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After three plus years of organizing and leading weekly circle times for the 0-7 year old set, I have definitely developed favorite resources. Recently, friends (and strangers) have been asking me what those resources are.

I use what appears to be common resources for Waldorf kindgergartens and parent-toddler groups, as the songs and handplays are often repeated throughout, and also match the materials I originally got from a Waldorf teacher.

I meet with my forest kindergarten twice a week. Many of the songs, blessings, and transitions stay the same throughout the year. At the beginning of each month, I change out 4-6 songs and handplays in the opening circle. Closing circle is always the same. Since I’ve begun working with Earthroots, I’ve been incorporating even more songs about nature, and less about fairies, gnomes, and elves (even though, personally, I find those magical creatures delightful and stimulating to the young child’s curiosity and imagination).

Betty Jones’ A Child’s Seasonal Treasury is my first go-to resource. The book begins with all-year round verses and poems and then movement and drama, including four that I use regularly: a mealtime blessing, a goodbye song and movement, and a morning song. While all four songs and movements were originally introduced to me orally by a Waldorf teacher, it was a relief to find the musical notation and also the described motions. The rest of the book is organized seasonally with poems, songs and even simple crafts and recipes. This large hard cover book can appear to be expensive online (new $100+), but if you are patient, you can find a used copy for under $30 on amazon.

I try and include at least one pentatonic song from Elisabeth Lebret’s Pentatonic Songs for nursery, kindergarten and grades 1 and 2, every month. It’s a challenge to learn a new song every month, but I like having the opportunity to stretch myself, and try not to overly rely on the much over-played conventional songs (Itsy Bitsy Spider; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, etc). And underneath their groans, I imagine that my fellow mamas are appreciating the exposure to new songs too.

I also love to open up my very old copy of the Waldorf-inspired first grade homeschool curriculum by Oak Meadow. There are lots of joyful movements and sweet handplays in there. More recently, I have also been pulling from another Waldorf-inspired kindegarten homeschooling curriculum by Enki. I adapt the words to match the flora and fauna of southern California (“great stork” becomes “blue heron” and “wild lion” becomes “mountain lion”). And I have been known to look over a friend’s shoulder and learn a song or too from Waldorf homeschooling curriculum Live Education. (Mamas: these are three excellent Waldorf homeschooling curriculum programs.)

Earthroots just purchased a new songbook, which I discovered had (joy!) the music and lyrics to a number of songs that I have already been using (This is my Trunk, I’m a Tall, Tall Tree is the first song). I think I will be using many more of Mary Thienes Schunemann’s compiled and original songs in Sing a Song of Seasons. Even better, the book comes with a CD and every song is sung for you. She completed an entire series of songbooks before she passed away of cancer. I think we need This is the Way We Wash-a-Day also.

I use songs from Sing Through the Seasons for Martinamas every year.

There is a Waldorf homeschooling yahoo discussion board I follow (yahoo.com/group/waldorfhomeeducators/) and sometimes, Mrs. M, the moderator posts some, or the community members share. That’s where I first came across, My while horses walk peaceful and slow…

Of course I collect verses and movements somewhat randomly too. My neighbor taught me “The Noble Duke of York” (but since then I’ve found it my own resources too!) and I adapted it to be a marching movement, instead of a lap game for infants.

One that I haven’t gotten yet, but I will soon, is The Waldorf Poetry Book. It doesn’t have songs, but bits of poetry and verse to memorize. I like to start each circle with a short (or longer) seasonal verse. It’s on my wish list, both personally, and for Earthroots.

I’m sure there is a resource I have missed, but the advantage to writing cybernetically is that text can and does change and shift fluidly. I have many other resources that I have not mentioned here that are surely excellent, but have not needed to delve into them yet.

If you have the resources I’ve mentioned above, you will have more than enough material for teaching a weekly circle for a good long time.

Note to my forest kindergarten mamas: If you own any of these resources and have favorite songs and movements, please let me know!

Here are the songs, rhymes, hand plays, and transitions for Earthroot’s Forest Kindergarten February opening circle.

I am going to try and post March songs by the 15th of this month – I’d better get crackin’!

Follow, Follow Me
Follow, follow me
To the ring of the fairies
Follow, follow me,
Where the fairies dance and sing.
Gather with you now
All the magic you can carry,
As we circle ‘round the dancing fairy ring.

Now Look Around
Now look around
We’ve made a ring
By holding hands you see.
Yes, here I am,
And there you are,
Together we are we.

Four Directions Chant
Good morning to the East where the sun rises in the morning.
Good morning to the West where the sun sets at night.
Good morning to the South where the land is warm.
Good morning to the North where the land is cold.
And good morning to the Earth which is my home.

Morning Song from Betty Jones’s A Child’s Seasonal Treasury
Good morning dear earth. (Crouch, touch ground)
Good morning dear sun. (Rise and extend arms to sky)
Good morning dear rocks and the flowers every one. (Crouch and knock fists on ground, then wave fingers and sway hands for flowers)
Good morning dear beasts. (Remain crouching, put hands on head for horns)
And the birds in the trees. (Flap arms while rising to stand)
Good morning to you and good morning to me. (Bow to others twice, then stand upright and cross arms over chest.)

