Maori Sticks (O)
This activity is good for children ages 8 to 11.
Beforehand Preparation
Using a pair of Maori Sticks (see Appendix C for ideas of how to make Maori Sticks), sing the song and tap a four beat pattern. Some examples would be tap, tap, click click, or tap, knock, tap, click. (A tap is hitting the end of the stick on the floor. A click is hitting the two Maori Sticks together. A knock is hitting the opposite end of the Maori Stick on the floor.)
The next pattern to figure out is a passing pattern. Sing the song and figure out an eight beat pattern that includes passing and picking up. An example would be tap, tap, click, click, pass-----, pick up-----. (The pass and pick up both take up two beats.)
Activity
Ask for 15 children to sit in a circle on the floor. Tell them you are going to play a game with Maori Sticks. Warn them: "If you do something inappropriate with the sticks, I take them. No questions asked." (You need to be willing to follow through with that.) Pass out two sticks to every child. Show the pattern, starting with the four beat pattern. Ask the children to copy the pattern. Say, "Freeze!" Show the eight beat pattern and ask the children to copy the pattern. (Be clear about which way to pass the sticks.) Be sure to give the pattern in the same tempo as the song you are going to sing. (You want them to be the same speed.)
Once they have successfully passed the sticks in the pattern two times, sing the song to the beat as they do the pattern and pass the sticks.
Activity Extender
If the whole group is really good at passing the sticks in the pattern, you can again say freeze and add in some flipping of the sticks into the pattern (demonstrated in the video).
Benefits of this Activity
Great for crossing the midline and for practicing steady beat (See Chapter Ten). Good for people interaction, logical, and musical intelligences (See Chapter Five). Good for Whole to Part to Whole learning (See Chapter Nine). Great for active participation in the learning process (See Chapter One).
This activity is good for children ages 8 to 11.
Beforehand Preparation
Using a pair of Maori Sticks (see Appendix C for ideas of how to make Maori Sticks), sing the song and tap a four beat pattern. Some examples would be tap, tap, click click, or tap, knock, tap, click. (A tap is hitting the end of the stick on the floor. A click is hitting the two Maori Sticks together. A knock is hitting the opposite end of the Maori Stick on the floor.)
The next pattern to figure out is a passing pattern. Sing the song and figure out an eight beat pattern that includes passing and picking up. An example would be tap, tap, click, click, pass-----, pick up-----. (The pass and pick up both take up two beats.)
Activity
Ask for 15 children to sit in a circle on the floor. Tell them you are going to play a game with Maori Sticks. Warn them: "If you do something inappropriate with the sticks, I take them. No questions asked." (You need to be willing to follow through with that.) Pass out two sticks to every child. Show the pattern, starting with the four beat pattern. Ask the children to copy the pattern. Say, "Freeze!" Show the eight beat pattern and ask the children to copy the pattern. (Be clear about which way to pass the sticks.) Be sure to give the pattern in the same tempo as the song you are going to sing. (You want them to be the same speed.)
Once they have successfully passed the sticks in the pattern two times, sing the song to the beat as they do the pattern and pass the sticks.
Activity Extender
If the whole group is really good at passing the sticks in the pattern, you can again say freeze and add in some flipping of the sticks into the pattern (demonstrated in the video).
Benefits of this Activity
Great for crossing the midline and for practicing steady beat (See Chapter Ten). Good for people interaction, logical, and musical intelligences (See Chapter Five). Good for Whole to Part to Whole learning (See Chapter Nine). Great for active participation in the learning process (See Chapter One).