2025-2026
the rhythm of Christmas
eTwinning project
The project aims to explore Christmas through the universal language of rhythm and music. Students from different European countries will collaborate to reinterpret Christmas sounds and melodies using body percussion, traditional and homemade instruments, digital tools, and creative activities. The goal is to experience Christmas not only as a cultural tradition, but also as an opportunity for dialogue, artistic expression, and international cooperation.
Description
The project aims to explore Christmas through the universal language of rhythm and music. Students from different European countries will collaborate to reinterpret Christmas sounds and melodies using body percussion, traditional and homemade instruments, digital tools, and creative activities. The goal is to experience Christmas not only as a cultural tradition, but also as an opportunity for dialogue, artistic expression, and international cooperation.
Aims
* Discover Christmas traditions through rhythm and music.
* Encourage student creativity with body percussion, instruments, and digital tools.
* Promote cooperation between European schools in a festive and joyful atmosphere.
* Develop transversal skills: teamwork, digital creativity, intercultural awareness.
Work Process
October - To get to know each other in a fun and musical way, you will create a short "Musical Presentation Video/Audio
November - Starting with Rhythm - Body percussion activities: short videos with simple Christmas rhythms. Christmas Rhythm Challenge: One school proposes a rhythm, the others reproduce it or reinvent it.
December - Traditions and Music - Sharing local Christmas traditions: prepare handmade Christmas cards and exchange them between partners. Christmas Sound Postcards ”Digitize paper postcards. Performance of Christmas carols with traditional or homemade instruments. Christmas Soundscapes: record and share typical Christmas sounds (markets, bells, voices, laughter, street music).
January - Creating Together - Students collaborate to write simple Christmas lyrics or short verses in English (or in their own languages with translations). These lyrics will later be combined with the rhythms and melodies already created in the project. Cultural exchange on "Christmas beyond the holiday" reflections on the values of collaboration, peace, and respect.
February – Final Product and Dissemination - Joint final product: video collage/online performance "The Rhythm of Christmas". Reflections and final evaluation - Feedback
Expected Results
Increased awareness of European Christmas traditions. Development of musical creativity and performance skills. Improvement of digital skills through web tools. Strengthening intercultural collaboration and teamwork.
Teachers: Alessandro Ruffino from Italy, Neilos Papas from Greece, Nives Boras from Croacia, Agnieszka Szota from Poland, Fátima Simões from Portugal, Irene Palomino Franco from Spain, Chryssa Parianou & Theodora Matsaggoura from Greece (Armenia), and Claudiu Mihai Chelariu from Romania
Getting to Know Each Other
Getting to Know Each Other
Getting to Know Each Other
eSafety in Portugal
The students from Portugal discussed ideas about Internet safety and etiquette in their Citizenship classes and then, at home, completed the quizzes and sent screenshots of their results to the teacher. When the results weren’t the best, they checked what they had gotten wrong and repeated the quizzes.
eSafety Day
Logo In mixed international groups they design the logo of the project.
Logo oriented by portuguese teacher
Portuguese logo's examples
The Portugal team worked with great dedication and creativity on their logo proposals. Congratulations to all.
Body Percussion: “My Christmas Rhythm” The students had a great time taking part in the activity "Starting with Rhythm." Using part of the song "Christmas Eve Sarajevo" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, they created a rhythmic arrangement that combined creative body percussion and teamwork.
Body Percussion: “My Christmas Rhythm” This time, they chose "Carol of the Bells" and, through a mainly rhythmic pattern, used their voices, percussion instruments, and once again, body percussion. They had a wonderful time working on this activity.
Christmas Rhythm Challenge The Portugal team, after listening to the rhythmic patterns from Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Poland, created this rhythm to take part in the Christmas Rhythmic Challenge, adding some new sounds and instruments. It was a lot of fun.
