Superplan Christmas / New Years
- Coming In Classical: Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Activity Instructions:
Play music as children are coming in. Give children an instrument we are not using, such as shakers or maracas, to play during the song.
Historical information:The Nutcracker is a 2-act Russian Ballet. Although the original production was not a success, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s, and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Major American ballet companies generate around 40 percent of their annual ticket revenues from performances of The Nutcracker.
- Hello Song: Baby Rock Hello
Baby Rock Hello
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 01, Tempo 5
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.
Lyrics:I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my baby
Rock, rock rock with my baby
Rock, rock rock with my baby
in Rockin’ Rhythms music classLet’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class - Song w/Instrument: Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out cage bells to students. Explore shaking and tapping on ground, shake with one hand, pass to the other hand. Then sing song through, keep beat with bells on verses and choruses, try matching rhythms to what is sung on the word” jin-gle bells” in the choruses.
Lyrics:CHORUS
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleighVERSE
Dashing through the snow
On a one horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the wayBells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonightCHORUS
- Lapride: Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Ride
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Have children seated on parents lap. Follow directions next to phrases in song. Repeat 3x.
Lyrics:Ha ha ha and ho ho ho [ bounce on legs ]
Riding on a sleigh
Dashing quickly through the snow [lean child l & r ]
on this winter dayUp the hill and down the hill [follow directions in song ]
Roll back out of sight
Bouncing bouncing up and down
On this bumpy ride [both legs move quickly, then drop through center @ end] - Song w/Instrument: Up on the Housetop
Up on the Housetop
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out castanets to students. Explore clicking them together, clicking with one hand, with the other hand. Then click along with the words in the song.
Lyrics:Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joysHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickFirst comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyesHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Upon on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickNext comes the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracksHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickHistorical information:“Up on the House Top” is a Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby in 1864 .According to William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader, “Up on the House Top” was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by “Jingle Bells“, which was written in 1857. It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. According to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book, Hanby probably owes the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes to Clement C. Moore’s 1822 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas”).[4] Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad. During his short life, he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867.
- Peek-a-boo w/scarves: Carol of the Peek-a-Boos
Carol of the Peek-a-Boos
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Distribute scarves and explore peek-a-boo. Then play peek-a-boo with recording.
Historical information:“Carol of the Bells” is a popular Christmas carol composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914[1] with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on a Ukrainian folk chant called “Shchedryk“.[2] Wilhousky’s lyrics are copyrighted, although the original musical composition is not. The song is recognized by its iconic four-note ostinato motif. It has been arranged many times for different genres, styles of singing and settings and has been covered by artists and groups of many genres.
- Signing Song: Gift
Gift
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Demonstrate how to make a letter x with both of your hands (pointer extended, thumb resting on middle finger. Then move both hands from near the top of your chest, out and downwards. That’s how you say gift. (Feel free to add the Thank You sign or not during the last line of the song).
Lyrics:I put my hands in an X x3
I put my hands in an X
and move them downward from my chestWatch me now as I sign gift
I sign gift, I sign gift
Watch me now as I sign gift
Thank you for my gift - Song w/Ball: Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out playground balls. Explore rolling the ball, tapping the ball, and bouncing on top of the ball.
Then start song and follow directions in song. - World Music Dance: Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Activity Instructions:
Introduce the song, and give some background, then let children and parents dance to the song. Doing similar movements in similar parts of the song allows parents and children to more easily hear the different musical sections.
Historical information:“Mele Kalikimaka” is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning “Merry Christmas”.[1] The phrase is borrowed directly from English but since Hawaiian has a different phonological system—Hawaiian does not have the /r/ or /s/ of English and its phonotactic constraints do not permit consonants at the end of syllables or consonant clusters—”Merry Christmas” becomes Mele Kalikimaka. [From Wikipedia]
- Musical Exploration: Baby Rock Exploration
Baby Rock Exploration
Activity Instructions:
Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play with. Allow them to explore and try different instruments. Please make sure there is nothing sharp or swallowable. Teacher’s choice on music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!
