Christmas is the perfect time to bring the magic of music into your classroom. From dancing to The Nutcracker to playing along with Sleigh Ride, these festive music activities will captivate pupils in EYFS, KS1, and KS2 while developing their musical skills. Don’t miss the Christmas classical playlist – a great soundtrack for your festive classroom.

The Nutcracker (EYFS / KS1)

Introduce your pupils to the enchanting world of The Nutcracker through these interactive activities. Children can watch an animated version of the story or dance and play along with its iconic music, engaging their creativity while exploring rhythm and pulse.

Watch an animated version of The Nutcracker

Present the story and characters with this short animation: The Nutcracker. Pause to discuss the plot and characters, noting that while the original story names the girl Marie, Tchaikovsky’s ballet calls her Clara.

Move in time to the music

Play two pieces from the BBC Ten Pieces website: Waltz of the Flowers and Russian Dance. Encourage children to dance solo or with a partner, focusing on keeping time with the music to develop their sense of pulse.

Play along with The Nutcracker music

Give out one ‘twinkly’ instrument per child (e.g. chime bars, bells) and one ‘bangy’ instrument (e.g. woodblocks, drums). Switch between short sections of the Waltz of the Flowers and then Russian Dance and have the children use either the ‘twinkly’ instruments for the Waltz or the ‘bangy’ instruments for the Russian Dance. 

Make triangle stars

Have children draw around a triangle instrument and then turn it and draw around it again to create a star shape. Cut out the shapes and decorate them with glitter. Then hang them up and sit underneath them while playing the triangles to create ‘twinkling star’ music. 

Sleigh Ride (KS1 / KS2)

Get your class moving and performing with these engaging, hands-on Christmas music activities. Pupils will explore the sounds of a sleigh ride and create their own festive soundscapes to represent Christmas traditions.

Play along with Sleigh Ride

Listen to Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and discuss the musical elements that evoke a sleigh ride such as sleigh bells, whip cracks, clip-clop horse hoof sounds, and neighing.

Investigate which instruments can recreate the sounds you heard in Sleigh Ride:

• Sleigh bells or other types of jingling bells
• Slapsticks or claves for the whip crack
• Temple blocks or woodblocks for the horses’ hooves

Children can mimic sleigh-riding movements and play along using instruments such as sleigh bells, slapsticks and woodblocks, focusing on maintaining a steady beat. They can use their voices to neigh at the end! 

Perform a Christmas activity

List popular Christmas activities such as seeing Christmas lights, carol singing, Christmas shopping, and ice skating.

• Split the class into groups and give each group a secret Christmas activity! 
• Using their voices, body percussion, and appropriate instruments, children can create a short piece of music representing their activity. 
• Encourage the children to think about appropriate timbres, dynamics, and structure for their piece. They can add texture by not just having all the sounds in one long row but using layers of different sounds at once where appropriate.
• After performing, the class guesses the activity based on the music, discussing which elements worked well and which could be improved.

Christmas Moods Playlist

Use this playlist of festive classical music to help you manage classroom energy levels!

Calming

• Stella Natalis – Karl Jenkins
• December Christmas (Christmas Waltz)  – Tchaikovsky
• A New Year Carol – Benjamin Britten
• Song for Snow – Florence Price
• The Shepherds’ Farewell – Hector Berlioz

Energising

• Winter from The Four Seasons – Vivaldi
• For Unto Us a Child Is Born from Messiah – Handel
• Jauchzet, frohlocket from Christmas Oratorio – Bach
• Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson

Incorporating Christmas music into your lessons is a wonderful way to celebrate the festive season while building essential musical skills. These engaging activities allow children to explore rhythm, pulse, and dynamics in an interactive and enjoyable way. With festive classics and a thoughtfully curated playlist, your classroom will be filled with the joyful sounds of Christmas!