Below you find the songs and resources for our 2024 Christmas Songbook! This year after listening feedback from teachers we have focused our songs around the nativity story. Each song will tell the Christmas story sequentially and features varying styles and genres of music. Sign and sing video resources for each song will be added to our YouTube channel to support this and are embedded below.

Below you will find 6 songs - the first three have been written with Key Stage 1 pupils in mind and the last three are aimed at Key Stage 2 but any of them could be sung by either group if appropriate in your setting. For each song resource there is a guide track including vocals, a backing track and a pdf of the vocal score along with a lyrics document for printing and a powerpoint for easy display and learning along with the signing videos.

The tracks are as follows:

1. The Message (KS1)

2. Donkey, Don’t Stop! (KS1)

3. A Big Night in Bethlehem (KS1)

4. Under the Moonlit Sky (KS2)

5. Herod - A Puppet King (KS2)

6. Anthem for a Better World (KS2)

Thanks to:

Composer Jo Downs

PowerPoint resources Anna Thompsett

Illustrations Mabel Thompsett

Makaton content Vicky Trevithick

Recording & Editing Aidan Hampson

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion along to The Christmas Box by Tee and Mo Songtime for Cbeebies with Southampton & Isle of Wight Music Hubs.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion along to Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town with Southampton & Isle of Wight Music Hubs.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs, singing and body percussion for Who’s That Pulling The Sleigh! from The Christmas Songbook by Jo Downs with Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, SINGING, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion along to He’s The Grinch from The Christmas Songbook by Jo Downs with Southampton & Isle of Wight Music Hubs.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion along to There’s An Elf On My Shelf from The Christmas Songbook by Jo Downs with Southampton & Isle of Wight Music Hubs.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs, singing and body percussion for Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade with Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, SINGING, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion to Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town by Mariah Carey.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs, singing and body percussion for Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid with Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, SINGING, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion to Revvin’ Up The Reindeer by Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs, singing and body percussion for I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard with Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, SINGING, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion to Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs, singing and body percussion for Beneath the Winter Snow composed by Jo Downs with Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, SINGING, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion to Snowman Kind of Day by Nick Cope.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

We are excited to be sharing with you the resources for our Christmas song for 2022, Beneath the Winter Snow. This song was composed by Jo Downs. With Christmas fast approaching, we hope this will bring you into the Christmas spirit!

Below you can download and listen to the audio of Beneath the Winter Snow.

Below you will find the lyrics for Beneath the Winter Snow, outlining the lyrics for both the main melody and the harmony parts of the song. You will also find the Score, for you to learn the instrumental part of the song.

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion to I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Sing, learn the signs and do body percussion to Gathered Round the Christmas Tree.

Join in with our inclusive series of musical and sensory activities created for SEND pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Featuring action songs, rhythms, rhymes and of course Makaton signs, join in with Vicky where you can!

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for Winter Wonderland then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG

Key Stage 2

Learn Makaton signs and body percussion for The Twelve Days of Christmas then try it out with the performance video.

LEARNING VIDEO — LEARN THE LYRICS, BODY PERCUSSION AND THE SIGNS

PERFORM ALONG VIDEO — PLAY, SING AND SIGN ALONG THROUGH THE WHOLE SONG