How to Go Christmas Caroling With Students
Christmas caroling is a holiday tradition particularly suited for children. Children love to sing, and they especially love to belt out Christmas carols! Although Christmas caroling is traditionally performed during the evening, it's more likely you'll be caroling with students during the day. Plenty of places will welcome your wonderful classroom singers. Be sensitive to the fact that not all students may celebrate Christmas.
Things You'll Need
- Santa or elf hats
- Hot chocolate
- Cider
- Bottled water
- Bells and ribbons
- Christmas cookies
- Candy canes
Instructions
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Obtain permission. Like any off-campus trip, you need to secure permission from your administrator and the students' parents. Send a letter explaining the trip and also inviting the parents to join you--you might even invite them to join the caroling.
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Choose a place to go caroling. Retirement centers or nursing homes often welcome carolers and appreciate the holiday cheer and sing-along opportunities. For other caroling ideas, see Tips.
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Request certain attire. You want your students to look their best. Ask that they dress in "Christmas finest" or, if you are going to be outside, give each child a Santa or elf hat to wear. Most dollar stores carry Santa and elf hats.
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Bring refreshments. Singing is thirsty work! Bring water for the students, along with cold-weather drinks such as hot chocolate and hot cider, along with some Christmas cookies and candy canes. If you are singing at a retirement center or nursing home, it's generous to offer your audience refreshments as well.
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Add festive instruments. Stringing a bell on a green or red ribbon and give one to each student. The sound will be just enough holiday cheer without to much noise--and kids love ringing them.
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Send thank you notes. Students should write thank you letters to any place that hosted them.
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Tips & Warnings
Other suggestions for caroling: shopping malls, grocery stores (outside, if weather permits), Christmas tree farms, and hotel and convention center lobbies.
Delegate planning and transporting snacks to a parent volunteer.
As students and audiences will be a mix of religions, your repertoire of songs should be mostly secular. You should also allow students to opt out of the trip.
Resources
- Photo Credit christmas family image by sumos from Fotolia.com
