10 Christmas Action Songs for Children

Learn how to teach 10 Christmas action songs to young children. Children love to
move and sing. I’ve included how to sing and do the actions as well as some
activity ideas.

These Christmas action songs are for preschool, kindergarten, first grade as well
as preschool and elementary music teachers.

In this video I’m sharing how to teach 10 Christmas action songs and do the
actions.

These songs are for preschool ages up to 8 years old.

Teachers can use these songs in their classrooms as part of their morning circle
time, literacy circles and elementary and preschool music teachers can use these
songs in their music classes.

You can put these songs together for a simple music program for your school
and/or parents too.

Here’s an outline of where each song is taught in the video.

[4:00] WHERE IS SANTA?

[5:15] SANTA’S GOT A LONG WHITE BEARD

[7:20] HE’LL BE COMING CHRISTMAS EVE

[10:14] I’M A LITTLE PINE TREE

[11:44] RUDOLF HAS A SHINY NOSE

[13:32] S A N T A (BINGO SONG)

[15:11] SANTA -MUSIC INSTRUMENT ACTIVITY VERSION

[16:23] SANTA’S IN HIS SLEIGH

[11:20] MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME MOVEMENT SONG

[20:10] THE REINDEER POKEY (HOKEY POKEY)

[21:21] TWINKLE CHRISTMAS STAR

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WHY SINGING SONGS MATTERS

Incorporating music into your classroom routines will help your children with their
gross motor muscle development, literacy and reading skills and keep
engagement high!

These ten Christmas songs are great for circle time, music time, and kindergarten
reading and carpet time.

They also will make an adorable Christmas program.

HOW TO TEACH THE SONGS

When teaching songs to young children, repetition is important.

It’s good for the children to hear the songs, to see and read the words and to
listen to the music.

You’ll want to have them repeat the words back to you or be your echo.

I recommend that the teacher listen as the children repeat the lines or sing the
song. It’s important for them to hear their own voices. They will learn about
pitch and improve listening skills when you are silent when they sing.

STEPS TO TEACHING SONGS

First sing or play the song and have the children listen. You may want them to pat
the beat.

Next, have the children echo sing or chant line by line.

Finally, sing it all the way through.

Add in the actions.

Practice and try to give them a performance opportunity.

Be sure to encourage the children so they keep trying.

Most of all, have fun singing together.

You can get all these songs in the CHRISTMAS SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS
RESOURCE

TPT STORE LINK

SING PLAY CREATE WEB SHOP LINK

TEN CHRISTMAS SONGS

WHERE IS SANTA?

Sung to: “Where is Thumbkin?”
Where is Santa? Where is Santa?
Here I am! Here I am!
Merry, Merry Christmas.
Merry, Merry Christmas.
Ho Ho Ho! Ho Ho Ho!

HAND ACTIONS

Hands and arms raised as if asking a question.
“Here I am” Arms rounded in front of body like Santa’s belly.
Annunciate and exaggerate “ho, ho, ho-“.

SANTA’S SONG

Sung to: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
Santa’s got a long white beard,
long white beard, long white beard.
Santa’s got a long white beard
that keeps him warm and snug.
2-Santa’s suit is red and white,
red and white, red and white.
Santa’s suit is red and white,
his boots are shiny black.
3-Santa’s coming Christmas Eve,
Christmas Eve, Christmas Eve.
Santa’s coming Christmas Eve,
so I better be good.

HAND ACTION DIRECTIONS:

“Santa’s coming”-wave arm motioning forward.
“Christmas Eve”-pretend to sleep.
“Bringing…”-pretend to hold a sack behind your back.
“for you and me.”-point out and then into chest.

HE’LL BE COMIN’ CHRISTMAS EVE

Sung to: “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain”
1-He’ll be coming Christmas Eve when he comes.
He’ll be comin’ Christmas Eve when he comes.
Oh he’ll be comin’ Christmas Eve,
he’ll be comin’ Christmas Eve,
He’ll be comin’ Christmas Eve when he comes.
2-He’ll be driving 8 little reindeer when he comes.
3-He’ll be wearing a suit of red when he comes.
4-He’ll be bringing toys and gifts when he comes.
5-He’ll be sliding down the chimney when he comes.
6-He’ll be laughing ho, ho, ho when he comes.
7-He’ll be singing Merry Christmas when he comes.

HAND ACTION DIRECTIONS

1-He’ll be coming Christmas Eve when he comes.-wave arms across body in a
snakelike movement to mean Santa’s traveling.
2-He’ll be driving 8 little reindeer when he comes.
Hold up 8 fingers (four on each hand works well-just tuck the thumbs.)
3-He’ll be wearing a suit of red when he comes.-
Pretend to be pulling suspenders out from chest.
4-He’ll be bringing toys and gifts when he comes.-
Pretend to be passing out gifts.
5-He’ll be sliding down the chimney when he comes- Pretend to slide by sinking to heels.
6-He’ll be laughing ho, ho, ho when he comes.-
Make a round belly with both arms and jiggle on “ho”.
7-He’ll be singing Merry Christmas when he comes.-
Sign “Merry Christmas” (see “We Wish You a Merry Christmas hand action
directions).

