Using tree branches and logs

Whenever a tree is cut down, especially at school, I rush over and ask for someone to cut me some log pieces.

Logs of varying heights, less than 500mm, can be placed side by side in a curvy line to make stepping stones, and to border a play space or garden bed. In this case, the logs can be dug into the ground a little so they are stable and permanently in one place. Whatever there purpose, children will climb on them, run along them, sit on them and parents will perch on them to chat.
Log slices, about 10cm thick make great stepping stones to guide children to a particular part of the playground, and can easily be picked up and moved to highlight another area. Some times these pieces split, and then they move to the sand pit, or make their way around the yard to stand on their sides in some kind of play creation.

I also have log pieces in the playground that are small and light enough for the children to pick up and carry, yet heavy enough to present a challenge. Large flat stepping stones require two or three children to work together to move them, or children may roll them, or use their shovels to lever them up. I have never suggested to the children that these log pieces can be moved. I wait patiently to see when they will discover this themselves. This year I have been waiting a long time.

I recently brought in some cherry branches, scavenged from a friends trailor waiting to go to the tip. They were about as thick as my arm and about 4 feet long. I was going to cut them into smaller lengths to put in the sandpit for whatever purpose the children saw fit. But the children found them first. One piece had a bend in it of almost 90 degrees. This piece was dragged off to become a 'pipe' into the sandpit. Then a water tank was required, and the children discovered that the log pieces could be moved to become the tank. One child called for other's to come and help. Other children joined in, and worked out how to use logs to prop up get their branches at such an angle that the 'water' would run down them into the sandpit.

I was excited to see them using the logs around them, and excited to see them all working together to solve the challenges in their creations and play.

Why I love celebrations and festivals

I love celebrations. And I love school celebrations. They bring the school family together, builds community, develops relationships, I get to talk to everyone, big brothers and sisters, dads, grandmas and even uncles and aunties, everyone talks to each other and there is joy and, well, celebration. There doesn't even need to be much planning or ceremony - just something to celebrate and time to get together to share fellowship, food and stories.

"Religious" celebrations are my favourite of all. This is more than the passing of time or the moving to the next step celebrated in a graduation, although that too is important. This is the eternal, sacred story remembered.

We recently held our Pentecost celebration. It was much later than Pentecost due to a number of illnesses and very new babies born at that time, but it didn't seem to worry anyone.

Pentecost is at such a great time in Australia, right in the middle of the cold and dark winter. What better symbol for the Holy Spirit than a burning fire that gives light, warmth and peace in the darkness.

Families arrived at 6.30pm with their plate of supper to share, and got busy making lanterns together with their children. The children had already applied watercolours and later linseed oil to their A3 length of paper in the weeks before. Parents just needed to staple the cardboard base into the paper wrapped into a tube, and add a handle. When they were all done, we told the story of Stone Soup and ate the soup the children had prepared earlier.

Much eating and talking and kids running wild at kinder at night time occurred.

But before it got too wild, we headed out to the fire to toast marshmellows (white ones have no artificial colours) given to each child's parents. Then standing toasty and warm around the fire I told the Pentecost story, when the Holy Spirit came. When in the story the Holy Spirit came in tongues of fire, we lit the tea lights in our lanterns.

It was nice to stand in the dark, the children not afraid with the glowing, warm fire and their parents and friends present, and talk about the Holy Spirit being with us always.

Then the children used their lanterns to light the way home.

One mum had written on her calendar "Bonfire night." So when her husband arrived to find a little fire burning in a washing machine barrel he was a little disappointed. Hopefully the warmth of the tiny fire revived him. I did have a lighthearted discussion with the principal about having a bonfire next year, but for some reason he didn't seem too keen...

One of the mum's said to me the next day - "you know, on the way home, my husband said to me, "That was a really good night." And I even got to see the smile come back to my 12 year old's face." What more can I ask for when a celebration touches kids, Mums and Dads together.

Steiner methods appropriate to the Christian early childhood setting.

I have recently presented a talk to Christian School teachers about Steiner methods appropriate to the Christian early childhood setting. I talk, talk, talked at a million miles an hour, for the whole time, and left no time for questions. I was a poor teacher. Here I am, standing in a classroom that has, "I wonder..." in big letters on the back wall, and a whole collection of sticky notes covered in questions stuck underneath, and I didn't even ask, "What do you wonder about Steiner education?" So, better late than never, "What do you wonder about Steiner education?" Feel free to ask in the comments.

In a way, none of the methods, or features of Steiner early childhood education that I discussed is actually "Steiner," and since I reject any part of Steiner's philosophy or discussion of child development that is not compatible with Christianity, can I even call it 'Steiner?' I am not a follower of Steiner, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. Anyone can make blocks out of tree branches, or allow time for free play in their program. Now I wonder if it is not better to separate each idea that I have taken from Steiner to use to help children grow closer to God, and share them separately. I think that is what I do.

I do love Steiner early childhood classrooms. I am at home there. I can see how others would not be so at home. So please allow me to share all of the things that work in my classroom, and in my home, Steiner or otherwise, as you, in the words of a Steiner teacher I know, "do whatever is best for your children."

Welcome to Stuck on the Fridge

Welcome to the fridge door, where all our great ideas and pictures can be proudly displayed with a magnet or two to hold them up. Or sticky tape if you have a stainless steel fridge.