Forest Kindergarten is going great! Both the Monday and Wednesday classes are completely booked with families on the waiting list. We are having fun and finding our groove. Terrific families participate in Earthroots’ programs and I am making new friends.<\/p>\n
I’ve listed all the songs, handplays, and poems below for the month of October. Each month I switch out 4-6 of the songs in the opening circle – which is really keeping me on my toes. I always have something new to memorize.<\/p>\n
The bookclub discussion is about Jon Young’s Coyote Guide. Chapter 3 lists and describes 13 core routines for developing nature awareness. I was gratified to be reminded that quiet sitting outdoors is the most essential routine of all thirteen. Sitting quietly for 15 minutes under the same oak tree has been the unlikely favorite part of my class.<\/p>\n
Note that there is a new poem to transition into quiet sit time. We say the poem out loud together call and response before we find a quiet spot to sit. Caroline, my co-instructor, wrote that poem and I love it.<\/p>\n
Caroline and Jodi are telling stories each week that relate to the natural history of Orange County, and to a letter of the alphabet. Last week when we did “A” (the story was about Thalia’s arrowhead) I emphasized that that two vertical lines of the “A” needed to touch at the top. One observant student said, “Oh, not like train tracks, but like my track splitter piece.”<\/p>\n
Here are the songs, transitions, and blessings for October 2011. Now Look Around<\/strong> Four Directions Chant<\/strong> Morning Song from Betty Jones\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s A Child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Seasonal Treasury<\/em><\/strong> [youtube=http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eX7NwaHTW2M]<\/p>\n Goodbye Summer<\/strong> Woodchoppers<\/strong> Merrily the pieces drop! It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the finest game we know, Now a bundle we will tie Standing in a circle, the children grasp imaginary axes and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chop\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in rhythm. At \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bundle,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d all stoop to pick up \u00e2\u20ac\u0153heavy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d bundle, trudge to center of circle to dump the load of wood.<\/p>\n The Squirrel Song<\/strong>
\nFollow, Follow Me<\/strong>
\nFollow, follow me
\nTo the ring of the fairies
\nFollow, follow me,
\nWhere the fairies dance and sing.
\nGather with you now
\nAll the magic you can carry,
\nAs we circle \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcround the dancing fairy ring.<\/p>\n
\nNow look around
\nWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve made a ring
\nBy holding hands you see.
\nYes, here I am,
\nAnd there you are,
\nTogether we are we.<\/p>\n
\nGood morning to the East where the sun rises in the morning.
\nGood morning to the West where the sun sets at night.
\nGood morning to the South where the land is warm.
\nGood morning to the North where the land is cold.
\nAnd good morning to the Earth which is my home.<\/p>\n
\nGood morning dear earth. (Crouch, touch ground<\/em>)
\nGood morning dear sun. (Rise and extend arms to sky<\/em>)
\nGood morning dear rocks and the flowers every one. (Crouch and knock fists on ground, then wave fingers and sway hands for flowers<\/em>)
\nGood morning dear beasts. (Remain crouching, put hands on head for horns<\/em>)
\nAnd the birds in the trees. (Flap arms while rising to stand)<\/em>
\nGood morning to you and good morning to me. (Bow to others twice, then stand upright and cross arms over chest.)<\/em><\/p>\n
\nYellow the bracken,
\nGolden the sheaves,
\nRosy the apples,
\nCrimson the leaves;
\nMist on the hillside,
\nClouds grey and white.
\nAutumn, good morning!
\nSummer, goodnight!<\/p>\n
\nWe are working, working hard
\nChopping firewood in the yard
\nChopping, chopping, chop, chop, chop!<\/p>\n
\nHands up high, that is right,
\nWe must hold the chopper tight
\nChopping, chopping, chop, chop, chop!<\/p>\n
\nIt makes us warm from head to toe.
\nChopping, chopping, chop, chop, chop!<\/p>\n
\nWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll put it in the shed to dry
\nChopping, chopping, chop, chop, chop!<\/p>\n
\nAutumn time is busy time for little Mister Squirrel
\nI see him working in my yard in his coat of soft brown fur.
\nHe holds an acorn in his mouth and digs a hole with his front feet in wintertime
\nwhen he is hungry he will dig it up to eat.
\nAnd if he has not eaten it when winter turns to spring
\nA little tree will grow from it so straight and strong and green.
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