Countdown to 2026: 10 short activities that you can use immediately - #1 Pete the Cat Ukulele Play-Along (Copy)
Happy 2026! 🎉
I hope you were able to welcome the new year in a way that felt right for you—whether that meant celebrating with loud, joyful music, braving the cold to watch a ball drop, enjoying a concert from the comfort of your couch, heading to bed early, or simply savoring a quiet moment. However you rang it in, I hope it brought you a sense of calm, joy, and readiness for the year ahead.
Since December 23, I’ve been sharing short, low-prep activities designed to help elementary general music teachers ease students back into music class after break. For the final activity in the Countdown to 2026, I wanted to end with something flexible, musical, and fun—an activity that truly works across multiple grade levels.
#1 Pete the Cat Ukulele Play-Along
This ukulele play-along is one of those rare activities that adapts beautifully to a wide range of learners. Younger elementary students will enjoy listening to the story and singing along, while older elementary students can take on the added challenge of performing A Major and E minor chords on the ukulele.
The play-along is based on Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, using the read-aloud video from Buttercup Storytime:
🎥 YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py8h1Q3UIbY
The song has been adjusted to a more ukulele-friendly key, making it easier for students to accompany confidently. The chord visuals used in the materials come from Ukulele Buddy, a helpful free resource for ukulele teachers:
🎸 Ukulele Buddy chord charts: https://www.ukulelebuddy.com/free-ukulele-chords.html
Manipulatives
To help students feel successful before playing along with the video, I’ve created supporting manipulatives that allow them to practice the patterns and chord progressions ahead of time. These are especially useful for:
Pre-teaching patterns
Small-group or station work
Visual learners who benefit from seeing the music before performing
You can find all of the accompanying manipulatives here:
Thank you for following along with the Countdown to 2026. I hope these short, approachable activities help make your first week back feel a little smoother—and maybe even bring a bit of joy to both you and your students.
Here’s to a musical, creative, and joyful year ahead. 🎶✨