The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block One, Writing - lower case and word families
Day One
~Welcome the Day
Light a candle and recite and sing:
Morning Verse (by Rudolf Steiner)
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 reverence, o God,
The strength of human kind
Which Though, so graciously,
Hast planted in my soul.
That I, with all my might,
May love to work and learn.
From Thee come light and strength;
To Thee rise love and thanks.
For the Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth,For the glory of the skies,For the love which from our birth
Over and above us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight,
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Morning Sun
With joy we greet the morning sun,
Who shines with love on everyone,
Who shines in the sky, on the land and sea,
And who fills me with light
When he shines on me.
Awake
Awake, the sun is shining bright:
He drives away the long, dark night.
The moon and stars have gone to rest
And earth in softest green is dressed.
Now will we opened wide our heart:
Of this great world we all are part,
And if we work, or sleep, or play:
Be with us, golden sun, this day.
Late Summer
Good-bye, good bye to summer!
For summer's nearly done;
The garden smiling faintly,
Cool breezes in the sun,
Our thrushes now are silent,
Our swallows flown away -
But Robin's here in coat of brown,
And scarlet breast knot gay (patch).
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
Oh Robin dear!
Robin sings so sweetly.
Over the Hill and Far Away
Tom he was a piper’s son,
He learned to play when he was young;
But all the tune that he could play
Was ‘’Over the hills and far away’’.
Over the hills and a great way off,
The wind shall blow my top-knot off.
Tom with his pipe made such a noise,
That he pleased both the girls and boys;
And so they stopped to hear him play:
‘’Over the hills and far away’’.
Over the hills and a great way off,
The wind shall blow my top-knot off.
Unconquered Hero of the Skies
Unconquered Hero of the Skies, Saint Michael.
Against the foe with us arise,
Thine aid we pray
The foe to slay,
Saint Michael.
The heavenly banner doest though bear, Saint Michael.
The angels do thine armour wear;
Thine aid we pray
The foe to slay,
Saint Michael.
Great is thy might, strong is thy hand, Saint Michael.
Great o'er the sea, great o'er the land;
Thine aid we pray
The foe to slay,
Saint Michael.
Michael the Victorious
Thou Michael the Victorious,
I make my circuit under thy shield.
Thou Michael of the white steed
And of the bright, brilliant blade!
Conqueror of the dragon,
Be thou at my back.
Thou ranger of the heavens!
Thou warrior of the king of all!
Thou Michael the victorious
My pride and my guide!
Thou Michael the victorious
The glory of mine eye!
Harvest Song
In autumn Saint Michael with sword and with shield,
Passes over meadow and orchard and field.
He’s on the path to battle ‘gainst darkness and strife,
He is the heavenly warrior, protector of life.
The harvest let us gather with Michael’s aid;
The light he sheddeth fails not, nor does it fade.
And when the corn is cut and the meadows are bare
We’ll done Saint Michael’s armour and onward will fare.
We are Saint Michael’s warriors with strong heart and mind;
We forge our way through darkness Saint Michael to find.
And there he stands in glory; Saint Michael we pray,
Lead us on to battle and show us the way.
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Main Lesson
Prepare the new main lesson book:
The title page: WRITING
Child’s name
Write on page one:
LETTERS, WORDS AND SENTENCES
And draw on page two: you favourite memory of this summer
~Story Time
Saint Ailbe(by Abbie Farwell Brown)
This is the story of a poor little Irish baby whose cruel father and mother did not care anything about him. But because they could not sell him nor give him away they tried to lose him. They wrapped him in a piece of cloth and took him up on the mountain side, and there they left him lying all alone on a bush of heather.
Now an old mother wolf was out taking her evening walk on the mountain after tending her babies in the den all day. And just as she was passing the heather bush she heard a faint, funny little cry. She pricked up her pointed ears and said, "What's that!" And lo and behold, when she came to sniff out the mystery with her keen nose, it led her straight to the spot where the little pink baby lay, crying with cold and hunger.
The heart of the kind mother wolf was touched, for she thought of her own little ones at home, and how sad it would be to see them so helpless and lonely and forgotten. So she picked the baby up in her mouth carefully and ran home with him to her den in the rocks at the foot of the mountain. Here the little one, whose name was Ailbe, lived with the baby wolves, sharing their breakfast and dinner and supper, playing and quarrelling and growing up with them. The wolf-mother took good care of him and saw that he had the best of everything, for she loved him dearly indeed. And Ailbe grew stronger and stronger, taller and taller, handsomer and handsomer every day, living his happy life in the wild woods of green Ireland.
