Are you teaching the primary song Holding Hands Around the World (archives) in singing time this year? I love the unifying message this song teaches!
For a neat way to engage your primary children as you teach this song, try this Holding Hands Around the World Paper Plates activity! Utilize these simple household instruments and tap along as you sing together in primary!
Holding Hands Around the World Paper Plates
These paper plate rhythms are a fun way to switch things up in primary and keep everyone engaged! For this activity, you’ll just need a set of paper plates for each child.
I also definitely recommend grabbing a copy of the printable version of this paper plates pattern, included later in this post, to provide helpful visuals! It’s always nice to have a quick reminder for yourself too!
Before passing out paper plates, sing through the first verse of Holding Hands Around the World with this flip chart.
You can start with either the chorus or the verse! If you choose to start with the verse, demonstrate the first two actions by closing the left paper plate over the right like a clam shell. Then, switch and put the right plate on top. You’ll do this for the first line, “We are children singing all around the world.”
For the next line, tap on each note as you sing, “Hap-py voi-ces ring-ing out the joy-ful word.” Switch to alternating knee pats for the next line – “We are chil-dren glow-ing with the gos-pel light.”
Then, swish your plates together as you sing the phrase, “standing tall, walking strong,” and tap three times as you sing, “choo-sing right.”
Repeat this pattern for the next 4 lines. Try the entire verse pattern a few times before moving on to the chorus!
Tap in a large circle for the first line of the chorus – “We are children holding hands around the world.”
Alternate tapping to the left and right as you sing, “like an army / with the gospel flag unfurled.”Then, switch to high/low taps as you sing, “led by His light / love truth and right”
Swish your plates on the word “building,” followed by alternating knee pats for the last phrase, “King-dom / God.”
Way to go, everyone! Do you think we can try the entire pattern together? I bet we can! Start at the beginning of the song and slowww the tempo way down as you try this fun pattern. Hopefully, this activity will provide a fun way to get in lots of song repetition while trying something new & fun in primary!
Paper Plates Verse Pattern: *Repeat Sequence Twice
- Left over Right – “Children”
- Right over Left – “Around”
- Tap each note – “Hap-py voi-ces ring-ing out the joy-ful word”
- Alt L/R Knee Pats – “We are children glowing with the gos-pel light”
- Swish – “Standing tall, walking strong”
- Tap 3X – “Choos-ing right”
Paper Plates Chorus Pattern:
- Circle Taps – “We are children holding hands around the world”
- Tap Left / Tap Right – “Like an army / with the gospel flag unfurled”
- High Tap / Low Tap – “led by His light / love truth and right”
- Swish – “Building”
- Alt L/R Knee Pats – “King-dom of God”
Extension Activities:
- Ask a teacher beforehand to help with this activity and teach them both patterns. During singing time, split into two groups. Have a teacher teach the verse pattern to their group while you teach the chorus to the other group. Then, have each group “perform” their part of the song!
- Try another “instrument” instead! This activity is really meant to utilize simple everyday instruments, so try pencils, markers, or simple body percussion for another fun way to try this pattern.
Holding Hands Around the World Paper Plates Video Demo
Practice along with me a few times to get the hang of this paper plates pattern before using it in singing time! In this video, I’ll walk you through the entire pattern for the verse and chorus, singing through the song for examples. You can even share it with your teachers beforehand and get them involved too!
–> Holding Hands Around the World Paper Plates Video Demo <–
For another fun similar activity, head over to see this Build an Ark Paper Plates singing time activity!
Holding Hands Around the World Paper Plates Printable Song Helps
This free in-post printable includes a 2-page pattern for the verse and chorus of this new hymn!
This activity has extended printables available including larger 4-page and 10-page pattern cards in color and black and white. Use the individual full page cards to mix and match the pattern! You’ll find these bonus printables included in the INSTANT Primary Singing membership when Holding Hands Around the World is the featured song of the month.
Get more out of singing time with the INSTANT Primary Singing membership that includes printable lesson plans, tons of extended printables and an ad-free experience for each featured song of the month, or get immediate access to the entire song list for the year!
Learn more about INSTANT Primary Singing membership options here!
Have questions or need more help, see this FAQ page here.
Head over to this fun Holding Hands Around the World Picture the Children activity next for a unique way to visualize and connect with the lyrics!
What other fun ways will you use this paper plates singing time activity in your Primary room?
