Christmas Counts

A Nativity You Can Count On
By Matthew Newman
3 Reviews
Ages: 3-6
In Stock
Try it for FREE with Sparkyard
DURATION21 mins
SPEAKING PARTS12
SONGS8
EDITABLE SCRIPTYES
For more detailed information, click here.

You’ll be counting your blessings with this delightful nativity musical that has 8 simple songs and a great script, easily adaptable for any performance. Let the Christmas countdown begin! Available with Words on Screen™.

A brilliantly inventive new musical nativity for young children – a 20 minute masterpiece of thoughtful fun!
John Dabell Teach Primary Magazine

An Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this title. For more information, please click here.

Overview
More Information
Listen To Songs
What’s Available
Prices & Options
Reviews

About Christmas Counts

  • Ideal for ages 3-6 – includes a very simple script and easy-to-learn songs that are especially suitable for younger children
  • Available with Words on Screen™/span> allowing you to display song lyrics on any whiteboard, computer screen, television or interactive touchscreen. The lyrics synchronize with the music as it plays making them easy to teach and easy to learn!
It’s the first Christmas night in Bethlehem and a group of census-takers are carrying out Caesar’s urgent decree that everyone in his empire should be counted. They count the people of Bethlehem, the wise men and their camels and nearly fall asleep counting sheep with the shepherds. Then, a countless host of angels appear with the good news of Jesus’ birth, which sends the shepherds running right to the stable to meet Mary and Joseph and one special baby. There they realise that Jesus being born shows how much God cares and how Christmas counts for everyone.


An Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this nativity.

 

Sample Script:

view script sample


An editable script is available for this product when you purchase a package that includes an eSongbook.

Cast List:

view character list and staging ideas


There are 12 speaking parts and at least 20 non-speaking parts. The speaking parts can easily be increased if the narrator’s part is split between lots of children, the census-takers’ lines are split between more than four census-takers; and you have two innkeepers instead of one, dividing the lines equally between them. The cast size can be reduced to a minimum of 18 parts, is song 4 is skipped, this reduced cast size would only be suitable if you are singing this year.

Running Time:Total performance: 21 minutes approx
Total length of music: 14 minutes approx
Performance duration: 7 minutes approx
Teach Primary Review:

A brilliantly inventive new musical nativity for young children – a 20 minute masterpiece of thoughtful fun!
John Dabell – Teach Primary Magazine

Licence Information

Annual Performance Licence Information - What You Need To Know

  • A current Annual Performance Licence is required to perform a musical or nativity to an audience (other than to pupils & staff), including an online audience, and irrespective of whether admission charges are made.
  • It is more cost effective to purchase an Annual Performance Licence as part of a complete product pack.
  • An Annual Performance Licence covers any number of performances of a particular musical or nativity within 12 months of the date of ordering. A separate Annual Performance Licence is required for each product title.
  • To renew your Annual Peformance Licence, log into your account if you have one and go to your My Licences section.

Find out more about what your Annual Performance Licence will legally cover you to do.

All of our eSongbooks come with a Single User Licence

  • This means you can install our Words on Screen™ software onto ONE computer only, or it can be streamed by a single user.
  • If you would like to install this software onto your network server and/or two or more computers, or allow multiple users to stream Words on Screen™ songs, this will be covered by your Annual Performance Licence which includes extended digital rights. For more information, click here.

Listen to Songs

Counting For Caesar
A Long, Long Way
How Many People Are There In This Inn?
Counting Sheep
Who Can Count The Angels?
One, Two, Three Camels
One Baby
Christmas Counts For Everyone

Watch Videos

The following items are available for this product:

Teacher's Book

Teacher's Book

  • Character List
  • Fun curriculum links
  • Simple script
  • Music score and song lyric sheets for 8 songs (Piano music score, melody and chords)
  • Percussion ideas for some of the songs
  • Licence and copyright details
Audio CD

Audio CD

  • Vocal tracks sung by children
  • Professional backing tracks
Words on Screen™ eSongbook

Words on Screen™ eSongbook

  • An online Words on Screen™ product to stream or download
  • Extractable MP3s, printable lyrics, scores, scripts, & additional resources
  • Words on Screen™ versions of songs so that you can display song lyrics on any whiteboard, computer screen, television or interactive touchscreen. The lyrics synchronize with the music as it plays making them easy to teach and easy to learn
  • Flexibility to create an expandable library of Words on Screen™ song collections, nativities and musicals in your Out of the Ark online account
  • Enhanced operation features including ‘double-click’ to hear and teach a single line
  • Words on Screen™ user guide
  • Single-User licence (Please note a Performance Licence is still required to perform this musical)
  • Licence & copyright details
*For your convenience, we have provided an editable script in Word format for this nativity or musical. The purpose of the editable script is to allow you to adjust the allocation of speaking parts for smaller or larger cast sizes and/or to make minor changes to the text for staging purposes.
Annual Performance Licence

Annual Performance Licence

An Annual Performance Licence covers any number of performances of a particular musical or nativity within 12 months of the date of ordering. A separate Annual Performance Licence is required for each product title.

Find out more about what your Annual Performance Licence will legally cover you to do.

Rehearsal CDs

Rehearsal CDs

  • Vocal tracks sung by children
  • Professional backing tracks
  • Available in packs of 5, 10 or 20
Subtotal:£0.00
Premium Pack - The complete package!  

Book, Audio CD, Words on Screen™ eSongbook & Annual Performance Licence (Order Online Only. Price does not include postage)

More Info

This pack includes a Words on Screen™ eSongbook which allows you access your songs, script and resources instantly. Physical products included.

£59.85
Online Pack - Get started straight away! No additional postage costs.  

Words on Screen™ eSongbook & Annual Performance Licence Only (Order Online Only)

More Info

This pack includes a Words on Screen™ eSongbook which allows you access your songs, script and resources instantly. No physical products included.

£57.85
Standard Packs  

Book, Audio CD & Annual Performance Licence

More Info
£42.85

Book & Audio CD

More Info
£24.95
Licences  

Annual Performance Licence (price per annum)

More Info

A current Annual Performance Licence is required to perform this nativity to an audience (other than to pupils & staff). You can purchase an Annual Performance Licence above (it is cheaper when purchased as part of a pack).

£24.00 pa
Additional Resources  

Pack of 5 Rehearsal CDs

More Info

Did you know that with the purchase of any of our eSongbook packs you can use Share Links to help your cast rehearse at home? Simply sign up for a FREE Sparkyard trial or subscription to access this function and much more!

£20.25

Pack of 10 Rehearsal CDs

More Info
£34.00

Pack of 20 Rehearsal CDs

More Info
£58.30
Subtotal:£0.00

I love this play

By Jess

This was my daughter's first nativity play so it's very clear in my mind. I absolutely loved watching my daughter's class perform this. It's a very cute and fun play the songs are so catchy and easy for young children to perform. My daughter's usually very shy and this play really built up her confidence! Out of the ark music is a fantastic source for teachers to use and everybody enjoys the plays and song books that this site has to offer. 5 stars from me!


Brilliant!

By Jen1787

Fantastic catchy songs that retell the true meaning of the Christmas Story. Lines are taken from the songs for speaking parts. Would definitely recommend!


Teach Primary

By John Dabell

"A brilliantly inventive new musical nativity for young children – a 20 minute masterpiece of thoughtful fun!"


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