Now one day, a year or two after this, a hunter came riding over the mountain on his way home from the chase, and he happened to pass near the cave where Ailbe and the wolves lived. As he was riding along under the trees he saw a little white creature run across the path in front of him. At first he thought it was a rabbit; but it was too big for a rabbit, and besides it did not hop. The hunter jumped down from his horse and ran after the funny animal to find out what it was. His long legs soon overtook it in a clump of bushes where it was hiding, and imagine the hunter's surprise when he found that it had neither fur nor horns nor four feet nor a tail, but that it was a beautiful child who could not stand upright, and whose little bare body ran on all-fours like a baby wolf! It was little Ailbe, the wolf-mother's pet, who had grown so fast that he was almost able to take care of himself. But he was not quite able, the hunter thought; and he said to himself that he would carry the poor little thing home to his kind wife, that she might take care of him. So he caught Ailbe up in his arms, kicking and squealing and biting like the wild little animal he was, and wrapped him in a corner of his great cloak. Then he jumped on his horse with a chirrup and galloped away out of the woods towards his village.
But Ailbe did not want to leave his forest home, the wolf-den, and his little wolf brothers. Especially he did not want to leave his dear foster mother. So he screamed and struggled to get away from the big hunter, and he called to the wolves in their own language to come and help him. Then out of the forest came bounding the great mother wolf with her four children, now grown to be nearly as big as herself. She chased after the fleeting horse and snapped at the loose end of the huntsman's cloak, howling with grief and anger. But she could not catch the thief, nor get back her adopted son, the little smooth-skinned foundling. So after following them for miles, the five wolves gradually dropped further and further behind. And at last, as he stretched out his little arms to them over the hunter's velvet shoulder, Ailbe saw them stop in the road panting, with one last howl of farewell. They had given up the hopeless chase. And with their tails between their legs and their heads drooping low they slunk back to their lonely den where they would never see their little boy playmate any more. It was a sad day for good wolf-mother.
But the hunter carried little Ailbe home with him on the horse's back. And he found a new mother there to receive him. Ailbe never knew who his first mother was, but she must have been a bad, cruel woman. His second mother was the kind wolf. And this one, the third, was a beautiful Princess. For the hunter who had found the child was a Prince, and he lived in a grand castle by a lake near Tipperary, with hundreds of servants and horses and dogs and little pages for Ailbe to play with. And here he lived and was very happy; and here he learned all the things which in those days made a little boy grow up into a wise and great man. He grew up so wise and great that he was made a Bishop and had a palace of his own in the town of Emly. People came to see him from far and near, who made him presents, and asked him questions, and ate his dinners.
But though he had grown so great and famous Ailbe had never forgotten his second mother, the good wolf, nor his four-footed brothers, in their coats of grey fur. And sometimes when his visitors were stupid and stayed a long time, or when they asked too many questions, or when they made him presents which he did not like, Ailbe longed to be back in the forest with the good beasts. For they had much more sense, though they had never kissed the Blarney Stone, which makes one talk good Irish.
A great many years afterwards there was one day a huge hunt in Emly. All the lords for miles around were out chasing the wild beasts, and among them was the Prince, Ailbe's foster-father. But the Bishop himself was not with them. He did not see any sport in killing poor creatures. It was almost night, and the people of Emly were out watching for the hunters to return. The Bishop was coming down the village street on his way from church, when the sound of horns came over the hills close by, and he knew the chase was nearing home.
Louder and louder came the "tantara-tara!" of the horns, and then he could hear the gallopy thud of the horses' hoofs and the yelp of the hounds. But suddenly the Bishop's heart stood still. Among all the other noises of the chase he heard a sound which made him think—think—think. It was the long-drawn howl of a wolf, a sad howl of fear and weariness and pain. It spoke a language which he had almost forgotten. But hardly had he time to think again and to remember, before down the village street came a great gaunt figure, flying in long leaps from the foremost dogs who were snapping at her heels. It was Ailbe's wolf-mother. And it was true.
~Snack Time & Break
~Painting
To paint Baby Ailbe lying on the heather, begin by spreading lemon yellow gently over the entire page, in varying shades, and making sure the page isn’t getting too wet. If you find puddles, either sponge them off gently or leave them for a few minutes to dry.
Now, with golden yellow or a bit of orange in your brush, paint the part of the baby that is above the heather.
Then use a little red for the blossoming heather, then, below that some blue, to create the green shrubs of the heather.
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block One, Writing
Day Two
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
At the end of ‘Welcome the Day’ time, we’ll do some Morning Exercises to practice our skills.
We’ll begin by doing some rhythmic counting today:
Walk around the room in a circle, counting, and stamping with every other number, and calling it out loud.
One, two! Three, four! Five, six! Seven, eight! etc All the way up to 24.
~Main Lesson
Today we are beginning to get to know the children of the letters which we got to know last year.
It’s amazing, how some children look just like their parents - just half the size!
So it is with these letters too:
C's child looks exactly the same as its mother: c
O's child too: o
S: s
U: u
In fact, all the siblings look the same!
We'll write them on page three (and four) now - try to make the children exactly half the size of the parents and see how many little ones there are on each line - some letters will have less children than others (I imagine W, for example, will only fit two or three on its line).
Write, using one line for each letter, all the letter families (4 lines on each page).
C c c c c c
O o o o o
S s s s s s
U u u u u
And draw Baby Ailbe with his beloved wolf mother and cub-brothers.
