For Any Grade Arts & Music Outlines

Music Appreciation Made Easy! Do you need engaging print-and-go activities and brain breaks for The Nutcracker? These activities will save you hours of planning time this holiday season. Just print and cue the music! Great for the period leading to winter break and are even great for your send-home packets!

The selections are available on YouTube or your favorite streaming service. There are no wrong answers, and no musical training is required, so add a few to your sub plans, too!

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of composers from different backgrounds
• observe seasonal/holiday influences within a composition
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

Featured Music

Overture • The Christmas Tree • March • Gallop And Dance Of The Parents • The Presents Of Drosselmeyer • Grandfather Dance • Clara And The Nutcracker • Battle with the Mouse King • In The Christmas Tree • Waltz Of The Snowflakes • The Magic Castle On The Mountain Of Sweets • Clara And Prince Charming • Chocolate (Spanish Dance) • Coffee (Arabian Dance) • Tea (Chinese Dance) • Trepak (Russian Dance) • Dance Of The Reed Pipes • Polichinelle (The Clown) • Waltz Of The Flowers • Pas De Deux (3rd Movement contains "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy") • Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy • Grand Finale

Social-Emotional Learning

Listening to classical music has been shown to help with self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation. Since social-emotional learning is essential for children, incorporating classical music into your classroom or homeschool is a great way to support their development.

Talk about the emotions evoked by the selected music. What does the music make them feel? Happy? Sad? Anxious? Peaceful? Help students identify and label their feelings. Ask open-ended questions about the music and encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings.

Discuss the different instruments used in the piece of music. What does each instrument contribute to the overall sound? Encourage students to make up a story based on the music. What is happening in the story? Who are the characters? Where does it take place?

While listening, students can draw a picture or scene that comes to mind. What colors are used? What shapes? Why?

What's Included

Checkbox options - Time, nature, settings, instruments, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

The 'Inspiration Box' can be used for - Drawing/doodling, journaling, notes, poetry, etc.

❄️ You're invited to the Winter Wonderland category! ❄️ Do you want to create lots of festive winter memories with your students this year? You'll find a growing collection of seasonal printables like music, writing, and fun activities for your classroom or homeschool in one shop section - and we're always adding more!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

Bring the magic of The Nutcracker to life with these colorful Nutcracker-themed posters for your bulletin boards! Each poster showcases a beloved musical piece from this enchanting ballet, bringing the magic of the stage right into your classroom or homeschool.

From the dreamy Waltz of the Snowflakes to the exhilarating Chinese Dance, these visually stunning posters will transport you to the Land of Sweets. Perfect for music appreciation, dance classes, or simply adding a touch of holiday cheer, these posters are a must-have for any Nutcracker unit study!

Featured Posters

1. Clara and The Nutcracker
2. Grandfather Dance
3. Battle with the Mouse King
4. Chocolate (Spanish Dance)
5. Coffee (Arabian Dance)
6. Tea (Chinese Dance)
7. Trepak (Russian Dance)
8. Waltz of the Snowflakes
9. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
10. Waltz of the Flowers
11. Dance of the Reed Pipes
12. Dance of the Clowns

Resource Benefits and Ideas

• Liven up your bulletin boards: Add a touch of holiday magic and ignite imaginations with these captivating Nutcracker posters!
• Create engaging flashcards: Print multiple posters per page for fun and interactive flashcard games about The Nutcracker's music and dances.
• Enhance classroom learning: Use these posters as visual aids to introduce students to the different musical pieces and dances in The Nutcracker.
• Spark creativity: Inspire dance interpretations, musical compositions, or storytelling based on the featured pieces.
• Great conversation starters: Use these posters to spark discussions about Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, ballet, and the story of The Nutcracker!

❄️ You're invited to the Winter Wonderland category! ❄️ Do you want to create lots of festive winter memories with your students this year? You'll find a growing collection of seasonal printables like music, writing, and fun activities for your classroom or homeschool in one shop section - and we're always adding more!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

Unwrap the Magic of the Nutcracker! Are you ready to transform your classroom into a winter wonderland? Our Nutcracker Teaching Guide is your ultimate guide to bringing the magic of this beloved ballet to life! Whether you've been teaching The Nutcracker for years or just starting your Nutcracker journey with students, this comprehensive resource is packed full of helpful reference points.

