I have to say that so far I'm really enjoying learning with these as our focus. The Norse Myths have always been stories I enjoyed. I love the capricious nature of Loki and the stubborness and honourable mix of the other deities.
We picked up a box on Tuesday of Viking replica artefacts from our local museum.
Showing posts with label handwork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handwork. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Monday, 30 August 2010
Embroidery
Springy and some of her friends went to the Embroidery Guild last week. I can't believe how well their work turned out. It started off as bits of thread and material and ended up as a book cover with gold thread, crushed velvet and so on.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
A good felting link
One of my good online friends passed this link on:
http://www.harrisville.com/images/curricguidelesson3.pdf
http://www.harrisville.com/images/curricguidelesson3.pdf
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Christmas Fairs and St Nicholas
Springy left her clean boots by the fireplace on Friday, 5th December 2008. In the morning St Nicholas had left her a matchbox card Ark and a mandarin orange. We gave her a little hen egg cosy (made from the pattern in the book Feltcraft) from us.
We've been to a few Christmas fairs in recent weeks. The Steiner school fairs are always so lovely, both in atmosphere and the community that surrounds many of the Steiner schools. We heard harps playing, Christmas carols which we joined in with and so on. Springy also met King Winter and received a gift of stone.
We're going to be doing some soap carving. All you need is a plain block of soap e.g. Simple soap in white and some biscuit/cookie cutters. You push the cookie cutter onto the soap and then cut around the shape with a knife. It's a nice thing to do for children 7 and above and it can make some nice gifts.
This morning Jack Frost has been about. Springy went out into the garden with her croc shoes on and thought it was great fun to hear the crackling of the lawn and also to see her breath. I had to call her back in because it was so freezing and she was out there in pyjamas (no sense of temperature or self preservation at this age). We had to take a kettle of hot water out to the bird bath because it was frozen and a poor wood pigeon was trying to peck through the ice.
Springy is really happy today - she kept skipping yesterday and is currently babbling away with some dolls. She chose a little white felt fairy as a special gift yesterday from us. She's only about an inch high (the fairy doll, not Springy) and has a little wire wand with a star on.
We've been to a few Christmas fairs in recent weeks. The Steiner school fairs are always so lovely, both in atmosphere and the community that surrounds many of the Steiner schools. We heard harps playing, Christmas carols which we joined in with and so on. Springy also met King Winter and received a gift of stone.
We're going to be doing some soap carving. All you need is a plain block of soap e.g. Simple soap in white and some biscuit/cookie cutters. You push the cookie cutter onto the soap and then cut around the shape with a knife. It's a nice thing to do for children 7 and above and it can make some nice gifts.
This morning Jack Frost has been about. Springy went out into the garden with her croc shoes on and thought it was great fun to hear the crackling of the lawn and also to see her breath. I had to call her back in because it was so freezing and she was out there in pyjamas (no sense of temperature or self preservation at this age). We had to take a kettle of hot water out to the bird bath because it was frozen and a poor wood pigeon was trying to peck through the ice.
Springy is really happy today - she kept skipping yesterday and is currently babbling away with some dolls. She chose a little white felt fairy as a special gift yesterday from us. She's only about an inch high (the fairy doll, not Springy) and has a little wire wand with a star on.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Last week
Last week Springy made a felt jingle. You basically use embroidery thread and attach that to a small bell. Cut up some felt and then thread these on (with a needle). It's a piece of thread with a bell and then up the thread are the bits of felt piled on top of each other and you then tie it off at the other end of the thread and hang it up somewhere. It makes a great Christmas decoration. It was lovely that Springy a) had such good needle control and b) enjoyed doing it.
We've also been making finger pom poms and Springy, as of today, has a collection of four pom poms. She's given them all names and they seem to be a family of a mummy and daddy plus 2 children.
How to make a Finger Pom Pom
You use two fingers together (with a bit of a gap and don't pull the wool too tight otherwise you will cut off the circulation to the fingers) and wrap the wool around these, round and round you go with the wool. When you think you have enough wool then tie a piece around where the middle would be and then slide the pom pom off your fingers. Tie the middle section tight and then cut the ends of the wool (the loops) - et voila you have a pom pom.