~Story Time
Remember or reread yesterday's story, then continue:
He recognized her as soon as he saw her green eyes and the patch of white on her right foreleg. And she recognized him, too, how I cannot say, for he had changed greatly since she last saw him, a naked little sun browned boy. But at any rate, in his fine robes of purple and linen and rich lace, with the mitre on his head and the crosier in his hand, the wolf-mother knew her dear son. With a cry of joy she bounded up to him and laid her head on his breast, as if she knew he would protect her from the growling dogs and the fierce-eyed hunters. And the good Bishop was true to her. For he drew his beautiful velvet cloak about her tired, panting body, and laid his hand lovingly on her head. Then in the other he held up his crook warningly to keep back the ferocious dogs.
"I will protect thee, old mother," he said tenderly. "When I was little and young and feeble, thou didst nourish and cherish and protect me; and now that thou art old and grey and weak, shall I not render the same love and care to thee? None shall injure thee."
Then the hunters came tearing up on their foaming horses and stopped short to find what the matter was. Some of them were angry and wanted even now to kill the poor wolf, just as the dogs did who were prowling about snarling with disappointment. But Ailbe would have none of it. He forbade them to touch the wolf. And he was so powerful and wise and holy that they dared not disobey him, but had to be content with seeing their hunt spoiled and their prey taken out of their clutches.
But before the hunters and their dogs rode away, Saint Ailbe had something more to say to them. And he bade all the curious townsfolk who had gathered about him and the wolf to listen also. He repeated the promise which he had made to the wolf, and warned every one thenceforth not to hurt her or her children, either in the village, or in the woods, or on the mountain. And turning to her once more he said:
"See, mother, you need not fear. They dare not hurt you now you have found your son to protect you. Come every day with my brothers to my table, and you and yours shall share my food, as once I so often shared yours."
And so it was. Every day after that so long as she lived the old wolf-mother brought her four children to the Bishop's palace and howled at the gate for the porter to let them in. And every day he opened to them, and the steward showed the five into the great dining hall where Ailbe sat at the head of the table, with five places set for the rest of the family. And there with her five dear children about her in a happy circle the kind wolf-mother sat and ate the good things which the Bishop's friends had sent him. But the child she loved best was none of those in furry coats and fine whiskers who looked like her; it was the blue-eyed Saint at the top of the table in his robes of purple and white.
But Saint Ailbe would look about him at his mother and his brothers and would laugh contentedly.
"What a handsome family we are!" he would say.
~Snack Time & Break
~Knitting
As described.
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block One, Writing
Day Three
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
We’ll do some more rhythmic counting today:
Walk around the room in a circle, counting, and stamping with every other number, and calling it out loud.
One, two! Three, four! Five, six! Seven, eight! etc All the way up to 24.
Now do it backwards:
Begin by calling out 24! Then say 23 more quietly. Call out 22… also, stamp each time you call out loud.
~Main Lesson
V: v
W: w
X: x
Z: z
W w w wV v v v v v
X x x x xZ z z z z z
Write a little verse about St. Ailbe:
SAINT AILBE,
RAISED IN WILD BEAST'S DEN,
LOVES AND PROTECTS
BOTH WOLVES AND MEN.
~Story Time
The Ant and the Dove
An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of drowning. A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging the water plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank. Shortly afterwards a bird catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the Dove, which sat in the branches. The Ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot. In pain the bird catcher threw down the twigs, and the noise made the Dove take wing.
~Snack Time & Break
~Nature Walk
On your walk today, keep an eye out for teasels; you’ll need some for tomorrow’s craft project.
Also, do try and find some blackberries, they are so sweet now!
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block One, Writing
Day Four
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
We’ll do some more rhythmic counting today:
Walk around the room in a circle, counting, and stamping with every other number, and calling it out loud.
One, two! Three, four! Five, six! Seven, eight! etc All the way up to 24.
Now do it backwards:
Begin by calling out 24! Then say 23 more quietly. Call out 22… also, stamp each time you call out loud.
~Main Lesson
There are, of course also families, where the children look very much like the parents - but not completely, they have something almost unnoticeable that is different. So it is with these letters:
K's child is also quite tall (not quite as tall as its dad), but its arm is slightly shorter: k.
P's child is also almost as big as its mum - but it never walks on the same level as her, it walks on a lower path: p.
Y's child does something very similar too, it is tall but walks on a lower path AND it has a slightly bent leg too: y.
I : i
J : j
L : l
Write:
K k k k k kI i i i i i i i
P p p p p pJ j j j j j j
Y y y y y yL l l l l l l l
~Story Time
The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion
The Ass and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.
~Snack Time & Break
~Crafts
Lavender Bag
Decide on a bit of material and the size you want the lavender bag to be. Cut the material twice the required length, fold it in half, turn it inside out and sew along two edges. Now turn it right side out and fill it with lavender (rose petals would also be very nice). To sew up the last seem, turn the two edges into the bag and then sew it up.
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block One, Writing
Day Five
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
We’ll do some more rhythmic counting today:
Walk around the room in a circle, counting, and stamping with every other number, and calling it out loud.
This time, only think the odd numbers – but still call out the even ones:
One, two! Three, four! Five, six! Seven, eight! etc All the way up to 24.
