 How Does Daily Wonder Approach History and Geography? We get asked this important question often, as we are a Canadian-based company with members worldwide. So, how exactly do we approach subjects that are location specific? We Follow the Waldorf Developmental Approach Waldorf pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching) informs us that a child is developmentally ready to sink into the lessons of history and geography around the age of nine or ten. Around this time, your child gets a sense of time. Before that, there was much dreaminess in how they saw the world. Once they can understand the past, present, and future, they're ready to grasp history. At the same time, around the age of nine or ten, they develop the ability to have a 'bird's eye' view, which means that they can now have an inner picture, an imagining, that they're above, looking down on a landscape. This new ability allows them to draw maps and be ready for geography lessons. Delivering curriculum content at an age-appropriate time gives the child the best opportunity to receive lessons deeply and appreciate and be excited about what they are learning. In Grade Four, we start with very local geography, beginning with the geography right in and around your home. We then slowly and methodically expand outwards, and your child will start by drawing maps, such as the familiar route to their friend's house or favourite park. After that, the unit will continue to expand from your neighbourhood to your city, into your province or state. Each monthly unit will guide parents to integrate Indigenous values and knowledge about the land they live on. As mentioned, Daily Wonder has students all around the world, so when it comes to learning about your specific province/state in Grade 4, and country, in Grade 5, we provide step-by-step guidance as to what aspects of history and geography you'll bring to your child each week of the unit. You, the parent, or teacher, will then research and gather the information necessary to share with your child or learning pod students. And with Daily Wonder, each week is laid out so you can prepare with ease.  Regarding teaching about the continents, Grade 6 covers North America and Europe, and Grade 7 covers Africa and Asia. If you live on a continent not covered in the Daily Wonder curriculum, you can take ideas from any of the continental studies and adapt them to your needs. So, you can see, Daily Wonder begins formal history and geography studies in Grade 4, with mapmaking skills starting in your child's bedroom, and slowly and steadily expands outward over the grades to cover continental geography in Grades 6 and 7. Parents are held with a lot of care and support and guided as to how, what, and when to research. Since Daily Wonder typically does all the planning for you, in these three units (local, provincial/state and country geography units), we've included a comprehensive breakdown of topics to cover along with website links to help you find suitable material. In the preceding units there are reminders about these upcoming history/geography units and what work needs to be done. It may take 1-2 weeks to prepare for a history/geography unit, and we suggest using the built-in flex week to finish much of this work. Always know that Daily Wonder is here for you! Our teachers are available to answer questions and offer reassurance when needed. Teaching history and geography is so rewarding; as adults, we often learn new things about the land we live on. Researching and preparing for these three units will be enriching and often a re-education for ourselves! Trust the Wonder. SampleCurious about what Parent Preparation entails? Check out this sample from our Grade 5, The Wonder of My Country unit. 
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The essential elements of a Waldorf Kindergarten are not the specific activities (baking, painting, etc.) but should reflect the underlying philosophy of Waldorf-inspired kindergarten: It's play-based, non-academic, and nature-inspired. The kindergarten-aged child (and even the 3-4-year-old) learn through imitation, open-ended creative play, movement, music, stories, artistic activities and purposeful work. Your role as the parent is to form the daily and weekly rhythm, create lots of opportunity to learn and play, and build your relationship with your child. Daily RhythmHere are some daily activities which support the needs of young children:
Here is an example of a daily rhythm: 7am: Morning Routine Wake up, get dressed, make bed, eat breakfast, clean up, brush teeth and hair. 8am: Opening Song Sing your opening song. This song is perfect for a young child: Opening Song: Good Morning Dear Earth Good morning dear earth, Good morning dear sun, Good morning dear trees, And the flowers everyone. Good morning to the bees And the birds in the trees. Good morning to you, And good morning to me. Opening Verse After, light a candle and then recite an opening verse together. This is a great example: Kindergarten Opening Verse: The earth is firm beneath my feet, The sun shines bright above. And here I stand, So straight and strong, All things to know and love. 8:15am: Free Play (inside) On “bread days,” during this time, you can make the bread dough with your child for baking later on. On “soup days,” you can use this time to have your child help chop the vegetables for the soup. 9am: Clean-up Use a verse to help with the transition from free-play to clean-up to circle time. Clean-up Transition Verse: Tick Tock goes the clock; What does it have to say? Time for us to pick up our toys And put them all away. 9:10am: Circle Time Circle time can include a series of seasonal songs, verses, gestures, and movements your child imitates. It's best to repeat the same circle activities every day for two weeks until your child knows every song and gesture by heart, creating pathways in the brain for mastery. Lavender's Blue has wonderful circle time resources: 9:30am: Snack Time Have your child help you cut up fruit and vegetables. Then, when you sit down at the table, light a candle and recite: Mealtime Blessing: Earth, who gives to us this food, Sun who makes it ripe and good, Sun above and earth below, Thanks for all that you bestow. 