With 2024 behind us, we're taking a moment to look back at the month of December. From engaging nature walks to festive crafts, our students embraced the holiday spirit while continuing to explore new ideas in the classroom. It was a month of warmth, creativity, and celebration at Acorn School.
The Blue Jays had a wonderful time creating their advent spirals and crafting Waldorf stars, adding their own special touch to these traditional decorations.
They also worked hard on their Spanish language skills, practicing new words with the help of engaging stories. Their enthusiasm for learning was evident in everything they did this month.
"[The children] did really well practicing their Spanish words with the stories" - Ms. Emily
The highlight of the month for the younger classes was our Winter Solstice Festival, a beautiful celebration of the changing seasons and the arrival of winter. The children created traditional Waldorf crafts, including Waldorf stars and clay spirals.
These hands-on activities allowed them to explore the seasonal changes in a creative way. The children have also been loving the stories, with some even acting out the narratives during free playtime. It’s heartwarming to see their imagination flourish as they bring the stories to life.
“These crafts required a lot of focus and attention but the kids did so well.” - Ms. Olivia
Last month, the Owls class had the opportunity to dive into the enchanting world of The Family Under the Bridge by Garth Williams. The children thoroughly enjoyed the story, bringing it to life through beautiful paintings during their narration practice.
For nature study, they explored evergreen trees, hibernation, and the transition from autumn to winter. The children also shared treasures they collected on our nature walks at the farm, fostering a deeper connection to the world around them.
The class responded enthusiastically to their December artist, Hokusai, and enjoyed learning about the musical genius of Mozart. It was a month of artistic and intellectual growth for our Owls.
"Everyone did some show-and-tell of different treasures they collected on our nature walks at the farm... It was a great month!"
Our Winter Solstice Festival, held at Mother Nature Farms, was a truly magical event. The children and families came together to celebrate the season with a heartwarming story, festive crafts, songs, and games.
The highlight of the event was the beautiful traditional pine spiral, which created a truly memorable experience for all who attended. It was a wonderful celebration of the changing of seasons, and we are so grateful for the community that came together to share in this special moment.
Our December outing was held at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. Our Acorn School families gathered to enjoy the beautiful holiday lights as a part of the annual Riparian After Dark event held by the town of Gilbert.
It was a lovely opportunity to connect with each other and celebrate the holiday season. We had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to our next outing!
