Our Rhythm and Routine

Don't forget to check out the Amazing Giveaway for a Handfelted Wool Spring Basket ....Ends March 14th!!!

INDOORS


Creative Play
Circle Time & Games
Hand Work & Crafts
Childrens Yoga
Cooking & Bread Baking
Festivals and Celebrations
Daily snacks
Watercolor Painting
Storytelling (including puppetry and plays)

OUTDOORS
Organic Gardening
Outdoor Play

 CREATIVE PLAY

I always provide a beautiful array of handmade toys.My little ones love picking through the hand dyed silks of rainbow colors, fine hand-carved and painted animals, natural wooden tree blocks, wool crowns & more. Their play is limitless. Sometimes the kiddos decide to put on their gnome hats, divide the “magic stones” amongst themselves and go treasure hunting with their tool sacks; in the next moment I may find them building “Ireland” with their toys and cloths and everyone is excited as they add to the towns and land in hopes of catching a leprechaun.

CIRCLE TIME & GAMES

We love circle time; it is a highlight of our morning. Most of our circles include the unfolding of a story, told through songs involving a great deal of movement. We incorporate puppetry and various games. We create our circles with the intention of using the whole body through movement and exploring the space around us, building body/space awareness. Children learn to move with cadence as they hop, skip, stomp and clap. They learn the beginnings of counting, adding and subtracting in a joyful manner through games, songs, finger plays and dividing up silks and other items used during circle time or play. It is one of the silliest and best ways to start the day....

 HAND WORK & CRAFTS

Our handwork activities involve practicing fine motor skills and developing newly discovered abilities. Handwork activities may include finger knitting, beeswax modeling, clay work, stitching (and repairing), making homemade play dough, and learning dry or wet felting. We enjoy making crafts in celebration of seasonal changes, such as the harvest and making cornhusk dolls or making autumn gnomes for the nature table. We may make things for one another as gifts and some are pieces of work created together to use in our program (such as puppet making, making beeswax figures for our nature table or making clothing for the dolls).

 YOGA

Using our bodies and imaginations, we integrate and weave together storytelling, music and language in a way that engages the whole child. My children are excited at the chance to become a butterfly on a great adventure changing into opening flowers, standing as a strong tall tree and stretching like a dog or becoming other animals along the way. Yoga helps develop childrens concentration, coordination, body awareness, flexibility and balance. While doing Yoga, children become more connected with their inner self as they deepen their relationship with the natural world around them. They truly feel what it might be like if they were a snake moving about without arms or legs. When children imitate the sounds and movements of nature, they have the opportunity to take on the qualities and become another being. They learn, through becoming another being, a deeper understanding that we are all connected. For example, when a child assumes the pose of the lion, they relate to the lion by experiencing the power and behavior of the animal all while experiencing their own inner power. The children experience the strength and force associated with aggression, and then withdraw to an inner state of calm. Yoga has many benefits and is a great gift to give to our young children. It is a noncompetitive physical activity fostering self-esteem and body awareness while encouraging cooperation.

 COOKING & BAKING

Through cooking, baking and food preparation, children begin learning Practical life skills, such as pouring, stirring, chopping and measuring (learning the beginnings of number recognition). Children find great joy and satisfaction in preparing their own foods. We prepare different types of nutritious foods with the children. Through this experience, the children learn to love and appreciate new and healthy foods.

 WATERCOLOR PAINTING


EXPRESSION, PAINTING AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

One must surround their children with beauty. Watercolors naturally create very beautiful works without technical talent. Watercolor paints remind me of the silk scarves that parents are encouraged to use as drapes over their babies’ cradles. When children are small, their perception of the physical world is still veiled. Most young children are not able to perceive strict realism. They are still emerging from their spiritual womb. This emergence will continue until the child is well into adulthood.


 ORGANIC GARDENING

Gardening furthers the child’s ability to follow the rhythms in nature. Plants have the power to change our lives. They provide simple and therapeutic pleasure. Caring for our garden allows the child to observe the changes and cycles in plants from the beginning stages of planting through the harvesting and eating. Vegetables, fruits, flowers & trees, butterflies, birds and insects all participate in raising the child’s awareness of the processes of life. Through careful care, children begin to understand the importance of the earth’s elements & the effects of the sun, wind, rain and soil on our tender plants. We express appreciation for all who take part in farming and providing foods for our table.

