Spring Nature Table
In late Winter it is fun to add Mrs. Thaw to the table containing King Winter, so that she can begin to sweep the snow away. As Winter fades, King Winter disappears, and for while Mrs. Thaw continues to wear her warm cloak and winter apron, as she begins to till the ground. One should try to keep the Nature Table a little ahead of the real turn of seasons, maintaining the anticipation for the coming season.
At this point it is fun to bring in some branches of pussy willow or forsythia to force into bloom. As they begin to bloom, you can add a birdŐs nest, a woven paper bird, some crocheted root babies, a few eggs, flower fairy, and change the silks from brown to green. If kept in water, the branches will form roots and may be planted.
You can write me for directions to make the woven paper bird. barbara@waldorfwithoutwalls.com
Mrs. Thaw (Mother Earth) has removed her woolen cloak and donned her brightly flowered apron to work in her garden. She has planted some lettuce which is growing nicely. She has her rake, shovel and basket of seeds.
These seed packets were given me by a ten-year-old student several years ago. She made about 10 tiny little seed packets with illustrations and cutting lines to open and placed them in a little basket with a tiny satin rose and some tiny polished gemstones. This is an example of how enthusiastic and motivated the children become to add items to the Nature Table.
There are some crocheted root children peeking out from the brown and green silks representing earth and grass. Beside her is a vase of forced forsythia branches with a bird nest (found abandoned by my grandson) and a paper wasp nest. The wasp nest was found in my garage and shows how the wasp grows her nest in layers. I micro-waved it to be sure no wasps hatch on my nature table! The three colored eggs are polished minerals I purchased in a local rock shop.
Patterns and instructions for the dolls are in The Nature Corner, by Leeuwen and Moeskops. They are quite simple to make and can really add to your childŐs joy in a nature table, although dolls are not needed to make a meaningful nature table. Your children will be happy to find branches, bird and wasp nests and other wonders of nature and bring them to the table.
Spring Consulting Sale
Curriculum consultation service: get 10% off one year, if you register by June 30! Regular cost $350. Now only $315! And this cost is by the family, not just by the individual child!
I provide individualized homeschool curriculum planning and support for you and your children, resources used by waldorf teachers, specific suggestions for your child, and answers to your questions as they come up throughout the year. This is accomplished through the Internet, fax, mail, or e-mail.