THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY • Who is at the end of the line, waiting to see Help children understand it is not the size or by Ezra Jack Keats baby Jesus? cost of a gift that is important, but the meaning Themes: Religion, Humility • Why does the boy with the drum feel sad? behind the gift. Talk with children about the gift Grade Level: K-2 • What special gift does the boy give the baby the drummer boy gave baby Jesus. Ask: Running Time: 7 minutes, iconographic Jesus at the end of the story? • How was this gift different from the other gifts • How does the boy feel about his gift? the baby Jesus received? SUMMARY Talk with children about the Christmas • How do you think the baby Jesus and his THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY, told as a tale set to music, is the simple story of a boy with a drum holiday. Explore the ways children who cele- mother felt about receiving this gift? who feels he has nothing to offer the baby brate this holiday enjoy Christmas with their • Was this an expensive gift? Jesus. Others come from far and wide to offer families. Then tell children the Christian story of Have children consider the ways they can gifts, and the boy, standing at the end of the the birth of Jesus. Explain that this is the offer “gifts” to parents and friends, even when a line of visitors, feels unworthy, with nothing to religious belief of some people, and that this particular occasion is not being celebrated. offer. Christian story is the basis for the film they are Ask: Finally, the boy suggests that he can play about to see. • What kinds of things can you do for your parents or friends that will not cost money and for the baby Jesus on his drum. The boy soon AFTER VIEWING ACTIVITIES recognizes that this gift is as worthy a gift as Talk with children about the way the story of that they would appreciate? the others. The mood of this film, The Little Drummer Boy was told as a song. • How would you feel about giving these kinds suggested by the music and language, offers Play the recording of The Little Drummer Boy. of gifts? children a warm wonderful look at the meaning Encourage children to try and recall the • How do you think your parents and friends of giving. pictures they saw as they listen. Then play would feel about these gifts? another recording for children that is also a Sing other songs characteristic of the Christmas holiday. Talk about other religious OBJECTIVES story set to music. Have children listen • Children will explore religious beliefs. carefully, then draw pictures that tell the story holidays occurring this time of year. Learn • Children will investigate the meaning of they have just heard. some Hanukkah songs. Play a Hanukkah game giving. Supply a drum and other musical like dreidel. • Children will learn about the reasons for the instruments that children can use in the Christmas holiday classroom. Have children pretend that it is the Other videos about Christmas available from BEFORE VIEWING ACTIVITIES birthday of one of the children in the class, and Weston Woods include: The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola Share the book, THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY, that their gift to that person will be a simple Max’s Christmas by Rosemary Wells with children. Then ask: recital. Then help children play simple rhythms Morris’s Disappearing Bag by Rosemary Wells • Who has everyone come to see in the story? to accompany a simple nursery rhyme or song The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke they are familiar with. Later, have children • What kinds of things are they bringing to the Moore, ill. by Ruth Sanderson baby Jesus? exchange instruments so that they have the Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, ill. by • Why are they bringing him gifts? opportunity to explore playing a variety of Ed Martinez • What kinds of animals appear in the story? these.

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