The Colors of the Season

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I love this time of year. Everyone is in a good mood, and there’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air, which makes even the extremely cold temperatures tolerable. When I was younger, my family used to drive around different neighborhoods and admire the Christmas lights and decorations, and I still enjoy doing so to this day.

There’s no doubt an abundance of red and green in your home, at the mall, in your workplace, and all around your city, and that is what today’s song is about.

Red and green are the colors of the season,
Red and green are the colors all around,
Red and green are the colors of the things we see,
All over the town.

We’ll start with red, R-E-D,
Red is the color of the things we see.
Like candy canes and berries and Santa’s clothes,
Poinsettias and drums and big red bows.

Red and green are the colors of the season,
Red and green are the colors all around,
Red and green are the colors of the things we see,
All over the town.

Next is green, G-R-E-E-N,
We see this color again and again.
Like Christmas trees and wreaths and mistletoe,
Wrapping paper, ornaments, and lights aglow.

Red and green are the colors of the season,
Red and green are the colors all around,
Red and green are the colors of the things we see,
All over the town.

You can make this song interactive by asking your students to identify objects in the classroom that are red and green, which – I can tell you from experience – kids love. Another idea: make pictures of each item in the song and have the children name them during the verses. Or insert your own red and green items to make the song unique.

The Last Month of the Year is December

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There was no question when I woke up this morning that it was December. All I had to do was see the thin layer of snow on the ground, and my suspicions were later confirmed when I ventured outside and was covered in the white stuff myself. December is here, ladies and gentlemen, and winter is not far behind!

So to kick off this twelfth month, here is a song all about these festive thirty-one days. Enjoy!

The last month of the year is December
It is number twelve, this we know
There are thirty one days and then the year is new
In December there’s so much for us to do.

The last month of the year is December
The air is cold and it may even snow
We’ll start to see all sorts of decorations
In all the different places that we go.

CHORUS

The last month of the year is December
There are many holidays to celebrate.
Some of my friends have Hannukah and Kwanzaa
Learning about traditions is so great.

CHORUS

The last month of the year is December
And our friends and family will soon arrive.
There’ll be trees and lights and cookies and some presents
‘Cause Christmas comes on day twenty-five.

CHORUS

The last month of the year is December
New Year’s Eve is on day thirty-one
We’ll stay up late and count down to midnight
Oh, isn’t December lots of fun!

Today begins a brand new batch of seasonal songs at school and in my students’ homes. I can’t wait to share them all with you over the next few weeks. But for now, enjoy the first day of December and if your weather is anything like mine, be careful out there!

It’s Holiday Time

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The holiday season is officially here! I skipped the crowds at the mall on Black Friday and instead spent the morning dragging the decorations out of the basement and putting up the Christmas tree with the help of my wonderful husband. Now that my house is full of holiday cheer, I decided that it’s time to spread a little bit of it here at Listen & Learn. After all, December begins tomorrow!

It’s holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

It’s time for giving,
Helping others and being kind.
It’s time for sharing,
Which will make you feel good inside.

It’s holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

It’s time for music,
Come on and ring your bell.
It’s time for carols,
Silent Night and The First Noel.

It’s holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

It’s time for parties,
Spending time with your family and friends.
It’s time for celebration,
Hope the laughter never ends.

It’s holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

I have lots of traditions to uphold in the coming weeks. Some of these include watching “White Christmas” about six dozen times, making homemade chex mix with my dad, singing along to the Carpenters’ “Christmas Portrait” album, and much more. What are your holiday traditions?

Thanksgiving Eve

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It’s almost here! If you’re like me, you’re probably looking forward to a few days off so that you can relax, spend time with family, and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. I have one more song to share with you that I think really captures the spirit of Thanksgiving in a fun, cheerful, and kid-friendly way.

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
The day that we give thanks
For the food that’s on our plates and friends with whom we celebrate
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
We sing this joyful song
For all the good things that we have to last the whole year long.

Let’s think about the pilgrims,
Who settled long ago.
They started this tradition
The one that we all know as

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
The day that we give thanks
For the food that’s on our plates and friends with whom we celebrate
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
We sing this joyful song
For all the good things that we have to last the whole year long.

We’ll all eat lots of turkey,
Mashed potatoes, green beans too
End with a slice of pumpkin pie
And then when we are through, we’ll sing

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
The day that we give thanks
For the food that’s on our plates and friends with whom we celebrate
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
We sing this joyful song
For all the good things that we have to last the whole year long.

What are your plans for Turkey Day? Mine include LOTS of eating – first with my family, and then with my husband Zach’s family. But hey, I’m not complaining :) I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be dropping in over the weekend to give a little preview of what is to come in December…hope to see you then!

Ten Fat Turkeys

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10 Fat Turkeys

I know we’ve already counted turkeys this month, but I just had to tell you about this book that I’ve been reading (well, singing) with my students. You may already know it; it’s called Ten Fat Turkeys and it’s just as silly as the other book I recommended, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie.

This story is a new student favorite, which is good enough for me! I especially enjoy the pictures, which are colorful and goofy. Be sure to add this to your bookshelf for next year. I have one more Thanksgiving song for you, so make sure to stop by and take a listen tomorrow. I hope you are enjoying this short week, and gearing up for the official start of the holiday season. I sure am!