- Song Time: Baby Rock Songtime
Baby Rock Songtime
Activity Instructions:
Sing children’s favorite songs.
- Puppet: New Year’s Wish (Star)
New Year’s Wish (Star)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Sing song with star puppet several times. Then give kisses. :)
Lyrics:Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.I wish for peace and love to reign
For joyful hearts, and dreams to chase
For kindness and compassion too
Happy New Year, all of you! - Lullaby: Silent Night Lullaby
Silent Night Lullaby
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Parents may stand and sway or sit and rock with children.
Lyrics:Silent Night
Sleepy Time
Close your eyes
Rest tonightTime to relax, and time to dream
Time rest, and time to sleep
I’ll be here when you wake
I will be here when you wake - Goodbye Song: Goodbye Song
Goodbye Song
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 12, Tempo 8
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.
Lyrics:Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
We’ll rock again next time :|
- Coming In Classical: Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Activity Instructions:
Play music as children are coming in. Give children an instrument we are not using, such as shakers or maracas, to play during the song.
Historical information:The Nutcracker is a 2-act Russian Ballet. Although the original production was not a success, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s, and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Major American ballet companies generate around 40 percent of their annual ticket revenues from performances of The Nutcracker.
- Hello Song: Tot Rock Hello
Tot Rock Hello
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 01, Tempo 5
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.
Lyrics:I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my Tots
Rock, rock rock with my Tots
Rock, rock rock with my Tots
in Rockin’ Rhythms music classLet’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class - Song w/Instrument: Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out cage bells to students. Explore shaking and tapping on ground, shake with one hand, pass to the other hand. Then sing song through, keep beat with bells on verses and choruses, try matching rhythms to what is sung on the word” jin-gle bells” in the choruses.
Lyrics:CHORUS
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleighVERSE
Dashing through the snow
On a one horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the wayBells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonightCHORUS
- Lapride: Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Ride
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Have children seated on parents lap. Follow directions next to phrases in song. Repeat 3x.
Lyrics:Ha ha ha and ho ho ho [ bounce on legs ]
Riding on a sleigh
Dashing quickly through the snow [lean child l & r ]
on this winter dayUp the hill and down the hill [follow directions in song ]
Roll back out of sight
Bouncing bouncing up and down
On this bumpy ride [both legs move quickly, then drop through center @ end] - Color or Shape Song: Decorate the Christmas Tree
Decorate the Christmas Tree
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Draw a Christmas tree on a piece of green posterboard. Bring some colored bows to be ornaments.
Lyrics:
Have the children put the ornaments onto the tree when you sing about the color they are.Decorate the Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree
Decorate the Christmas Tree, bring me a [SHAPE OR COLOR ORNAMENT] - Song w/Instrument: Up on the Housetop
Up on the Housetop
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out castanets to students. Explore clicking them together, clicking with one hand, with the other hand. Then click along with the words in the song.
Lyrics:Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joysHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickFirst comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyesHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Upon on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickNext comes the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracksHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickHistorical information:“Up on the House Top” is a Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby in 1864 .According to William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader, “Up on the House Top” was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by “Jingle Bells“, which was written in 1857. It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. According to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book, Hanby probably owes the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes to Clement C. Moore’s 1822 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas”).[4] Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad. During his short life, he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867.
- Body Awareness: I’m Running (What Child is This)
I’m Running (What Child is This)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Play song, dance and follow motions/movement in lyrics.
Lyrics:I’m running, running, running, running,
Running, running, then I stop.
I’m running, running, running, running,
Running, running, then I stop.Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping,
Turn around, then touch the ground,
Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping,
Turn around, then touch the ground. - Solfege Song: Deck the Halls
Deck the Halls
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out microphones to children. Ask for some of their favorite songs, and sing them together. Then sing through solfege syllables, allowing class to echo. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, Fa, Mi, Re, Do. Then introduce song for the week.