Christmas Rhythm Challenge
Watching the partners' videos
The Portuguese students had a lot of fun watching videos from classmates in other countries and even sang the song 'Jingle Bells' while the Spanish classmates played :)
Christmas Warm-up in Portugal
In the last Physical Education classes, students in Portugal have been doing their warm-up to the sound of Christmas music
Portuguese Christmas Chain
Recording the rhythm pattern
Musical Advent Calendar
Musical Advent Calendar
The students enjoyed wonderful moments both at school and with their families as they opened each day of the Advent calendar, sharing joy, curiosity, and the magic of Christmas together.
They had an amazing time taking part in the Christmas‑song quiz, discovering festive music from different countries hidden behind each window of the Advent calendar!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
And what better way to wish a Merry Christmas to colleagues from other countries? It was great fun to discuss ideas for the cards in Citizenship class, check in English how to write correctly what they wanted to say, and make the cards in Visual Arts.
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Postcards from Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Portugal’s Christmas postcards are ready to take flight, carrying holiday cheer across borders!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Croatia finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Italy finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Romania finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Spain finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Poland finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
The Postcards Have Landed in Portugal!
"Nana nana meu menino" - A traditional Northern Portuguese Christmas song.
A traditional song from the Minho region in Northern Portugal. It can be classified both as a Christmas song and a lullaby. Its imagery reflects rural daily life intertwined with Christmas-season traditions. Documented by Giacometti and Lopes-Graça in the Cancioneiro Popular Português (Póvoa de Lanhoso and Viana do Castelo areas), the song is considered a cradle song. Its simple rhythm, stepwise melodic motion, and limited vocal range make it well-suited for introducing vocal-technique elements.
Portugal Preparing the Advent Calendar and the Portuguese Christmas Carol
Christmas Soundscapes
Portuguese students recorded sounds that we traditionally hear at Christmas, from traditional Christmas carols to unwrapping presents, or even a visit from Santa Claus :)
Christmas Soundscapes
Christmas Soundscapes
Christmas Soundscapes
Christmas Traditions
Students in Portugal are very excited to be researching Christmas in Portugal! They are working in an interdisciplinary way, exploring different aspects of the topic across several subjects. In Music, they are learning about Christmas musical traditions and creating lapbooks in both PT and ENG with the help of their English teacher.
In History and Geography, they are researching about decorations, traditions and customs, legends and tales, and gastronomy. The information is being shared on a Padlet, which also allows them to explore the topic of media in citizenship.
Christmas homemade musical instruments
The students from Portugal, in their Technological Education classes, made musical instruments from recycled materials, decorated with Christmas motifs. Before building them, they discussed in music class what they would like to make.
Christmas homemade musical instruments
Eco Christmas Beats Worksheets The students recorded on a sheet the name of the instrument they built, the family, the materials they used, and the construction stages. They had help from the English teacher.
Christmas homemade musical instruments
Christmas musical traditions
Lapbooks they created about Christmas music traditions in Portugal.
Christmas musical traditions
Christmas musical traditions
Christmas musical traditions
Playing with Math and Christmas
The students fdelighted the audience with small theatrical performances featuring Christmas‑themed characters they had crafted in their Mathematics lessons. Using “fortune teller” origamis and geometric shapes, they transformed mathematical concepts into charming holiday figures. Their creativity brought together art, imagination, and mathematics, resulting in playful scenes that celebrated both the spirit of Christmas and the joy of learning.
Words of Music, Words of Christmas
The students created wonderfully imaginative Portuguese–English dictionaries filled with musical terms and Christmas vocabulary, showcasing both creativity and language skills.
Creating a Shared Christmas Song
From the forum discussion, the most frequently chosen themes were Hope, Peace, and Friendship.
Creating a Shared Christmas Song
After learning about the selected themes, the students from the Portuguese team began working on the creation of the four verses that will open the collaborative Christmas song.
Creating a Shared Christmas Song
Using Open Music AI, Portugal produced its own version of the song.
