Winter Songs and Dances to Light in the Darkest Months
By Stephanie Schall-Brazee
Celebrating the seasons in the music classroom is very special! The following are a few of my favorite activities to share during November and December. Although it is the “darkest” time of the year, these music and movement selections will surely bring much “light” and joy to all! I hope you and your students will enjoy these activities either this year, or in the future.
NOVEMBER-Harvest /Thanksgiving
- Gather in the Harvest (Finland-Tossi Aaron)
A lovely canon with suggested ostinati for Orff instruments. Opportunities for creative movement as children create a dance to perform while singing about gathering in the harvest.
- The First Strawberries (book by J. Bruchac)
I learned this beautiful activity from my dear friend, Lillie Feierabend. The book is a Cherokee legend about how the first strawberries came to be. Read with Native American flute music playing softly in the background to make this a truly magical experience for all.
- Season to Behold (echo canon from Holidays and Special Days by Nash & Rapley)
Depending on the age and experience of the children, this lovely song can be an echo song or a canon. What a nice opportunity to have individual students lead the song while the class echoes! Adding a simple Orff instrument accompaniment will color the song just right. Although written in E minor, I suggest singing this song in G minor to help children develop the head voice.
DECEMBER-Winter Holidays
In the Window (Hebrew Folk Song, English words by Judith Einstein)
This is such a lovely song to celebrate Hanukkah. I have had touching moments as the children create a “human menorah”. Turn off the lights, and ask eight students to stand in a line holding flashlights or battery operated candles. As the song is sung, a student placed in the middle “lights” each candle at the appropriate time in the song. I did not create this activity, I wish I could remember who shared it with me! The song, which can also be embellished with a simple Orff accompaniment, can be found in the Silver Burdett & Ginn series called “World of Music”, Grade 2.
- Welcome Here (Shaker Song-Celebrate the Winter, Revels)https://3.basecamp.com/4485504/buckets/16583616/uploads/3268891323
This is 
one of my favorite openers at our annual holiday program. Opportunities to have the children create a dance, write additional verses, and play simple Orff accompaniments really add to the delight of this song. I have often had children dressed in winter coats, hats and mittens skip through the audience passing out sprigs of greenery and holly as this friendly song of welcoming is sung.
- Ribbon Dance (Line dance – Sweets of May, Laufman)
This dance comes from England and is lovely to watch any time of the year. Performed with green and red ribbons to the instrumental accompaniment of Ding Dong Merrily on High gives it a special holiday feel. (Accompaniment included with the book). It is equally as beautiful performed with any color ribbons in the spring using an accompaniment from English Country Dances for Children by Martha Riley.
