Watch a Full Video Walk-Through Here~

Why One-Dog Sleigh Works So Well in the Music Room

This book by Mary Casanova is a winter favorite that practically begs to be turned into a lesson. Like The Mitten, it follows a cumulative story — more and more animals join the sleigh until it’s full! This simple structure makes it perfect for call-and-response, rhythm layering, and active listening.

In this lesson, students will:

• Practice do–mi–sol solfege patterns

• Review ta, ti-ti, and half notes

• Strengthen their steady beat and rhythm decoding

• Move to classical music from The Nutcracker

• And most importantly—stay engaged and moving all class long

This lesson is ideal for grades K–2, with easy modifications for 3rd grade review.

Let’s Get Started

Step 2: Read the Story and Move to the Music

Now it’s story time! Read One-Dog Sleigh aloud (or use one of the many read-along versions on YouTube).
After each new animal joins the sleigh, pause to click the snowflake icon in your slides and cue a short movement or listening break.

Each animal connects with a short excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker — perfectly chosen to match the animal’s personality!
Ask your students:

• “How do you think a squirrel would dance to this?”

• “Would an owl move smoothly or sharply?”

• “Does this music sound piano or forte?”

This encourages intentional listening, not just passive moving—and it gives you a built-in formative assessment for musical vocabulary and expression.

Sleigh Ride Rhythm Play-Along

Once your students are hooked on the story, it’s time for the Sleigh Ride Rhythm Play-Along—a favorite part of the lesson!

Students become the horse pulling the sleigh, performing rhythm patterns that match the gallop, trot, or dash through the snow.
They’ll move and clap through ta, ti-ti, and half-note rhythms—and even freeze when they “see the sleeping bear.”

This play-along reinforces:

• Steady beat internalization

• Visual rhythm tracking

• Dynamic control (piano/forte)

• Listening for cues and changes

And yes—it’s pure joy to watch your students giggle as they “run away from the bear” to a perfectly timed Nutcrackerexcerpt.

Scarf Dance to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Overture

To wrap up the lesson, transition into your One-Dog Sleigh Scarf Dance, set to the Nutcracker Overture.
This scarf dance lets students experience articulation and dynamics through movement—swirling for the snow, trotting for the sleigh, and gliding for the wind.

You can use it as:

• A movement break between activities

• A cool-down after the rhythm play-along

• Or a performance extension that connects rhythm, expression, and storytelling

Like all scarf dances in the 12 Days of Movement series, it’s fully no-prep, animated, and aligns with the story’s musical and emotional flow.

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.

Final Thoughts

One-Dog Sleigh is everything a December music lesson should be—fun, flexible, musical, and movement-filled.
Your students will sing, play, move, and laugh their way through the story while you collect real musical data without extra prep.

Let’s make this December calmer, more musical, and full of joy.
✨ Grab the One-Dog Sleigh lesson and the full 12 Days of Movement collection—then hit play and watch your students soar.

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 One-Dog Sleigh 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

Check Out Some of Our Other Articles Here!