Little Snowflake Elementary Music Lesson
Day 9 of the 12 Days of Movement
If you’re hunting for a simple, cozy, and highly effective winter music lesson for your younger grades, this one might become your new favorite. The Little Snowflake is a story I wrote specifically for my kindergarten, first-, and second-grade students—something that would gently review all the basics (solfege, rhythm, vocal play, high/low listening) without feeling like a review.
It’s zero prep, movement-rich, and packed with musical moments your students will latch onto immediately.
Let’s jump into how I use it in my elementary music classroom.
Watch a Full Video Walk-Through Here~
Why I Wrote The Little Snowflake
If you teach elementary music, you know the struggle:
We teach something…
The kids love it…
We come back the next week…
And poof—it’s gone.
I wanted a joyful, story-based way to review:
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Solfege: do, mi, sol
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Beginner rhythms: ta & titi
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Steady beat chanting
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Basic vocal warm-ups
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High vs. low listening and identification
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Confidence in using their singing voices
So I wrote The Little Snowflake—a sweet, lyrical story about a tiny snowflake who longs to join the skaters on the frozen lake below. Along the way, he meets different snowflake family members and explores the basics of music through movement, expression, and sound.
The result?
A lesson that feels like a warm winter read-aloud and gives students a full year-end skill refresher.
Let’s Get Started
Solfege Warm-Up: Do, Mi, Sol
We start with a quick solfege review using do, mi, and sol with Kerwin hand signs and color-coded visuals. Students echo patterns, match high/medium/low, and tap the correct pitch—simple and perfect for little voices.
Storytelling With Steady Beat
As we begin The Little Snowflake, students tap the steady beat while chanting:
“Once upon a time, there was a little snowflake
who lived on a cloud above a frozen lake…”
This chant pulls them right into the story and anchors the rhythm work ahead.
Vocal Play Through Characters
Each snowflake family member has a different vocal register:
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Mommy → medium
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Daddy → low
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Sisters → high
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King of the Frozen Lake → the lowest of all
Students explore pitch and vocal color without even realizing they’re warming up.
Rhythms: Ta & Titi
When the little snowflake becomes scared to fall, students help him descend by completing ta and titi rhythms.
Each correct pattern makes the snowflake “fall” a little closer to the frozen lake—an adorable, interactive way to gather rhythm data.
Gentle Winter Movement Break
Students float, swirl, and glide like snowflakes while listening to short Nutcracker excerpts—a soft, magical movement moment that resets their energy.
The Falling Snowflake (High vs. Low Listening Assessment)
At the end of the story, students help the snowflake complete his journey by deciding if each musical sound is high or low:
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Click the snowman → hear a Nutcracker snippet
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If it’s high → click the cardinal
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If it’s low → click the penguin
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Watch the snowflake fall closer to the frozen lake
This can be done digitally (drag & drop) or printable, and is perfect for K–2 data collection.
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:
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A written lesson plan
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A rhythm play-along
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A scarf dance
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Built-in assessments for rhythm and solfege
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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:
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12 ready-to-teach lessons
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My entire K–8 curriculum
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Movement breaks, scarf dances, and rhythm resources
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20+ hours of professional development
Perfect for when you’re juggling concerts, assessments, and—let’s be honest—holiday survival.
Grab This Lesson- Plus Our Entire Curriculum For 2 Free Months!
Final Thoughts
The Little Snowflake is everything I want in a December lesson: musical, calm, movement-based, and developmentally perfect for young musicians. Students chant, sing, move, identify high/low, and practice ta/titi—while you collect quick, authentic data with zero prep.
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 Snowflake 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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