 OUTDOOR PLAY

We make it a priority to spend part of each day outdoors, regardless of the weather. All weather is good weather if we are properly dressed. Children need the fresh air and some require the ability to play loud. Outdoor play offers children new challenges for growth and development. Children climb, run, jump and balance. They can shovel snow and build structures with large, wooden building blocks in the warmer months. We work together raking, digging, and moving objects. Children live by their will, their action. They learn by watching the teachers do their work and are carried along in the activity through their desire to imitate. Children love playing love playing outdoor games together. Other fun activities may include hula hooping, jump rope, chalk & balls. Children also have lots of fun running and playing. When it is raining the children love to splash in the rain and jump in puddles. Only on the coldest/very rainy days do we stay inside....

Don't forget to check out the Amazing Giveaway for a Handfelted Wool Spring Basket ....Ends March 14th!!!

Learning how to Finger knit

Dear Parents, Friends and Family ...Can you help us?

Recently I had a friend ask me. "How do you find all these cool supplies to make things with?" You must spend a fortune on craft paper etc." Then I told her "Actually a lot of the materials I use are recycled or recycled items  from friends and family." "Really?", was the response I got "All of this is recycled?"

Yes, you can make some of the most beautiful thngs from recycled materials. No need to spend a fortune on expensive craft paper, you don't even need to waste ink printing pictures ! You can start yourself by recycling boxes, magazines, scrap paper, you can create a post on craigslist looking for recycled items , or even check out your local Freecycle and make a post there asking for specific items.

If you are looking for a prefect craft especially with Earth day coming up why not try this. Get some scrap paper together and glue some recycled items on it or have your child draw some cool recycled items on the paper. Then write a letter to friends and family asking them to help you out by collecting recycled items for you .

Here is a Sample letter:

Dear Friends,

Could you please help me? I would love to have a collection of recycled materials to use to make collages and sculptures. Do you think you could save me the following items so I could make crafts with them?
Thanks so much!

Pie tins
paper bags
pine cones
buttons
sandpaper
ribbon
newspapers
sponges
seashells
yarn
wood scraps
eggshells
crayon pieces
coffee cans
computer paper
cornhusks
clothespins
egg cartons
material scraps
candles


You can basically add whatever you like to the list. This is also a lot of fun to do with preschoolers. You can create a special box at home and before throwing things out see if it is something that can be reused first and have them start adding things to the box. You will be surprised at how fast you can fill the box!

Here is a Sculpture we made out of some stones and an old pie tin:

The Breath of Spring -- Recycled paper baskets

Have you felt the Breath of Spring enter your home today like the smell of laundry fresh from the line or a beautiful breeze hinted with the scent of lilac?

The breath of Spring is in the air,
The Daffodils a bloom,
With Crimson tulips bright and fair
It's Springtime's sweet perfume.

The rolling fields of verdant green,
Full rich with promise lie
Caressed by sunlight's golden sheen
Beneath a sapphire sky.

The fairy wand upon the trees
has opened to the sun
The wee brown buds, kissed by the breeze,
A miracle each one.

The little birds that joyfully sing
Their hymn until the dawn
Are bidding welcome to the spring...
And lo, the winters gone.

By Mary M. Forman


Today we made recycled paper baskets to decorate our home for Spring. The kids love filling them with many things. Here is a simple tutorial on how to make them. Enjoy!

Step 1: Make sure you have a square piece of paper. Fold your paper in half like this. Then open it up and fold it in half the other way.

Step 2: Open up your paper and fold all the corners so they meet at the center point. Unfold the paper.

Step 3:

 Fold each corner to the crease lines made by the folds in step 2. Then unfold the paper.

Step 4: One by one, fold the corners so they meet the crease lines on the opposite side of the square like so. Unfold the paper.

Step 5: Your paper should look the following pictures with all squares on it.

Step 6: Now cut along the thick lines , two squares in like the following pictures.

Step 7: Fold the sides down , the two opposite sides of the ones cut and a box will form. Then fold over the two cut sides into the middle of the box.  Tape or glue to secure your box. You can cut a strip of paper for a handle if you wish....

Here are some pictures of our boxes we made today:

 What are some ways you decorate your home for Spring?  Do you have any favorite tutorials you use ?

Some wonderful articles written by the Waldorf Association of North America

The main goal for any Waldorf Inspired parent teacher is to develop the capacities (physical, mental,emotional and spiritual) which will serve your child throughout his or her life.Before you can truly achieve this,you need to:


1. have a real understanding of how a child develops at each stage and what the child needs while passing through each stage.

2.offer creative methods which stimulate your child and engage him/her in an integrated approach.

