise or if you have a big Primary and don’t have a ton of maori sticks available!
Sing through the song again doing the X X pattern for He Lives!
Now, add the two additional patterns V Chest on references to self and || Clap on any names or titles of Christ.
Finally, add in all the extra Pats on any of the extra words. Sing through the whole song with all the actions.
Description of each Maori Stick Action:
(V) Chest – Tap both maori sticks to yourself on your chest. You’ll do this action when referencing yourself.
(||) Clap – Bring both maori sticks together parallel so that the long skinny edges clap together. You’ll do this clap on any names of Christ.
(X) Cross – Tap your sticks together forming an “X” shape twice on “He Lives”
(_) Pat – Pat both maori sticks flat down on your lap or the floor in front of your at the same time. You’ll use this action for all other words.
I Know That My Redeemer Lives Maori Sticks Pattern:
Here’s the pattern line by line for the 1st verse of the song:
V _ _ V || X
_ _ _ _ _ _
X X X X _ _ _ _
X X V _ _ ||
X X _ _ V _ _ _
X X _ _ _ V _
X X V _ _ _ _
X X _ _ _ _ _ _
Extension Activities:
- Can you try the rhythm at double speed!
- Assign a type of action to each class. Let them fill in all the cross, claps, or chest actions. Everyone else sings that part for them while they do their actions!
- Sing only the pats and silently sing the other 3 parts in your head. Then switch and silently sing the clap, cross, and chest actions and silently sing the pats.
- Try doing the action TWICE on each word. That’s 4 cross patterns on each “He Lives.” It’ll be a fun way to up the speed without singing faster.
- Cut out the maori stick into strips. Have the children crack the pattern and put them in the right order before bringing out the maori sticks.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this The Lord Gave Me a Temple Maori Sticks singing time activity!
I Know That My Redeemer Lives Maori Sticks Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 1-page pattern guide plus a printable chart with the 4 maori stick actions!
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including a printable lesson plan, pattern charts for the rest of the verses, larger poster cards, and a black and white version! You’ll find these bonus files included when I Know That My Redeemer Lives song is the featured song of the month.
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For another fun way to teach this song, you won’t want to miss this I Know That My Redeemer Lives Say + Sing idea!
What other fun ways will you use this singing time activity in your Primary room?