We've also been making finger pom poms and Springy, as of today, has a collection of four pom poms. She's given them all names and they seem to be a family of a mummy and daddy plus 2 children.
How to make a Finger Pom Pom
You use two fingers together (with a bit of a gap and don't pull the wool too tight otherwise you will cut off the circulation to the fingers) and wrap the wool around these, round and round you go with the wool. When you think you have enough wool then tie a piece around where the middle would be and then slide the pom pom off your fingers. Tie the middle section tight and then cut the ends of the wool (the loops) - et voila you have a pom pom.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Sarah Crows and fairies
Springy has had a lovely week so far. Today I'm ill so she was spending much of this morning in her room playing away.
She loves some books called Rainbow Magic. They are all about fairies and a very clever marketing idea in that each set in the series is 7 books and there seem to be about 10 sets. We're lucky in that many of them seem to be in the library. Springy has arranged the books along her bed and when I was listening in to her playing earlier I realised, plus she also confirmed this, that she was using the book covers as characters in her games. She came in saying "Mummy, Pippi (Longstocking this is, which is another book we had from the library this week and which I need to do as a read aloud) took something so the fairies have put her in the dungeon." This was alongside the joke, "What do fairies travel in around the world when they've lost their wings?" "A fairy boat."
We've also had some lovely walks this week. The autumn leaves are always spectacular and we've been lucky to have some dry but cold weather. Springy also made a scarecrow. We had a hazel stick whittled down into a stake at one end, another stick as a crossbar - tied on with string onto the hazel stick and this represents the arms. Some material with a small hole cut into the centre of it so it drapes across the crossbar and hangs down like a dress. This we tied with raffia and then we found an apple to use as a head on the pointy bit (which is the neck). We added some cloves to make eyes and a smile and our apple already had a lumpy bit which became the nose. We also glued on some wool as hair.
This afternoon her daddy and she went out in the garden with the bantams and now they're out at the playground. Yesterday I had to bath our Serama bantam as she had sat in one of her unviable eggs and was covered in egg yolk which a) stank, and b) matted her feathers (I told her glazing with egg yolks is for glazing, not that she'll listen or even understand!). She's such an adorable little bird - she's our Zen hen with her placid nature. We're not sure if our other bantam won't turn out to be a he rather than a she.
I've got a horrid cold which makes me feel really sluggish. I've taken some echinacea tincture but need to do some steam inhalation later.
She loves some books called Rainbow Magic. They are all about fairies and a very clever marketing idea in that each set in the series is 7 books and there seem to be about 10 sets. We're lucky in that many of them seem to be in the library. Springy has arranged the books along her bed and when I was listening in to her playing earlier I realised, plus she also confirmed this, that she was using the book covers as characters in her games. She came in saying "Mummy, Pippi (Longstocking this is, which is another book we had from the library this week and which I need to do as a read aloud) took something so the fairies have put her in the dungeon." This was alongside the joke, "What do fairies travel in around the world when they've lost their wings?" "A fairy boat."
We've also had some lovely walks this week. The autumn leaves are always spectacular and we've been lucky to have some dry but cold weather. Springy also made a scarecrow. We had a hazel stick whittled down into a stake at one end, another stick as a crossbar - tied on with string onto the hazel stick and this represents the arms. Some material with a small hole cut into the centre of it so it drapes across the crossbar and hangs down like a dress. This we tied with raffia and then we found an apple to use as a head on the pointy bit (which is the neck). We added some cloves to make eyes and a smile and our apple already had a lumpy bit which became the nose. We also glued on some wool as hair.
This afternoon her daddy and she went out in the garden with the bantams and now they're out at the playground. Yesterday I had to bath our Serama bantam as she had sat in one of her unviable eggs and was covered in egg yolk which a) stank, and b) matted her feathers (I told her glazing with egg yolks is for glazing, not that she'll listen or even understand!). She's such an adorable little bird - she's our Zen hen with her placid nature. We're not sure if our other bantam won't turn out to be a he rather than a she.
I've got a horrid cold which makes me feel really sluggish. I've taken some echinacea tincture but need to do some steam inhalation later.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Steiner Waldorf Handwork and Science Resources
http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/Handwork.pdf
and
http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/Scienceonline.pdf
and
http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/Scienceonline.pdf
Friday, 19 September 2008
Two birthdays and a funny egg
We've got 2 birthday parties this weekend. We made a felted playscape as one gift and for the other we have some Hama beads.