Lyrics:Sol Fa Mi Re
Do Re Mi Do
Re Mi Fa Re Mi
Re Do Ti DoDeck the halls with
boughs of holly
Fa la la la la
La la la la - Song w/Ball: Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out playground balls. Explore rolling the ball, tapping the ball, and bouncing on top of the ball.
Then start song and follow directions in song. - World Music Dance: Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Activity Instructions:
Introduce the song, and give some background, then let children and parents dance to the song. Doing similar movements in similar parts of the song allows parents and children to more easily hear the different musical sections.
Historical information:“Mele Kalikimaka” is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning “Merry Christmas”.[1] The phrase is borrowed directly from English but since Hawaiian has a different phonological system—Hawaiian does not have the /r/ or /s/ of English and its phonotactic constraints do not permit consonants at the end of syllables or consonant clusters—”Merry Christmas” becomes Mele Kalikimaka. [From Wikipedia]
- Musical Exploration: Musical Exploration
Musical Exploration
Activity Instructions:
Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play and try different instruments. Teacher’s choice on background music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!
- Musical Game: Freeze Dance – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Freeze Dance – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Activity Instructions:
- Puppet: New Year’s Wish (Star)
New Year’s Wish (Star)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Sing song with star puppet several times. Then give kisses. :)
Lyrics:Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.I wish for peace and love to reign
For joyful hearts, and dreams to chase
For kindness and compassion too
Happy New Year, all of you! - Goodbye Song: Goodbye Song
Goodbye Song
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 12, Tempo 8
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.
Lyrics:Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
We’ll rock again next time :|
- Coming In Classical: Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Activity Instructions:
Play music as children are coming in. Give children an instrument we are not using, such as shakers or maracas, to play during the song.
Historical information:The Nutcracker is a 2-act Russian Ballet. Although the original production was not a success, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s, and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Major American ballet companies generate around 40 percent of their annual ticket revenues from performances of The Nutcracker.
- Hello Song: Kid Rock Hello Song
Kid Rock Hello Song
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 01, Tempo 5
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.
Lyrics:I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my big kids
Rock, rock rock with my big kids
Rock, rock rock with my big kids
in Rockin’ Rhythms music classLet’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class - Song w/Instrument: Up on the Housetop
Up on the Housetop
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out castanets to students. Explore clicking them together, clicking with one hand, with the other hand. Then click along with the words in the song.
Lyrics:Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joysHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickFirst comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyesHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Upon on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickNext comes the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracksHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickHistorical information:“Up on the House Top” is a Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby in 1864 .According to William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader, “Up on the House Top” was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by “Jingle Bells“, which was written in 1857. It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. According to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book, Hanby probably owes the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes to Clement C. Moore’s 1822 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas”).[4] Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad. During his short life, he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867.
- Body Awareness: I’m Running (What Child is This)
I’m Running (What Child is This)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Play song, dance and follow motions/movement in lyrics.
Lyrics:I’m running, running, running, running,
Running, running, then I stop.
I’m running, running, running, running,
Running, running, then I stop.Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping,
Turn around, then touch the ground,
Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping,
Turn around, then touch the ground. - Alphabet Song: Letter T – Turtles on the Train
Letter T – Turtles on the Train
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Show the children a picture of the letter T and talk about the sound it makes. Then prompt the children to guess the things that start with the letter T in the song. Sing several times while tapping the beat.
Lyrics:Two turtles on the train went round the tree, round the tree, round the tree,
Two turtles on the train tickled the toes on my feet,
Then the tiger in the truck threw tomatoes at me - Solfege Song: Deck the Halls
Deck the Halls
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out microphones to children. Ask for some of their favorite songs, and sing them together. Then sing through solfege syllables, allowing class to echo. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, Fa, Mi, Re, Do. Then introduce song for the week.
