Sweet Pea Preschool: A Journey into Autumn, Rooted in Nature
Our year began in the Santa Ynez Botanic Garden, and it has served our Sweet Pea Preschool well. The children are immersed in the natural phenomena of Mother Nature, who is giving up the fruits of summer and turning inward. The leaves are changing in color and creating a protective cover on the ground, a little earthen blanket before the frost.
At Sweet Pea Preschool, the children are bundled up, ready for the day in their warm layers, which are mostly removed as the day warms.
The Magic of Movement: Our Orchard Journey
"A little red apple so juicy and sweet, it fell down and bumped my feet"—this simple rhyme is a gateway to the rhythmic world of our morning circle time.
Earlier this season, we began by visiting "grandmother's orchard" in our imaginations. First, ponies were called each day: “Oh, ponies!” Listening this way and that way, the children could hear them coming, the slow clap of hands in laps turning into the sound of trotting. The ponies always got a pair of "new shoes" before leaving the barn, while the children enjoyed the blacksmith song, "Pitty, patty, polt, a new shoe for my colt." Then they would mount up: “Giddy-up! Off to the orchard we go!”
At first, it was challenging for the children to move rhythmically. This is a big task for a preschool-aged child, so we create space and allow time for them to develop physical strength through large motor movements. This strengthens their physical capacities during this unique window of time in their development, where our focus is on nurturing their sensory systems - their sense of touch, sense of life, movement, and sense of balance. Strengthening these capacities will serve them well in the future, building spatial awareness, balance, and the crucial ability to coordinate the left and right sides of their bodies.
While seemingly simple to adults who have had decades of practice, the children have only had a few months of practice walking, running, and moving. This is part of the good work of childhood, and the gift of free movement and play will be enjoyed for years to come.
Michaelmas: Stories of Courage and Inner Light
The ponies were cared for each morning in the circle, and a majestic white pony visited in the puppet play. In Waldorf schools everywhere, the end of September marks a special time called Michaelmas, or "Times of Courage," which comes right around the Autumn equinox. This season is about celebrating inner light and telling stories of strength and perseverance to get through the approaching cold winter.
In the puppet play story, which was told for three weeks, a little boy helps a dragon who is stuck in a dark cave. The boy finds the right helper and uses his inner light to bring the dragon to the light. This narrative thread helps connect children to a seasonal rhythm and a sense of bravery within themselves.
Please enjoy the story to share with your little ones. You’ll find the story link here.
Process vs. Product: Creating Wet-Felted Shooting Stars
Inspired by the puppet play and the Michaelmas season, a special project was started. A magical stone was found to wrap wool roving around, and each child wet-felted a ball to become a shooting star. Our Kitchen and Garden Steward, Ms. Katie Rose generously shared her marigold bounty and garlands were strung and hung in the garden for almost a week. Then one night while the stars were "sleeping," a “flower soup” was prepared and it became the natural dye bath that would make our shooting stars golden.
The project was completed by the third week by dyeing the shooting stars and silk capes. The children enjoyed every step of the process. Allowing them time to delve into a project that carries much meaning helps connect them to their time and place in the season. As they journey through the years in a Waldorf school, these same themes are met through the seasonal wheel. This consistency and honoring of the seasons provide a deep sense of belonging and inner understanding.
By Ms. Lauren Wheeler
Preschool Lead