Educator Resources: The Nutcracker Student Matinee

Thank you for bringing your students to The Nutcracker student matinee!

Utilize the resources below to prepare your students to see the performance! Let us know if you have any questions at education@pittsburghballet.org.

Instructional Resources and Materials

• Guide to the ballet: Teacher Resource Guide, which includes general information on the ballet and PBT’s version of The Nutcracker.
• The Nutcracker story: A slide show story of the ballet illustrated with PBT photos. This is a quick and easy way to preview the ballet for your class.
• One-pager synopsis of the ballet.
• The music: This YouTube video includes the entire score of the ballet. There is a timestamp of the different sections in the description. This is great to have on in your classroom as background music to familiarize students with the music before the attend the performance.
• Pittsburgh Connections flyer.
• Content area connections: See below for ideas to connect the ballet to your curriculum (adaptable as needed to meet the needs of your students).
  • Music activity ideas sheet
    • Explore the celesta
    • How can music help tell the story of the ballet?
    • Familiarize your students with the score of the ballet with activity ideas that help discuss the characteristics of these works
    • Reinterpreting music (listen to two versions of The Nutcracker Suite)
  • Choreography activities
    • Try out the five basic positions of ballet
    • Analyze the “Sugar Plum Fairy Pas de Deux”
  • Arts and humanities activity ideas
    • Writing, research and design activity ideas
    • Design a Snowflake Costume Worksheet
  • Quick learning activities that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes!
• Do’s and Don’ts of Theater Etiquette: prepare your students for a trip to a theater with these know-before-you-go tips.

Recorded Educational Videos

• The Music of the Season: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker  with Yoland Collin, PBT principal pianist and music administrator– 51 minutes. Click here for a timestamp by section. A portion of this video is referenced in the music activity ideas above. Older students can also view the entire video or specific segments per the timestamp.

Just for Fun!

• Coloring Pages: The Nutcracker, Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, Marie, Marie and the Nutcracker
• The Nutcracker Children’s Activity Guide (2nd-5th grade)
• Word Search