Submitted by Linda B. Brown, Jackson, Tennessee
Idea posted February 18, 2010
I needed a good, personalized Christmas song for all three of the schools that I serve as music teacher.
I used the tune from "Amblin' Down An Autumn Avenue" (from Music K-8, Vol. 17, No. 1) and created these Christmas words with motions.
Intro - Children bounce up and down on beat; just a gentle knee bend while feeling the beat from side-to-side with hands doing a snapping motion. If they are able to snap on the beat, you can also snap.
We did not repeat the phrases once we learned the song, but because of the arrangement of the accompaniment it's ideal to teach the words in the beginning because students are able to echo. But, once students know the song, sing each phrase once.
Christmas words:
See the gifts (point to pretend tree)
'Neath the tree (arms up, hands create Christmas tree by point-touching fingers)
I sure hope (fingers on both hands, crossed)
They're for me (thumbs on both hands, point to self)
What a wonderful day! Santa's on his way! (point to make-believe Santa whizzing across sky)
Christmas time at (insert name of your school; "WhiteHall School" will be used for this example)
You may have to fix something for the name to fit, but I had no trouble with inserting the name of any of my schools.)
Go back, repeat (See the gifts...)
For the next section, insert names of popular teachers, principal, or workers in the building. Students loved this next section! Especially thinking of an adult, for instance the principal, wishing for a skateboard for Christmas!
(Teacher's/Principal's/Staff's Name) wants a skateboard (arms out pretending to balance on skateboard)
(Name) wants a phone (phone hand motion at one ear, point with finger from opposite hand to pretend phone and group says in a whisper, "Call me.")
(Name) wants a story book (pretend to turn pages)
That (he/she) can call her own (hug make-believe book to self, twisting side to side)
Go back to "See the gifts..."
Next section spoken:
He's making a list (write in hand with fingers of opposite hand)
Checkin' it twice (hold up two fingers)
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice (wag finger)
(There's space for 16, first name rhythms.)
With younger kids, I called out the student's name and the class echoes. Older kids can say their own first name, but they must say names clearly and distinctly.
e.g., Jillian (class echo: Jillian), Alexis (class echo: Alexis)
TaNesha (class echo: TaNesha) Max! (class echo: Max)
Next section:
Back to "(Student's Name) wants a skateboard..."
The big finish is slightly different:
Of course we have to stretch out those special words at the very end!
See the gifts, 'Neath the tree,
I sure hope they're for me,
What a wonderful day! Santa's on his way!
Christmas time at (insert name of school)
[Name of Your School] School, OH YEAH!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
Don't forget my birthday next year! (wag finger in don't forget motion)
(Remember s t r e t c h!)
Christmas time at W H I T E (left arm up)
H A L L (left arm stays up, raise right arm also)
S C H O O L (wiggle fingers on both hands)
(spoken) - Merry Christmas! (With lots of smiles and waves)
This song is fun and super simple. I have a classroom teacher friend at another school who asked me for something different for her class at Christmas. I shared this with her and she got the same response at her school. Everyone loved the song!