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Why Little Red Gliding Hood Works So Well

The story is rhythmic, rhyming, and full of motion—perfect for a lesson that blends literacy, rhythm, and creativity. Students instantly connect to the winter setting, the skating competition, and Little Red’s determination.

That natural pulse and flow sets the stage beautifully for:

• Rhythmic speech

• Triplet introduction

• Movement exploration

• Listening maps

• Creating music maps of their own

Let’s Get Started

Step 2: Solfege Boost (Do–Mi–So–La)

Next, we shift into solfege patterns that will anchor our later song.

We explore:

• Do–mi–so

• So–la–so patterns

• Kerwin hand signs

• Echo patterns and short melodic phrases

The solfege here is accessible, musical, and directly tied to the melody you’ll sing later in the lesson.

Step 3: Story Time + Rhythm in Action

As we read Little Red Gliding Hood, we pause to analyze rhythmic phrases that occur throughout the book—especially:

“Oh, slippery slush!”

Students speak it, clap it, step it, and eventually move it. This repeated phrase becomes the perfect anchor for connecting ta, titi, and triplet in a meaningful way.

And because the Big Bad Wolf appears (dramatically!) throughout the story, we keep the lesson lively by switching between reading and short bursts of musical activity.

Students need a quick movement break? Get them up and dancing to Tchaikovsky’s Arabian Dance while Ice Skating Below!

Step 6: Ice Skating With Paper Plates (Optional High-Expectation Fun!)

This movement break is always a class favorite.

Give each student two paper plates, turn on Tchaikovsky, and—depending on your space—let them “ice skate” around the room while practicing:

• Staying safe

• Following the flow of the music

• Gliding on the beat

• Feeling long, smooth musical phrases

Does it require high expectations?
Yes.

Is it unbelievably fun?
Also yes.

Why Teachers Love the 12 Days of Movement

December can be stressful—but your lessons don’t have to be.
Each 12 Days of Movement lesson includes:

• A written lesson plan

• A rhythm play-along

• A scarf dance

• Built-in assessments for rhythm and solfege

• All aligned to The Nutcracker for easy cross-connection

And best of all—it’s free for December and January through the Soaring Scarves Academy!
You’ll get:

• 12 ready-to-teach lessons

• My entire K–8 curriculum

• Movement breaks, scarf dances, and rhythm resources

• 20+ hours of professional development

Perfect for when you’re juggling concerts, assessments, and—let’s be honest—holiday survival.

Step 7: Music Map Exploration

Students now watch a short, simple, ice-skating-themed listening video to introduce the idea of mapping sound.

We discuss:

• Loud vs. soft

• Smooth vs. bumpy

• High vs. low

• Fast vs. slow

Then, I show students:

• A Line Rider map

• A Trepak map I created

• A simple “path on a hill” style map that mirrors the one from the book

This gives them multiple ways to visualize music moving through time.

Step 8: Students Create Their Own Music Map

The final project is simple and creative:

Students make their own music map to either:

• Skater’s Waltz, or

• Arabian Dance (if you prefer the Nutcracker tie-in)

They draw the musical journey:

• Loops

• Swirls

• Spirals

• Sharp turns

• Gentle slopes

The goal is for students to listen intently and represent what they hear visually—not for the map to be “graded perfectly.”

This project brings out creativity and reinforces musical understanding in a low-pressure way.

Final Thoughts

Little Red Gliding Hood is the perfect blend of rhythm, movement, creativity, and listening—exactly what students need during December. With triplets, solfege, music maps, and joyful winter movement, this lesson keeps students focused while still honoring their seasonal energy. I hope it brings your classroom as much excitement and calm as it brings to mine.

December Doesn’t Have to Be Chaos

Your lessons are ready.
Your movement is ready.
Your data is ready.
Your December is ready.

I hope you love teaching Little Red Gliding Hood as much as I do—and I hope it brings you a little extra calm and joy in the busiest time of the year.

Happy playing,
Leanna O’Brien
Founder of The Soaring Scarves Academy

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