The world has been created and filled with life, and it is good!
The first few weeks of Third grade in most Waldorf schools are spent hearing and painting a Creation story. Taken from the pages of the Torah, the Hebrew story of creation filled our morning lessons with story and paintings. These stories will carry us through the year and will give your students examples of people struggling to find the right way to live. They will set your child up to feel drawn toward good stewardship, loyalty, thoughtfulness, decisiveness, self-sacrifice, and faithfulness.
“The Bible … may be read in many ways. For some, it constitutes divine teaching. For others, it is the purest literature we have in the English language. For still others, it is a compendium of information on suffering, struggling, and rejoicing in human nature.” – Pearl S. Buck
Day One: Let there be light, and there was light.
Day Two: A firmament divides the waters.
Day Three: Earth and plants come into being.
Day Four: Lights fill the skies to separate the day from night.
Day Five: Sea and sky creatures begin.
Day Six: Humans and creatures on land are spoken into life.
Day Seven: A day of rest. The world has been created and filled with life, and it is good!
When students recalled these daily stories, they brought so many details to life, and when asked how they would enjoy this newborn world on the day of rest, their answers were insightful and reflected how connected they feel to the world.
Many students shared they would swim in the seas with the creatures, climb trees, lie in the grass watching clouds, sleep under the stars or (blankets of eagles wings), and of course eat all the delicious foods.
This week, our stories will continue on the journey and come through the Fall from the Garden of Eden. I'll send you a heads-up when that story is told, as it often is emotional for students. No matter how good it sounds to stay in the paradise of the garden, eyes and ears are hungrily searching for something more. And adults who've been through the garden already know, the desire for knowledge and the path towards individualism are on the horizon.
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