Many teachers ask, “what do we do when we don’t have snow in the winter months and the curriculum is all about snow and cold weather?” Some even go: “my students can’t relate to snow songs! They’ve never seen it!” We think this is a great opportunity to share pictures and props and let the learning about other climates happen!
Music Rhapsody is in Southern California by the beach. We don’t get snow but that doesn’t stop us from pretending we do! Classroom props are our best friend during the winter months. Here are some snowy ideas on how to create a winter wonderland in your classroom! Download our mini workshopfrom October 2022 for more on this topic.
Let It Snow!
Cotton balls and a parachute are great to make it snow in the classroom. Cotton balls are easy to pick up and use again and again. Use recorded music such as “ Let it Snow. ” (Composer Jule Styne and lyricist Sammy Cahn)
Paper Plate Ice Skates
“Ice skating” on the thin, cheap paper (not plastic!) plates is always fun (works well on carpet). Skating from A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi is awesome for paper plate skating! Consider forward and backwards, spinning, figure eight, etc!
Paper Snowflakes
Use props like paper snowflakes for rhythmic notation for snow songs such as Snow (Yuki) and White Feathers from In All Kinds of Weather Kids Make Music and Each Little Snowflake from Holiday Songs and Winter Adventures. Music Rhapsody Members, Snow (Yuki) can be found in your Big Kids and Young Musicians curriculum in your member area.
Snow Cloud and White Feathers
Wrap a strip of white fur around a hand (frame) drum and fill with white feathers. When the feathers fall, the children play their instruments (I like metals such as finger cymbals, triangles, metallophones and glockenspiels for sparkly, glistening music!). See In All Kinds of Weather Kids Make Music for the song and activity White Feathers. Music Rhapsody Members, this activity can be found in your Big Kids and Young Musicians curriculum in your member area.
Puppets Galore!
Wintery puppets like the snowy owl are great additions to help to present and lead snow activities. Snowy the Owl is a must have prop to present and direct snow activities. Also great for pitch matching!
A Baking/Cooking Theme for Musical Holiday Food lessons!
(Any questions on any of these, just click Ask Lynn on the homepage of Music Box! Not a member? send questions to info@musicrhapsody.com. Lynn is ready to help!)
Bake Some Pies! Check out Music Box Downloads (search or go to the Songs Category) for Pumpkin Pie
What are you baking? Sing or Chant this rhyme, the soloist will let us know what’s in the oven!
1, 2, 3, 4 Play on the beat for the numbers
Coming through the Kitchen Door Play the rhythm of the words
5, 6, 7, 8 Play on the beat for the numbers
Making (bisquits, turkey, muffins, gravy), I can’t wait! Play the rhythm of the words.
How many people are you feeding? How many sausages should we make? (Rhymes for rhythm sticks.)
Lets make two! Tap rhythm sticks while counting “1, 2“
Two little sausages, frying in a pan Quickly rub the smooth stick over the ribbed stick
One went pop Tap the smooth stick on the ribbed stick when you say “pop”
And one went bam! Hit both sticks on the floor
But what if you need four? Tap rhythm sticks while counting 1, 2, 3, 4
Four little sausages, frying in a pan, two went pop and two went bam!
But what if you need six? Tap rhythm sticks while counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Six little sausages, frying in a pan, three went pop and three went bam!
Eight little sausages….etc.
Give students a math challenge….How many are coming for dinner at your house? How many pop? How many bam?
Popcorn, popcorn, put it in a pan Tap sticks 8 times to the beat
Shake it up, shake it up Quickly rub the smooth stick over the ribbed stick
Bam bam bam! Hit both sticks on the floor on each “Bam”
The Bakery Truck (From Kids Make Music, Babies Make Music Too! and Rhythm Readers Lessons and lynnkleinersmusicbox.com) See Music Box Downloads for free visuals and lesson videos. See Lynn’s Youtube Channel for videos of the lesson with students.
Holiday Time must include My Musical Gingerbread Man! Get the free lesson in Music Box Downloads or find the recording and lesson in the book In All Kinds of Weather, Kids Make Music.
Peanut Butter Jelly (great for Orff, solo singing, echos) (From the book/CD My Trip to the Mountains Book/CD), www.musicrhapsody.com/shop
Apple Tree from Farm Songs and the Sounds of Moosic and Rhythm Readers and Melody Makers lesson plans. The song refers to two things we can make out of apples. But its a lot of fun having students think of what they want to make from apples! Change the words of the song to what the students want to make. I have heard amazing ideas of what to make from the apples:
Apple Pie, Apple Cobbler, Apple Crisp, Apple Crumble, Applesauce, Apple Butter, Apple Fritters, Candy Apples, Apple Pizza, Apple Pancakes, Apple Stuffing, Apple Sausage, Apple Stuffing…..
And for more student decisions, students need to decide (and sing the solos) on what kind of apples and how many. Kinds of Apples? So many! Thousands! Here’s Some: Red Delicious, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, McIntosh,
Also from Farm Songs and the Sounds of Moosic, guess who wants to come to dinner? My special friend, Donnie the Donkey! You know what happens if you don’t feed him!! Puppets, felts, books with CDS, available at www.musicrhapsody.com.
All Around the Kitchen from lynnkleinersmusicbox and Recorder Rookies lesson plans. Includes “Let’s Spice it Up!” FREE Downloads including the recording in www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com
Bake Some Pies! Check out Music Box FREE Downloads (search or go to the Songs Category) for Pumpkin Pie. includes student hand out, Orff Orchestration, activity ideas. www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com
Thank you to all of our dedicated teachers who participated in my 4 Mini Workshops on Wednesday! The workshop recording, workshop notes and resources will be emailed to those who registered. Didn’t register? This will also be available for purchase in the Shop at musicrhapsody.com by Oct. 31.
The NEW PowerPoint Slides are now included with Rhythm Readers Lesson Packs, 1-13, and 14-25! Also included:
Activity Videos
2 Page detailed lesson plans
Student Hand Outs for each lessons – Remote lesson accessibility
REMOTE Zoom feature allows your students to make up their own rhythms
Time for Holidays means Time in the Kitchen! Including new spices! All Around the Kitchen packnow has interactive PowerPoint!
Here’s a look at a few of the NEW slides in our PowerPoint Visuals included with the recording, student hand out and teaching tips.
Here’s a video playlist to introduce the song to your students, one showing vocal improvisation and one from a concert setting.
NEW this week,Recorder Tapas (Small Bites)! The EASIEST, MOST FUN WAY EVER to teach Jingle Bells and 3 other Holiday Hits on Recorder (or use Melody/Orff instruments). Music Rhapsody Members, this is included in Module 2 of Recorder Rookies!
Here’s a video of Lynn on the ski slope, teaching Jingle Bells!
Due to continuing California health concerns, we are extending our virtual/online training and resource specials!
Save $100 when you sign up for Live Zoom Training on January 13-15 or Online Training. AND you’ll get access to both the Zoom link and the online training materials!
Membership/Training Package – Save $200 and get access to Online Training/Live Zoom Training plus Music Rhapsody Membership!
Watch below to hear what teachers are saying about virtual training.
Here’s a sneak preview of our new arrangement of our Note Name Song – EGBD! New recordings for all 3 levels of the note name songs coming soon! (including the request for the instrumental versions for all 3)
And Resources! Save on select items in the Music Rhapsody Shop – new specials this week! Thanks so much for your support! Your loyalty during this challenging time is greatly appreciated. See you in the Box!
