5 Winter Music Activities to Use in January

 

If you’re anything like me, I often come back after Christmas break, wondering what to teach, searching for some fun winter songs and activities to interest my students after the hype of the holidays. It’s an interesting time of the year – after Christmas, but still before any other major holidays. Well, here is a list of 5 exciting winter songs and music activities that your elementary music classes are sure to love.

 

1. Winter Rhythm Review

I love starting the new year out with lots of solid rhythm review with each of my grades. For one thing, they need it after the long holiday break. Also, it prepares them for the upcoming lessons, whether they be instrumental playing activities, learning a new solfa note and hand sign, or preparing for a musical performance.
I love using interactive rhythm games in my classroom. I have seven different rhythmic levels in a variety of seasons and holidays, and this Winter-themed game is a big hit in January. Students see lots of different winter pictures displayed. They select and click on whichever one they would like, and a rhythm appears for that picture. Then, they can clap it, speak it, or even play it before they click to return to the main page and start again.

My students just love these games, and I like to call them “choose-your-own-adventure” games since the students are able to select their own path or adventure through the rhythms in their level.

In January, I use the level 1 winter rhythmic game to practice ta and ti-ti with my kindergarten students. I use level 2 or 3 with my 1st graders to review ta rest and ta-a. Then my 2nd and 3rd graders use the winter game to read through rhythms of syncopa. Although, I currently am not teaching 4th grade and above, the other rhythmic levels could work even with older students.

An additional task for upper elementary music students could be to write out the rhythm after speaking or playing it.

2. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

 

In the beginning of January, one of my favorite winter music activities is with the Four Seasons. This lesson works very well with Kindergarten through 2nd grade. I first ask students if they can tell me the four seasons, and we practice saying a short poem about them. Then we create a list of words related to each season. Encourage students to think of activities they do and also what they see, feel, or hear during each season. Then I tell students that a composer from a long time ago wrote a piece about each of the seasons. Hee called it Four Seasons!

You could choose to teach a more in-depth lesson on the life of the composer Antonio Vivaldi, which I do every third year, when he is the January composer of the month. Some years, I even add a short writing or artistic activity to the listening lesson. Students can write a few sentences or even a poem with descriptive words for each season. They may also draw their own picture of each of the 4 seasons.

Although this piece is instrumental, I enjoy reading the poems or sonnets that accompany Four Seasons to my students, especially “Winter.” They work really well in helping young musicians relate text to instrumental sounds, like “teeth-chatter,” “happy,” and “ice” cracking. I also like to give my students time to talk about how they could reproduce those sounds with their body, instruments, or any household item. 

Then I play “Winter” for the students, encouraging each of them to use their imaginations as they listen. I like to replay the first section (allegro non moto), adding a few motions for them to copy. This will help them recall the different themes they hear.

Next, I love incorporating “Let It Go” from the movie Frozen. This has been one of my go-to winter music activities for January for several years now, and it has definitely been well-received by my students. You can find out more about this lesson by clicking here.

 

 

3. Jingle Bells

Although usually heard at Christmas time and all throughout December, “Jingle Bells” is a wonderful winter song for kids. There is no mention of Christmas in the song at all, and you can easily add it to your January music activities. The lyrics talk about a sleigh ride through the snow, hearing bells jingle along the way. I love doing this piece during the first or second week back after Christmas break.

With my kindergarten music class, I start with the book, reading all of the lyrics to the students. After singing the song through a few times, I add a simple little dance, either for partners or individually. I also like adding jingle bells and rhythm sticks to help them hear the two different sections of the song.

Second and third grade students are quite familiar with this song and are ready to add some instruments. I use rhythmic and melodic instruments to accompany the song, with each student having an instrument as part of our own little winter band. If you’re interested in an arrangement, click here to see what I use with my elementary students.

 

4. Winter Wonderland

“Winter Wonderland” is a great winter song for kids and also one of my favorites that I remember singing when I was a child. It does have the word “winter” right in the title, and it is another song that does not have a clear reference to Christmas. 

With my 1st through 4th graders, I have students play several rhythmic ostinatos along with it. Especially during this recent time when singing is not allowed, “Winter Wonderland” can be a great winter music activity to review rhythms and practice ensemble skills.

The rhythms in this arrangement can be simple enough for first graders to speak along with this song, but also detailed enough for older elementary to play. I recently have used homemade instruments (rice and water bottles) and bucket drums to accompany this piece, while half of my class added body percussion. Click here for more information on “Winter Wonderland.”

That’s why I just love this winter song – there are a lot of options for using it with your music class.

 

5. Ice Skating Songs and Activities

January is National Ice Skating Month, and there’s no better time to use some ice skating and winter songs and games with your students than January! I have lots of wonderful childhood memories of ice skating with my entire family. Of course, I also have a few bruises from them too, but those winter memories are so special to me. 

 

Children’s Literature

I love using children’s literature to introduce a theme, especially like ice skating. Some children may not be familiar with it, while others may have gone to a rink or a frozen pond several times. I have used the book “Callie Cat, Ice Skater” and “A Day for Skating.” If you’re interested in more of an in-depth discussion of ice skating, then “A is for Axel” is a great book. 

Ice Skating Rhythm Games

I use some ice skating rhythm games as a winter review activity following the story. Although, I encourage students to challenge themselves to see how many they can get in a row without “falling on the ice.” I have them hold up a score that they think they received for their performance. They really love getting into the ice skating theme and always return the next day asking for these games again! With my older elementary students, they write their own rhythmic routine and perform it on any classroom percussion instrument they choose. Occasionally, I will ask other students to judge their performance and discuss how they could have improved.

 

Skater’s Waltz

Finally, Skater’s Waltz is a lovely winter instrumental piece that you can use in any winter music lesson. The composer of this piece, Emile Waldteufel, was inspired to write Skater’s Waltz after observing Renoir’s painting, called Rink of Skaters. He wanted to evoke in music winter scenery as people attempt to skate on a frozen river, the warm-up and quick movement across the ice, and the gracefulness of the skaters as they glide.

As students first listen to this piece, they follow my movements, pretending that they are lacing up their skates, warming up their body, and entering the ice for a waltz. There are several different themes, or skaters, in this larger work, and I often will encourage small groups of students to create their own unique dance or movement for that section. Then the rest of the class may observe their classmates’ routines.

Another option is to add instruments to accompany the Skater’s Waltz. I use this simple rhythmic arrangement, and it works well as a rhythmic review and as a way to encourage ensemble skills in young musicians. If you’re interested in using this arrangement with your students, you can click here for more information. 

 

These are some of my favorite songs to use in January. Although a few of these may also work in December, I hold off on using them then. January can sometimes be a difficult time to find engaging musical activities after the long winter break. I find that these 5 winter music activities and songs work perfectly for kindergarten and elementary students. They include a wonderful mix of activities, including rhythmic review, instrumental playing, historical/composer lessons, and movement activities. If you have any questions about these winter music activities and song, feel free to email me or write a comment below.