This has been one of my very favorite songs to teach to my Primary children. I highly recommend teaching this song if your Primary Presidency and Bishop are on board. Your Primary children will have so much fun learning I Will Be What I Believe (archives) for the first time, or simply having fun reviewing this song!
In this I Will Be What I Believe Maori Sticks singing time activity, you’ll make music following the rhythm with one action per word of the song in a fun repeating pattern that’s easy to follow along with!
*See all I Will Be What I Believe Singing Time Ideas!*
I Will Be What I Believe Maori Sticks
Sing through I Will Be What I Believe (flip chart here) once, before introducing this activity.
Pass out maori sticks to the teachers to distribute to their class.
Sing and demonstrate the actions for the first line of the song, then sing again and have the kids follow along. Continue to work your way through the first verse demonstrating and modeling the pattern and then letting them repeat it.
The pattern repeats the structure from the first verse, with only very minor changes to fit the words of each line and with a toss added at the end of the chorus. You can call out “Freeze!” when you get to that spot in the song, and demonstrate, then pickup singing and let everyone try!
Sing through the song with the pattern a couple times. You can let a different class come up front to help lead the pattern each time.
Description of each Maori Stick Action:
- II Tap Down – Tap the sticks down while they are standing upright.
- X Clap – Clap the two together crossing them to form an X.
- / Tap Left – Tap with the left hand stick on your lap.
- \ Tap Right – Tap with the right hand stick on your lap.
- -()- Pass Behind Back – Pass the maori sticks behind your back.
- ]]]] Drum – Drum as fast as you can during these few words.
- /\ Pat Lap – Pat both maori sticks on your lap at the same time.
- ‘/, Toss & Catch – Make a small controlled toss, and then catch it!
I Will Be What I Believe Maori Sticks Pattern:
*Actions are per word, not note
Line 1: Tap both down on the ground, then clap together for the 2nd half of the line
Line 2: Alternate tap right and left, then clap on the final keyword, repeat
Line 3-4: Tap down on the ground, pass behind back, then drum the final words
Line 4-5: Pat both onto your lap, toss and catch at the end of all 3 chorus sections
Extension Activities:
- Mix and match the pattern cards to make your own patterns. You can pick 2 patterns and demonstrate how to do them, then rotate which pattern card you hold up! Can they follow along and switch when you do?
- For younger children or a simpler pattern, you can repeat just one of these patterns – your choice – through the whole song. Add a second pattern and then repeat the two patterns in sequence through the whole song. Add a third, fourth, etc until you run out of time.
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this The Church of Jesus Christ Maori Sticks singing time activity!
I Will Be What I Believe Maori Sticks Demo Video!
Watch this demo video to try this maori sticks pattern along with me and get some extra tips for using this activity in singing time! In this video, I’ll demonstrate the rhythms used in this pattern and sing through the first verse and chorus using the maori sticks pattern as outlined above.
–> I Will Be What I Believe Maori Sticks Demo Video <–
I Will Be What I Believe Maori Sticks Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 1-page printable cheat sheet with the pattern lined up with the words so you can easily practice and follow along from the conducting stand.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including maori sticks pattern map visuals, maori stick action cards in 1/4 and full page sizes. You’ll find these bonus files included when I Will Be What I Believe is the featured song of the month.
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Continue over to this I Will Be What I Believe Testimony Share lesson plan for a great activity on what it means to be what you believe and how to share your testimony!
What other fun ways will you use this maori sticks singing time activity in your Primary room?
