Autumn Guide
November 1st-15th
AT A GLANCE:
Our Daily Rhythm
Circle time will be at 10:00am/3:00pm daily (lasting 10 minutes)
Open Play will last until 11:30am/4:30pm
Clean -up song will begin at 11:30am/4:30pm
Story time will begin at 11:45am/4:45pm
Play shifts will end at 12:00pm/5:00pm
Important Dates
Date Festival
November 11th Martinmas
About: Martinmas
Martinmas is a celebration honoring St. Martin, who was a
patron saint of beggars and outcasts. He was known for his
gentleness and ability to bring warmth and light to those in need.
Young St. Martin walked by a beggar who was in need of warmth
and shared a part of his coat with him to offer warmth. The following
night, St. Martin saw an angel in a dream with the missing piece of cloth
he had given the night before along with a crowd of people holding
lanterns shining so brightly. As a result of this experience, St. Martin
devoted himself to be open and kind to all people with no hesitations.
As we head toward the darkest time of the year, we are reminded
by this celebration to kindle warmth and light into our hearts. This
festival is meditative in nature, and helps us reflect our reverence
for the changing season along with kindling the warmth and light
within.
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
With the Autumn season approaching, it is easy to note how
nature adapts to the change of the season. It gets darker faster, the
temperature drops, the leaves change, and a lot of what used to be
colorful and vibrant becomes bleak. This similarly reflects what can
happen to us internally. What’s most disrupting at the start of this
season is the social and familial obligations that begin outside a
normal family rhythm.
For children especially, this can impact their growing and
developing brains. Prior to this time frame there are no moments of
unpredictability. Rules are understood, food is predictable, parental
energy is predictable, and a Childs living environment is
comfortable. When these things change abruptly, but the expectation
of the child is the same it can cause some challenges.
In early autumn the change in rhythm might not be as abrupt as
the winter time, but there are small things over time that can cause
kids to be neurologically distressed. During this time in early
Autumn, this can appear most in food, unfamiliar locations, and
different sounds and smells. With a little planning it is possible to
enjoy this time without the stress that comes with it.
For the next couple of weeks as the sounds, smells, and taste of
early Autumn begin, reflect on how your family rhythm might
change, and what things your kids might have a harder time adapting
to. The Enchanted Cottage will host many families experiencing this
same change too. It is our heart to continue creating a space during
the changing season that celebrates the shift happening within us,
without adding stress to a childs developing brain.
CIRCLE TIME
What is Circle Time?
In Waldorf early childhood, there is a special gathering each morning called
circle time. Circle time is a time of the day when you sing songs together,
recite verses, poems, use movement, and do fingerplay.
Circle Time Lyrics
Intro
5 Little Leaves
Lets make a circle well join hands and
sing lets make a circle come lets make a 5 Little Leaves hanging on the tree,
shining golden in the sun
ring
Along came the wind...
Good Morning Earth And it blew through the town...
Good morning, dear earth One little leaf tumbled down to the
ground"
Good morning, dear sun *Repeat until no more leaves
Good morning, dear flowers
And the fairies every one. Red Squirrel
Good morning, dear bees
Red squirrel, red squirrel, shake
And the birds in the trees your bushy tail
Good morning to you Red squirrel, red squirrel, shake
And good morning to me your bushy tail,
Crinkle up your nose, hold a nut
Autum Leaves between your toes
The leaves are green, the apples are red, Red squirrel, red squirrel, shake
They hang so high above your head your bushy tail
(repeat as many times with different
Leave them alone till frosty weather colors)
Then they will all fall down together.
Two Feet
The leaves are green, the nuts are brown,
They hang so high and will not come down Can you walk with two feet, two feet, two feet
Leave them alone till frosty weather, I can walk with two feet, follow me.
Can you run with two feet, two feet, two feet
Then they will all fall down together.
I can run with feet, look at me.
Apple Tree Can you stomp with two feet, two feet, two feet,
I can stomp with two feet, stomp with me
Here is the tree with leaves so green Can you jump with two feet, two feet, two feet,
Here are the apples that hang in between I can jump with two feet, jump with me.
When the wind blows (woooosh) Can you stop with two feet, two feet, two feet,
I can stop with two feet, stop with me.
The apples will fall
Here is the basket to gather them all Changing Colors
Blow Winds Blow Autumn leaves are changing colors, changing
Blow winds blow colors, changing colors
And go mill go Autumn leaves are changing colors, all over
town.
That the miller may grind his corn Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down,
That the baker may take it falling down
And in to bread bake it Autumn leaves are falling down, down to the
And bring us a loaf in the morn ground.
And bring us a loaf in the morn Take a rake and rake them up, rake them up,
rake them up,
*Repeat 2x Take a rake and rake them up, on the ground.
CIRLCE CONT/ CLEAN UP SONG
Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree
Two little apples smiled at me
I shook that tree as hard as I could
And down came the apples
Mmm they were good!
Circle Time Link
[Link]
Closing Verse [Link]
The Earth stands firm beneath my feet
The Sun shines high above
And here I stand so straight and tall
All things to know and love
Clean Up Lyrics
Its clean up time everybody its clean up time everyone if I help you and you
help me well get the whole job done.
Its clean up time everybody its clean time everyone the toys need rest to be
their best we thank them for their fun
Its clean up time everybody its clean up time everyone if I help you and you
help me well get the whole job done.
Its clean up time everybody its clean time everyone the toys need rest to be
their best we thank them for their fun.
Video Link:
[Link]
STORY TIME
SUPPLIES:
Silks (White, yellow, green, blue with starts. Big gnome with cape,
little gnome with cape, horse, tree.
INTRO:
Story time, story time, follow me, take a seat settle down, lets all see
STORY:
Long ago on a dark, windy, cold night there was a young boy
named Martin. Martin was walking home with his horse when he
saw the ground covered in a blanket of snow. Martin was so happy
he had his nice heavy thick cape to help him stay warm. As he kept
walking he noticed a man trying to stay warm himself, but he
didn’t have a nice cape like Martin did. He had very little to keep
him warm. The man he saw only had rags as clothes. Right away,
Martin took off his cape and with his sword he cut it right in half.
He gave the poor man half of his coat so he could stay warm like he
was. Later that night when Martin went to sleep he had a dream,
and in his dream he saw so many bright shining lights. The closer
he looked the more he realized they weren't lights, they were
lanterns. At the end of the bright shining trail of lights stood the
poor man with half of his cape. He said “That’s him! He is the one
who helped me be warm, so I could be safe in this storm.” The
next day Martin woke up and remembered the bright warm lights
in his dream and the poor man who looked so happy and decided
he wanted to bring that light to everyone he met. He said to
himself “In the darkness we can chose to shine our light or walk
right through.” And from there, he became St. Martin spreading
kindness and warmth to all.
CLOSING
Snip snap snout my tale is all told out
Story Time Video
