Behold the Great Redeemer Die Pat the Melody

This is the last one in a fun series of singing time ideas to help you teach Behold the Great Redeemer Die hymn to your Primary children from the Primary Come Follow Me New Testament Songs List. You’re going to love this movement and music making activity that will have all the kiddos engaged! This Behold the Great Redeemer Die Pat the Melody activity follows the feeling of each word and note of the song with a unique patsch pattern for each verse!

Behold the Great Redeemer Die Pat the Melody

How to Play:

Sing through Behold the Great Redeemer Die hymn (flip chart here) once before introducing this activity. You can focus on just a single verse or include any verses you are teaching.

Post the pat the melody pattern chart for the verse you’re teaching on the board.

Demonstrate the first line of the song, without giving an instruction first. Just sing and pat along with the pattern:

– – – = ~ ~ ~ – (soft – soft – soft – loud – medium – medium – medium – soft)

Ask the children who thinks that they know how this activity will work? Challenge them to tell you what the rules and how-to for this activity are!

Then, clarify, as needed. Yes, we’ll pat our legs like this – soft, medium, loud. Let’s try that together – show me how quietly you can pat your lap. Now, just a regular normal pat. Okay, let’s pat our lap nice and loud!

Which symbol do you think represents soft? Medium? Loud? Let’s try the first line together following the pattern.

You’ve got it! Let’s try it with the song. Sing through the song with the pat the melody pattern and see if you can follow along. Each symbol and pat represents one note.

Invite a class to come up front and lead the pattern for the rest of the Primary. Then, rotate with another class up front to add additional repetition.

Pat the Melody Pattern

Melody Key:

– Soft
~ Medium
= Loud

Verse 1 Pattern:

– – – = ~ ~ ~ –

– – – = – ~ ~ ~

= = = ~ ~ ~ – –

= = = ~ ~ ~ – –

– ~ ~ =+ ~ = = ~

Extension Activities:

• Use 1 finger, a hand flat, and a clenched fist to emphasis your soft, medium, and loud notes! It adds another element to the challenge.
• For extra movement, try one time with a crouch, sit, and stand and wear out all those extra wiggles in your Primary room!
• Mix in a clap for the loud (=) spots on the chart to mix it up!
• Sing with the same volume as your pats – soft, medium, and loud. This is definitely a challenge and will be fun to give a try!

For another fun rhythm pattern, head over to see this Jesus Has Risen Palm Leaves Pattern.

Behold the Great Redeemer Die Pat the Melody Demo Video

Watch this short Pat the Melody demo video as you prepare to teach this pattern in singing time! In this video, I explain how to use this pattern and go through the first verse using all 3 dynamics!

–> Behold the Great Redeemer Die Pat the Melody Demo Video <–

Behold the Great Redeemer Die Pat the Melody Pattern Printable

You’re going to have so much fun following along with this pat the melody chart! This free in-post printable includes a 1-page guide to post on the board that shows the pattern for the first verse. It also includes a printable key to what the pattern/symbols represent.

You’ll find an extra-large 2-page printable melody chart and a unique pattern for each of the 6 verses plus alternate key for the extension ideas! These are all included in the INSTANT Primary Singing membership when Behold the Great Redeemer Die song is the featured song of the month!

For another engaging way to teach this hymn to your Primary kiddos, head over to see this Behold the Great Redeemer Die First Letters lesson plan!

What other fun ways could you extend or adapt this Pat the Melody activity while teaching Behold the Great Redeemer Die?