The build up to Christmas is a time when schools are filled with the sound of music. If it’s not carols being sung merrily on high then it’s winter favourites belted out at assemblies and shows. There’s no better way to begin the chilly season.

This week on the Guardian Teacher Network we bring you a stocking load of ideas and resources on how to introduce Christmassy tunes in the classroom.

Kick off a Christmas lesson for key stage 2 students with I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard using this Sing Up lesson resource plan, which explores singing in a rock style while keeping a steady beat. Pupils are encouraged to identify and play chords in G major. As a follow-up activity, you could challenge groups to compose a simple seasonal melody using tuned percussion. Can they add lyrics and movement? You’ll find additional ideas for singing-based activities, the sheet music to Good King Wenceslas and lots of Christmas-themed puzzles and games in this festive pack for 2014.

Another fun song to learn is The Twelve Days of Christmas. This lesson plan from Vocalist.org.uk has a handy set of visual aids to help students get their geese a-laying, maids a-milking and pipers piping in the correct order. Pupils are encouraged to experiment with different movements for each verse to help them remember the words. The song lends itself to a variety of curricular activities, such as translating the lyrics into another language, creating maths problems from the combination of different verses, or painting pictures for each of the 12 days.

A Snowman Winked at Me is a jaunty march capturing the spirit of the festive season. Teach it with this resource by Millgate House Education. It contains the lyrics along with sheet music for piano and guitar. Its simple tune and use of rhyme and repetition in the chorus and verse make it easy to learn, while the strong beat helps with the teaching of “pulse”. If you don’t play an instrument, use the lyrics as a stimulus for creative writing about a snowman that comes to life or ask students to tell the story of the song in a cartoon strip.

Test your pupils’ ability to recognise popular carols with this activity by My Flash Quiz. Students listen to clips of different festive tunes then try to match them with their correct titles. In a second quiz, pupils have to identify the instruments being used to play the carols. Organise a carol-naming gameshow or use the song titles for a festive game of charades. You could even find the lyrics for some of the featured songs for a whole class sing-along.

The Christmas alphabet song is the focus of this activity pack by Seeme Resources. It contains the lyrics to the song, written by Buddy Jay and Jules Loman, along with a template for children to create their own Christmas alphabet. If it’s a song you are not familiar with, take a listen below.

Another fun idea is to create a winter soundscape using this resource by Sing Up. Each person decides on a wintry sound to make using their voice, such as the swish of snow, the ring of sleigh bells or the tweet of a robin. A conductor is then chosen to lead the sounds, picking them individually, in pairs or even all at once.

Alternatively, take a well-known tune and swap in some wintry words. Frère Jacques, for example, could become: “Shiver, shiver, shiver, shiver, chattering teeth, chattering teeth, rub your hands together, rub your hands together, stamp those feet, stamp those feet.” Sing it as a round for a particularly effective sound. Find more ideas in this winter soundscape webinar.

For a whole class sing-along inspired by the The Muppet Christmas Carol movie, check out this resource by Into Film. It features a range of fun Christmas activities and games inspired by the Muppet movie. It also has the lyrics for Thankful Heart, one of the film’s most heart-warming songs.

Finally, for secondary students there’s a more traditional look at Charles Dickens’ classic tale here. Teacher Kieran McGovern has created a lesson which looks at Scrooge and his relations with Marley, Fred and Bob Cratchit. It explores social themes such as population surplus, the poor laws and social responsibilty. To explore the story with younger pupils use this A Christmas Carol display banner and writing frames by Twinkl.

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