Workshop work in waldorf education
Modeling, woodcarving, talc stone work, and I work with copper
In Waldorf schools, manual work and handicraft subjects are given an important role within the whole teaching as a whole. This is based on the principle that these activities, in the background, they also develop skills that help structure their thinking: “He who knows how to move his fingers correctly also has flexible ideas and thoughts, and can penetrate into the essence of things ".
Thus manual activities prepare man to put his will into action even to think.
Among the activities carried out in the Waldorf school are: clay modeling, wood carving, talcum stone work, and copper work.
Deep interior experiences children receive through the completion of work in these workshops: expectation, disappointment, ira, resignation, meditation, surprise, new hopes, new efforts of will, intense joy in creative activity.
But emotional participation does not remain only on the psychic plane, but it penetrates to the physical, up to the fingers, fully participating both body and soul.
Sweet oranges
“like every season, Infant students from the Waldorf School in Alicante have been able to experience the harvest of oranges. Kids, teachers and parents enjoyed a nice sunny morning in the field of a former teacher and founder of the school.
First thing in the morning everyone was very excited.: “Let's go on a big bus!” For some little ones it was their first time… And being already there, in addition to collecting many delicious oranges, Boys and girls spent their time in endless outdoor activities. While some explored the environment, they caught ball bugs and other tiny animals or gathered pine cones, sticks and stones to increase your collection; others ate the sweet oranges, They made beautiful bouquets of flowers to give to their parents., They climbed trees or waited their turn to swing on one of the three swings..
back to school, everyone came back exhausted, thirsty and hungry, Even though they all had lunch together in the field, they haven't stopped all day! Backpacks and baskets were overflowing and hearts were full of beautiful memories that were difficult to forget..
Thanks to Ana's generosity, who year after year opens his house to us and welcomes us with so much affection, We can continue enjoying this beautiful experience.”
It all starts in your hands…
Crafts at the waldorf school.
By Johanna Fernandez Martinez. school craft teacher.
What our present coexists as a constant, sometimes without measure, so many visual stimuli, the screens, etc. Definitely, a technological scenario with an excessive use added to the fact that even the clothes we wear are made with synthetic fibers, the food we eat is chemically synthesized and even the materials of our children's toys. For so much, It is logical that these questions appear:
So what our senses perceive is misleading? the child who comes into this world with that desire to know, Is that relationship with the Earth in danger??
Manual activities and the subject of the Waldorf curriculum since the creation of the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart in 1919, has today more than ever, a relevance in the pedagogical work with children.
It is through contact with noble materials such as cotton, wool and wood, products of nature with appropriate activities, will be able to use their hands, his feeling and his thinking in the creation of useful and beautiful objects, developing a bond of respect and veneration for the Earth.
It is when the child makes "something" that he can use, for example the case of his flute, can be linked to a human instance that would otherwise be outside of their cognitive experience.
In textbook class it all starts when your hands are put in motion to get a job done from start to finish., taking all the necessary steps. An apprenticeship that undoubtedly balances his entire personality; awakens the thought of dreaming children, favors activity in children with difficulties to develop their will and in very intellectual children it moves the feeling. This is the great challenge of the teacher.
If you liked it and you want to delve deeper into this wonderful world, stay tuned that in the next post we open a window to the classroom of First class.
Fourth class station table:
Stars in the sky
flowers on earth
everyone in the center
spring has arrived
first class crafts
My hands have five fingers
that help me play
but at homework time
how do they know how to work,
Right hand, left hand
always willing to help
one comes to the other
And the work will begin
Another proposal of the year in a First Class is the realization of a cover for the flute. Its function to store and transport something, bear a weight, just like the earth holds us.
First class at the open house.
Open day: fifth class.
From two-dimensional to three-dimensional space with the main job of making socks. Children of this age experience a transition between the first and second passage through the Rubicon. It is the first work that takes the body itself as a guide in carrying out the task.
Carnival in our school
At the Alicante Waldorf School we have been celebrating our particular Carnival for several days. Last Friday the children of infantile, together with some families, they enjoyed the day of the services; they worked as carpenters, washers and cooks. And the maternal children toured the classrooms with their peculiar costumes.
Meanwhile, in Primary, It was celebrated on Shrove Tuesday and the children had fun representing their carefully prepared carnival plays. In them there were Vikings, fairies, in years, warriors and all kinds of mythological and extraordinary characters. Here you have a small sample.