Now do it backwards:
Begin by calling out 24! Then say 23 in your mind. Call out 22, then 21, 20, 19… also, stamp each time you call out loud.
~Main Lesson
The children of the following letters look very different from their parents, although one can still see the family resemblance:
B : b
F : f
H : h
M : m
N : n
Write:
B b b b b bM m m m m m
F f f f f f fN n n n n n n n
H h h h h h
~Retell yesterday’s fable and draw the ass, the fox and the lion.
~Story Time
The Astronomer
An astronomer used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbour ran to the well, and learning what had happened said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on earth?'
~Snack Time & Break
~Beeswax Modelling
Making a lion
Choose some golden yellow or orange beeswax, warm it in our hand and make the familiar egg shape. Draw out the one end for the head and the other for the tail. Now draw out the four legs.
For the mane, take another bit of the same coloured wax and mold a wavy collar for the main and place it around the lion’s neck.
And from another block:
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block Four, Calendar Block
Day Two
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
This block, we will practice our reading skills.
Read from ‘’Mark and his Lamp’’ from ‘’Hay For My Ox’’ by Isabel Wyatt and Joan Rudel.
MARK AND HIS LAMP
A king had ten sons. The last son was still a boy. This was Prince Mark. The king died. He left his land to his ten sons.
But the nine sons who were men said:
‘’Why must we let Mark have a part of the land? He is still a boy.
Let us send him to look for luck in far-off lands.’’
They put a big bag on his back, full of crusts for the way. In his hand they put a big staff, with a steel tip to it. On his feet they put big rag boots.
And they sent him off to look for luck in far-off lands.
Mark set off. He went on and on till four ways met.
He did not know the way to go. So he sat with his back to a tree, and a crust from his big bag in his hand.
A little old man went by. He was bent in two. A lamp hung and swung from his hand.
‘’I wish I had a crust,’’ said the little old man.
‘’Have one, you dear little old man,’’ said Mark.
And he put a crust from his big bag into the old man’s hand.
The little old man sat by Mark, with his back to a tree, and a crust in his hand.
Munch, crunch, went the little old man.
Munch, crunch, went Mark.
‘’How old are you, you dear little old man?’’ said Mark.
‘’Not so old as all that,’’ said the little old man. ‘’Only five hundred years.
‘’Then, you dear little old man,’’ said Mark, ‘’can you tell me the best land to look for luck in?’’
And the little old man told him:
~Main Lesson
Today it’s the turn of the second month of the year: February.
In your drawing, there could still be snow - and, may be some children sledging, or skiing. And, for the grid - remember that February has 28 days - but 29 days every four years, which is called a leap year.
~Story Time
St Nicholas(by Amy Steedman)
Of all the saints that little children love is there any to compare with Santa Claus? The very sound of his name has magic in it, and calls up visions of well-filled stockings, with the presents we particularly want peeping over the top, or hanging out at the side, too big to go into the largest sock. Besides, there is something so mysterious and exciting about Santa Claus, for no one seems to have ever seen him. But we picture him to ourselves as an old man with a white beard, whose favourite way of coming into our rooms is down the chimney, bringing gifts for the good children and punishments for the bad.
Yet this Santa Claus, in whose name the presents come to us at Christmas time, is a very real saint, and we can learn a great deal about him, only we must remember that his true name is Saint Nicholas. Perhaps the little children, who used to talk of him long ago, found Saint Nicholas too difficult to say, and so called him their dear Santa Claus. But we learn, as we grow older, that Nicholas is his true name, and that he is a real person who lived long years ago, far away in the East.
The father and mother of Nicholas were noble and very rich, but what they wanted most of all was to have a son.
They were Christians, so they prayed to God for many years that he would give them their heart's desire; and when at last Nicholas was born, they were the happiest people in the world.
They thought there was no one like their boy; and indeed he was wiser and better than most children, and never gave them a moment's trouble. But alas, while he was still a child, a terrible plague swept over the country, and his father and mother died, leaving him quite alone.
All the great riches which his father had possessed were left to Nicholas, and among other things he inherited three bars of gold. These golden bars were his greatest treasure, and he thought more of them than all the other riches he possessed.
Now in the town where Nicholas lived there dwelt a nobleman with three daughters. They had once been very rich, but great misfortunes had overtaken the father, and now they were all so poor they had scarcely enough to live upon.
At last a day came when there was not even bread enough to eat, and the daughters said to their father:
"Let us go out into the streets and beg, or do anything to get a little money that we may not starve."
But the father answered:
"Not to-night. I cannot bear to think of it. Wait at least until to-morrow. Something may happen to save my daughters from such disgrace."
Now, just as they were talking together, Nicholas happened to be passing, and as the window was open he heard all that the poor father said. It seemed terrible to think that a noble family should be so poor and actually in want of bread, and Nicholas tried to plan how it would be possible to help them. He knew they would be much too proud to take money from him, so he had to think of some other way. Then he remembered his golden bars, and that very night he took one of them and went secretly to the nobleman's house, hoping to give the treasure without letting the father or daughters know who brought it.