3.have the skills and practice to model and lead the children, yourself. If you are teaching a movement exercise, you need to practice it until you have down the correct movement because the child imitates... If you are reading a story or reciting a poem, you need to be so familiar with it that they are a part of your speech and not just word being read aloud...you need to master the art of beeswax, wet on wet, etc... the key is to learn these skills alone before introducing them to your child.

You must also be familiar with INTEGRATED form of study. This means simply, that subjects which are "normally" presented separately be presented in the same lesson so that they are integrated to one another. The more related they are, the more meaning they will have for the child.

The ultimate reward is a child who is fully involved in each lesson Their THINKING is stimulated, their FEELINGS really connect to the subject matter and they become ACTIVE in the lesson. This is the key to the Waldorf Approach.When a child is fully integrated, s/he has a deepened sense of understanding and a better grasp of the material presented. This goes way beyond traditional methods of memorizing or learning.

Young Children Today - Understanding Them and Helping Them

For the past 20 or more years we have watched a decline in the health and well-being of children in
North America. We have been concerned and, at times, preoccupied with the growing problems the
children present. Now it seems we have overlooked something that is just as strong as the problems:
this is a remarkable generation of children and young adults who have brought new levels of
awareness to the earth with them. They need our protection and help, but they also need our
recognition of the gifts they have brought. To read more click the link below.

http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW3001.pdf

 Early Childhood and the Consciousness Soul

What is particularly important for modern human beings is the development of the consciousness soul.
This is the newest aspect of the human soul, for the two lower soul forces were developed in earlier
epochs. It is our current epoch, beginning with the Renaissance and continuing for about 2000 years, that
provides the conditions with which humanity as a whole can develop this higher soul capacity. It is the
consciousness soul that carries a full awareness of the soul nature of the human being and also serves as a
bridge to an understanding of the spiritual. In the future, humanity as a whole will be able to develop
spiritual capacities in a much fuller way than is possible today. Nevertheless, each human being is able to
develop soul and spiritual capacities to a large extent, if they so will, especially if their upbringing and
education are supportive of it. To read more click the link below.

  http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW2902.pdf

10 New Year's Resolutions for a Waldorf Inspired Homeschooling Mom!

I know it is early but I ponder that I won't be on the computer much till after the New Year so.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

The New Year, no matter when people have celebrated it, has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It is time to reflect on the changes we want, or often need, if we're to have the motivation to grow and move forward. Resolutions are a reflection of the Babylonians' belief (over 4000 years ago) that what a person does on the first day of the New Year will have an effect throughout the entire year....

Rudolf Steiner reminds us: "On New Year's Eve it is always fitting to remember how past and future are linked together in life and in the existence of the world, how past and future are linked in the whole life of the Cosmos of which man is a part, how past and future are linked in every fraction of that life with which our own individual existence is connected, is interwoven through all that we were able to do and to think during the past year, and through all that we are able to plan for the coming year."

Rudolf Steiner, Thoughts on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1919

Here are my resolutions for the upcoming year....

1) I will be aware of and teach the three fundamental human virtues to my children: Gratitude, Love and Duty.

Traditional Waldorf Teachers consider the Moral education of children to be one of their primary tasks. Gratitude, Love and Duty: Steiner asks that we sow the seeds and cultivate these three fundamental human virtues. Children should say grace before each meal to express their reverence for the earth and her gifts.... Gratitude is the basis for love. When children deepen their appreciation for the natural world, they deepen their love for all of creation. To be grateful, we shall say 5 blessings/verses each day. (morning blessings, three meals and evening blessing or prayer) To show love we shall work on the relationships we have the greatest struggles with. To practice our duty we will reach out into the community and practice kindness (mowing elderly lady's lawn - free, bringing soup to an ill friend, etc...) I will give my children daily work tasks (based on their ages & skill levels) and make sure I guide them through the rhythm of completing those tasks.

Great book reading

Everyday Blessings

2) I will embrace the diversity of my neighbors and teach my children compassion and understanding.

My goodness, ESPECIALLY in these times and with all that is in the news, on the discussions, etc. at the close of this year, is it not of the highest importance that we remember to honor the fact that while we are all different, we are all the same.

I have encountered an great deal of love, and ignorance this year during my travels. People surprised me with their prejudices and their lack of compassion. It was a great lesson for my children to have witnesses both of these extremes and to decide from themselves which path they would strive to work towards... the path of love and light. I will continue to offer them answers to their curiosities based on facts we can research together instead of quick answers based on our own ignorance.... I look forward to learning ALONGSIDE my children about the different peoples, our brothers and sisters in the world.