Reflecting together
Online meeting
the rhythm of Christmas
Fátima Simões
Created on February 28, 2026
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Transcript
2025-2026
the rhythm of Christmas
eTwinning project
The project aims to explore Christmas through the universal language of rhythm and music. Students from different European countries will collaborate to reinterpret Christmas sounds and melodies using body percussion, traditional and homemade instruments, digital tools, and creative activities. The goal is to experience Christmas not only as a cultural tradition, but also as an opportunity for dialogue, artistic expression, and international cooperation.
Description The project aims to explore Christmas through the universal language of rhythm and music. Students from different European countries will collaborate to reinterpret Christmas sounds and melodies using body percussion, traditional and homemade instruments, digital tools, and creative activities. The goal is to experience Christmas not only as a cultural tradition, but also as an opportunity for dialogue, artistic expression, and international cooperation.
Aims * Discover Christmas traditions through rhythm and music. * Encourage student creativity with body percussion, instruments, and digital tools. * Promote cooperation between European schools in a festive and joyful atmosphere. * Develop transversal skills: teamwork, digital creativity, intercultural awareness.
Work Process October - To get to know each other in a fun and musical way, you will create a short "Musical Presentation Video/Audio November - Starting with Rhythm - Body percussion activities: short videos with simple Christmas rhythms. Christmas Rhythm Challenge: One school proposes a rhythm, the others reproduce it or reinvent it. December - Traditions and Music - Sharing local Christmas traditions: prepare handmade Christmas cards and exchange them between partners. Christmas Sound Postcards ”Digitize paper postcards. Performance of Christmas carols with traditional or homemade instruments. Christmas Soundscapes: record and share typical Christmas sounds (markets, bells, voices, laughter, street music). January - Creating Together - Students collaborate to write simple Christmas lyrics or short verses in English (or in their own languages with translations). These lyrics will later be combined with the rhythms and melodies already created in the project. Cultural exchange on "Christmas beyond the holiday" reflections on the values of collaboration, peace, and respect. February – Final Product and Dissemination - Joint final product: video collage/online performance "The Rhythm of Christmas". Reflections and final evaluation - Feedback
Expected Results Increased awareness of European Christmas traditions. Development of musical creativity and performance skills. Improvement of digital skills through web tools. Strengthening intercultural collaboration and teamwork.
Teachers: Alessandro Ruffino from Italy, Neilos Papas from Greece, Nives Boras from Croacia, Agnieszka Szota from Poland, Fátima Simões from Portugal, Irene Palomino Franco from Spain, Chryssa Parianou & Theodora Matsaggoura from Greece (Armenia), and Claudiu Mihai Chelariu from Romania
Getting to Know Each Other
Getting to Know Each Other
Getting to Know Each Other
eSafety in Portugal The students from Portugal discussed ideas about Internet safety and etiquette in their Citizenship classes and then, at home, completed the quizzes and sent screenshots of their results to the teacher. When the results weren’t the best, they checked what they had gotten wrong and repeated the quizzes.
eSafety Day
Logo In mixed international groups they design the logo of the project.
Logo oriented by portuguese teacher
Portuguese logo's examples
The Portugal team worked with great dedication and creativity on their logo proposals. Congratulations to all.
Body Percussion: “My Christmas Rhythm” The students had a great time taking part in the activity "Starting with Rhythm." Using part of the song "Christmas Eve Sarajevo" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, they created a rhythmic arrangement that combined creative body percussion and teamwork.
Body Percussion: “My Christmas Rhythm” This time, they chose "Carol of the Bells" and, through a mainly rhythmic pattern, used their voices, percussion instruments, and once again, body percussion. They had a wonderful time working on this activity.
Christmas Rhythm Challenge The Portugal team, after listening to the rhythmic patterns from Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Poland, created this rhythm to take part in the Christmas Rhythmic Challenge, adding some new sounds and instruments. It was a lot of fun.
