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Bookbug Session Plans: Festive
A sparkling session to bring joy to children and families this festive season! We have tweaked some of the words in these songs to make them festive.

Introduction Song
Benefits
Familiar start – lets everyone know a Bookbug session has started.
Tips
Smile and use names if you know them. Clap or tap along to the beat.
Familiar song
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
A festive favourite all about one of Santa's misfit reindeer!
Benefits
Rich vocabulary is introduced in a familiar, rhyming song.
Tips
Point to nose and show how it grows!
Familiar rhymes
Five Christmas Cakes (to the tune of Five Currant Buns)
Benefits
Introduces early counting skills using fingers.
Tips
Count down on one hand. If you are in a small group, use a different child's name each time or choose a Christmas character (along came Santa/an elf etc).
Active rhymes
Song and rhyme words
I am rolling like a snowball down a hill
I am rolling like a snowball down a hill
I am rolling like a snowball, rolling like a snowball, rolling like a snowball down a hill!
Next verses
I am skating on the ice in the park
I am flying on my sleigh through the clouds
I am opening up my gifts on Christmas Day
I am twinkling like a star in the sky
- When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney
A fun-filled tune that wee ones love to sing each year.
Benefits
Both songs get everyone moving – supports development of gross and fine motor skills.
Tips
Have lots of fun with the actions in these songs. Keep the pace slow and exaggerate the actions to allow everyone to join in. You can roll faster and faster as the song becomes more familiar! Leave a good gap to let children join in with Santa’s sneezes!
Transition song
I Wonder What’s In My Bag Today?
Benefits
Builds anticipation and keeps the children’s attention focussed.
Tips
Have a Santa hat in the bag and see if the children can guess what the book is about. You could even wrap the book like a present and open it up to reveal it instead of using the bag.
Story
Peas on Earth by Jonny Marx and Lindsey Sagar, published by Little Tiger Press
Benefits
Introduces the important concepts of diversity and inclusion in a fun way that children can understand.
Tips
Ask children to name the types of animals in this story.
Active songs
Benefits
Children love the strong rhyme and rhythm in this song.
Tips
Encourage adults to bounce younger children on laps, older children can gallop around the room and join in with the actions.
- Here We Go Round the Christmas Tree (to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
Song and rhyme words
Here we go round the Christmas tree, Christmas tree, Christmas tree,
Here we go round the Christmas tree on a cold and frosty morning
This is the way Rudolph taps his nose (tap nose)
This is the way the elves make us laugh (laugh – 'Ho! Ho! Ho!')
This is the way Santa combs his beard (pretend to comb long beard)
This is the way the snowflakes fall (flutter fingers)
Benefits
Simple repetitive melody and words give everyone the confidence to join in.
Tips
Encourage everyone to copy your actions and repeat “Here we go round the Christmas Tree” so they can familiarise with the words and actions.
- Jingle Bells
A cheerful Christmas classic, what fun it is for children to ride and sing this sleighing song!
Benefits
This song is lots of fun and has plenty of repetition in it.
Tips
Children can pretend to ring bells every time they sing 'jingle bells'.
Lullabies/calming songs
Twinkle, Twinkle, Christmas Star
Benefits
Lullabies can calm and soothe at any time of day.
Tips
Use your finger puppet or just make your fingers 'twinkle'. Replace the word 'little' with 'Christmas'.
Familiar song
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Get children into the spirit of the season with this well-known festive favourite!
Benefits
Lots of rich and seasonal vocabulary is introduced here.
Tips
Use your finger puppet or just make your fingers 'twinkle'. Encourage joining in with 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'.
Final song
Benefits
Lets everyone know the session is over.
Tips
Thank everyone for joining in.
Please read our guide on permission to read books aloud online(this will open in a new window).