St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District #169
Nutcracker
'Tis the holiday season and the Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Nutcracker Prince come alive with a teaching and study guide for Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. Background information, activities, games and puzzles are all included in...
Curated OER
"The Nutcracker" From the Royal Ballet
Students explore "The Nutcracker" ballet. They conduct Internet research, watch "The Nutcracker" performed by the Royal Ballet, tell the story to a younger child, and write a letter to the person who first reviewed "The Nutcracker" in 1892.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
The Nutcracker Teacher Resource Guide
Clara becomes Marie, The Mouse King becomes a rat, and the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh becomes the setting for a modern interpretation of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. Intended as a resource guide for a 2012 performance, the...
BBC
The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky
Over the course of six lessons, scholars try their hand at composing and dancing after a thorough examination of the famous ballet, The Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky. Participants watch and discuss the performance of two dances, create and...
Curated OER
The Nutcracker
First graders define a ballet as a story told through dance. They listen to melodies and demonstrate beat and accent through body movement. They watch the ballet.
Curated OER
Ballet and Dance Quiz
Ballet is the main focus of this short answer quiz, but a few questions cover dance in cinema and Scottish folk dance names. Trivia for dancers!
Curated OER
Retell A Story Through Dance
Students tell stories through dance. In this ballet lesson, students learn pantomime dance skills and examine "The Nutcracker" ballet performances as they examine ballet as storytelling.
Curated OER
Exploring Force: The Nutcracker
Students explore basic dance element of force, compare and contrast the use of force as it distinguishes the expressive qualities of a given dance, and explore the use of force in several of its many expressions.
Curated OER
Christmas Celebrations
Second graders view a video of the Nutcracker ballet and then compare and contrast holiday celebrations in Germany and the United States. They use the computer to write a paragraph exploring their observations.
Curated OER
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
High schoolers identify what Tchaikovsky's personality was like and what kind of school he attended first. Then they identify and research what was happening in Russian politics during his lifetime. Students also identify who the...
Curated OER
The Dancing Flute
Young scholars use a cardboard tubes as props as they create their own dance steps to express the emotions invoked in a portion of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.
Curated OER
Analyzing Two Dances and Making a Dance Map: The Nutcracker
Students discuss dance elements and create a dance map. They choose a dance theme and incorporate movement into their dance maps and choreography. They also experiment with different types of music.
Curated OER
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, Dance of the Floreadores, Waltz of the Flowers in the Meter of Duke
Students contrast the meter and style of two different versions of the musical piece, "Waltz of the Flowers." Duke Ellington's meter in the "Dance of the Floreadores" is compared to Tchaikovsky's version in the "Nutcracker."
Curated OER
Marching to the Music
This lesson reinforces that physical movement/fitness can be directly related to dance and music. Tell the students that you are going to read a fun Christmas story. In the story there will be toys that magically come alive. Read the...
Curated OER
Emotions in Motion
Young scholars use dance as a form of communication. In this meanings of dance lesson, students create dances to communicate a variety of emotions.
Other
The Nutcracker
Notes on the story, characters, music, and choreography of "The Nutcracker" ballet.
Other
The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago
This site gives biographical information on the dancers and staff of the company, including its founders: Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. Details touring and performance schedules as well.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Lesson: Telling a Story Through Dance
In this lesson plan from ArtsEdge, students focus on the ballet, "Nutcracker," while learning about storytelling through dance and movement. Provides assessment criteria, a list of sources and links to use for references.
Starfall
Starfall: Peter Tchaikovsky
An online story for beginning readers about Peter Tchaikovsky, and two ballet dances that are based on his music. A short biography of Tchaikovsky is also found here.
PBS
Classics for Kids: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
A short biography of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and more about this famous composer.