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Why Snowmen at Night Is the Perfect December Music Lesson

This story is charming, rhythmic, and filled with imaginative action, which makes it ideal for:

• Introducing 6/8 meter

• Reinforcing dotted rhythms

• Letting students move without losing structure

• Giving students a chance to perform, count, and compose

• Channeling their buzzing December excitement into meaningful music-making

And because the entire lesson is built on the structure of the story, you get high engagement without the prep.

Let’s Get Started

Step 3: Introduce 6/8 (Simply and Clearly)

I explain it like this:

“4/4 feels like a walk.
6/8 feels like a light gallop.”

We clap, step, compare dotted rhythms, and discover why the story feels so natural in 6/8.
Students re-sing our class melody using the new meter—instant “aha” moment.

Step 4: Rhythm Counting + Quick Assessment

Students complete short rhythm tasks using either:

• Digital drag-and-drops

• Printable worksheets

• Group Smartboard interaction

They work with:

• Barred eighths

• Dotted quarters

• Dotted quarter rests

• Simple 6/8 rhythm cells

This gives you meaningful data without adding prep to your week.

Step 5: The Snowball Rhythm Challenge

This is the highlight of the lesson.

Choose your version:

❄ Relay Race

Teams race to finish a rhythm before the “snowball hits.”

❄ Independent Matching

Digital or paper rhythm snowballs.

❄ The Real Snowball Fight (Controlled Chaos!)

Crumple rhythm snowballs → play Tchaikovsky → pause the music → students grab and perform their rhythm.

Students think it’s a game.
You know it’s a rhythm assessment.
Everyone wins.

Or you can use my rhythm play along for a simpler rhythm play along that still has all the fun!

Step 6: Composing in 6/8

To wrap up, students create their own winter phrase:

• “Snowmen eat an icy treat.”

• “Snowmen race through snowy streets.”

• “Snowmen skate with frosty feet.”

Then they:

• Write a matching 6/8 rhythm

• Add counts

• Add a bar line

• Optional: add solfege

This checks all your standards while letting students feel successful and creative.

Students need a movement break? Keep going with the snowball theme, but give students an incredibly fun and energy using movement break to Tchaikovsky’s Trepak!

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Snowmen at Night is just Day 4 of the 12 Days of Movement—twelve no-prep, movement-filled lessons designed to save your December.

With your free 2 months inside The Soaring Scarves Academy, you’ll get:

✨ All 12 winter lessons
✨ 12 movement breaks
✨ 12 rhythm play-alongs
✨ Digital + printable assessments
✨ Editable slides
✨ 20+ hours of PD
✨ Fresh lessons every month

All designed to make December calmer and January easier.

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Final Thoughts

Snowmen at Night proves you don’t need to fight December energy—you can use it. With 6/8 rhythm work, movement, and snowball-themed fun, this lesson brings structure and joy to a chaotic time of year. I hope it brings your classroom the same calm, laughter, and meaningful music-making 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 Snowmen at Night 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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