Brain Break for Your December Classroom: Scarf Movement Activity with Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker
As December rolls in and the holiday season kicks into high gear, your students are likely buzzing with excitement—and so are you! Whether you’re deep into concert prep or counting down the days to winter break, finding the right balance between focus and fun can be tricky. That’s where this scarf movement activity comes in! Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, this activity provides your students with a brain break while keeping them engaged through music and movement.
It’s the perfect way to get the wiggles out, reset their brains, and get them moving in a festive way as you gear up for the holidays!
Here’s How It Works:
Grab one or two scarves (or even just use your fingers!).
Keep an eye on the purple squiggly line on the screen.
As they move, a yellow shape fills in the line—watch as it fills up with your movement!
When they reach the end, they’ll follow two lines for a fun challenge.
Use the slides to practice before you perform the full activity.
Once ready, let your students perform the scarf movement routine, either as a class or in smaller groups!
Why This Activity is a Must:
Perfect Brain Break: A no-prep, easy activity that helps your students reset while still keeping them active and engaged. It's especially great when you're looking for a fun brain break during the crazy lead-up to winter break!
Super Easy to Set Up: No extra instruments or props are needed—just scarves or fingers and a screen. Perfect for when you’re short on time or need an easy activity!
Fun and Engaging: The colorful visuals and movement are sure to capture your students' attention and keep them entertained, while they still focus on rhythm and coordination.
Free Scarf Movement Manipulatives
Want to make this even easier? You can download the free scarf movement manipulatives (including slides and a PDF file) from my Buy Me a Coffee Extras Page. These resources will help you get started right away, so you can spend more time teaching and less time preparing!
Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker – Tea (Chinese Dance)
The recording of Mariinsky’s Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker – Tea (Chinese Dance) is already included in the video. You can also see the original video here:
Mariinsky – The Nutcracker – Tea (Chinese Dance)
Countdown to 2026!
As we head into the new year, I’m excited to kick off the Countdown to 2026 with 10 short activities that you can use when you return from winter break. These quick, fun ideas will help your students ease back into school and get excited for the new year!
This December, give your students a chance to move, groove, and enjoy a creative break with this scarf movement activity. It’s the perfect way to wrap up your lessons before the holidays and get everyone in the festive spirit. You’ll love how easy it is to use, and your students will have a blast!