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I’m sharing a Christmas music and movement activity with instruments using the song “Merry Christmas Time” to play the steady beat in this week’s teaching tutorial. Help your children/students get the steady beat using this music and movement activity tutorial.
This video is designed for teachers in music classrooms and group activities! “Merry Christmas Time” is an interactive steady beat activity that introduces children to instrument playing, body percussion, and group music-making—all while celebrating the excitement of the Christmas season.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME INSTRUMENT ACTIVITY PLAY ALONG”
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME MOVEMENT SONG
All you need for this activity is some instruments!
I love teaching these kinds of activities. They incorporate so many wonderful ways to enhance a child’s overall social, emotional, musical, physical, and cognitive abilities.
Our learning goal will be to play on the beat.
The lesson follows a pretty traditional way of teaching.
Listen to the song.
Move to the music.
Play the beat.
The song is easy to sing as it’s sung to the tune of “London Bridges”.
1 Beat the drums at Christmas time, Christmas time, Christmas time.
Beat the drums at Christmas time. Merry Christmas time.
2 Tap the sticks at Christmas time-
3 Ring the bells at Christmas time-
4 Shake the shakers at Christmas time-
We’re going to learn one verse at a time.
I have the children do a steady beat movement for each of the verses.
PAT KNEES
CLAP HANDS
TAP HEAD
PAT ARMS
With younger children I take it nice and slow so they can get to know the song. And repetition helps them in so many other ways too.
I begin with verse 1-DRUM. I have everyone play a drum or pat knees.
Next I’ll introduce verse 2 and have everyone play the rhythm sticks.
I go through each instrument to give everyone a chance to learn how to play that instrument, and to learn when to play and when to stop.
Continue adding in each verse until you have four groups playing different instruments.
The challenge is to get the children to wait until it’s their verse to play.
After the children know the song and verses and can play it pretty easily, then I’ll add in another part.
At the end of each verse when they sing “Merry Christmas time”, I ask everyone to play and then to tap vigorously for 8 beats. Then stop!
Then we count to four and begin the next verse.
They always love adding this part in and are very proud of themselves when they can play only when it is their turn.
It’s so fun to see their faces too and feel the excitement and energy as they prepare to play for their teacher.
I included a video in this resources that you use with the children to teach them the beat and to play along.
And-there’s music tracks so you can use this at home, in school, in a concert too.
Looking for some instruments? You may want to check out these products on Amazon (using my affiliate link please) to help you get started with the activity.
Teaching Presentation in PPT. and PDF versions.
A Teaching Video with play along sections to use with your students.
Music Tracks-vocal and karaoke
Teaching Guide with directions and lesson plan steps.
Children will love singing along to these festive lyrics, each paired with a different instrument:
Beat the drums at Christmas time…
Tap the sticks at Christmas time…
Ring the bells at Christmas time…
Shake the shakers at Christmas time…
Play the beat at Christmas time!
Play the steady beat with confidence.
Practice instrument skills with fun and energy.
Follow the conductor’s cues and musical directions.
Sing, play, and listen collaboratively.
Respond creatively to music as a group.
Teaching steps include singing while moving on the beat.
Introducing playing instruments on the beat.
Various ways to repeat and practice to reach all learners.
An interactive game activity.
Directions on how to put it all together.
Perfect for music educators and home school moms, this resource brings multi-sensory learning into your lessons, engaging students through movement, singing, and instrumental play.
Ideal for Christmas concerts, music centers, or festive class parties, “Merry Christmas Time” ensures that every child feels like a musician.
Make your holiday lessons unforgettable with this Christmas music and movement activity.
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Check out these blog posts!
I hope this music and movement activity helps you during your holiday music lessons.
Thanks for reading this post!
Let’s Move and Learn with Music!
Hi there! I’m Sandra, one of the authors behind Sing Play Create. My goal is to provide teachers with interactive resources and activities to improve the effectiveness of their teaching and enhance student learning.
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