Old Mother Raincloud by Blake Sutton
Old Mother Raincloud arises at dawn. (All begin together hands joined overhead, heads tucked in center)
She raises her billowing arms to the day. (Open up circle waving clasped hands)
“It’s morning, it’s morning,” she calls to her children. (Cup hands around mouth to call)
“It’s cloudy, it’s cloudy,” come out now to play. (Cup hands around mouth to call)

Old Mother Raincloud sings out her song. (Begin dancing around in circle)
She raises her billowing arms to the day. (Bring waving arms up)
“Leap higher, dance faster! You’re only beginning!” she calls to her children. (Leaping and dancing)
“Dance on, oh dance on, to the end of the day!”  (Leaping and dancing)

Then Old Mother Raincloud calls out to her children, (Cup hands around mouth to call)
“The sun is returning, I fading away! (Sinking slowly to the ground)
Your playtime is ending, your playtime is ending.
Return to me now, it’s the end of the day.”

Old Mother Raincloud spreads her arms wide now. (Spread arms and begin to rise slowly)
Stretching and reaching out into the blue. (Stretching and reaching)
Then the great golden sun calls out to her children
They rise from the earth like the fog, like the dew

Old Mother Raincloud will gather her children. (Move back into big joined circle)
Again she will rise at the dawn of the day. (Raise arms)
“It’s morning, it’s morning,” she’ll call to her children.
“It’s cloudy, it’s cloudy,” come out now to play.

It’s Raining by Betty Jones
Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter plop! (Tap thumb to fingers in rhythm, clap at “plop”)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, outside the raindrops drop! (Tap thumb to fingers in rhythm, clap at “drop”)
Every little bit of rain splashes on my windowpane (Tap thumb to fingers in rhythm, waving hands in windshield motion)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, will you ever stop? (Tap fingers while moving hands around body)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, oh so many hours! (Tap fingers while moving hands high to low)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, I know you’re good for flowers. (Tap fingers, then cup hands; wiggle fingers of one hand upwards)
And when you come every day, you make mud for me to play (Tap fingers and then stomp feet)

Pitter patter, pitter patter, come again with welcome showers! (Tap fingers, lift arms to sky)

Great Blue Heron
One leg raised to greet the sun. (Raise right leg and wrap around the left)
Great Blue Heron knows the day’s begun.

Moving on from side to side, (Raise left leg and wrap around the right)
Great Blue Heron stands with shining pride.

Folding back his great gray wings,  (Switch legs and tuck arms back like wings)
He waits to see what day will bring.

Stretching up to meet the sun, (On same leg, try and raise head and stretch neck, chin up)
He knows another day’s begun

Hands on Hips, Hands on Knees
(Act out actions of the verse)
Hands on hips, hands on knees
Put them behind you, if you please,
Touch your shoulders, touch your toes,

Touch your knees and then your nose.
Raise your hands way up high.
And let your fingers swiftly fly.
Then hold them out in front of you

While you clap them, one and two.

The Back Song
Dot, dot, dot
And a big question mark.
Little spiders crawl up your back
Little spiders crawl down your back
Little spiders crawl up your arms
Little spiders crawl down your arms
Cool breeze, tight squeeze.
Egg on the head and the yolk drips down.
Creepy crawlies, creepy crawlies…
Gotcha.

TRANSITION SONGS AND BLESSINGS

The Story Song
Anything can happen
In a fairy tale or rhyme
When you say the magic words
Once a upon a time

Handwashing Song
Time to wash our hands,
Time to wash our hands

Welcome, welcome
Welcome to our table
Welcome, welcome
We all join hands together. (We sing this until every one is at the table)

Snack Time Blessing
Earth who gives to us this food.
Sun who makes it ripe and good.
Sun above and earth below,
Our loving thanks to you we show.
Blessings on our meal.

Quiet Time Poem
Sitting, sitting quietly
I wonder what I may see-
What sound or smell the wind may bring…
I stop to notice everything.

Breathing, breathing calm and slow,
I let myself get in the flow
Of what is happening in this place
When I keep a slower pace.

Lunch Gratitude
Bless this food and everyone who made this meal possible. Let it remind us of our connection to the Earth, the Sun, the Water, the Air, all those who came before us and those who are yet to be born. May we keep them in mind in all we do.

CLOSING CIRCLE
Who will come to my wee ring?
My wee ring
My wee ring
Who will come to my wee ring?
And make it a little bit bigger?

The earth stands firm beneath my feet. The sun shines high above. Here I stand, so straight and strong – all things to know and love

I can turn myself and turn myself and stop me when I will. I can reach high on my tippy toes and hold myself quite still.

The Earthroots Tree Song
Standing like a tree with my roots down deep,
Branches wide and open.
Come down the rain,
Come down the sun,
Come down the fruits to the heart that is open.

Rainbow Bridge Song
Goodbye, goodbye
Blessings on your way.
May the sun shine bright
In your hearts today.