Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Jingle Bells, not allowed? Bah, humbug! I say NO! Let it snow! Let’s all have the opportunity to enjoy this song about snow and a horse drawn sleigh! Jingle Bells is a wonderful sleigh song written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh” in the autumn of 1857. It was written as a winter song, inspired by the annual one horse open sleigh races in Massachusetts, on Salem and Pleasant Streets between Medford Square and Malden Square. Others say it was actually written to be sung for Thanksgiving and became popular at parties, people would jingle the ice in their glasses as they sang.
Over the past several years, I or one of my teachers have been told by one of our schools (we teach at many different schools, preschool and elementary) that they don’t “do” Jingle Bells since it’s a Christmas song. I think this is something we need to change!Why wouldn’t this song about a fun ride through the snow be one to be enjoyed by ALL populations, all settings, all winter long? I deliberately put it in lessons in January/February, explaining this is one of our favorite snow songs. Jingle Bells is for all schools, Jewish, Montessori, Christian, Public, etc. I hope we can enjoy this song all winter long without being told not to sing it because Christmas is not allowed! Maybe they think there’s a Christmas tree or a Santa on the Sleigh? I show the picture of my family with a horse and sleigh on a winter trip to show the meaning of the lyrics.
Here’s many of my favorite activities to do with this song and many other songs using jingle bells, early childhood and elementary ages.
Here’s Jingle Bell options for several different age groups:
Toddlers, Preschool, PreK and Kindergarten: Shake Those Bells Cocoa the horse presenting bell songs
Grade 1 – 3 Jingle Bell Dance
Grade 3 – 5 Jingle Bell Passing Game
Recorder Workshop Teaching Jingle Bells Recorder Jingle Bell Hand out and very fun SMARTBoard visuals
Also in Music Box Downloads:
Sleigh Ride Visuals
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Hello Lynn, I hope I am writing this in the right spot!!! I need ideas for a movement winter song for pre-schoolers and also which instruments/songs are your favorite for this time of year? Thanks
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
I love seasonal activities. Students learn a lot more than music and are so excited about the lesson. Winter stories will warm up the music room with movement, instruments and singing. These are the annual ones that I enjoy during the winter months:
Froggy Gets Dressed Did YOU forget to put something on? If you don’t have this lesson plan, you can find it in DOWNLOADS, under the category, “Stories with Music”. Don’t our 4 and-5 year olds just laugh hysterically over the word “underwear”? Too funny!
Another in the Downloads category, “Stories with Music” for the winter is Snowy Day. Hopefully you have Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move so have the recording of Forgotten Dreams, a beautiful piece by Leroy Anderson.
The Little Penguins Tale, is a precious story book for winter. Detailed lesson plans for these three stories are available in in Music Box Downloads, click Stories with Music. Options for Orff, movement, singing and more. http://www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com/store
Here’s a few favorites from the book and CD In All Kinds of Weather, Kids Make Music:
http://simplymusicrhapsody.com/product/in-all-kinds-of-weather-kids-make-music-teachers-book/
Five Little Jingle Bells (a delightful sleighing song featuring our favorite horse puppet, Cocoa) http://www.musicrhapsody.com/Horse/
Warm Wendall – make the felts from the back of the book or dress up and act it out yourself. Great for unpitched percussion.
Five Little Snowman, Snow (Yuki) – There is an Orff accompaniment for both of these songs The counting felt set from www.musicrhapsody.com (use your MB coupon if you order) has snowmen so I use the felt board when we do the Orff part to show the snowmen melt and see what verse we are singing next. (I use this set for so many songs!) https://musicrhapsody.com/product/beginner-s-counting-set/
Go to Music Box Videos and be inspired to go ice skating using paper plates or get the cotton balls and parachute and be prepared for a big snow fall. www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com
Lots more winter fun, don’t forget to use the SEARCH function to see some inspiring winter lesson ideas.
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
I love seasonal activities. Students learn a lot more than music and are so excited about the lesson. Winter stories will warm up the music room with movement, instruments and singing. These are the annual ones that I enjoy during the winter months:
Froggy Gets Dressed Did YOU forget to put something on? If you don’t have this lesson plan, you can find it in DOWNLOADS, under the category, “Stories with Music”. Don’t our 4 and-5 year olds just laugh hysterically over the word “underwear”? Too funny!
Another in the Downloads category, “Stories with Music” for the winter is Snowy Day. Hopefully you have Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move so have the recording of Forgotten Dreams, a beautiful piece by Leroy Anderson.
The Little Penguins Tale, is a precious story book for winter. Detailed lesson plans for these three stories are available in in Music Box Downloads, click Stories with Music. Options for Orff, movement, singing and more. http://www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com/store
Here’s a few favorites from the book and CD In All Kinds of Weather, Kids Make Music:
http://simplymusicrhapsody.com/product/in-all-kinds-of-weather-kids-make-music-teachers-book/
Five Little Jingle Bells (a delightful sleighing song featuring our favorite horse puppet, Cocoa) http://www.musicrhapsody.com/Horse/
Warm Wendall – make the felts from the back of the book or dress up and act it out yourself. Great for unpitched percussion.
Five Little Snowman, Snow (Yuki) – There is an Orff accompaniment for both of these songs The counting felt set from www.musicrhapsody.com (use your MB coupon if you order) has snowmen so I use the felt board when we do the Orff part to show the snowmen melt and see what verse we are singing next. (I use this set for so many songs!) https://musicrhapsody.com/product/beginner-s-counting-set/
Go to Music Box Videos and be inspired to go ice skating using paper plates or get the cotton balls and parachute and be prepared for a big snow fall. www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com
Lots more winter fun, don’t forget to use the SEARCH function to see some inspiring winter lesson ideas.
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
I love seasonal activities. Students learn a lot more than music and are so excited about the lesson. Winter stories will warm up the music room with movement, instruments and singing. These are the annual ones that I enjoy during the winter months:
Froggy Gets Dressed Did YOU forget to put something on? If you don’t have this lesson plan, you can find it in DOWNLOADS, under the category, “Stories with Music”. Don’t our 4 and-5 year olds just laugh hysterically over the word “underwear”? Too funny!
Another in the Downloads category, “Stories with Music” for the winter is Snowy Day. Hopefully you have Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move so have the recording of Forgotten Dreams, a beautiful piece by Leroy Anderson.
The Little Penguins Tale, is a precious story book for winter. Detailed lesson plans for these three stories are available in in Music Box Downloads, click Stories with Music. Options for Orff, movement, singing and more. http://www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com/store
Here’s a few favorites from the book and CD In All Kinds of Weather, Kids Make Music:
http://simplymusicrhapsody.com/product/in-all-kinds-of-weather-kids-make-music-teachers-book/
Five Little Jingle Bells (a delightful sleighing song featuring our favorite horse puppet, Cocoa) http://www.musicrhapsody.com/Horse/
Warm Wendall – make the felts from the back of the book or dress up and act it out yourself. Great for unpitched percussion.
Five Little Snowman, Snow (Yuki) – There is an Orff accompaniment for both of these songs The counting felt set from www.musicrhapsody.com (use your MB coupon if you order) has snowmen so I use the felt board when we do the Orff part to show the snowmen melt and see what verse we are singing next. (I use this set for so many songs!) https://musicrhapsody.com/product/beginner-s-counting-set/
Go to Music Box Videos and be inspired to go ice skating using paper plates or get the cotton balls and parachute and be prepared for a big snow fall. www.lynnkleinersmusicbox.com
Lots more winter fun, don’t forget to use the SEARCH function to see some inspiring winter lesson ideas.
