The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, composed by Peter Tchaikovsky, has become a staple of the Christmas season. A unit plan centered around the famous ballet is packed with a variety of activities that are sure to excite learners of all ages.

Students discuss the Nutcracker Ballet. They listen as the teacher reads "The Tale of the Nutcracker and the History of the Ballet," (included with the activity). Students discuss dreams they have had. They listen to a portion of The...

Help parents and children survive the long winter break with this collection of fun activities. Offering suggestions for volunteering during the holidays and making family New Year's resolutions, as well as a variety of crafts and games,...

Planning a trip to the symphony? Prepare first-time attendees for the experience with overheads that identify the roles played by the concertmaster, conductor, musicians, and even the audience. The musical families are introduced and...

Music is beneficial for all learners. Help your learners with special needs learn about different styles of music, as well as the ways that music is represented on paper, with 30 different worksheets. 

Students listen to "The Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker and listen for a boom or bam. They listen to the piece again and then add the accents with their instruments. They also may add accents of their own.

Students create a seed museum. In this early childhood lesson plan, students identify various seeds and the plants the seeds will grow into. Students write a description of the plant, illustrate the plant and create a seed museum in...

First graders explore ballet, music and movement through Tchaikovsky's, The Nutcracker Suite. They listen to music, read about ballet, analyze how muscles work, examine artwork by Edgar Degas, and create a still life.

Students explore sharp and smooth movements. In two groups, students perform dances using sharp and smooth movements. They are asked to discuss the differences between the movements and how they felt when you watched or performed.

Students observe the sounds of different brass instruments in order to understand how to create different pitches. In this musical lesson, students create a "brass" instrument from everyday household objects. The students discuss the...