24H Architecture designed the new Marecollege Waldorf School in The Netherlands using plenty of unique shapes and natural materials
Today we attended the May Day festival at the Sacramento Waldorf School in Fair Oaks, CA. The rain stopped just long enough for the student...
Waldorf education is an alternative educational approach, founded by Rudolf Steiner, so you may also see it referred to Steiner education. Steiner , an Austrian philosopher, founded his first school in 1919 aiming to promote a deep and positive change in society. The Steiner approach then contraste
Image 3 of 24 from gallery of After-School Care Centre Waldorf School / MONO Architekten. Photograph by Gregor Schmidt
Due to urban developments in the city of Leiden, the Marecollege had to move to a new location. At the Sumatrastraat, an abandoned existin...
We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.
24H Architecture designed the new Marecollege Waldorf School in The Netherlands using plenty of unique shapes and natural materials
A series that explores the ideas and philosophies behind Waldorf Education… For more information on Waldorf Education, please visit the Discovering Waldorf Series from the Waldorf tab in the Navigation bar. Blessings and magic, Donni Are you interested in a Waldorf-inspired lifestyle? Sign up to receive helpful new Discovering Waldorf articles. Email Address First […]
Recently, we have been asking ourselves how to design to support the educational philosophy of curiosity and nature-based learning for a new independent elementary school called Slate School.
Out of curiosity, I recently visited the École Rudolph Steiner de Montréal, a private French language school in Notre-Dame-de-Grace. The school spans grade 1 to 8 and practices Waldorf pedagogy, wh…
Creating a Waldorf Home Whether their children are grades students at a Waldorf school, homeschoolers studying with a parent-teacher or preschoolers organically learning and growing at home, many families appreciate a warm, organic environment and they want to create a Waldorf home. The home is the perfect place for Waldorf principles to be made manifest. […]
This image of concentric circles shows you how to Waldorf homeschool with rhythm. The rhythms around us can help, from the seasons to the days of the week.
Jen has just finished her Physics block and now we have moved on to Chemistry, this is what she has been busy with over the last week. This was an amazing experiment. We filled a round glass bottle with water, stuck a cork onto the bottle and inverted it into a large and sturdy glass. We …
I thought it might be nice to share a little snapshot of a sample lesson with you. If you've never used my curriculum guides before, this is what you get.
When we discovered the warm and inviting classroom of Lisa and Nathaniel Santa Cruz, we instantly fell in love. Wondergarten is a Waldorf-inspired in-home preschool that seeks to enrich the lives of children with goodness & beauty. At Bella Luna Toys, one of our missions has always been to share the beauty of Waldorf education. The rare glimpse into the classroom that Lisa & Nathaniel share each day on Instagram does just that, and in such a lovely way. Let's take a journey through their day! Morning Playtime When children first arrive at Wondergarten, they have the option of playing with a variety of natural toys, play dough, beeswax crayons, blocks, books, and other essential Waldorf toys. According to Lisa, “Morning playtime is an essential part of our program, as it provides children with the opportunity to develop their imaginations, relationships, and problem-solving skills through creative, free play.” After a morning of playtime, the children transition by cleaning up and preparing for the daily ritual of circle time by singing Ring around the Rosie. Circle Time In Waldorf schools, circle time is a special time to celebrate the season with stories, songs, and creative movement. Each school puts their own spin on this special time and at Wondergarten, they add piano and guitar and dancing as they introduce their story of the week. After this joyful movement and song, the children transition to lesson time. Lesson Time The main lesson of the day typically fits one of three rotating activities; life skills, baking, or creative arts. According to Lisa, “lesson time and the development of life skills help children feel a sense of belonging, responsibility, and accomplishment as they contribute to various life-based activities.” From baking bread to wet on wet painting, each activity is directly tied to the season and helps foster community. Snack Time After cleaning up together and preparing the table, the children gather for snack time, which according to Lisa “is a delicious and nourishing part of our day.” As they eat, Nathaniel’s “Gnomes of Wondergarten” stories are told aloud, accompanied by engaging visuals and puppetry. As children finish their snacks, they wash and dry their dishes, put them back on the shelf, and get ready to go outside. Outdoor Playtime “Outdoor playtime is a highlight of our day, and we spend at least an hour outside each day, rain or shine, to build resilient bodies and a strong connection to the natural world.” Once outside, children play and work in the garden, run and play in the field, create muddy and treasure-filled concoctions in the mud kitchen, and love “collecting buckets of water and dumping them into ditches they've dug in the playscape to create lakes and rivers.” Wondergarten has even created a track where children can ride trikes “in little caravans, playing out stories of trains and fire trucks.” After a full day of play, nourishing food, fresh air, and gentle learning parents pick up their children from outside, and the day comes to a close. We are so glad to see Wondergarten open up their beautiful enviornment to share more about Waldorf education with the public. It is a beautifully peaceful way for children to learn and grow. To see more, follow Wondergarten on Instagram @wondergarten_earlychildhood or visit their website here: Wondergarten.net At Bella Luna Toys, we love to share the wonder of Waldorf education and how it can be incorporated into play. We are so thrilled to watch Wondergarten flourish and share their knowledge of Waldorf learning with a wide audience. Follow along as we share more on Instagram @bellalunatoys and don't forget to share your play and childhood magic using the hashtag #bellalunatoys.
Learn how to make an easy Abacus at home! This is the perfect DIY learning material that brings together nature crafts and Spanish learning.
Make this simple nature snow globe with your kids. It's perfect if you have leaves falling around you, plus a recycled glass jar!
I love teaching about trees because there’s much to discover all year, during any season. From bark to leaves, trees are amazing wonders of nature! If you’re planning on studying trees …
Image 3 of 24 from gallery of After-School Care Centre Waldorf School / MONO Architekten. Photograph by Gregor Schmidt
Learn how to make and keep a nature journal or nature notebook to study nature and record experiences with the natural world.
We did this fun nature weaving craft the other day when it was warm out and the leaves and flowers were all starting to sprout. …
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Homeschooling your children this fall? A nature schooling curriculum is a beautiful and meaningful way to inspire a lifelong love of learning.
Outdoor learning ideas and nature activities for kids of all ages; including fun outside activities, nature crafts, and nature study ideas!
Learn how to grow and forage for herbs with your family with my kids herb study. Learning herbs with kids is fun and educational!
Ideas for a Waldorf inspired morning basket for homeschoolers or anyone looking for a collection of good books to read together!
Due to urban developments in the city of Leiden, the Marecollege had to move to a new location. At the Sumatrastraat, an abandoned existin...
Waldorf books and waldorf homeschool curriculum for those that would like to add some Waldorf education into their home. I love these waldorf books
Crafting nature mandalas can be an excellent way to explore artistic composition, mindfulness, and the great outdoors - all at the same time! These temporary art installations create beauty from foraged natural objects.
Learn how to make and keep a nature journal or nature notebook to study nature and record experiences with the natural world.
Unit study all about Algae.
We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.
