You’re going to have so much fun engaging with teaching The Lord Gave Me a Temple with this rhythm pattern! Have you used maori sticks before? They’re so fun for adding in a strong beat and rhythm while singing. I’ll show you how this The Lord Gave Me a Temple Maori Sticks pattern works below, plus a video to demonstrate the pattern.
The Lord Gave Me a Temple Maori Sticks
How to Play:
Sing through The Lord Gave Me a Temple flip chart 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 first sequence, the kids can follow along with their hands. Cross Clap-Clap. Can you do that? Cross Clap-Clap. Great! Let’s try it with a line of the song.
Are you ready to try it with me with these maori sticks? Remember – if I see children not using these 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!
Introduce the second pattern, and try it all the way through the song. Continue to make your way through the song with each pattern or by building up by adding to the sequence each time through so the pattern gets longer and longer!
Where to find Maori Sticks:
Maori sticks are a traditional game from New Zealand. They can be hard to find available online, but there are alternatives you can use. Here’s some options to consider:
Lummi Sticks – Some lummi sticks on Amazon are really just rhythm sticks. Rhythm sticks are longer and thinner than maori sticks. They’ll do, but aren’t the ideal fit. Other lummi sticks are a great swap. Look for ones that are around 8-10″ and a thicker width 3/4-1″ thick or wider.
PVC Pipe – Make your own with simple PVC pipe! This is a great option, and super easy to make.
Substitute in Rhythm Sticks – In a pinch, you can substitute rhythm sticks in place of maori sticks. They do have a different sound profile and aren’t as easy to use for some of the patterns, but they can work okay if you need this option.
Description of each Maori Stick Action:
Cross – Tap one maori stick onto the other making an x shape.
Clap – Bring both maori sticks together parallel so that the long skinny edges clap together.
Drum – Tap with alternating sticks held out in front of you on the ground. One tap for each word/syllable following the notes.
Pat – Pat both maori sticks flat down on your lap or the floor in front of your at the same time.
Switch Hands – Switch which stick is held in each hand.
Flip – Make a small controlled toss of one of the maori sticks and catch it.
The Lord Gave Me a Temple Maori Sticks Pattern
+Cross+ Clap-Clap (Repeat x4)
Tap one maori stick onto the other forming an x for two notes. Then, bring both maori sticks together parallel and clap them together. Repeat this for each set of notes for the first line of the song. You’ll start on “Lord” skipping the first two lead-in words.
+Lord+ gave-me / +tem+ ple-to / +live+ in-on / +earth+ __-___ (held out part singing earth)
.Drum. +Cross+ +Cross+ +Cross+ (Repeat x2)
You’ll drum by tapping your maori sticks out on the ground (or your lap) for each word/syllable. Do this for the first part of the line, then switch to cross tapping three times as you raise up your sticks higher and higher.
.Once. .in. .heav-. .en. .I. .was. / +Spi+ +r+ +it+
.but. .I. .left. .my. .home. .at. / +bir…+ +…+ +th+
_Pat_ Clap-Clap +Cross+ +Cross+ (Switch hands) (Repeat x2)
Pat both maori sticks down on your lap or on the ground at the same time. Then, clap them together twice in quick succession. Next, do the cross tap that forms an x. Finally, switch hands that are holding each of your maori sticks.
_I’ll_ make-my +spir+ +it+ (brighter)
_I’ll_ keep-my +spir+ +it+ (free)
.Drum. +Cross+ +Cross+ +Cross+
You’ll drum by tapping your maori sticks out on the ground (or your lap) for each word/syllable. Do this for the first part of the line, then switch to cross tapping three times as you raise up your sticks higher and higher.
.My. .bod. .y. is. .the. / +Tem+ +..m+ +ple+
.Drum. *Flip*
Again here you will drum in front of your with one tap for each word/syllable. Then, on the final word, make a small controlled toss of one of your maori sticks and catch it.
.my. .Fa. .ther. .gave. .to. / *me*
Extension Activities:
- Switch out the final action with a pass instead!
- Pass – Toss the maori stick in your right hand in a gentle toss across to your partner. Try to catch their stick that they pass to you at the same time. For a more controlled version, just swap sticks without the toss.
- Instead of switching hands, pass a maori stick to the right. You can sit in a circle so everyone gets one, or don’t worry, it will come right back on the next switch hands, just have everyone now pass back to the left.
- 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 drumming, for example. Everyone else sings that part for them while they do their actions!
The Lord Gave Me a Temple Maori Sticks Pattern Demo Video
It can sometimes be hard to interpret the actions with just text, so I thought I would create a quick video to demonstrate the pattern and show you what it looks like together with the music.
You can also see this video on my YouTube playlist here. Make sure you like and subscribe so you’ll see all my new videos and ideas as they are released!
For help getting started using Maori sticks, head over to see this DIY How to Make Maori Sticks Tutorial!
The Lord Gave Me a Temple Maori Sticks Printable Poster & Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 1-page pattern guide to help you recreate the pattern in your Primary room. It also includes a 2-page poster with the actions sequence.
Join INSTANT Primary Singing for extended printables including 1/4 sheet and full page cards and black and white printables! You’ll find these bonus files included when The Lord Gave Me a Temple song is the featured song of the month.
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
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For another fun way to teach this song, make sure you check out this The Lord Gave Me a Temple Yoga Poses activity!
What other fun ways will you use this Maori Sticks singing time activity in your Primary room?
I see Lummi sticks on Amazon. Will they work as well as Maori sticks? They are a little cheaper
Amazon usually includes lummi sticks in the description of what I would call a rhythm stick. Long and skinny wood dowels essentially. Sometimes they’ll be thicker wood sticks. But yes – you can use rhythm sticks as a substitute for (though they don’t have quite the same impressive sound) or make your own using pvc pipe it’s cheap and easy (tutorial here: https://www.primarysinging.com/how-to-make-maori-sticks/ ) or go for the lummi sticks. Any of those options would work or you could even slightly adapt the pattern to a body rhythm.
I found plastic rainbow relay batons on Oriental Trading for cheaper than the actual instruments. It’s the same 3mm plastic, six fun colors, and you can use coupons. 🙂 I’m super excited to use these!
https://www.orientaltrading.com/rainbow-relay-race-batons-12-pc–a2-13727534.fltr?sku=13727534&BP=PS544&ms=search&source=google&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-20320094835-_-157598086464-_-13727534&cm_mmca1=OTC%2BPLAs&cm_mmca2=GooglePLAs&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLCCKHx1152bzSLje3b4jebqwm4Lbv2fKom35vyg_S3T0RVR0Opq60BoCkTMQAvD_BwE
Does this get really noisy, loud and irreverent with a large group of kids? Or can they contain themselves and just have fun with it?
They should be on sequence with each other and it sounding like a rhythm (making your own music). You can occasionallycall out “freeze” and make sure their at the same spot as you and then continue. In a large primary i like to give half the kids instrusments and then they pass to a partner after their turn. It builds in extra repetition and can control a crowd if you have a louder bunch.