It's not too early to think about the winter holidays! And The Nutcracker Experience might be just the ticket for you on your classroom computer for ages 5-10 to complement your Tchaikovsky unit.

The Nutcracker Experience includes interactive CD-ROM plus music-only CD with seven selections for your enjoyment.

The CD-ROM takes you on an interactive tour of some of the best-loved music from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet. Explorers start in Clara's room, clicking on objects that lead to seven different selections. Listen and follow the animations or slide shows, which visually highlight the form, structure, and/or instrumentation of the piece. Then participate in activities and games that include coloring pages, matching games, and tune recognition activities. Learn the original story! The Nutcracker Experience is designed as an enjoyable resource for parents, teachers and children.

One great lesson plan: use a SmartBoard or other projector to work with the CD-Rom as a group or class activity. The games would be particularly good for this. For example, the Matching Game doesn't necessarily match picture exactly with picture, but might have you match listening example with title. What a great way to review, and what a fun way! If you know you're going to be gone, this would make a great lesson plan for a substitute, also.

Includes the following pieces from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite:

Overture
March
Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy
Russian Dance
Arabian Dance
Chinese Dance
Dance of the Toy Flutes

The Nutcracker Experience is available from Art Education Ideas.

Kay Greenhaw, creator of the Nutcracker Experience, has both bachelors and masters degrees in Music Education from The University of Texas and resides in Austin with her husband, Larry, and daughter, Kelly. She currently teaches music at Doss Elementary School to students in grades K-5. She has won technology grants from Dell Computer Corp., Advanced Micro Devices, the Texas Educators Network, and the Junior League of Austin. She was named Technology Teacher of the Year by the Texas Computer Educators Association. She was also awarded National Technology Using Teacher of the Year by Tech Corps. Her school's web site, which she created and maintains, was awarded third place in the Microsoft Schools on the Web competition. Kay is a contributing author to the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Music Textbook series and contributed listening maps and lessons to the Glencoe Choral Textbook series.

Techie lovers! Inspiration Software will award 30 scholarships in the amount of $750 to educators who champion visual learning and technology in the classroom. Click here for more information. Thanks to "Nancy" for the tip!