Waldorf Opening & Closing Verses
The first step of the Daily Wonder morning lesson incorporates verses, poetry, songs and intentional movement. It is recommended that you begin the day standing with your child and allow each component to flow together, much like a circle time would.
The opening verse acknowledges that the morning lesson is officially beginning. Instead of simply calling your kids to the learning space to begin the day, we build the experience of reverence by using verses, poetry, and songs to signal the start of your lessons. Singing each day enhances connection and offers a lovely balance to individual recitation. By including poems connected to the seasons, your child becomes connected to the cycle of nature through their feelings. Poems and songs connected to the unit theme enliven the topic of study and support our artistically integrated method. Encourage your child to memorize the poems. Recitation builds memory, vocabulary, the strength of individuality, and opportunities to practice oral language features such as intonation, pace, and volume. The goal is that by the end of the unit, your child will share the poem by heart. The experience of a Daily Wonder lesson is creative and reverent. Just as your opening verse creates a special moment to acknowledge that the morning lesson is beginning, your closing verse marks the closing of this part of the homeschool day. Participating in a closing verse, poem, or song is a meaningful and beautiful way to honour all the work and learning that has just taken place.
All Daily Wonder units include suggested opening and closing verses, unit-themed songs, poetry and intentional movement. As always, Daily Wonder encourages you to teach the child in front of you and change anything that doesn't suit your child's frame of reference. Below are some opening and closing verses to get you started or to use in place of what's suggested.
Opening Verses
Welcome the Day
Morning has come, Night is away, Rise with the sun, And welcome the day. All things to know and love The earth is firm beneath my feet, The sun shines bright above. And here I stand, âSo straight and strong, All things to know and love.
âThe Sun with Loving Light
(Typical Opening Verse for Grades 1-4) The Sun with loving light Makes bright for me each day, The soul with spirit power Gives strength unto my limbs, In sunlight shining clear I do revere, oh world, (or God, up to youâ¦) The strength of humankind, Which Thou so graciously Has planted in my soul, That I with all my might, May love to work and learn. From Thee stream light and strength To Thee rise love and thanks. I Look into the World (Typical Opening Verse for Grades 5-8) I look into the world Wherein there shines the sun Wherein there gleam the stars Wherein there lie the stones The plants the live and grow The animals they feel and live And humans to Spirit give A dwelling in the soul I look into the soul That living, dwells in me Lifeâs spirit lives and weaves In light of sun and soul In heights of worlds without In depths of soul within To thee oh Spirit of Earth (or Spirit of Godâ¦) In seeking, turn myself That strength and grace and skill For learning and for work In me may live and grow I place Myself Steadfastly into existence (Grade 7 & 8 verse) I place myself steadfastly into existence. With certainty, I tread the path of life. Love I nurse in the core of my being. Hope I lay in all my doing. Confidence I impress into my thinking. The Golden Sun (Grades 7 & 8 verse) The golden sun so great and bright Warms the world with all its might. It makes the dark earth green and fair, Attends each thing with ceaseless care. It shines on blossom, stone and tree, On bird and beast, on you and me. Oh, may each deed throughout the day, May everything we do and say Be bright and strong and true, Oh, golden sun, like you. Closing Verses
âI am Going Out into the World
I am going out into the world I will watch my ways I will act from a place of goodness I will recognize the bad things Because my heart will tell me Guide Your Way Home May the long-time sun Shine upon you, All love surround you, And pure light within you, Guide your way home. âMay Wisdom Shine Through Me May wisdom shine through me, May love glow within me, May strength permeate me, That in me may arise A helper of humankind A server of holy things, Selfless and true. Kind Words and Kind Deeds Kind hearts are gardens, Kind thoughts are roots. Kind words are blossoms, Kind deeds are fruit. Take care of your garden, And keep out the weeds. Fill it with sunshine Kinds words and kind deeds. To Finish What I Start Light be in my thought, Love be in my heart, Strength be in my will To finish what I start. Brave and True I Will Be Brave and true I will be Each kind word sets me free Each kind deed makes me strong I will fight for the right I will conquer the wrong Of My Thoughts, Words and Deeds My hands have been busy My heart is now full; The garden I planted Has flourished and grown. So too in the harvest Of life may I reap The well-ripened fruits Of my thoughts, words and deeds. Tend with Care Your mind is a meadow To plant for your needs; You are the farmer, With knowledge for seeds. Donât leave your meadow Unplanted and bare, Sow it with knowledge And tend it with care. My Brother, Good Morning: My Sister, Good Night The moon on the one hand, The dawn on the other: The moon is my sister, The dawn is my brother. The moon on my left And the dawn on my right. My brother, good morning: My sister, good night. All My Doing Now Has Ended All my doing now has ended, What I have learned may rest. When I have done my very best, Wisdom, love, and strength may grow, And I shall bless all those I know. Poetry
Poetry is a beautiful way to give your child a sense of individuality. It strengthens their speech, develops their memory, and gives them a great feeling of perseverance.
Please see The Waldorf Book of Poetry, which contains a free .pdf 110-page book of poems for children.
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