Our little bantam keeps laying strange eggs. She stopped laying eggs when we started the worming food. The "chicken expert" said it is because she is a natural bantam so she won't lay at this time of year but...she is still laying. It's just the eggs are not viable. I am wondering whether it is because the temperature is dropping a lot at night. This morning, walking into the shed felt like walking into a refrigerator room, so I think I am going to pop on the little electric radiator at a very low setting and see if that makes a difference.
This was put up on the list as a useful curriculum resource:
http://www.winterpromise.com/animals_worlds.html
I must admit I really like the sound of some of the sections.
Our little bantam keeps laying strange eggs. She stopped laying eggs when we started the worming food. The "chicken expert" said it is because she is a natural bantam so she won't lay at this time of year but...she is still laying. It's just the eggs are not viable. I am wondering whether it is because the temperature is dropping a lot at night. This morning, walking into the shed felt like walking into a refrigerator room, so I think I am going to pop on the little electric radiator at a very low setting and see if that makes a difference.
This was put up on the list as a useful curriculum resource:
http://www.winterpromise.com/animals_worlds.html
I must admit I really like the sound of some of the sections.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
First Grade from Linden Waldorf school
I liked this summary of Class 1 (age 6/7 years) from the Linden Waldorf school:
"The first grade curriculum provides a context out of which language arts and math learning grow. It awakens capacities of memory and thinking. At this time in the first grade students’ lives, retaining content is less important than what content and form of presentation do to the children in terms of body growth, physical health and moral development.
History: Fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories cultivate imagination and awareness of environment and world.
Literature: Language is expressive in vocabulary, poems with strong rhythms. Fairy tales imagery gives way to reality of ideas and relationships.Geography: Wonders through observations of nature.
English and Grammar: Writing and reading evolve out of oral tradition. Instead of abstract symbols, the introduction of letters is as actual characters with which the children have a real relationship. Fairy tales and stories introduce each letter. In addition,straight and curved lines are observed in body, classroom, and world and practice through walking and drawing in air, sand, blackboard, and paper. Form drawings train motor skills, awaken powers of observation, and create a foundation for letters. Speech exercises, short plays, and class play are included each year.
Science: Stories from nature build awareness of and sensitivity to their surroundings and they are introduced to the kingdoms of nature through storytelling. Also, the children go outside twice a day to maintain a close connection to seasons and environment.
Mathematics: The children are introduced to whole numbers to 100. They learn qualities of numbers before learning addition or subtraction. What is oneness? What is there only one of in the world? Stones, acorns, and other natural objects are used to introduce counting. Considerable practical experience in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing is expected before written symbols are introduced. This qualitative approach stresses the natural experience of the numbers realm. Rhythms, mental arithmetic, Roman numerals, and number riddles reinforce skills.
Music: The children learn the pentatonic scale, in which all notes have a harmonious sound in any order they are played. Songs are based on seasonal themes. Playing the pentatonic flute develops finger coordination, concentration and breath control.
Artistic work: When painting, the children experience working with color, not creating formed pictures. Children imitate teacher’s work, drawing whole shapes, not filling in outlines. Feeling for form is encouraged through beeswax modeling and crayon illustrations. Form drawing, painting, beeswax modeling, knitting are also practiced."
Ref: http://www.lindenwaldorf.org/curriculum/grades/grade_1.html
In terms of handwork we have done Springy has started with knitting and has also done some weaving (for her dollshouse rugs). Her first knitting project was a plain knit rectangle which has been used in her dollshouse.
"The first grade curriculum provides a context out of which language arts and math learning grow. It awakens capacities of memory and thinking. At this time in the first grade students’ lives, retaining content is less important than what content and form of presentation do to the children in terms of body growth, physical health and moral development.
History: Fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories cultivate imagination and awareness of environment and world.
Literature: Language is expressive in vocabulary, poems with strong rhythms. Fairy tales imagery gives way to reality of ideas and relationships.Geography: Wonders through observations of nature.
