I love how the steady beat of the hymn, Redeemer of Israel reminds me how strong and constant the Savior is in our lives! This singing time lesson plan plays off this beat and pounds it out (quite literally!).
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When teaching hymns, I recommend only teaching the 1st verse. If you would like to sing more verses (especially for your primary presentation), try adding the congregation or other small groups such as families.
Māori Sticks
I love the idea of using Māori sticks that Sharla Dance suggests HERE. If you don’t have Māori sticks, unsharpened pencils, PVC pipe or thick wooden dowels work great too! I checked our primary cupboards and a previous music leader created and saved these wooden dowels (HOORAY!):
You can purchase Māori sticks on Amazon here (Amazon affiliate link):
Māori stick games typically consist of rhythmic throwing and catching of sticks from person to person. However, I don’t recommend throwing sticks in singing time ;). Instead, use them to keep the rhythm. Then as an added challenge, pass them from person to person while still remaining in rhythm!
Keep the pattern simple for younger primary and complicate it for the older kids! This is my modified version of what Sharla Dance suggests:
To start, teach the children this pattern WITHOUT sticks first, only using their hands:
- slap lap, slap lap, clap
Continue this rhythm as you and the teachers sing the song. Post words like I do HERE.
Then demonstrate this pattern using Māori sticks or pencils:
- patsch, patsch, click
Patsching means tapping the tops of thighs with the sticks. Clicking means tapping the 2 sticks together.
Pass out sticks to the primary (2 for each child). Warn the children that if they do something inappropriate with the sticks, you will take them. You and the teachers sing the song as everyone mimics this simple pattern. Repeat for the entire verse.
Once that is learned, add on:
- Redeemer: patsch, patsch, click
- of Israel: side touch left, side touch right
- and so on
Full Pattern
Repeat this pattern as you and the teachers sing the song. Then continue adding on:
- Redeemer: patsch, patsch, click
- of Israel: side touch left, side touch right
- our only delight: draw a smiley face using sticks (dots for eyes on “only” and a large smile on “delight”)
- On whom for: patsch, patsch, click
- a blessing: side touch left, side touch right
- we call: touch top of head gently with sticks
- our shadow by day: create a large rainbow shape to represent the sun moving across the sky, tapping sticks together as you move across
- and our pillar by night: reverse the rainbow shape with tapping
- our king our: patsch, patsch, click
- deliverer: side touch left, side touch right
- our all: sticks straight up overhead, looking heavenward
Demonstration Video
I have a quick demonstration video for the actions. Sometimes a picture (or in this case, a video) is worth a thousand words! I hope you can hear it okay, the microphone that I use is at the husband’s office. Just disregard the dryer in the background, haha!
I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE!
Directive Listening
These are optional directive listening questions that you can ask as you use the Māori sticks.
- List all the traits used to describe Jesus Christ on the board:
-
- Redeemer of Israel
- our shadow by day
- pillar by night
- our king
- deliverer
- our all
-
- How is Jesus Christ similar to our shadow during the day? [He is always there]
- The song says “on whom for a blessing we call.” That means who we turn to for help. Who is always there to help? [Jesus Christ]
- Describe what a pillar is. Why is Christ like a pillar? [supportive, strong, something you can lean on]
- How is Jesus a “delight” in your life (or how does He make you happy)?
- Why is Jesus considered our deliverer? [He delivered us from spiritual death, making it possible for us to return to Heavenly Father]
Extended Challenge
For Sr. challenge them further! Have them sit in a large circle on the floor. Or have each class sit in their own circle. Everyone does this pattern:
- patsch, patsch, click
- place sticks on the floor in front of the person to their left
- pick up new sticks placed in front of them
- repeat for the entire verse
Similar to this video but in 3/4 time (Hope of Israel is in 4/4 time)
Challenge the primary to make it through with no mistakes and no dropped sticks!
Bear Testimony
Show a favorite picture of Jesus Christ. Bear testimony that you know that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and Savior. He is always with us and He will never fail us. Because he atoned for our sins, we can return to live with Heavenly Father again.
Make sure to check out all my 2022 music for singing time HERE.
2 thoughts on “Redeemer of Israel”
Thank you, Camille! I have a combined primary. How would you keep the Maori pattern simpler for the juniors?
Hi Mel!
I used this activity with both my Jr. and Sr. primary. Jr. primary did great! I probably would just omit the extended challenge which includes passing sticks to each other. I hope that helps!
~Camille