Lyrics:Sol Fa Mi Re
Do Re Mi Do
Re Mi Fa Re Mi
Re Do Ti DoDeck the halls with
boughs of holly
Fa la la la la
La la la la - Song w/Pitched Instrument: Jingle Bells (w/Handbells)
Jingle Bells (w/Handbells)
Activity Instructions:
Lyrics:EEE EEE EGCDE
FFFF FEEE EDDE D G
EEE EEE EGCDE
FFFF FEEE GGFD C - Composing Activity: Snowman Composing Activity
Snowman Composing Activity
Printables (.pdf)
Activity Instructions:
Before the lesson, make there is a gaffe tape a line on the wall with six measures, and that you have printed the printables for this activity. Students will decide how to order the snowmen so that there are three snowballs in each 3/4 measure. Then tap the beat together, shuffle, and repeat. We are working on composing rhythm.
Snowman with 3 balls = 3 beats
Snowman with 2 balls = 2 beats
Snowman with 1 ball = 1 beat. - Song w/Ball: Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out playground balls. Explore rolling the ball, tapping the ball, and bouncing on top of the ball.
Then start song and follow directions in song. - World Music Dance: Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Activity Instructions:
Introduce the song, and give some background, then let children and parents dance to the song. Doing similar movements in similar parts of the song allows parents and children to more easily hear the different musical sections.
Historical information:“Mele Kalikimaka” is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning “Merry Christmas”.[1] The phrase is borrowed directly from English but since Hawaiian has a different phonological system—Hawaiian does not have the /r/ or /s/ of English and its phonotactic constraints do not permit consonants at the end of syllables or consonant clusters—”Merry Christmas” becomes Mele Kalikimaka. [From Wikipedia]
- Musical Exploration: Musical Exploration
Musical Exploration
Activity Instructions:
Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play and try different instruments. Teacher’s choice on background music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!
- Musical Game: Freeze Dance – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Freeze Dance – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Activity Instructions:
- Puppet: New Year’s Wish (Star)
New Year’s Wish (Star)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Sing song with star puppet several times. Then give kisses. :)
Lyrics:Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.I wish for peace and love to reign
For joyful hearts, and dreams to chase
For kindness and compassion too
Happy New Year, all of you! - Goodbye Song: Goodbye Song
Goodbye Song
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 12, Tempo 8
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.
Lyrics:Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
We’ll rock again next time :|
- Coming In Classical: Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky – March, from The Nutcracker
Activity Instructions:
Play music as children are coming in. Give children an instrument we are not using, such as shakers or maracas, to play during the song.
Historical information:The Nutcracker is a 2-act Russian Ballet. Although the original production was not a success, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s, and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Major American ballet companies generate around 40 percent of their annual ticket revenues from performances of The Nutcracker.
- Hello Song: Family Rock Hello Song
Family Rock Hello Song
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 01, Tempo 5
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.
Lyrics:I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my families
Rock, rock rock with my families
Rock, rock rock with my families
in Rockin’ Rhythms music classLet’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class - Song w/Instrument: Up on the Housetop
Up on the Housetop
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out castanets to students. Explore clicking them together, clicking with one hand, with the other hand. Then click along with the words in the song.
Lyrics:Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joysHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickFirst comes the stocking of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa fill it well
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries
One that will open and shut her eyesHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Upon on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickNext comes the stocking of little Will
Oh, just see what a glorious fill
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks
A whistle and a ball and a whip that cracksHo, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with good Saint NickHistorical information:“Up on the House Top” is a Christmas song written by Benjamin Hanby in 1864 .According to William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader, “Up on the House Top” was the second-oldest secular Christmas song, outdone only by “Jingle Bells“, which was written in 1857. It is also considered the first Yuletide song to focus primarily on Santa Claus. According to Readers Digest Merry Christmas Song Book, Hanby probably owes the idea that Santa and his sleigh land on the roof of homes to Clement C. Moore’s 1822 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas”).[4] Benjamin Russell Hanby was born in 1833 near Rushville, Ohio, the son of a minister involved with the Underground Railroad. During his short life, he wrote some 80 songs before dying of tuberculosis in 1867.
- Peek-a-boo: Carol of the Peek-a-Boos
Carol of the Peek-a-Boos
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Distribute scarves and explore peek-a-boo. Then play peek-a-boo with recording.
