Christmas Programs

Hi Colleagues,
My first post!  I've been reading and trying many of your ideas.  Thanks for the help!
I'd love to vent a little bit about Christmas programs.  Because I only see my kids once a week, it becomes so hard to do a seasonally themed program because we have to start the music SO early (I don't want to be singing Christmas music in October!).  We are getting started pretty late on Christmas stuff (this week!), but I hope to put a practice packet together, and classroom teachers said they'd be willing to help me by practicing at other times of the week.

Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders will share the stage on Thursday, December 16th in Jordan.  It's been very crowded in there before, so this year the administration has decided to host Kindergarten and their families for a performance at 5:30, 1st graders at 6:15, and 2nd graders at 7:00.  Basically there are not enough seats for families to share a space with three grade levels.

Kindergarten
Suite of Good Morning Songs (It's Snowing, I'm a Little Snowflake, 5 Little Snowmen, and Frere Jacques)
One K class plays jingle bells along with Frere Jacques
Penguin Polka
One K class dresses like penguins
Rudolph Saves Christmas (thanks Nicole Farley, for these two resources!)
One K class holds up pictures of our characters: Rudolph, children, and storm clouds
Snowpants
One K class wears outside clothing
Christmas Clock
One K class helps keep beat with rhythm instruments
Let Your Light Shine Over the World

1st Grade
Suite of Good Morning Songs (It's Snowing, I'm a Little Snowflake, O Mister Snow)
One 1st class plays jingle bells
Jingle, the Happy Bell
One 1st class plays jingle bells
Jingle Bells
One 1st class introduces long and short sounds with movement- dance.
North Winds Blow
One 1st class talks about hibernating animals, recites facts/poem?
Goodnight Irene
Let Your Light Shine Over the World

2nd Grade
Here We Come A-Wassailing
One 2nd class plays rhythm sticks and triangle
Yuki (Snow)
One 2nd class plays coconut shells for horse hooves
Over the River and Through the Woods
One 2nd class dresses up like detectives
There's Someone in the Chimney
Russian Dance (from the Nutcracker)
One 2nd class holds up homemade snowflakes and/or paper stars, demonstrating song's form.
Snowflake Carol
One 2nd class teaches sign language for "children," "teacher," "parent," "light"
Let Your Light Shine Over the World


Now I'm looking for some transition material to go between some of the songs that students can be a part of- special skits that have worked or easy poems to split up and recite.  I hopefully will have small groups of students introduce each song or grouping of song.

Wanted Subjects:
-Holidays with family
-Snow
-Penguins
-Animals hibernating for the winter