I’M A LITTLE PINE TREE

Sung to: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little pine tree short and green.
See the other pine trees way bigger than me.
One day when I grow up I will be–
A Very Merry Christmas Tree.

HAND ACTION DIRECTIONS:

“I’m a little pine tree…”- Stand with arms raised out from sides to make a triangle
with the body.
“See the other pine trees…”- point around the room.
“way bigger”-make arms move out wide
“than me”-point to self.
“One day when I grow up”-hold 1 finger up
“A Very Merry Christmas Tree”-arms again at sides and sway in joy.

RUDOLF HAS A SHINY NOSE

Sung to: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
Rudolf has a shiny nose, shiny nose, shiny nose.
Rudolf has a shiny nose
that glows when it snows.
2-He pulls Santa’s sleigh at night,
sleigh at night, sleigh at night.
He pulls Santa’s sleigh at night
with his nose so bright.

HAND ACTION DIRECTIONS:

“Rudolf has a shiny nose”- point to nose.
“He pulls Santa’s sleigh..”-pretend to be holding the reins and riding in a sleigh.
“with his nose so bright”-open and shut hands on each side of nose.
S-A-N-T-A H3
S-A-N-T-A Sung to: “BINGO”
1-I know a man with a long white beard
and Santa is his name-o.
S-A-N-T-A
S-A-N-T-A
S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o.
2-Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh.
3-He slides down the chimney with his pack.
4-He eats the cookies on the plate.
5-He calls to Rudolf from his sleigh.
6-He lives up at the cold North Pole.

SANTA’S IN HIS SLEIGH

Sung to: “The Farmer in the Dell”

1-Santa’s in his sleigh, Santa’s in his sleigh,
HO, HO,HO, AWAY WE GO!
Santa’s in his sleigh.
2-He flies across the sky.
3-He’s bringing gifts and toys.
4-Rudolf pulls his sleigh.
5-He slides down the chimney.
6-He fills the stockings full.
7-He eats the cookies too.
8-Mrs. Santa waits at home.
9-He finishes at dawn.
10-He flies to the North Pole.

HAND ACTION DIRECTIONS-

1-”Santa’s in his sleigh”-Hold hands out pretending to hold on to some reins.
Bounce up and down.
“HO, HO,HO, AWAY WE GO! Santa’s in his sleigh.” REPEAT THIS PART AFTER EACH
NEW VERSE-Make a big belly with arms circled out from body.
2-”He flies across the sky” Draw one hand above the head from one side to the
other.
3-”He’s bringing gifts and toys.”-Pretend to carry a sack.
4-”Rudolf pulls his sleigh.”-Point to nose.
5-”He slides down the chimney.” Bend down to heels pretending to slide.
6-”He fills the stockings full.” Pretend to fill imaginary stockings.
7-”He eats the cookies too.” Pretend to eat cookies.
8-”Mrs. Santa waits at home.” Pretend to tap a watch. 9-”He finishes at dawn.” Pretend to wipe sweat off forehead.
10-”He flies to the North Pole.”-Point forward as if pointing the direction to the
North Pole.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME

Sung to: “London Bridges“
1-Clap your hands at Christmas time,
Christmas time, Christmas time.
Clap your hands at Christmas time.
Merry Christmas time.
2-Pat your knees at Christmas time.
3-Stomp your feet at Christmas time.
4-Shake your hips it’s Christmas time.
5-Tap your toes at Christmas time.
6-Spin around at Christmas time.

THE REINDEER POKEY –

You put your right antlers out.
You put your right antlers in and
you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Pokey
and you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!
2-You put your left Antlers in–
3-You put your right hooves in– 4-Left hooves–
5-You put your red nose in–
6-You put your fluffy tail in–
7-You put the whole reindeer in–

TWINKLE CHRISTMAS STAR

This song makes a nice calm down activity.
Use this song to gather students to the carpet quietly.
Begin singing the song and show them the actions. Invite them to come to the
carpet. Then keep singing. Use it daily so that students learn to come to the
carpet as you sing this song.
Sung to: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle Christmas star.
How I wonder what you are?
Up above the tree to high,
Shining where the presents lie.

CHRISTMAS ACTION SONGS

Christmas action songs can help keep student engagement high in your class
during December. The singing, moving and learning aspects not only keep the
children’s attention, but they will also get a movement break from the actions.
Singing together can be a fun classroom community building activity too.
I’m hoping that you are able to use these songs in your classroom.

WHERE TO FIND THESE SONGS AND MATERIALS

If you like these songs, they are available on SPOTIFY, AMAZON, APPLE MUSIC.

Clap Your Hands At Christmas Time-MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME-

Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star

The Reindeer Pokey

Red, Green, and White-

Santa’s Coming

There’s a Little Elf

These songs are available as individual resources with lyrics and a coloring sheet.

Christmas Song: “There’s a Little Elf” Literacy & Movement Activity

Christmas Song: “Santa’s Coming” Literacy & Movement Activity

Christmas Action Song: “Merry Christmas Time” Literacy and Movement Activity

Christmas Action Song: “Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star” & Literacy Activities

Christmas Song: “Red, Green and White” Literacy & Movement Activities

Reindeer Pokey Literacy & Movement Activity Song

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