To his joy Nicholas discovered that a little window had been left open, and by standing on tiptoe he could just reach it. So he lifted the golden bar and slipped it through the window, never waiting to hear what became of it, in case anyone should see him. (And now do you see the reason why the visits of Santa Claus are so mysterious?)
Inside the house the poor father sat sorrowfully watching, while his children slept. He wondered if there was any hope for them anywhere, and he prayed earnestly that heaven would send help. Suddenly something fell at his feet, and to his amazement and joy, he found it was a bar of pure gold.
"My child," he cried, as he showed his eldest daughter the shining gold, "God has heard my prayer and has sent this from heaven. Now we shall have enough and to spare. Call your sisters that we may rejoice together, and I will go instantly and change this treasure."
The precious golden bar was soon sold to a money-changer, who gave so much for it that the family were able to live in comfort and have all that they needed. And not only was there enough to live upon, but so much was over that the father gave his eldest daughter a large dowry, and very soon she was happily married.
When Nicholas saw how much happiness his golden bar had brought to the poor nobleman, he determined that the second daughter should have a dowry too. So he went as before and found the little window again open, and was able to throw in the second golden bar as he had done the first. This time the father was dreaming happily, and did not find the treasure until he awoke in the morning. Soon afterwards the second daughter had her dowry and was married too.
The father now began to think that, after all, it was not usual for golden bars to fall from heaven, and he wondered if by any chance human hands had placed them in his room. The more he thought of it the stranger it seemed, and he made up his mind to keep watch every night, in case another golden bar should be sent as a portion for his youngest daughter.
And so when Nicholas went the third time and dropped the last bar through the little window, the father came quickly out, and before Nicholas had time to hide, caught him by his cloak.
"O Nicholas, he cried, "is it thou who hast helped us in our need? Why didst thou hide thyself?" And then he fell on his knees and began to kiss the hands that had helped him so graciously.
But Nicholas bade him stand up and give thanks to God instead; warning him to tell no one the story of the golden bars.
This was only one of the many kind acts Nicholas loved to do, and it was no wonder that he was beloved by all who knew him.
Soon afterwards Nicholas made up his mind to enter God's service as a priest. He longed above all things to leave the world and live as a hermit in the desert, but God came to him in a vision and told him he must stay in the crowded cities and do his work among the people. Still his desire to see the deserts and the hermits who lived there was so great that he went off on a journey to Egypt and the Holy Land. But remembering what God had bade him do; he did not stay there, but returned to his own country.
On the way home a terrific storm arose, and it seemed as if the ship he was in must be lost. The sailors could do nothing, and great waves dashed over the deck, filling the ship with water. But just as all had given up hope, Nicholas knelt and prayed to God to save them, and immediately a calm fell upon the angry sea. The winds sank to rest and the waves ceased to lash the sides of the ship so that they sailed smoothly on, and all danger was past.
Thus Nicholas returned home in safety, and went to live in the city of Myra. His ways were so quiet and humble that no one knew much about him, until it came to pass one day that the Archbishop of Myra died. Then all the priests met to choose another archbishop, and it was made known to them by a sign from heaven that the first man who should enter the church next morning should be the bishop whom God had chosen.
~Snack Time & Break
~Knitting
As described.
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block Four, Calendar Block
Day Three
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
This block, we will practice our reading skills.
Read from ‘’Mark and his Lamp’’ from ‘’Hay For My Ox’’ by Isabel Wyatt and Joan Rudel.
Reread yesterday’s pages and carry on.
‘’You must go as far as the wind can blow. You must go as far as the rain can wet. You must go as far as the sea can flow. You must go as far as the sun can run.’’
‘’And how shall I tell when I get as far as that, you dear little old man?’’ said Mark.
‘’This lamp will tell you,’’ said the little old man. ‘’This lamp will go out when you get to the end of your way. Then you must put down roots and grow.’’
‘’Can you show me the way, you dear little old man?’’ said Mark.
‘’Hold up the lamp,’’ said the little old man.
Mark held up the lamp. It lit up the way to the left.
‘’That is the way to the land you seek,’’ said the little old man.
‘’And that is the way you must go.’’
So that was the way Mark went. He went by day; he went by dark.
Not a wink of sleep, not a blink of sleep, did he get. The little old man’s lamp lit up his way.
‘’Jog on, jog on,’’ sang Mark. ‘’I must go as far as the wind can blow. I must go as far as the rain can wet. I must go as far as the sea can flow. I must go as far as the sun can run.
On and on he went, till his big bag had no crusts left in it.
On and on he went, till the steel tip of his staff was worn down to the wood.
On and on he went, till his big hat hung from his head in wisps.
On and on he went, till his big rag boots hung from his feet in
shreds.
And still the little old man’s lamp lit up his way.
He went as far as the wind can blow. He went as far as the rain can wet. He went as far as the sea can flow. He went as far as the sun can run.
And then his lamp went out.
~Main Lesson
The third month of the year is March, and with it comes the beginning of spring. Now the farmers start their work on the fields again, preparing them for sowing and planting - so, may be the drawing could be of a farmer ploughing the field with the help of a horse.
