The kids will love singing along with this fun way to teach Stand for the Right Pat Instead game! It’s a perfect no prep activity that kids the kids moving and creating meaningful experiences with the song!
Purposeful Movement activities in Singing Time are always a big hit with my Primary! They love the chance to get out some of their wiggles and are always up for the challenge!
This fun lesson plan was inspired by my I Will Be Valiant Clap Instead activity! 🙂
See all Stand for the Right Singing Time Ideas Here!

How to Teach Stand for the Right Pat Instead
*Downloads are available at the bottom of the post when signed in!*
How to Play Pat Instead:
Start by Singing through Stand for the Right before you introduce this activity.
Then share the posters included here. Ask the kids what the swiggles represent? (Words, an action, etc)

Tell the kids we’re going to do a double pat on our laps for each of the missing words!
Sing and pat through the song.

See if the children can help you fill in the blanks! What’s one word you noticed is missing? Where does it go? You can write in the word, leave it blank and challenge the kids to say it in their mind, or come up with a unique hand action for that newly discovered word! Keep patting for the rest of the swiggly lines but do your special action any time you get to your discovered word.
Finally, switch and sing and pat only the missing words!

Extension Ideas:
- Have the kids compete! Divide the room into 2 groups. One group sings the current words and pats on the missing words and the other group singing the missing words and pats pats (or snaps, stomps, etc) for all the written words.
- Have the kids try to pat and sing at the same time by the end of the song. Tell them you’ve nudged the words right back into place! Can you sing them while you pat your lap?
- Have the kids come up with an alternative action for the swiggly lines! The matching colors can reuse the same action. Some ideas include: high-5 a partner, stomp, spin, snap, clap, etc.

For another fun singing time idea with a movement pattern, head over to see this I Love to See the Temple Hand Claps activity!
Stand for the Right Pat Instead Demonstration Video
I’ve created this Stand for the Right Pat Instead Demonstration Video to help make this activity even easier for you to plan! Just watch this short video to see how I use this pat instead pattern to add movement in singing time!
–> Stand for the Right Pat Instead Video Demo <–
Teach Stand for the Right
Pat Instead Singing Time Plan
This free in-post printable includes a colorful 1-page printable guide pat instead pattern! It will be easy for everyone to follow along with.

You’ll find a printable lesson plan and additional larger size plus black and white printables included in the INSTANT Primary Singing membership when Stand for the Right is the featured song of the month.
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
For more information on why I use a content lock or how to create your account, you can see the FAQ page here.
For another fun way to add in movement and rhythm, head over to see this Stand for the Right Sand Blocks lesson plan!
What other fun extension ideas could you add in to Teach Stand for the Right in this Pat Instead lesson plan?
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