If I Listen With My Heart: Paper Cup Pop for Younger Children

• Patsch, Tap, Patsch, Tap.

The paper cup in my hand catches the children's attention.  

• "Can your hands follow my hands?"

I begin to sing and do the pattern with the paper cup.  The children do not have cups, but are doing the actions.

Example video HERE

We finish the song.  

• "You are ready to try this with a cup!"  

I have several adults help me pass out the cups.  I start doing the pattern and singing even before each of the children has a cup (a group management technique to keep them engaged during the transition of passing out the cups).

After we finish singing the song with the pattern, I ask "Who can lead us in this pattern?" I choose a couple of children and they come up with me.  We sing the song again doing the pattern with the children in front leading.

At the end of the song, I ask each of the children who came up to choose another friend to take their place and come up as the leader.  With the new children in front, we sing the song and do the pattern again.

I thank the children in front.  I ask all the children to hand their cups to their teachers.

We moved to the steady beat, the children heard the song 4 times (without realizing it) while they were engaged and participating (the exact requirements for the words to slip in the back door), and it was fun!