Historical information:“Carol of the Bells” is a popular Christmas carol composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914[1] with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on a Ukrainian folk chant called “Shchedryk“.[2] Wilhousky’s lyrics are copyrighted, although the original musical composition is not. The song is recognized by its iconic four-note ostinato motif. It has been arranged many times for different genres, styles of singing and settings and has been covered by artists and groups of many genres.
- Color or Shape Song: Decorate the Christmas Tree
Decorate the Christmas Tree
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Draw a Christmas tree on a piece of green posterboard. Bring some colored bows to be ornaments.
Lyrics:
Have the children put the ornaments onto the tree when you sing about the color they are.Decorate the Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree
Decorate the Christmas Tree, bring me a [SHAPE OR COLOR ORNAMENT] - Body Awareness: I’m Running (What Child is This)
I’m Running (What Child is This)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Play song, dance and follow motions/movement in lyrics.
Lyrics:I’m running, running, running, running,
Running, running, then I stop.
I’m running, running, running, running,
Running, running, then I stop.Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping,
Turn around, then touch the ground,
Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping,
Turn around, then touch the ground. - Song w/Pitched Instrument: Jingle Bells (w/Handbells)
Jingle Bells (w/Handbells)
Activity Instructions:
Lyrics:EEE EEE EGCDE
FFFF FEEE EDDE D G
EEE EEE EGCDE
FFFF FEEE GGFD C - Solfege Song: Deck the Halls
Deck the Halls
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out microphones to children. Ask for some of their favorite songs, and sing them together. Then sing through solfege syllables, allowing class to echo. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, Fa, Mi, Re, Do. Then introduce song for the week.
Lyrics:Sol Fa Mi Re
Do Re Mi Do
Re Mi Fa Re Mi
Re Do Ti DoDeck the halls with
boughs of holly
Fa la la la la
La la la la - Song w/Ball: Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Ball Song (Joy to the World)
Equipment:
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Pass out playground balls. Explore rolling the ball, tapping the ball, and bouncing on top of the ball.
Then start song and follow directions in song. - World Music Dance: Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Mele Kalikimaka – Jimmy Buffet
Activity Instructions:
Introduce the song, and give some background, then let children and parents dance to the song. Doing similar movements in similar parts of the song allows parents and children to more easily hear the different musical sections.
Historical information:“Mele Kalikimaka” is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning “Merry Christmas”.[1] The phrase is borrowed directly from English but since Hawaiian has a different phonological system—Hawaiian does not have the /r/ or /s/ of English and its phonotactic constraints do not permit consonants at the end of syllables or consonant clusters—”Merry Christmas” becomes Mele Kalikimaka. [From Wikipedia]
- Musical Exploration: Musical Exploration
Musical Exploration
Activity Instructions:
Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play and try different instruments. Teacher’s choice on background music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!
- Musical Composition Activity: Snowman Composing Activity
Snowman Composing Activity
Printables (.pdf)
Activity Instructions:
Before the lesson, make there is a gaffe tape a line on the wall with six measures, and that you have printed the printables for this activity. Students will decide how to order the snowmen so that there are three snowballs in each 3/4 measure. Then tap the beat together, shuffle, and repeat. We are working on composing rhythm.
Snowman with 3 balls = 3 beats
Snowman with 2 balls = 2 beats
Snowman with 1 ball = 1 beat. - Musical Game: Freeze Dance – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Freeze Dance – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Activity Instructions:
- Puppet: New Year’s Wish (Star)
New Year’s Wish (Star)
Listen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Sing song with star puppet several times. Then give kisses. :)
Lyrics:Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.I wish for peace and love to reign
For joyful hearts, and dreams to chase
For kindness and compassion too
Happy New Year, all of you! - Goodbye Song: Goodbye Song
Goodbye Song
CASIO-SA-77:
Pattern 12, Tempo 8
Rhythm Only
With Lyrics, no namesListen to the SongActivity Instructions:
Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.
Lyrics:Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
Goodbye [Name goes here]
Goodbye [Name here]
We’ll rock again next time :|