My Primary kids are always so excited when I bring in a cup pattern! This time, we’ll be doing a fun cup pattern activity for I Know My Father Lives.
This lesson plan includes 3 different patterns from simple to more challenging to offer variety for the older kids and an easier challenge for the youngest Primary members!
See all our I Know My Father Lives Singing Time Ideas here.
I Know My Father Lives Cup Pattern
How to play I Know My Father Lives Cup Patterns:
Sing through I Know My Father Lives (flip chart here) before starting the activity.
Demonstrate the pattern while you sing through the song again, or at least show them the basic pattern singing through a line of the song.
Pass out the cups. You can speed this process out by having them in small sections ready to hand to the teachers or in a classroom bag under the teacher’s chair.
Sing through I Know My Father Lives while you try the simple pattern. In Junior Primary, keep repeating the simple pattern by running through it again and then asking kids that know it to come up front to help lead!
With older children, you can transition through the two additional harder patterns as time allows.
Simple Cup Pattern:
- Lap, Lap = “kn-ow”
- Palm, Palm = “my Father”
- Lap, Lap = “lives”
- Palm, Palm = “and loves”
Hold the plastic cup in your right hand. Pat it down onto your lap, twice while you sing “know.”
I would hold the cups steady for the first word of the song as you all come in together. It will give you that one leading beat to get started with the first full measure.
Next, tap the cup on your left palm while you sing “my Father.” Repeat this simple pattern throughout the rest of the song rotating between lap and palm every 2 beats.
Intermediate Cup Pattern:
- Lap, Palm, Lap, Palm = “know my Father”
- Switch Hands
- Lap, Palm, Lap, Palm = “lives and”
- Switch Hands
Holding the plastic cup in your right hand, pat the cup on your lap, then palm, and back to lap and finally palm. This pattern should fit with the words, “know my Father”.
Then switch the cup from your right hand to your left hand, and continue the pattern. You should quickly switch hands and continue right on with the pattern.
Challenge Cup Pattern:
- Lap, Palm, Lap Palm = “know my Father”
- Pass behind your back = “li-“
- Lap, Palm, Lap Palm = “-ves and lo-“
- Pass behind your back = “-oves me too-“
Just like the pattern above, you’ll hold the cup in your right hand and pat the cup on your lap, palm, lap, palm through the first measure, “know my Father.”
You’ll then pass the cup from your right hand over to your left hand. Your left hand will pass the cup behind your back and you’ll grab the cup with your right hand.
Continue from here right back into the sequence of lap, palm, lap, palm. It will most likely take 1-2 beats to pass the cup behind your back and jump back into the sequence.
For another fun way to use Stacking Cups in Primary, you’ve got to see this fun post for We’ll Bring the World His Truth!
I Know My Father Lives Cup Pattern Demonstration
Try out this cup pattern with me! In this demo video, I’ll demonstrate this fun cup pattern with 3 different levels of difficulty. I’ll show you how this pattern can be adapted for both Junior and Senior primary kiddos! Just grab the link below and practice along with me!
–> I Know My Father Lives Cup Pattern Demo Video <–
I Know My Father Lives
Printable Cup Pattern Lesson Plan
This free in-post printable includes a 1-page pattern chart! Just cut in long strips to separate the distinct patterns. For non-readers, you can give them directions by colors:
- Blue = Lap
- Green = Palm
- Orange = Switch Hands
- Purple = Behind Back
Your INSTANT Primary Singing membership includes an additional printable lesson plan and 5 large full page action cards when I Know My Father Lives is the featured song of the month!
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Head over next to see our I Know My Father Lives Color Code Singing Time idea!
What other fun add on activities could you add to this I Know My Father Lives Cup pattern?
I need a video demonstrating this