Additionally, all learning begins at home. Often we get the most misunderstanding from our own families. (Especially since most of us have chosen a non-conventional path and we have special gift lists, tv rules, etc... that drive grandma and grandpa crazy!) We must make PEACE with our families and love them, for they are karmically destined to be who they are. I so strongly suggest Mary Piphers book, which I read each year to remind myself to be gentle with my own.

Looking around the world, what do we see? It depends on who we are. It depends on how we look, it depends on what we are able to see. In other words, what we see is predicated by a philosophical problem: seeing and reality are not analogous.

Some great books for Children on Diversity:

Hat's Off to Hair!

All the colors of the Earth!

Peoples of the World

3) I will create a rhythm in my life and remember that all things in the universe flow through such a rhythmic process.

Rudolf Steiner said "Rhythm is the carrier of life". The Essense Gospel of Peace tells us "In between the breathing in and the breathing out lie all the mysteries of the Infinite Garden."

In 1729, French astronomer Jean Jacques d'Ortuous de Marian isolated plants that demonstrated daily leaf movements in dark rooms for several days. He found that even in the absence of sunlight, the plants continued to open their leaves during the day and close during the night. He concluded that the observed cycle was not a result of external forces (sun) but was an innate property of the plant. Here, the study of biological clocks began. The biological clock sets a daily rhythm, or cycle, which influences organisms' physiological functions and behaviors; this rhythm is called a circadian rhythm ("circa" means around and "dia" means day). All organisms have biological clocks, although they may vary greatly depending on the organism's activities.

Isn't that amazing in itself? Having a rhythm is NATURAL and what we rely on and, in fact NEED. Children naturally have a love for repetition and rhythm, drawn to it instinctively. This is why little ones want you to do the same finger play or story over and over again. I will, even amidst chaotic days, strive to keep the rhythm and allow my children to feel and experience their own rhythms this coming year.

Recommended reading:

Seven times the Sun!

4) I will not beat myself up for not doing it "right".

How can there be a "right way" if we are all different individuals who are in different stages of our own growth and learning. Stop pressuring yourself to keep up with the Jones' and relax. You know when you are giving it your all and doing your best.

But I do my best, and my personal best is what's right for me. I will congratulate myself and feel good about what I do and how I go about doing it more often. I have a great deal of common sense and that will carry me through. Steiner stands out firstly for insisting that knowledge gained from insight, instinct and experience are not only as valuable as logical reasoning, but take precedence over it. Thus, common sense is more important than even the most highly trained intellect, which is obvious to everyone but intellectuals. This, by the way, helps further to account for his absence from the ranks of our academic heroes.

Recommend reading :

Affirmations

5) I will honor simplicity and bring more of it into my home curriculum.

Why complicate things? Why create a rigid schedule that no one would be able to keep up with to fulfill someone else's idea of "supermom"? No. I will keep things simple this year. I will not take on more that I can handle and I will honor myself before I commit to extend energies to others... In the past I have taken on to much this in turn would cause me to be impatient with my own family and feel tired and cranky, ill. This is not what I am supposed to be doing. I am supposed to be a mother of three children, wife to a wonderful man and, ME. I need to feed my soul and allow myself the prioritizing of my energies.

My children need an environment where less is more and I must commit to go through at the end of each month and throw or give away the toys and games not played with, the clothes not worn, etc. Our lives slowly begin to be taken over by clutter and it not only makes a mess in the house - it makes a mess in our deepest inner beings. We create a space of chaos where we should believing in a place of sanctuary and retreat. I will do a spring cleaning regularly, no matter the time of the year and we will live with the basics.

Recommended reading:

Living a Simple life

6) I will turn off the noise and allow myself and my children to retreat into the silence.

Quieting the mind has long been championed as a means to enlightenment, balance, peace, serenity and a multitude of other wonderful states. Traditionally we have been encouraged to find a quiet place and create an environment and a routine or practice that centers us and allows the mind to become quiet. Unfortunately, many of us live in a world filled with noise, deadlines, chaos, health and emotional crisis and we are not able to create and maintain a 'silent' practice of quieting the mind.

"Practicing silence means making a commitment to take a certain amount of time to simply Be. Experiencing silence means periodically withdrawing from the activity of speech. It also means periodically withdrawing from such activities as watching television, listening to the radio, or reading a book. If you never give yourself the opportunity to experience silence, this creates turbulence in your internal dialogue. Set aside a little time every once in a while to experience silence. Or simply make a commitment to maintain silence for a certain period each day. You could do it for two hours, or if that seems a lot, do it for a one-hour period. And every once in a while experience silence for an extended period of time, such as a full day, or two days, or even a whole week.