There are 31 days in March.
There is a simple way of reminding oneself of how many days each month has - all you need is your two hands:
Make two fists and look at your knuckles and the 'valleys between them. When there is a knuckle, it’s a month with 31 days, when there is a valley, it has less days (usually 30, except for February).
Begin on your left hand: the knuckle of the pointing finger indicates that January has 31 days, the following valley says that February has less. The next knuckle (middle finger) shows that March has 31 days. The following valley tells us that April has 30 days. Then May with 31 days and June with 30. Now there follow two knuckles with no valley in between, as we switch from the July knuckle of the left hand to the August one on the right hand - yes, both July and August have 31 days. Then it continues with the September valley (30 days), the October knuckle (31 days), the November valley (30) and, finally, the December knuckle.
~Story Time
Recap or reread yesterday's story, then continue:
Now Nicholas used to spend most of his nights in prayer and always went very early to church, so next morning just as the sun was rising and the bells began to ring for the early mass, he was seen coming up to the church door and was the first to enter. As he knelt down quietly to say his prayers as usual, what was his surprise to meet a company of priests who hailed him as their new archbishop, chosen by God to be their leader and guide. So Nicholas was made Archbishop of Myra to the joy of all in the city who knew and loved him.
Not long after this there was great trouble in the town of Myra, for the harvests of that country had failed and a terrible famine swept over the land. Nicholas, as a good bishop should, felt the suffering of his people as if it were his own, and did all he could to help them.
He knew that they must have corn or they would die, so he went to the harbour where two ships lay filled with grain, and asked the captains if they would sell him their cargo. They told the bishop they would willingly do so, but it was already sold to merchants of another country and they dared not sell it over again.
"Take no thought of that," said Nicholas, "only sell me some of thy corn for my starving people, and I promise thee that there shall be nought wanting when thou shalt arrive at thy journey's end."
The captains believed in the bishop's promise and gave him as much corn as he asked. And behold! when they came to deliver their cargo to the owners, there was not a bag lacking.
It is said, too, that at the time of this famine there was a cruel innkeeper in Myra who was wicked enough to catch little children and pickle them in a great tub, pretending they were pork. It happened one day as Nicholas was passing the inn-door that he heard the voices of children crying for help. He went in very quickly and made his way to the cellar whence the cries had come. There he found the poor children, and not only rescued those who were alive, but by his prayers he brought to life those who had already been killed and cast into the tub.
Another time there were two men in Myra who had been unjustly condemned to death, and it was told the bishop how greatly they stood in need of his help. No one ever appealed to Nicholas in vain, and he went off at once to the place of execution. The executioner was just about to raise his sword, when Nicholas seized his arm and wrenched the sword away. Then he set the poor prisoners free and told the judge that, if he dared to deal so unjustly again, the wrath of heaven and of the Bishop of Myra would descend upon him.
There are many other stories told about the good bishop. Like his Master, he ever went about doing good; and when he died, there were a great many legends told about him, for the people loved to believe that their bishop still cared for them and would come to their aid. We do not know if all these legends are true, but they show how much Saint Nicholas was loved and honoured even after his death, and how everyone believed in his power to help them.
~Snack Time & Break
~Nature Walk
Amazingly, the new catkins are already showing on the hazel trees. Hard to believe when, in the mornings, everything is covered in Jack Frost’s tiny little icy needles.
The Holy and the Lowly, Michaelmas Term, Block Four, Calendar Block
Day Four
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Pentatonic Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
Read from ‘’Mark and his Lamp’’ from ‘’Hay For My Ox’’ by Isabel Wyatt and Joan Rudel.
Mark went to the king of that land. The king of that land was little and old.
‘’I think I must be at the end of my way, you dear little old king,’’ said Mark.
‘’I need a boy who is at the end of his way,’’ said the little old king. ‘’But he must be the son of a king.’’
‘’That is just what I am, you dear little old king,’’ said Mark.
He did not look the son of a king, with his worn staff in his hand, and the bag on his back, and his big hat that hung in wisps, and his big rag boots that hung in shreds.
‘’I will tell you if you are the son of a king when you have slept,’’ said the little old king.
So Mark went off to bed. As soon as he put down his head, he slept and he slept and he slept.
Then in went the little old king on tip-toe. Under each of Mark’s four bed-posts, he slid an ivy-leaf. Then out on tip-toe went the little old king. And still Mark slept and slept and slept.
‘’Did you sleep well?’’ said the little old king next day.
‘’So well, you dear little old king, that I did not feel you put me in a fresh bed.’’
‘’But I did not put you in a fresh bed,’’ said the little old king.
‘’Why do you think I did?’’
‘’I will tell you, you dear little old king,’’ said Mark. ‘’ When I sat up to rub the sleep from my eyes, the bed felt less low than the bed I went to sleep in.’’
‘’How much less low?’’ said the old little king.
‘’Oh, a lot, you dear little old king,’’ said Mark. ‘’As much as a flat ivy leaf.’’
