Paper Plates

Beforehand preparation:

Obtain cheap paper plates (2 for each child). Decide on a pattern to the beat for the song you will be teaching.  Some motions you might want to consider are hitting the plates together like a cymbal crash, swishing the plates to the side, up above, and below, hitting the plates on your lap like a drum roll, or crossing to tap each shoulder with one of the plates.

Activity

Ask the children to pretend they are holding plates and to have their hands follow your hands.  Do the pattern and sing the song as a model to the children.  Pass out the paper plates.  Sing the song again and do the pattern.

Extender

Younger children – have them do the same pattern facing the back or the side.

Older children – add a more complicated pattern or add in a partner pattern where they tap paper plates at some point with their partner

Benefit

Different movements to the steady beat while singing the song give the children a chance to experience the beat and hear the song over and over again while being engaged in the learning process.  Children enjoy working with the paper plates.