What happens when you go into this experience of silence? Initially your internal dialogue becomes even more turbulent. You feel an intense need to say things. I've known people who go absolutely crazy the first day or two when they commit themselves to an extended period of silence. A sense of urgency and anxiety suddenly comes over them. But as they stay with the experience, their internal dialogue begins to quieten. And soon the silence becomes profound. This is because after a while the mind gives up; it realizes there is no point in going around and around if you - the Self, the spirit, the choice-maker - are not going to speak, period. Then, as the internal dialogue quietens, you begin to experience the stillness of the field of pure potentiality."

I will honor the silence and teach my children that moments of silence are the food for our inner bodies. I will actively practice silence weekly.

Recommended reading:

Silence: How to find Inner peace in a busy world

7) I will work with and not against my children's temperaments.

My children are all so different and it all has to do with their temperaments. I can't fight that! I cannot mold them into something they are not - nor do I want to. I will be conscious of their differences and individuality and most of all, their temperaments. I will re-read the works that brought me to the understanding and meditate on how I can improve my rapport during difficult times with my family members...

Recommended reading:

Children and Their Temperaments

8) I will be conscious of my body language and remember that children do as we DO more than as we SAY.

As we all know, Waldorf educators model behavior, rather than instruct it. As parents this should not be a part of our homeschooling curriculum, but rather a path we walk through out our entire lives. I will strive to be a worthy role model so that out of imitation, my children will have the opportunity to become respectful of themselves, others and their own surroundings.

Rudolf Steiner said "Everything that adults do makes an impression on the child's soul. These impressions work their way into the child's breathing, circulation and metabolism and can affect that child's health in later life."

Recommended reading:

As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap PDF File

9) I will applaud and embrace myself for having the continuing strength, determination and drive.

I like me. I like me more and more each passing day and that is a good thing from a person who suffered with major self esteem issues her whole life. I WILL applaud and embrace myself for having the continuing strength, determination and drive because I deserve to! My children need to se a self confident and happy person at the wheel and not someone who allows the judgments of others bring her down. I know in my heart of hearts that I am me in this life for a reason, and I accept me. :-) You should accept you, too! (Makes for much happier mommy-ing!)

Recommended Reading:

Eat Mangoes Naked - Finding Pleasure Everywhere (and dancing with the Pits)

10) I will focus on and look to the light and keep my THOUGHTS in the right place, knowing that everything around me - all of my current realities literally ARE thought, manifested.

Let me share a Cherokee story: One evening and old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that was going on inside of himself. He said "My son, it is between two wolves... One is evil - anger, envy, sorrow, regret, arrogance, greed, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego... The other is good - joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked "Which one wins?"

The old Cherokee replied "The one I feed."

There is such profound beauty in that story. Are my thoughts filled with the goodness or the evil - because today's thoughts are tomorrows realities we create for ourselves. I will work to keep my thoughts purse, clean and to the light...

Recommended Reading:

Soul Weaving: How to Shape Your Destiny and Inspire Your Dreams

In closing, I will remember why I choose to be "waldorf-inspired" and I will remember the work and memory of Rudolf Steiner. I will strive for a deeper understanding of his work and remind myself that I am continually growing and evolving... I will find in books and lectures "food" to feed my own spiritual growth, for as my children see me strive to better myself, I am setting the example for them to strive to be better human beings.

Preschool and Kindergarten ~ Where to begin

There is no curriculum for a child of that age. However there are many wonderful things you can do to give your child what is truly the "best start". 

What a child of this age needs is rhythm, repetition and an active home life where Mommy allows her to participate. Helping you with your daily work, cooking, sweeping, etc. is the best curriculum you can offer. Neurophysiological researchers are finally confirming what wise parents and teachers have always known, that the first seven years provide a foundation for all of life. 

Toddlers and Preschoolers love to model your behavior and their play consists of acting out everything they take in from their surroundings, therefore the surroundings you create must be worthy of this imitation. Are you doing your housework with a "whistle while you work" attitude, or are you setting her in front of the TV or telling her not to bother you while you are busy. Many parents do not realize that young helpers grow to be willing participants in life whereas children who are told to step aside grow to be lazy and unwilling to lift a finger when it's time to help. 

 

You must be conscious and awake to what your child is taking in. Is the TV off? Does she have her own tools to work alongside you in the kitchen, garden, etc.? At our house we realize the importance of little hands helping so we have small sized cutting boards, knives, gardening tools, rakes, brooms and so forth all around the house.

