Following on from the imaginative introduction to Grammar in term two – where the children went on a journey with Anna and Otto to Grammar Island – we looked more consciously at the rules and structure that underpin the children’s experience of both the spoken and written language in the study of Grammar. Just as our building main lesson explored the blocks that can be put together to make houses, here we discovered the blocks that underpin the structures of language. The children participated in re-enactments, games, drawing activities and written work that was derived from either the story or from things that certain children had discovered in the previous day’s activities.
We then ventured back into the ancient Hebrew tales. During this Main Lesson, the children had the opportunity to practice their cursive handwriting, write their own drafts and learn how to edit their own writing through the use of dictionaries and other writing tools. Like the children of Israel, the children of Class 3 have many things to learn on the way. Story after story describes how the individual stands in life to realize and serve that which is greater than him or herself. The wanderings of the Hebrews in the desert, their endless quarrels, fears and uncertainties strike an inner chord with their own stage of development. The child may feel him or herself as separate from the rest of the world and this sense of separate identity is reflected in the Hebrew stories – the Jewish peoples search for their own identity and place of dwelling in the world. As the children during Class 3 experience the first awakening of self to individuality, they can begin to take conscious responsibility for their own behaviour. Developmentally, this can be a difficult transition for many children as they must learn to reconnect with the world through learning about it and through working in it.
Working, working and working, is just what Class 3 is doing! They have been working so hard this term with their first whole class violin performance at the String concert. Amazing effort and grace they held. They have also been working very hard in Craft, venturing into the unknown world of crochet with Kamala and Johanna. Thank you to their dedicated and inspiring teachers, Kym, Janelle and Jacquie as well as Kamala and Johanna, for all the preparation, encouragement and support that goes into your lessons with the children. I would like to also extend a huge thank you to all the other teachers who support the learning of the children – Sean (music), Dot (library), Alison (movement program), Jacqui and Fiona (learning support).
Lastly, we will be living into the daily rhythms that define the sequence of events during our day. As the 9 year old child is drawn more deeply into the earthly measured world in which they must work and live, it is an appropriate time to learn about the measurement of time. As well as working with stories, the children are making various kinds of clocks and learning how we read the time today. What a juicy main lesson this one is, we have already had many interesting discussions about the sun, the stars, the moon, planets, our solar system, constellations, seasons, months, birthdays, hours, minutes, seconds, the list goes on….The children are loving this main lesson and are currently very engaged and busily working away at making their very own calendar.
Next term we will be preparing for our camp to Marrook Farm – another big, working and learning adventure that provides us the opportunity to reconnect with the world and each other, and the cows!
Spring blessings to all,
Michele
