Let’s add some rhythm into singing time! This Seek the Lord Early Egg Shakers activity includes 3 rhythm patterns that your primary children will enjoy! This living music activity is a great way to review Seek the Lord Early (archives) this month in singing time!
**22 Seek the Lord Early Singing Time Ideas Here**
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I love bringing new instruments into primary! Egg shakers are small, easy to play, and great for kids! They can be such a fun way to spice up any singing time activity.
My egg shakers come from this set of 40 egg shakers on amazon! These colorful egg shakers are so much fun. This set should have plenty of shakers for each child to have one shaker, and maybe even two if you have a small primary!
If you have a large primary, you could have two children share one egg shaker. This is a great opportunity for children to work together as they practice this primary song!
Check out the awesome Egg Shaker Beat Rhythm Cards in our shop for only $6.99! This set comes with 30 action cards that can be great tools for this activity! Once you purchase these cards, you’ll have full access to download and print these cards to use in primary.
3 Egg Shaker Patterns for Seek the Lord Early
1. Once per measure:
Since this song is written in triple meter, this rhythm is pretty slow. It can be a great option if your primary is new to egg shakers. In the example below, you’ll play your shaker on the first beat of each new measure after the slash.
Ex. I’ll / Seek the Lord / Ear-ly while / in my / youth and / he will / help me to / know the / truth.
2. Long-Short Pattern:
For this pattern, alternate between long shakes and one short shake. When you have a “long shake,” move the egg shaker back and forth quickly. In the example below, the words in bold represent the long shake.
Ex. I’ll / Seek the Lord / Ea-rly while / in my / youth and / he will / help me to / know the / truth.
3. Once per word:
For another simple pattern, just shake on every word! This pattern will be a little bit faster and keeps it simple for kids to follow. You’ll have to resist the urge to shake the egg shaker on words that have multiple syllables on different notes!
Ex. I’ll / seek / the / Lord / early / while / in / my / youth
Choose a new pattern each time you sing a verse of the song! These 3 patterns are great foundations for creating your own egg shaker patterns. Once you have these down, come up with your own as a primary class!
Activity Instructions:
At the beginning of primary, review the first verse of Seek the Lord Early (flipchart here!)
Prepare enough egg shakers for each child to have one (or have one for every two children).
Pass out the egg shakers and demonstrate three egg shaker patterns. Invite the children to try the patterns along with you once they are ready.
Practice the egg shaker patterns a few times without music to get comfortable with the rhythm.
Then, add in the music! Start with the first verse and try one of the patterns while you sing.
Choose a new pattern and keep practicing this primary song!
Seek the Lord Early Egg Shakers Video
I’ve created this short video to help you prepare for this egg shaker activity! This video includes a demonstration of all 3 egg shaker patterns for this activity. Click on the link below or watch the video right here!
–> 3 Egg Shaker Patterns for Seek the Lord Early <–
Extension Ideas:
- Have the children come up with their own egg shaker patterns! Kids come up with great ideas and are so creative!
- Split the class into small groups or teams. Have each team prepare an egg shaker pattern to teach the class.
- Draw a bunch of egg shaker patterns on pieces of paper. Have the children draw one pattern from a jar and use that pattern for a verse. Continue choosing patterns and singing together!
If you are interested in learning more patterns to use with egg shakers, we have 6 egg shaker patterns for A Child’s Prayer. Although you may have to adapt this pattern for a new song, it can be a great resource!
Seek the Lord Early Printable Lesson Plan & Egg Shaker Patterns
This Seek the Lord Early printable lesson plan includes a single-page outline of activity instructions and extension ideas. You will find some ideas for expanding this activity or repeating it.
The rest of the printable includes the 3 egg shaker patterns for this activity. Each pattern has its own page so that you can tape up the pattern during primary.
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This Seek the Lord Early Relay Race is so fun! Use this activity for another review this month!