10am: Outside Time Before you head outside, on “bread days” and “soup days,” put your bread in the oven or turn your soup on to simmer, so they’re ready to eat for lunch. It's important to go outside every day, rain or shine, snow or mud. As the saying goes, "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing." So investing in proper outdoor gear for all seasons is vital to successful outside time. You want to ensure that they have lots of opportunities for physical activity. Things like climbing, building and digging. Opportunities for heavy outdoor work like lifting boards, logs and stumps. Let them climb high up in trees and get themselves down again. If you live near a playground, playing on all the equipment is an important opportunity to develop specific capacities and body knowledge. While they are playing outside, you can do other meaningful work, like raking leaves, sweeping or gardening. This way, you are near, giving them space to live fully into their imaginations. and providing activity worthy of imitation. 11:30am: Transition to Inside Sing the following song to help with the transition: Transition Song: Come follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me! Wither shall I follow, follow, follow, Wither shall I follow, follow, follow, thee? To the greenwood, To the greenwood, To the greenwood, follow me! Have children hang up their coats and neatly put away their shoes. Have them wash their hands and come to the table for lunch. 11:45am: Lunch Just like at snack time, have your child help with lunch preparations. As part of the broader weekly schedule, it helps children understand the days of the week and have a sense of time if their lunchtime food is the same each day. So, for example, Monday is bread day, Tuesday is rice day, Wednesday is soup day... Once seated at the table, light your candle and recite: Mealtime Blessing: Earth, who gives to us this food, Sun who makes it ripe and good, Sun above and earth below, Thanks for all that you bestow. 12:15pm: Story Time Clean dishes, put away food, and then transition to storytime. Use a verse to indicate that it's now story time. Here's one example that the Preschool and Kindergarten teachers used to sing in our Waldorf school: Story Time Song: Anything can happen In a fairy tale or rhyme, When you hear the words, Once upon a time, Once upon a time. 12:45am: Rest Time Children need to rest during the day. Depending on your unique home environment, this could look like: napping, lying down while you play a gentle instrument, a child reading quietly to themselves etc... 1pm: Artistic Activity To transition from rest time to art time, you could recite a verse or have a particular fairy gently "wake your child up" and guide them to the table to aid in the transition from rest to a table activity. Your child needs to have artistic opportunities. This will be different for every family, but some examples are: watercolour painting, and modelling with beeswax or clay or even mud. Having things like fibres around them so that they can finger knit or card wool or whatever it is that works for your family. 2pm: Closing Just as important as the opening verse, after you have cleaned up from your artistic activity, mark the end of the Kindergarten day with a closing verse. Here's our favourite: Closing Verse All my doing is now ended, What I have done will rest. If I have done my best, Wisdom and power and love will grow. And I will bless all people I know. 3pm: Afternoon Snack Follow the closing verse with an afternoon snack. Stick to the ritual of lighting a candle and reciting a verse. 3:30pm: Afternoon activities
Weekly Rhythm
Seasonal RhythmIn addition to your daily rhythm and weekly rhythm, you will also want to create a seasonal rhythm. Here are some examples with the Canadian west coast in mind: AutumnThe Fall is a time of bounty, harvest and community. In the Autumn, our daily rhythm, and celebrations can reflect the seasonal human experience of coming together and reaping the rewards of hard work. Festivals & Celebrations:
Activities:
WinterWinter is a time of introversion, stillness and reflection. During Winter our activities, celebrations and daily rhythm can reflect the seasonal human experience of curling up or moving toward the inner most part of ourselves. Festivals and Celebrations:
Activities:
SpringSpring is a time of emergence, rebirth, renewed hope and growing warmth. Spring activities, celebrations and daily rhythm can reflect the seasonal human experience of opening up like a bud blossoming into a flower. Festivals and Celebrations:
Activities:
SummerSummer is a time of outer expansion, playfulness and bursting energy. Summer activities, celebrations and daily rhythm can reflect the seasonal human experience of bursting forth with renewed purpose, excitement and vigour. Festivals and Celebrations
Activities
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BlogExplore schedules, rhythms & routines, songs, music, festivals, free play, meals, projects & more to support your homeschooling program.AuthorThe Wonder Squad Categories
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