Stand for the Right: Maori Stick Passing Activity for Older Children

• "Can you 7 children come and help me here on the floor sitting in a circle?"

I hand each child two sticks.  

• "Here's the pattern.  Tap, click, click, tap, click, click." see video HERE

The children do the pattern. I start to sing the song

• "Our prophet has some words for you...""Freeze! I need 7 more children to join us in the circle."  

An adult helps me hand each child two sticks.  

• "Tap, click, click, tap, click, click."

All the children join the pattern.  I start to sing as they continue the pattern on the beat.

• "And these are the words Be true, Be true."

(Yes, you may need to move some chairs back for this activity, then return them into place when done.)

"Freeze!  I need 7 more children to join us!" 

An adult helps me hand each new child two sticks.  

• "Tap, click, click, tap, click, click."  

All the children join the pattern.  I start to sing as they continue the pattern on the beat.  

• "At work or at play, in darkness or light," "Freeze!  I need 7 more children to join us!" 

An adult helps me hand each new child two sticks.  

• "Tap, click, click, tap, click, click."  

All the children join the pattern.  I start to sing as they continue the pattern on the beat.  

• "Be true, Be true and stand for the right!"

(If you have a small Primary, this may include all of your older children.  If not, remind them at this point that we are going to switch off after singing the song one more time so they will all get a turn.  Thank them for waiting so patiently.)

• "Freeze!  This activity was so simple for you that we need to add an extra challenge!  Here's the new challenge.  Tap, click, click, Tap, click, click, Pass to your right (sticks on the floor), Pick up from your left."  

• "Ready?"

Lead the children through the pattern at least twice so they can practice passing to their right and picking up on their left. Example video HERE

• "Freeze!  Ready?  Tap, click, click, Tap, click, click, Pass, Pick up."  

After the children have done the pattern twice, start singing the song while they are passing the Maori sticks around the circle.  You may have to freeze in the middle of the song if the sticks are really mixed up in order to bring back a little order in the passing.  Just start from where you left off.

As soon as you finish singing the whole song, again say, "Freeze!"  

This is an excellent time to bear your testimony about being true and the strength it requires to stand for the right.

The children are interacting, working with patterns, keeping a steady beat, feeling an excitement about the song, and .... it is fun!