© The Curious Piano Teachers 2018 Created & Designed by Ruth Alberici 1

The Elf Workshop

Purpose of the Game

The Elf Workshop is a motivational game which aims to make learning lots

of fun! This game is Christmas themed and based on a Christmas present

factory supervised by the elves. There are five separate sections in the

factory, each involving a different musical challenge for the pupil. If all the

challenges are completed successfully, the unwrapped present can move

through the factory, being wrapped and decorated on the way, before

ending up on Father Christmas’ Sleigh for delivery to homes in time for

Christmas Day.

Learning Outcomes

This game has been designed in a way that individual challenges can be set

by the teacher according to the learning objectives of each pupil.

The example included below is aimed at beginner pupils with a basic grasp

of note values, rhythm and pitch. The learning outcome is to understand the

rhythm and notes behind the first four bars of Jingle Bells.

© The Curious Piano Teachers 2018 Created & Designed by Ruth Alberici 2

How to Play

Pre-lesson Preparation

Print out the board entitled “The Elf Workshop”.

Print and cut out the five challenges cards.

Print and cut out the matching pair cards.

Print and cut out the wrapped presents.

During the Lesson

Explain to the pupil that today we are playing a Christmas game

with the aim of getting our presents wrapped by the elves and

delivered to our home in time for Christmas Day.

On a piece of paper, get the pupil to draw a Christmas present.

Once done, ask them to place this on the conveyor on “The Elf

Workshop” board.

Mix up the Matching Pair cards and place face down on a table.

The pupil must complete “Challenge 1 – The Conveyor” by

matching the pairs correctly.

Once Challenge 1 is successfully completed, the pupil can drop

their present into the wrapper machine. You can make a small cut

in the board at the top of this machine where they can slide in

their present.

The pupil must then complete “Challenge 2 – The Roller”.

Once completed, the pupil can move onto “Challenge 3 – The

Wrapper”. Once Challenge 3 is successfully completed, give the

pupil one of the wrapped presents.

The pupil now completes “Challenge 4 – The Bow Maker”. Once

Challenge 4 is successfully completed, the pupil can colour in the

bow on their present.

Finally, the pupil completes “Challenge 5 – The Sleigh”. Once

Challenge 5 is successfully completed, the pupil can draw Father

Christmas on the sleigh.

© The Curious Piano Teachers 2018 Created & Designed by Ruth Alberici 3

Challenge Cards

The conveyor machine feeds all of the Christmas presents that the elves have been

making into the wrapper machine.

Challenge 1 - The Conveyor

Challenge: To start the conveyor machine you must match up the musical pair cards correctly.

To start the conveyor machine, you have to complete the challenge below:

The roller machine unwraps the Christmas wrapping paper and feeds it into the wrapper machine.

Challenge 2 - The Roller

Challenge 2: On the music below, colour in red any hearts where you have to play a note. This is your code.

The roller machine needs a special written code before it can start.

The wrapper machine wraps up the presents but also needs a special code in order to work properly.

Challenge 3: Count the heartbeats (1-2-3-4) out loud and clap the rhythm from Challenge 2.

Challenge 3 - The Wrapper

Can you recognise the Christmas tune?

This code needs to be clapped out loud.

Challenge 4 - The Bow Maker

Challenge 4c: Can you put a yellow square around a repeated note?

Challenge 4a: Can you circle in blue a step up?

Challenge 4b: Can you put a green triangle around a skip up?

The bow maker is a little elf who puts bows on all of the presents to make them look festive.

The bow maker is a happy chap who works best when music is playing in the background.

To help turn on the music, we need to look at the notes below and answer some questions.

Challenge 5 - The Sleigh

Challenge 5: Can you play this music to accompany Father Christmas on his way?

Once the presents are wrapped and tied with a bow, they go down a chute which

drops onto Father Christmas' Sleigh, ready to be delivered to the houses.

© The Curious Piano Teachers 2018 Created & Designed by Ruth Alberici 4

Matching Pair Cards (Challenge 1)

The Elf Workshop The Elf Workshop

Minim

The Elf Workshop The Elf Workshop

Crotchet

The Elf Workshop The Elf Workshop

G Clef

The Elf Workshop The Elf Workshop

Semi Breve

The Elf Workshop The Elf Workshop

Time Signature

The Elf Workshop The Elf Workshop

Mezzo Forte medium loud

© The Curious Piano Teachers 2018 Created & Designed by Ruth Alberici 5

Wrapped Gifts (Challenges 3 and 4)

© The Curious Piano Teachers 2018 Created & Designed by Ruth Alberici 6