Then said the little old king:
‘’That tells me that you are the son of a king. And I will tell you why I need one. I have no son. I need a king’s son, to bring up as my son, to be king of this land when I die. Are you willing?’’
‘’Willing and more than willing, you dear little king,’’ said Mark.
Then he knew that this was the end of his way. And he did as the little old man had told him – he put down his roots and grew.
~Main Lesson
April - we are really into spring now, there could be bluebell woods or daffodils - or there could be some children looking for Easter eggs, and even the Easter hare?
~Story Time
Recap or reread yesterday's story, then continue:
Here is one of the stories which all children who love Saint Nicholas will like to hear.
There was once a nobleman who had no children and who longed for a son above everything else in the world.
Night and day he prayed to Saint Nicholas that he would grant him his request, and at last a son was born. He was a beautiful child, and the father was so delighted and so grateful to the saint who had listened to his prayers that, every year on the child's birthday, he made a great feast in honour of Saint Nicholas and a grand service was held in the church.
Now the Evil One grew very angry each year when this happened, for it made many people go to church and honour the good saint, neither of which things pleased the Evil One at all. So each year he tried to think of some plan that would put an end to these rejoicings, and he decided at last that if only he could do some evil to the child, the parents would blame Saint Nicholas and all would be well.
It happened just then to be the boy's sixth birthday, and a greater feast than ever was being held. It was late in the afternoon, and the gardener and porter and all the servants were away keeping holiday too. So no one noticed a curious-looking pilgrim who came and sat close to the great iron gates which led into the courtyard. He had on the ordinary robe of a poor pilgrim, but the hood was drawn so far over his face that nothing but a dark shadow could be seen inside. And indeed that was as well, for this pilgrim was a demon in disguise, and his wicked, black face would have frightened any one who saw it. He could not enter the courtyard for the great gates were always kept locked, and, as you know, the porter was away that day, feasting with all the other servants.
But, before very long, the little boy grew weary of his birthday feast, and having had all he wanted, he begged to be allowed to go to play in the garden. His parents knew that the gardener always looked after him there, so they told him he might go. They forgot that the gardener was not there just then.
The child played happily alone for some time and then wandered into the courtyard, and looking out of the gate saw a poor pilgrim resting there.
"What are you doing here?" asked the child, "and why do you sit so still?"
"I am a poor pilgrim," answered the demon, "trying to make his harsh voice sound as gentle as possible, "and I have come all the way from Rome. I am resting here because I am so weary and footsore and have had nothing to eat all day."
"I will let you in, and take you to my father," said the child; "this is my birthday, and no one must go hungry to-day."
But the demon pretended he was too weak to walk, and begged the boy to bring some food out to him.
Then the child ran back to the banquet hall in a great hurry and said to his father:
"O father, there is a poor pilgrim from Rome sitting outside our gate, and he is so hungry, may I take him some of my birthday feast?"
The father was very pleased to think that his little son should care for the poor and wish to be kind, so he willingly gave his permission and told one of the servants to give the child all that he wanted.
Then as the demon sat eating the good things, he began to question the boy and tried to find out all that he could about him.
"Do you often play in the garden?" he asked.
"Oh yes," said the child, "I play there whenever I may, for in the midst of the lawn there is a beautiful fountain, and the gardener makes me boats to sail on the water."
"Will he make you one to-day?" asked the demon quickly.
"He is not here to-day," answered the child, "for this is a holiday for every one and I am quite alone."
Then the demon rose to his feet slowly and said he felt so much better after the good food, that he thought he could walk a little, and would like very much to come in and see the beautiful garden and the fountain he had heard about.
So the child climbed up and with great difficulty drew back the bolts. The great gates swung open and the demon walked in.
As they went along together towards the fountain, the child held out his little hand to lead the pilgrim, but even the demon shrunk from touching anything so pure and innocent, and folded his arms under his robe, so that the child could only hold by a fold of his cloak.
"What strange kind of feet you have," said the child as they walked along; "they look as if they belonged to an animal."
"Yes, they are curious," said the demon, "but it is just the way they are made."
Then the child began to notice the demon's hands, which were even more curious than his feet, and just like the paws of a bear. But he was too courteous to say anything about them, when he had already mentioned the feet.
Just then they came to the fountain, and with a sudden movement the demon threw back his hood and showed his dreadful face. And before the child could scream he was seized by those hairy hands and thrown into the water.
But just at that moment the gardener was returning to his work and saw from a distance what had happened. He ran as fast as he could, but he only got to the fountain in time to see the demon vanish, while the child's body was floating on the water. Very quickly he drew him out, and carried him, all dripping wet, up to the castle, where they tried to bring him back to life. But alas! it all seemed of no use, he neither moved nor breathed; and the day that had begun with such rejoicing, ended in the bitterest woe. The poor parents were heartbroken, but they did not quite lose hope and prayed earnestly to Saint Nicholas who had given them the child, that he would restore their boy to them again.
As they prayed by the side of the little bed where the body of the child lay, they thought something moved, and to their joy and surprise the boy opened his eyes and sat up, and in a short time was as well as ever.