English and Grammar: Writing and reading evolve out of oral tradition. Instead of abstract symbols, the introduction of letters is as actual characters with which the children have a real relationship. Fairy tales and stories introduce each letter. In addition,straight and curved lines are observed in body, classroom, and world and practice through walking and drawing in air, sand, blackboard, and paper. Form drawings train motor skills, awaken powers of observation, and create a foundation for letters. Speech exercises, short plays, and class play are included each year.
Science: Stories from nature build awareness of and sensitivity to their surroundings and they are introduced to the kingdoms of nature through storytelling. Also, the children go outside twice a day to maintain a close connection to seasons and environment.
Mathematics: The children are introduced to whole numbers to 100. They learn qualities of numbers before learning addition or subtraction. What is oneness? What is there only one of in the world? Stones, acorns, and other natural objects are used to introduce counting. Considerable practical experience in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing is expected before written symbols are introduced. This qualitative approach stresses the natural experience of the numbers realm. Rhythms, mental arithmetic, Roman numerals, and number riddles reinforce skills.
Music: The children learn the pentatonic scale, in which all notes have a harmonious sound in any order they are played. Songs are based on seasonal themes. Playing the pentatonic flute develops finger coordination, concentration and breath control.
Artistic work: When painting, the children experience working with color, not creating formed pictures. Children imitate teacher’s work, drawing whole shapes, not filling in outlines. Feeling for form is encouraged through beeswax modeling and crayon illustrations. Form drawing, painting, beeswax modeling, knitting are also practiced."
Ref: http://www.lindenwaldorf.org/curriculum/grades/grade_1.html
In terms of handwork we have done Springy has started with knitting and has also done some weaving (for her dollshouse rugs). Her first knitting project was a plain knit rectangle which has been used in her dollshouse.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Me and sewing
I have not done sewing for years. Well that's not true as tonight I had to restitch one of Springy's Beaver badges back on to her top. I love the idea of sewing and want to sew but always felt intimidated by the whole thing. I've had sewing lessons and even did Textiles as a GCSE but I did everything by hand, badly. I really want to get myself a sewing machine and run up some pretty things for our home. I know that there is all the pattern stuff that I would need to learn about, then how to thread up the machine and so it goes on and this is why I've not gotten around to it (not forgetting that a sewing machine is way down on our list of financial priorities as well).
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Felting and dancing
Springy and I have had a lovely week or so since last posting. We went to a Christmas Fair and Springy went on a pony ride, made a lovely peg doll and a felted necklace. It was a bit commercial (typical school fundraising stuff and some of the prices seemed ridiculous since to me this time of year is about making it special for children) but okay and Springy didn't notice (because she wasn't paying for it!).
We have no more swimming lessons until next year which is a shame because Springy had just got the hang of it (swimming under and on top of the water). However, we had our first French lesson for ages (with the tutor) and Springy really enjoyed that. She was beaming all yesterday with her smile and we had a lovely time today as well. This morning we brought the guineapigs lots of vegetable cuttings which they love and then we did some dancing. We did a waltz (1,2,3). This afternoon (following a good game of tag in the garden) we did some wet felting using cookie cutters. We're making some homemade presents for family members. We stuff the felt in the cutter in a bowl of soapy water (I use baby shampoo) and then poke it to agitate it. We've made some really pretty shapes today, including a snowflake. Springy loves the feel of the warm, soapy water and after her interest wanes from the poking the felt part, her attention turns to the bubbles in the water.
We have no more swimming lessons until next year which is a shame because Springy had just got the hang of it (swimming under and on top of the water). However, we had our first French lesson for ages (with the tutor) and Springy really enjoyed that. She was beaming all yesterday with her smile and we had a lovely time today as well. This morning we brought the guineapigs lots of vegetable cuttings which they love and then we did some dancing. We did a waltz (1,2,3). This afternoon (following a good game of tag in the garden) we did some wet felting using cookie cutters. We're making some homemade presents for family members. We stuff the felt in the cutter in a bowl of soapy water (I use baby shampoo) and then poke it to agitate it. We've made some really pretty shapes today, including a snowflake. Springy loves the feel of the warm, soapy water and after her interest wanes from the poking the felt part, her attention turns to the bubbles in the water.
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