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Need Inspiration!
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I’m looking for some inspiration to enliven our days. We are doing fine with all of our subjects, but I’m lacking in fun or creative projects to enhance and bring joy to our homeschool. We do science experiments and cook and use drawing for history, so there’s plenty of hands-on. I’m looking for perhaps open-ended projects for my 9 yo dd to delve into for creativity as well as maybe just a source for project ideas for me to use once in a while. I’d also really love to be more appreciative of the seasons and more intentional about having a project or small unit-study to notice them. I don’t like going to pinterest with a vague idea because I hate wasting that much time and sometimes I don’t even know what I’m looking for.
Thanks for any ideas! I’m coming up dry!
I recently set up a seasonal nature spot on top of our piano. I have a copy of “Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady” set up on a recipe book stand and keep the pages displayed current with the week’s dates. I needle-felted a tree with no leaves and my kids switch out tufts of wool roving to match what the trees look like outside. I got the roving on Etsy. The seller is “cupidfalls” and she has good roving prices. We also used some of the roving to make wet-felted pumpkins, which are displayed with the tree and the book, plus little things my kids find on our hikes, like acorns, pinecones, rocks, and leaves.
Waldorf education puts a lot of emphasis on nature and seasonal celebrations, study, and projects. If you do go on Pinterest, looking up something like “Waldorf seasonal crafts” or “Waldorf handwork” will give you a lot of ideas. One cute project I saw is: glue and seal leaves (real or cut from translucent kite paper) to mason jars with Mod Podge. Make a handle with twine or wire and pop a little tea light candle inside. You can also preserve leaves by dipping them in melted beeswax, and use them to make a garland.
I agree, I think you would be happy following some Waldorf ideas. Google Waldorf season rhythms, and you’ll find lots of ideas. Also there is a Charlotte Mason Waldorf group on Facebook for those who combine the two methods.
Two resources you might like, depending on the ages of your children: Wee Folk Art. It’s a Waldorf inspired preschool/kindergarten program. However, it can also be used as a seasonal arts & crafts program. I use it with my 8 & 11 year old and we love it. Every week there is a seasonally linked story book with a hands-on activity to do: artwork, handicrafts, baking etc… There’s also a recommended poetry study and picture study (using the Come Look with Me books). Their website, as well, has sooo many beautiful seasonal handicraft ideas. This is one we just finished a week or so ago:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155794722447423&set=pcb.10155794723697423&type=3&theater
We handpainted the muslin with watercolors, then traced the outline of the leaves, embroidered them, then sewed it together into a table runner.
Another option is Exploring Nature with Children, which is an amazingly rich nature study program, that is seasonally based. It is good for a huge range of children, quite honestly, I think you could make it work for all grades. It encompasses nature study, beautiful poetry and picture study, and a wide assortment of other activities including art, handicrafts, writing etc… For younger years this could easily be your nature study/science. For all years, it’s an excellent seasonal guide.
If you’re so inclined you could also look at following the traditional liturgical calendar and celebrating the saint/feast days.
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