These items are an investment in the child's education because they ARE the curriculum for this age group. Children also love to cook and play with dough. Bake bread, make soup, go to market and discuss what you are buying, and why. (Not with scientific explanations, but rather to give the child some sensory experiences. Example: "Oh my, look at all of these lovely apples. Which should be choose for our lovely cake?" and then smell them point out the bruised ones and behave as though the bunch you chose were the best of the lot - and what a great eye for apple picking your little one has!)

A child this age imitates, so provide creative opportunities where she can imitate you. There isn't much need for any explaining or discussion... Just go about your work, humming a sweet tune and soon your child will be working happily alongside you. She is watching you and wants to do as you do, so be aware of HOW you go about your work. Your child is learning how to behave and how to react during this time. 

 

Children of this age also delight in simple movement games, nursery rhymes and finger plays. If you want to feel like you need to "do something" as far as "curriculum", Than an informal circle is a good addition to your day. 

 

Allow your child to play. provide silks, stones, clips and indulge her wanting to build castles and hiding spaces. Allow your child's imagination to take over and try not to "instruct" your child on things at this age. When I worked as a parent toddler leader, I was so saddened by the parents who had to tell their child everything. 

They never allowed their children to explore or discover anything for themselves. The child would pick up a simple wooden block and begin to play and the parent would rush over "Oh, I see you have a block, what are you going to do with that?" - Meanwhile, for all we know, the child imagined it to be a piece of fruit, a person, a friend... Parents and children often quickly became agitated and the children would react by behaving in anti social ways. So allow your child to wonder and to imagine, to dream. Step back from the feeling that you must explain everything... now is not the time.

Finally, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. This is KEY in the life education of any child. The child needs to know what she can count on, and know her place in her world. She just blossoms when there is order and simplicity and she feels good following a routine. Do you have a daily rhythm? A weekly rhythm? A seasonal rhythm? Do you celebrate festivals and holidays with your child fully involved?

In closing, I wanted to add that you should feel good that your child is home with you and know that in itself is the best start. While children from deprived homes may benefit from a nursery program, the IDEAL for toddlers and preschoolers is a stable, secure and loving home life with a parent who provides and encourages satisfying and creative activities for the child. 

Playspace

Winter Verses and Circle time!

Look Out! Look Out!
Jack Frost is about!
He's after our fingers and toes;
And, all through the night,
The gay little sprite
Is working where nobody knows.

He'll climb a tree,
So nimble is he,
His silvery powder he'll shake;
To windows he'll creep,
And while we're asleep,
Such wonderful pictures he'll make.

Across the grass,
He'll merrily pass,
And change all its greenness to white;
Then home he will go,
And laugh, "Ho, Ho, Ho!
What fun I have had in the night!"

* * * * * * * *

Come in the garden
And play in the snow,
A snowman we'll make,
See how quickly he'll grow!
Give him a hat, stick and pipe,
And make him look gay.
Such a fine game
For a cold winter day!

* * * * * * * *

Snowflakes falling soft and light,
Snowflakes falling in the night,
Soft and Light, pure and white.
When the sun shines out so bright,
All the earth is dressed in white.

* * * * * * * *

When the North Wind whistles and blows,
Cherry red is brother's nose,
Very cold are sister's toes,
When the North Wind's blowing,
When the North Wind's blowing.

Logs upon the fire we'll throw,
For, as everybody must know,
We will have a fall of snow,
When the North Wind's blowing,
When the North Wind's blowing.
(Written By: Alfred S. Gatty)

**********************

Furry bear
If I were a bear,
And a big bear too,
I shouldn't much care
If it froze or snew:
I shouldn't much mind
If it snowed or friz-
I'd be all fur-lined
With a coat like his!
A.A. Milne

**********************

See the little snowflakes
Falling from the sky,
On the hills and housetops,
Soft and thick they lie.
On the window ledges,
On the branches bare;
See how fast they gather,
Filling all the air!

