Ideally, your children will participate in the daily life of your family, supported by the rhythms and activities sent by the teachers. In the Getting Started post we suggested a daily rhythm similar to the structure of our day in Nature Kindergarten. We encourage each family to use this material in the way that works best for them. We’re here to support you!
If you are looking for resources, songs and poems that have been shared previously on the blog, you can use the search tool on this page.
Winter can be a magical time! This morning the world was draped in white mist. It hung over the fields making it look like the world woke up inside a cloud. Look closely at the beautiful frost flowers found on your windows. Nothing is more magical than the moonlight on snow. Take a look! Where else can you find Winter Magic?
SEASONAL POEMS:
WHITE FIELDS
In the winter time we go
Walking in the fields of snow;
Where there is no grass at all;
Where the top of every wall,
Every fence and every tree,
Is as white as white can be.
And our mothers always know,
By the footprints in the snow,
Where it is the children go.
~ James Stephens
SEASONAL SONGS:
LITTLE LIGHT SNOWFLAKES
Little light snowflakes whirl around
Little light snowflakes fall on the ground
Fall on the tree, fall on me
Make the earth white, make the earth bright
Pull on your mittens, button up your coats,
Tie a scarf snuggly around your throat
Pull on your boots and tighten the straps
Tie on snuggly your warm winter hat
Open the door and out we go
Into the soft and feathery snow
Little light snowflakes whirl around
Little light snowflakes fall on the ground.
IN THE WINTER GARDEN
In the winter garden
Through the falling snow,
Stars are gleaming, streaming, gleaming
Down to earth below,
Deep snow, deep snow,
Through the woods we’ll go.
Big steps, sturdy steps, walking in the snow,
Big steps, sturdy steps, through the woods we’ll go.
Tiny steps, tiptoe steps, walking in the snow,
Tiny steps, tiptoe steps, through the woods we’ll go.
Big steps, sturdy steps, walking in the snow,
Big steps, sturdy steps, through the woods we’ll go.
Shh — what is it? What can it be?
The wind is blowing in every tree.
MORNING ADVENTURE & CRAFTS
Pack your backpack with a snack, water, and extra clothes and get ready to hit the trail (or your backyard!).
Here are some ideas that you might want to try out this week:
SNOW PAINT
You likely have a collection of markers that have dried out, or lost their former lustre, at home. If you place the markers ink-side down in some water you can create some beautiful ‘paints’ to use outdoors. Transfer the coloured liquid into a spray bottles or squirt bottle and head outside to paint the snow!
https://happyhooligans.ca/vibrant-homemade-liquid-watercolor-paint/
Photo credit Simple Most
Photo credit Happy Hooligans
SNOW KITCHEN
Gather up some old kitchen utensils, pots, pans, and baking tins and take them outdoors to make a ‘snow kitchen’. Don’t have any old kitchen supplies? No problem - you can also use sand toys (although it is worth noting that plastic can snap easily in the cold). On your morning adventure, why not look for ‘ingredients’ to use in the snow kitchen: pinecones, pebbles, pine needles, leaves, twigs…. anything goes!
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/rightbrainedmom.com/2016/12/13/from-mud-kitchen-to-snow-kitchen/amp/
ICE DECORATIONS
This activity can start with a walk outdoors to collect natural items to set into your ice decorations.
SEASONAL STORY
Teacher Sabrina reading the story A Winter Nature Story for Everyone. You can find the original story here: https://earthschooling.info/thebearthinstitute/a-winter-nature-story-for-everyone/
SEASONAL RECIPE
The smell of bread baking fills the house with warmth and comfort.
HUCKABUCK BREAD
This is a class favourite in the Nature Kindergarten! The recipe comes from https://blog.waldorfmoraine.org/2019/10/why-we-bake-bread-in-early-childhood-classes/
Ingredients:
‘Heart-shaped’ Huckabuck bread baked in the kindergarten class.
2 cups water
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon yeast
Organic white bread flour
Organic whole wheat bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup honey
Instructions:
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of honey in warm water. Add yeast and let sit until frothy. Use a large ceramic bowl and warm the bowl (run warm water from the tap to warm the bowl and then empty bowl). All the ingredients will be added to this original bowl.
In a separate container, combine 4 cups each of white and whole wheat flour. Stir in salt.
In a separate container, combine oil, molasses, and honey.
When the yeast mixture is frothy, pour oil/sweetener mixture into yeast bowl and stir. Add flour/salt dry mixture to this wet mixture and stir/fold in the flour as you go. Do not add all the flour in one fell swoop. Use hands to combine and/or a dough hook. Knead for 10 minutes. Add more flour if it is too sticky to handle. Add more water if it’s dry and clumpy and will not hold together. Turn in butter bowl (if desired). Let rise approximately ½ hour in warm (not hot) place free from drafts.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Punch down dough, knead and form into desired shapes. Place on lightly buttered baking sheets or into buttered loaf pans.
Cook at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes (approximate time). Bread is done when golden and sounds hollow when rapped with your hand. Remove from baking sheets to cool. Enjoy with honey butter (of course!).
ART
SNOW PLAYDOUGH
Follow the recipe link below to make some snowy white playdough. Add some silver sparkles to make it sparkle like real snow in the sunlight! Look around home to find some loose parts that your child can add to their playdough creations. In a short tour of my house, I rounded up glass ‘gems’, q-tips, polished light-coloured stones, white buttons, and some smooth beach glass.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-play-dough-ideas-2086826
CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY
You have the opportunity to connect with other parents and families on the Nature (home)School journey through a private Facebook group. The digital forum is a place where you can post photos of the activities that you get up to with your children, share stories or inspirations from your outdoor adventures, and connect with other families. Please follow the link to connect with other families in the online community or from Facebook - search: Nature (home)School Support.
We are a very small Not For Profit School. If you like these resources and find them helpful, please consider making a donation to our Nature Kindergarten program. We appreciate your support!