Christmas Rhythm Challenge
Watching the partners' videos The Portuguese students had a lot of fun watching videos from classmates in other countries and even sang the song 'Jingle Bells' while the Spanish classmates played :)
Christmas Warm-up in Portugal In the last Physical Education classes, students in Portugal have been doing their warm-up to the sound of Christmas music
Portuguese Christmas Chain Recording the rhythm pattern
Musical Advent Calendar
Musical Advent Calendar
The students enjoyed wonderful moments both at school and with their families as they opened each day of the Advent calendar, sharing joy, curiosity, and the magic of Christmas together.
They had an amazing time taking part in the Christmas‑song quiz, discovering festive music from different countries hidden behind each window of the Advent calendar!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
And what better way to wish a Merry Christmas to colleagues from other countries? It was great fun to discuss ideas for the cards in Citizenship class, check in English how to write correctly what they wanted to say, and make the cards in Visual Arts.
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Postcards from Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Portugal’s Christmas postcards are ready to take flight, carrying holiday cheer across borders!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Croatia finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Italy finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Romania finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Spain finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
Mail Magic: Postcards from Poland finally in Portugal!
Christmas Postcard Exchange
The Postcards Have Landed in Portugal!
"Nana nana meu menino" - A traditional Northern Portuguese Christmas song.
A traditional song from the Minho region in Northern Portugal. It can be classified both as a Christmas song and a lullaby. Its imagery reflects rural daily life intertwined with Christmas-season traditions. Documented by Giacometti and Lopes-Graça in the Cancioneiro Popular Português (Póvoa de Lanhoso and Viana do Castelo areas), the song is considered a cradle song. Its simple rhythm, stepwise melodic motion, and limited vocal range make it well-suited for introducing vocal-technique elements.
Portugal Preparing the Advent Calendar and the Portuguese Christmas Carol
Christmas Soundscapes
Portuguese students recorded sounds that we traditionally hear at Christmas, from traditional Christmas carols to unwrapping presents, or even a visit from Santa Claus :)
Christmas Soundscapes
Christmas Soundscapes
Christmas Soundscapes
Christmas Traditions
Students in Portugal are very excited to be researching Christmas in Portugal! They are working in an interdisciplinary way, exploring different aspects of the topic across several subjects. In Music, they are learning about Christmas musical traditions and creating lapbooks in both PT and ENG with the help of their English teacher. In History and Geography, they are researching about decorations, traditions and customs, legends and tales, and gastronomy. The information is being shared on a Padlet, which also allows them to explore the topic of media in citizenship.
Christmas homemade musical instruments
The students from Portugal, in their Technological Education classes, made musical instruments from recycled materials, decorated with Christmas motifs. Before building them, they discussed in music class what they would like to make.
Christmas homemade musical instruments
Eco Christmas Beats Worksheets The students recorded on a sheet the name of the instrument they built, the family, the materials they used, and the construction stages. They had help from the English teacher.
Christmas homemade musical instruments
Christmas musical traditions
Lapbooks they created about Christmas music traditions in Portugal.
Christmas musical traditions
Christmas musical traditions
Christmas musical traditions
Playing with Math and Christmas
The students fdelighted the audience with small theatrical performances featuring Christmas‑themed characters they had crafted in their Mathematics lessons. Using “fortune teller” origamis and geometric shapes, they transformed mathematical concepts into charming holiday figures. Their creativity brought together art, imagination, and mathematics, resulting in playful scenes that celebrated both the spirit of Christmas and the joy of learning.
Words of Music, Words of Christmas
The students created wonderfully imaginative Portuguese–English dictionaries filled with musical terms and Christmas vocabulary, showcasing both creativity and language skills.
Creating a Shared Christmas Song
From the forum discussion, the most frequently chosen themes were Hope, Peace, and Friendship.
Creating a Shared Christmas Song
After learning about the selected themes, the students from the Portuguese team began working on the creation of the four verses that will open the collaborative Christmas song.
Creating a Shared Christmas Song
Using Open Music AI, Portugal produced its own version of the song.
Reflecting together
Online meeting