The Christmas season is filled with special sights, sounds, and memories of friends and loved ones. This is the time of year we celebrate family traditions and spend time with those who mean so much to us. Every year my family looks forward to listening to Christmas carols together. They are special, often simple songs, that are timeless and beautiful reminders of the season.
During the month of December we take a break from our regular homeschool activities so we can focus on lessons and activities related to the holidays. We like to learn about holiday customs and activities around the world as well as traditions that are an important part of our own family history. We use crafts, field trips, food, and music to bring our learning to life.
SQUILT Christmas Carol Activities For Kids
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Our homeschool style is to find fun and flexible resources that help us learn about subjects that are interesting and important to us. Over the years we have often turned to SQUILT music lessons to help us understand and appreciate the music of historical periods we were studying together as a family. We are very excited to now have SQUILT music lessons available to help us learn about some of our favorite music of the season – Christmas Carols!
What is included in SQUILT’s Program:
SQUILT is short for Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listening Time. These lessons are designed to introduce children to great musical classics with lessons that are short, meaningful, and enjoyable.
- SQUILT Christmas Carols is designed for students in preschool – middle school. Older students can even lead lessons for younger learners.
- These downloadable ebooks can be used immediately after purchase on a computer, tablet or eReader.
- SQUILT curriculum includes note booking pages to help students learn about Dynamics, Rhythm/Temp, Instrumentation, and Mood, and to document what they hear.
- Each of the 5 Christmas Carol lessons includes links to recordings, supplemental activities, and more.
- SQUILT Christmas Carols Volume One includes: Carol of the Bells; Away in the Manger; The Little Drummer Boy; Angels We Have Heard on High; and O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
- SQUILT Christmas Carols Volume 2 includes: Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella; Go Tell it On the Mountain; In the Bleak Midwinter; The First Noel; and Calypso Carol.
- SQUILT Christmas Carols Volume 3 includes: O Little Town of Bethlehem; Once in Royal David’s City; Silent Night; God Rest ye Merry Gentleman; Joy to the World {Volume 3 has been added since the original post in 2015}
What we like about this curriculum:
- SQUILT curriculum is flexible! Each lesson includes links to a variety of recordings so we we can listen to several different versions (and compare them) or select ones that meet our kids’ favorite musical styles. We really enjoyed hearing the BIG difference between performances of The Little Drummer Boy by The Vienna Boy’s Choir and a percussion ensemble!
- The supplemental activities add another interesting layer of understanding to each Christmas Carol. My kids love history so they really enjoyed learning about the origins of each song – the meaning, when it was written, etc.
- An answer key for Mom! It has been a long time since my music theory classes in high school, so I’m so happy Mary includes notes in each lesson about the dynamics, rhythm/tempo, instrumentation, and mood. These topics lend to some wonderful discussions with the kids after their quite listening time. Even though there really aren’t correct or incorrect answers for each element of the song, it is helpful to have her notes available for leading and expanding discussions.
Purchasing SQUILT Christmas Carols
SQUILT Christmas Carols Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 are available, as well as a bundle of them together on the SQUILT website – visit them by clicking on this link.
We wish you and your family a happy holiday season and we hope you enjoy learning even more about some of our favorite Christmas Carols with the help of SQUILT!
More Holiday Learning Resources
The Christmas Homeschool – Whether you’re game for ditching all or some of your usual homeschool routine in favor of a full December Christmas schedule, or you’re looking to add a supplemental activity here and there, we’ve got you covered!
Advent Family Activities: Creating a Meaningful and Fun Christmas – These advent family activities are a wonderful way to focus on the Savior during this Christmas season. With two options for advent chains, your family can count down to Christmas.
5 Days of DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids – 5 different DIY Ornaments that kids can do! They make wonderful decorations for your own home, or special gifts to give friends and relatives. Work with popsicle sticks, yarn, felt, scrabble tiles and more!
December Homeschool Celebrations – Make an extra effort to spend the remaining days of the year in intentional fun and merriment with the family using these December themed homeschool activities. Make memories to treasure that end the year in great fanfare and welcome in the new year with joyous thanksgiving for the ones you love.
Festive Homeschool Nature Study Challenge Perfect for Christmas Time – Our winter series of curriculum ebooks and courses have so many wonderful winter challenges to inspire your homeschool nature studies and because we are known for our challenges only taking about an hour (or longer if you prefer). It does not have to be an onerous task during this busy season. A festive homeschool nature study can be as simple as wrapping up warmly and going on a lovely winter walk to find some winter colors.
5 Days of Christmas Books with Activities – 5 days. 5 Christmas Books. Loads of activities! The Polar Express, Frosty the Snowman, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and more!
The Ultimate Guide to Lovely Christmas Activities for Your Homeschool – This guide to lovely Christmas activities for your homeschool is designed to be filled with ideas to simplify and enjoy the season.
5 December Homeschool Family Fun Ideas – This year welcome the true spirit of Christmas into your heart with much family time (these 5 December Homeschool Family Fun Ideas will help!) and extra kindness for all those around. International Mountain Day, Pear Month, Winter Solstice, and Visit the Zoo.
Joyful Art, Nature and Music for Your Christmas Homeschool – Enjoy a simple, joyful and stress-free Christmas event for the whole family. With art, nature and music plus a nature craft for your Christmas homeschool, you can make memories and have fun together.
Draw Your Way Through The Story of Christmas – Add these Advent art activities to your Christmas Homeschool plans! You can draw your way through the story of Christmas from the angels announcing Messiah’s birth to the manger scene.
A Holiday Unit Study: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for all Ages – The story is a sweet reminder that not everyone knows about Jesus, and it is also a tender reminder that God loves everyone. I enjoy reading it to my kids and discussing it with them after each chapter.
~ Originally posted December 2015, Written by Susan.
This is so helpful, thanks! I just bought volume 1 this week (a cyber Monday sale, I think!) but haven’t had a chance to look through it completely yet. I’m relieved to hear about the answer key for me-I was a little intimidated by the idea is discussing tempo and all the different features! I’m even more excited now that I got this and am eager to begin!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I hope you enjoy SQUILT! Please let me know if you have any questions about the curriculum as you work your way through!
~ Mary @ SQUILT Music