Summary
In this animated holiday special set to music inspired by Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Elmo and his puppy Tango journey through magical lands to bring home a special nutcracker toy. A colorful, musical introduction to the sounds and story of a classic ballet.
Viewer safety
All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
The whole adventure is carried along by the music of The Nutcracker.
- Did the music ever sound exciting, sleepy, or magical? When?
- How did the music help tell the story without words?
- What was your favorite magical land Elmo and Tango visited?
- Have you ever heard this music before, maybe around the holidays?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: music, ballet, mood, fast, slow.
Try it: Listen to one part again with your eyes closed. Show with your hands whether the music feels fast or slow, then draw the picture the music put in your head.



