If you are looking for an accessible instrumental piece in 6/8 meter for barred instruments with an Orff arrangement, this is it! Taught step-by-step, this classic tongue twister rhyme is perfect for winter, spring, or really any time of the year there is weather 🤣.
An added plus is the language arts lesson on synonyms. Put that on your end-of-year evaluation!
For grades 3-6, this over 50-slide resource is in both PowerPoint and Google Slide versions. Listen to the music on TPT!
Here are some favorite lesson plans and activities for the music classroom to teach The Nutcracker Ballet plus some NEW resources to spark life into our teaching of this perennial classic.
On this page…
For Older Students: PLAY the Chinese Tea Dance on Barred Instruments
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Tea Dance Video
Cultural Stereotypes in the Nutcracker
Each performance of the Nutcracker uses an artistic director who helps determine the costuming, dancing, makeup, and scenery for the ballet. The ballet dates back to a time when ethnic caricatures were standard practice in the performances. This is particularly true in Act II with the dances related to the Chinese, Arabian, Russian, and Spanish dances.
As music specialists, this is important to take into consideration if we choose to use videos in our teaching. Read more.
Here’s an excellent interview on NPR about “Rethinking Cultural Stereotypes in The Nutcracker.”
Books
(affiliate link) A pop-up interactive book!(affiliate link) Play snippets as you read the story.
Nutcracker Museum
At this school, students were asked to bring in a family Nutcracker and were put into this fun Nutcracker Museum display! (Remember to have the student’s name and room clearly labeled.)
Add this to your end-of-year evaluation Danielson (or similar) Domain 1b: Teacher-designed opportunities for families to share their heritages.
Lesson Ideas
Unit of Study (in progress)
K-1 Read a book about ballet and a book about The Nutcracker
Pull out this versatile echo song for primary students that’s about appreciation, thanksgiving, and thankfulness in November or for other celebrations throughout the year. A simple Orff arrangement, one-chord C ukulele part, scarf activities, and movement will make this a great concert piece or SEL activity in the classroom.
Give Thanks is available as a single resource or part of this Thanksgiving Bundle!
Many of us are familiar with the Jan Brett book, but this
Ukrainian folk tale has a very interesting history! Here are songs, lesson plans, and resources for the beautiful story.
If you’re looking for highly interactive elementary music resources in multi-lesson low/no prep formats, take a glance at what is available in my TPT store. Find resources by season, along with instrumentals, songs, bundles, games, movement, and more!
Expert Tips for Viewing
Click the resource, go to the video previews (triangular play icon) and you can hear songs and pieces to get a feel for the product!
Look at the regular preview (green button) and you can see lots of the pages available in the presentation. Sometimes a picture IS worth a thousand words!
Go to my TPT Index if you are looking for specific musical elements.
SEASONAL Elementary Music Resources
From Back-to-School to Infinity and Beyond, find the seasonal resources with the presentation done for you, ready to engage and WOW your students!
Games & Centers
Bundles
Get all you need in great resources AND save money on bundle pricing! Video and PDF previews are available for the bundles AND individual products. Click the images to go to TPT!
Printables
Instrumentals
Ok, my FAVORITE! I love to sing but there is nothing so fun as a GREAT instrumental piece! What’s better? The presentations TEACH the parts for you with a step-by-step process.
Songs
With FUN and accessible Orff arrangements, these all can be your next concert selection! Or keep it in the classroom for those memorable sparkling-eyed moments when a class makes musical magic!
Movement & Rhymes
Get a potential idea on TpT or in the Oodles weekly newsletters!
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A list of books from newly published to classics for the music classroom with links, music connections, activities, and lesson plans!
If you are looking for captivating books that seamlessly blend literature and music in your classroom, look no further! This e-x-p-a-n-d-i-n-g list of recommended books will provide musical connections information and valuable lesson plan ideas. Whether you’re seeking to expand your library or searching for fresh ideas to enrich your music curriculum, find great ways to integrate literature into your music curriculum.
Music Resources & Ideas for the works of Amanda Gorman.
Amanda Gorman’s children’s books are the perfect inspiration for elementary music concerts and classroom activities. Here are a variety of Amanda Gorman music resources and ideas based on her books, Change Sings and Something, Someday.
The Playlist
Change Sings
With her poetry of words, Amanda Gorman’s “Change Sings” uses a story full of music vocabulary to invite children to be the change in the world with acts of kindness. Here are songs that fit into that theme.
The Change Is You
Amanda Gorman’s book, “Change Sings”, inspired this new 3-part round song, The Change Is You, that uses an African proverb to begin the journey of a call to action to be the change in the world.
Change the World, With Kindness
Written for younger singers,Change the World With Kindness reinforces the act of kindness themes in Amanda Gorman’s book, “Change Sings.”
With lots of repetition and sequencing, this easy-to-learn song is a perfect concert selection. The resource includes suggested movements and opportunities to create your own movement.
“With intimate and inspiring text and powerfully stunning illustrations, Something, Someday reveals how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact.”
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Seeds of Change
If you’re looking for a sparkling elementary music concert selection that’s simple to learn and features students playing instruments, this is it!
The One-Beat Diner is a 2-page rhythm writing music resource that features a menu full of one-beat (building brick) yummy foods that can be turned into a delicious 4-beat take-out order. Page 1 is a place to create your one-beat foods and page 2 is where you put them into 4-beat patterns.