Look into the garden
Where the grass was green,
Covered by the snowflakes,
Not a blade is seen.
Look outside the window,
All looks still and white;
Under snowy blankets,
What a pretty sight!
(J.D. Macey)

* * * * * * * *

Finger Plays

A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose.
(show long nose with a closed fist like a trumpet in front of face)
Along a came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
(Hands show the bunny hopping)
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch,
(wiggle nose like a bunny)
Ate the snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch
(pretend to eat the carrot)
(Oak meadow fingerplays)

* * * * * * * *

Five little eskimos by the igloo door
one went out to feed the dogs, then there were four.
Four little eskimos rowing out to sea,
one jumped on an iceberg, then there were three.
Three little eskimos making fish stew,
one burned his finger, then there were two.
Two little eskimos hunting just for fun,
one chased a baby seal, then there was one.
One little eskimo all his work was done,
went home to supper, then there were none.
(Winter, p.51)

* * * * * * * *

Chickadee, chickadee,
Flitting through the holly tree-
With your cap and scarf of black,
Sweater gray upon your back
You're warm and happy in the snow
And when I hear you call,
I know My little friend has come to say
That wintertime's just fine for play.
(From Ladybug magazine)

* * * * * * * *

Verse for Lighting the Advent Wreath

The first light of Advent is the light of stones.
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.

The second light of Advent is the light of plants.
Roots, stem, leaf, flower and fruit by whom we live and grow.

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.
Animals of farm, field, forest, air and sea.
All await the birth in greatest and in least.

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.
The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.
(Rudolf Steiner)

* * * * * * * *

We light one candle shining bright
Upon this Holy Advent night
Fill Our Hearts with loving might
Lead us to Christmas Day's brilliant light!

Second Week: We light two candles...

Third Week: We light three candles...

Fourth Week: We light four candles...

M.T. Shunemann, from The Christmas Star (available below)

* * * * * * * *

A candle's but a simple thing,
it starts with just a bit of string,
But dipped or rolled with patient hand,
it gathers wax upon the strand.
Until complete and snowy white,
it gives at last a lovely light.
Life seems so like that bit of string,
each deed we do a simple thing.
Yet day by day on life's strand,
we work with patient heart and hand.
It gathers joy, makes dark days bright,
and gives at last a lovely light.

* * * * * * * *

Riddle

I begin tall and thin, I end in a muddle, sad in a puddle (candle)

* * * * * * * *

Christmas Verses

Softly, softly, through the darkness
Snow is falling.

Meekly, meekly in the meadows
Lambs are calling.

Coldly, coldly all around me
Winds are blowing.

Brightly, brightly up above me
Stars are glowing.

* * * * * * * *

Christmas Wish

To every hearth a little fire,
To every board a little feast,
To every heart a joy,
To every child a toy,
Shelter for bird and beast.

* * * * * * * *

Mary rocks her baby,
Joseph holds a light,
Ox and ass are standing
In the stable bright.

Shepherds in the doorway
Come to greet the child,
Now they kneel before Him
And his mother mild.

One holds out a lambskin
Soft and white as snow,
All shall give their presents
Ere they homeward go.

* * * * * * * *

Story & Activity

There was a giant big and bold
Whose feet were getting very cold.
He came along to our town
And walked the stairs all up and down
Calling "Is no one hearing me?
My toes are freezing bitterly!
No single shop that I could tell
Has stocking giant-size to sell."

A little gnome both old and wise.
He gave him very good advice.
He brought two pretty bits of stuff.
The giant thought them good enough.
He wrapped his feet, his pain was eased.
And home he walked content and pleased.

Materials: Knotted cloth dolls [this could be a play silk or gauze square the you knot to show head and other body parts] with 2 extra pieces of fabric to wrap the giant's feet. Children can watch you knotting the characters.

VERSE: King Winter now is in the land,
he reigns with cold and freezing hand.
He makes Jack Frost touch nose and toes,
and gives our cheeks a shining glow.

FINGER PLAY: A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose.
(show long nose with a closed fist like a trumpet in front of face)
Along a came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
(Hands show the bunny hopping)
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch,
(wiggle nose like a bunny)
Ate the snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch
(pretend to eat the carrot)

The Snow

This is the way the snow comes down,
Upon a winter day,
But soon the golden sun comes out,
And melts it all away.
Lines 1 & 2: flutter fingers down from arms raised position until arms are lowered.
Lines 3 & 4: make large circle with fingers for sun.
— Author Unknown




Making a Snowman
Roll a snowball round and round,
Round and round upon the ground.
Make one, make two, here's what you do,
You can build a snowman too.
As the sun shines down some day,
Poor snowman, he will melt away.
Lines 1 & 2: roll hands around each other.
Line 3: make two fists, then put one on top of the other.
Lines 4 & 5: hold fists in snowman position.
Line 6: open hands flat out on top of each other.
— Gloria T. Delamar, Author

Clap for Santa Claus
O, clap, clap the hands,
And sing with glee!
For Christmas is coming
And merry are we.
How swift o'er the snow
The tiny reindeer
Are trotting and bringing
Good Santa Claus near.
Our Stockings we'll hang,
And while we're asleep,
Then down through the chimney
Will Santa Claus creep.
He'll empty his pack,
Then up he will come
And calling his reindeer,
Will haste away home.
Then clap, clap the hands!
And sing out with glee,
For Christmas is coming
And merry are we!
Verse 1 - All lines: clap hands.


