If I Listen with My Heart: Paper Plates for Older and Younger
I'm not sure what is so magical about paper plate patterns and children, but children love to move to a song with paper plates!
Here is an idea for Younger Children:
Younger Children
Pass the plates out under the teachers' chairs before Primary, two plates for every child.
Demonstrate this pattern to the child with your paper plates and ask them to use their pretend paper plates in their hands.
"Can your hands follow my hands?"
After singing the song and doing the pattern together, have the teachers pass out the paper plates to each child. Sing the song and do the pattern together.
Tap to the beat
Tap the paper plates together 8 x on the left side of the body (If I had been... tap starting on the word "I")
Tap the paper plates together 8 x on the right side of the body (Jesus came...)
Tap the paper plates together 8 x on the left side of the body (would have... )
Tap the paper plates together 8 x on the right side of the body (listen to....)
Swish the plates together to the beat
Swish 8 x going from right to left in an arc above the head (But as I read... swish starting on the word "as")
Swish 8 x going from left to right in an arc above the head (hear...)
Swish plate on leg going back and coming forward
Swish the plate in your right hand on your right leg going back (if I...) and forth (listen)
Swish the plate in your left hand on your left leg going back (with my) and forth (heart)
Swish the plate in your right hand on your right leg going back (hear the) and forth (Savior's)
Swish the plate in your left hand on your left leg going back (voice) and forth
You might want to consider doing the song again immediately after you have finished it, and challenge the children to have their paper plates follow yours exactly. Sing and do the pattern
Older Children
Again, plates under teacher's chairs, and the children practice the whole song once before they get the paper plates.
Tap to the beat
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the left side of the body (If I had been... tap starting on the word "I")
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the right side of the body (little child)
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the left side of the body (Jesus)
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the right side of the body (earth)
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the left side of the body (would have)
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the right side of the body (walk)
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the left side of the body (listen)
Tap the paper plates together 4 x on the right side of the body (words)
Swish the plates together to the beat
Swish 4 times going from right to left in an arc above the head (But as I read... swish starting on the word "as")
Swish 4 times going from left to right in an arc above the head (scriptures...)
Swish 4 times going from right to left in an arc above the head (hear...)
Swish 4 times going from left to right in an arc above the head (peace...)
Swish plate on leg going back, swish and tap coming forward
Swish the plate in your right hand on your right leg going back (if I...) and forth (lis) tap (-ten)
Swish the plate in your left hand on your left leg going back (with my) and forth (heart) tap (I'll)
Swish the plate in your right hand on your right leg going back (hear the) and forth (Sav) tap (-ior's)
Swish the plate in your left hand on your left leg going back (voice) and forth tap
Notice the difference between older and younger children is the complexity and speed of the movements. Developmentally the younger children need to stay in one place doing one movement longer than the older children need.
The children love this activity, and the movement to the beat with the paper plates helps cement the song into their head and their body.