The Iron Rod - 3/4 versus 4/4 for Older Children

Prep - put bundles of 20 rhythm sticks under each teacher's chair and post these words at the front of the room

(Nephi, time, vision, God, ...in, ..lime, shown, rod.

Hold, rod, iron, rod, strong, bright, true, (no word), iron, rod, word, God, safely, guide, through.)

Tell the children, "Here's the pattern. Watch it and see if you can tell me words to describe it." Start the 3/4 pattern (patsch, pop, pop left,... patsch, pop, pop right). Ask the children, "How would you describe this pattern?" Receive their answers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nB56RMYetk&feature=youtu.be

Tell the children, "Let's do the pattern together. Ready?" Start the 3/4 pattern to the steady beat, saying one word clues to help as you move such as patsch, pop left, pop, (switch... you have to say that one quickly without inserting another beat!) patsch, pop right, pop, etc.. Once you have done the pattern with the children at least twice, start singing the song, "To Nephi, seer of olden time, ..." Sing and do the pattern until you finish the verse "iron rod."

https://youtu.be/A-EnLZgHht0

Call out "Freeze! New pattern!" Start the 4/4 pattern. Ask the children to describe the new pattern. Ask them to do the new pattern with you. Patsch, pop, patsch, pop left, patsch, pop, patsch, pop right, repeat. Once they have done the pattern twice through begin singing the verse of the hymn, "Hold to the Rod, ..." Sing and do the pattern to the end of the song.

Pick up rhythm sticks. Tell the children, "Using pretend rhythm sticks to practice the action, follow these patterns." Start the 3/4 pattern and sing the verse. (Patsch, click, click to the left, patsch, click, click to the right). Switch to the 4/4 pattern as you sing the chorus. (Patsch, click left, patsch, click left, patsch, click right, patsch, click right).

Have the teachers now pass out the rhythm sticks to the children. Sing the song and do the two patterns again. Call out "Freeze!"

Point to the words posted in the front of the room. Ask the children to do the rhythm stick pattern with you and sing the word in the song that comes on the patsch. Tell them these words are a hint. Do the pattern and sing only the words that come on the patsch of the pattern.

Nephi, time, vision, God, ...in, ..lime, shown, rod

Hold, rod, iron, rod, strong, bright, true, (no word), iron, rod, word, God, safely, guide, through.

Now challenge the children to do the pattern and sing only the words on the Patsch of the pattern, BUT you are going to sing all the rest of the words ... NOT the words they are singing!!!

Sing the song, do the patterns, and switch back and forth between you singing and the children singing!