Verse 2 - All lines: lock thumbs together and make walking motions with other fingers to indicate reindeer and sleigh.


Verse 3 - Lines 1 & 2: point down with four fingers of one hand.
Lines 3 & 4: put one fist on top of the other to represent chimney andd put upper thumb inside of upper fist to represent Santa Claus going down chimney.
Verse 4 - Lines 1 & 2: raise thumb from upper fist as Santa Claus comes up chimney.
Lines 3 & 4: lock thumbs and walk with fingers.

Verse 5 - All lines: clap hands.— Emilie Poulsson, Author, 1893

Some cool Homeschool links!

So I happen to be stumbling online and find all these great educations sites and wanted to share them with you all!

Enjoy!

Miscellaneous:

Fun Holiday Worksheets!
Handwriting Worksheets
Craft Ideas
How far is it?
How much is inside?
Fun First Grade worksheets
Fun Second grade worksheets
Fun Third Grade worksheets
Fun Fourth grade worksheets
Fun Fifth Grade worksheets
Multi Grade worksheets
Spelling worksheets
Free Lapbooks!
Free Unit Studies



Measurement:

U.S. Weights and Measures
Metric Weights and Measures
The International System (Metric)
Metric Conversions
Conversion of Miles to Kilometers and Kilometers to Miles
Measuring Motion
Measuring Power
Nautical Measurement
How Early Measures Made Their Mark
Miscellaneous Units of Measure
Origins of Measurements
Cooking Measurement Equivalents
Standard Measurements in Sports
Polygons: How Many Sides?

Geometry:

The Geometry of the Sphere
Projective Geometry ala Steiner
Circles and Spheres
Coloring
Compass and Straightedge
Combinatorial Geometry
Covering and Packing
Dissection
Doubling the Cube
Fractals
Geometric Models
Geometric Topology
Geometry Lesson Plans
School-Bus Geometry
Spirals

Autumn Verses

Autumn wind came stealing
Through the woods one day,
And creeping round the tree, he stole
Their beauty all away.
He tore their russet dresses,
Combed off their golden hair.
He blew away the tattered bits,
And left them brown and bare.

* * * * * * * *

Autumn winds are sighing,
Stealing through the forest brown,
As they softly pass the tree trunks
Little leaves come falling down.
But a stronger gale is blowing
And then the leaves themselves
Rise and dance about the forest
Just like little elves.
Faster, faster see them whirling
Till the gale has passed.
One by one the tired leaflets
Sink to rest at last.

* * * * * * * *

The north wind came along one day,
So strong and full of fun;
He called the leaves down from the trees
And said, "Run children run".
They came in read and yellow dress,
In shaded green and brown,
And all the short November day
He chased them round the town.
They ran in crowds, they ran alone,
They hid behind the trees,
The north winds laughing found them there
And called "No stopping please"
But when he saw them tired out
And huddled in a heap,
He softly said, "Goodnight my dears,
Now let us go to sleep."

* * * * * * * *

My nice red rosy apple has a secret midst unseen;
You'd see if you could slip inside,
five rooms so neat and clean.
In each room there are hiding
two seeds so shining bright;
Asleep they are and dreaming
of a lovely warm sunlight.
And sometimes they are dreaming
of many things to be
How some day they'll be hanging
upon a Christmas tree

* * * * * * * *

The world is full of color
'Tis Autumn once again
And leaves of gold and crimson
Are lying in the lane
There are brown and yellow acorns
Berries and scarlet haws
Amber gorse and heather
Purple across the moors
Green apples in the orchard
Flushed by a glowing sun
Mellow pears and brambles
Where colored pheasants run

* * * * * * * *

October is a piper,
Piping down the dell
Sad sweet songs of sunshine
Summer's last farewell,
He pipes till grey November
Comes in the mist and rain,
And then he puts his pipe away
Till Autumn comes again

* * * * * * * *

Jack O Lantern, Jack O lantern
Your light it doth shine,
Sitting up upon the window
And your light it is mine.

Once you were a yellow pumpkin
Sitting on a sturdy vine
Now you are a Jack O lantern,
And in the night you will shine.