Brand new to The Nutcracker? These reference pages will give you the information you need to confidently share this Christmas classic with students in your classroom or homeschool! We've included three pages of reference for characters, settings, and dancers - and also a page of answers to common questions your students may have.

Dive deep into the enchanting world of the Nutcracker with:

• Character Close-Ups: Get to know Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and more with detailed character profiles.
• Scene-Stealing Settings: Explore the magical Land of Sweets, the Stahlbaum's home at Christmas, and other captivating locations.
• Dance Delights: Uncover the secrets of the Waltz of the Snowflakes, the Arabian Dance, and other iconic performances.
• Question and Answer Corner: Find quick answers to common Nutcracker queries and spark engaging classroom discussions.

With the Nutcracker Teaching Guide, you'll have a treasure trove of information at your fingertips. Use it to introduce the ballet to students or deepen their understanding and connection to this timeless connection. We hope this resource helps you create magical and unforgettable Nutcracker experiences!

❄️ You're invited to the Winter Wonderland category! ❄️ Do you want to create lots of festive winter memories with your students this year? You'll find a growing collection of seasonal printables like music, writing, and fun activities for your classroom or homeschool in one shop section - and we're always adding more!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

No Prep! Do you need a scene list to accompany "The Nutcracker?" Performances will vary, but this easy-to-use guide includes the scenes found in most productions! The scene list can be used to follow along, given as student handouts, or used as a planning page for your Nutcracker activities/units.

Product Includes:

1. One page with the scenes/numbers
2. One page with scenes and no numbers
3. One page with scenes and note boxes

More Nutcracker Resources!

Nutcracker Fairy Tale Story Listening Sheets (★ NEW!)

The Nutcracker Listening Sheets

The Nutcracker Listening Sheet Preview

El Cascanueces (En Español)

The Nutcracker Word Search

The Nutcracker Performance Journal

The Nutcracker Number Writing

The Nutcracker Activity Bundle

The Nutcracker Bingo Game

The Nutcracker Blank Sheet Music

The Nutcracker Music Notes Match

The Nutcracker Listening & Match Bundle

The Nutcracker & Festive December Bundle

► It can be hard to keep track of all the dates and eras in classical music history, so we created this freebie to help you out! Grab this six-page guide of composers sorted by musical period. Birthdates, birthplaces, and their famous compositions included. Get this instant download delivered right to your inbox!

No Prep! Do you need a fun and interactive handout for "The Nutcracker?" This bingo-style board invites students to color and track each piece from Tchaikovsky's iconic Nutcracker suite. It's also great as a winter break send-home activity!

The Nutcracker Tracker (1 page)

Students can track their listening progress by coloring a box for each piece! Select a few or listen to all twenty-two!

❄️ You're invited to the Winter Wonderland category! ❄️ Do you want to create lots of festive winter memories with your students this year? You'll find a growing collection of seasonal printables like music, writing, and fun activities for your classroom or homeschool in one shop section - and we're always adding more!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

Bring the wondrous world of Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" into your classroom or homeschool! These colorful guides help students identify meaningful keywords during listening activities for The Four Seasons.

These keyword associations help students deepen their appreciation for this iconic classical music suite! Each page outlines the essence of the seasons and references easy-to-understand keywords for each movement.

Your students will embark on a musical journey through the year, exploring the sounds of spring, summer, autumn, and winter! Great for bulletin boards, handouts, and flashcards!

Featured Posters

1. Spring
2. Summer
3. Autumn
4. Winter

Resource Benefits and Ideas

• Liven up your bulletin boards: Add a touch of seasonal magic and ignite imaginations with these captivating Four Seasons keyword guides!
• Create engaging flashcards: Print multiple keyword guides per page for fun and interactive flashcard games about the different movements of The Four Seasons.
• Enhance classroom learning: Use these keyword guides as visual aids to introduce students to the different musical pieces in The Four Seasons suite.
• Spark creativity: Inspire dance interpretations, musical compositions, or storytelling based on the featured pieces.
• Great conversation starters: Use these keyword guides to spark discussions about Antonio Vivaldi's iconic music!

More Vivaldi Fun!

Four Seasons Word Search

Four Seasons Classical Music Activities

Four Seasons Bucket List with Digital Resources

Antonio Vivaldi La Stravaganza

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!