They asked him eagerly what had happened, and he told them all about the pilgrim with the queer feet and hands, who had gone with him to the fountain and had then thrown back his hood and shown his terrible face.
After that he could remember nothing until he found himself in a beautiful garden, where the loveliest flowers grew. There were lilies like white stars, and roses far more beautiful than any he had ever seen in his own garden, and the leaves of the trees shone like silver and gold. It was all so beautiful that for a while he forgot about his home, and when he did remember and tried to find his way back, he grew bewildered and did not know in what direction to turn. As he was looking about, an old man came down the garden path and smiled so kindly upon him that he trusted him at once. This old man was dressed in the robes of a bishop, and had a long white beard and the sweetest old face the child had ever seen.
"Art thou searching for the way home?" the old man asked. "Dost thou wish to leave this beautiful garden and go back to thy father and mother?"
"I want to go home," said the child, with a sob in his voice, "but I cannot find the way, and I am, oh, so tired of searching for it!"
Then the old man stooped down and lifted him in his arms, and the child laid his head on the old man's shoulder, and, weary with his wandering, fell fast asleep and remembered nothing more till he woke up in his own little bed.
Then the parents knew that Saint Nicholas had heard their prayers and had gone to fetch the child from the Heavenly Garden and brought him back to them.
So they were more grateful to the good saint than ever, and they loved and honoured him even more than they had done before; which was all the reward the demon got for his wicked doings.
That is one of the many stories told after the death of Saint Nicholas, and it ever helped and comforted his people to think that, though they could no longer see him, he would love and protect them still.
Young maidens in need of help remembered the story of the golden bars and felt sure the good saint would not let them want. Sailors tossing on the stormy waves thought of that storm which had sunk to rest at the prayer of Saint Nicholas. Poor prisoners with no one to take their part were comforted by the thought of those other prisoners whom he had saved. And little children perhaps have remembered him most of all, for when the happy Christmas time draws near, who is so much in their thoughts as Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, as they call him? Perhaps they are a little inclined to think of him as some good magician who comes to fill their stockings with gifts, but they should never forget that he was the kind bishop who, in olden days, loved to make the little ones happy. There are some who think that even now he watches over and protects little children, and for that reason he is called their patron saint.
~Snack Time & Break
~Crafts
Card &Tissue Paper Stars
For this project, you’ll need some card, tissue paper, scissors and some glue.Draw the shape of a star onto card, then draw a double line (either inside or outside the first line. Cut along both lines and glue the star on your chosen colour of tissue paper.Now cut the star out of the tissue paper and put it on your window.
And from another block:
The Holy and the Lowly, Summer Term, Block Four, Arithmetic
Day One
Light a candle and recite and sing:
Morning Verse (by Rudolf Steiner)
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 reverence, o God,
The strength of human kind
Which Though, so graciously,
Hast planted in my soul.
That I, with all my might,
May love to work and learn.
From Thee come light and strength;
To Thee rise love and thanks.
For the Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth,For the glory of the skies,For the love which from our birth
Over and above us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight,
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Summer (by R.W. Emerson)
For flowers that bloom about our feet,
For tender grass so fresh and sweet,
For song of bird and hum of bee
For all things that we hear and see,
Father in heaven we thank Thee.
For blue of streams, for blue of sky,
For pleasant shades of branches high,
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blowing trees,
Father in heaven we thank Thee.
A Slippery, Slithery Snake
I saw a slippery, slithery snake
Slide through the grasses and make it shake.
He looked at me with his beady eye:
''Go away from my pretty green garden,'' said I.
''Ssssss'' said the slippery, slithery snake,
As he slid through the grass and made it shake.
A Cloak for a Fairy
''Spider, spider, what are you spinning?''
''A cloak for a fairy, I'm just beginning!''
''What is it made of, tell me true?''
''Threads of moonshine and pearls of dew!''
''When will the fairy be wearing it?''
''Tonight when the glow-worm lamps are lit!''
''Can I see her if I come a-peeping?''
''All good children must then be sleeping!''
I Wish I Lived in a Caravan
I wish I lived in a caravan
With a horse to draw like a peddler man,
Where he comes from nobody knows,
Nor where he comes from but on he goes.
His caravan has windows two
And a chimney of tin where the smoke comes through,
He has a wife and a baby brown
And they go riding from town to town.
Chairs to mend and delft to sell
He clashes the basins like a bell.
Tea trays, baskets ranged in order,
Plates with the alphabet round the border.
The roads are brown and the sea is green
But his house is just like a bathing machine.
The world is round but he can ride,
Rumble and splash to the other side.
With the peddler man I should like to roam
And write a book when I come home.
All the people would read my book
Just like the travels of Captain Cook.
Saint Christopher
''Carry me Ferryman, over the ford.''
''My boat is my back little boy. Come aboard.
Some men have muscle, and some men have mind,
And my strength is my gift for the good of mankind.''
''Shall I not weigh on you crossing the ford?''
''I've carried a king and his crown and his sword,
A labourer too with his spade and his plough.
What's a mere child to me? Come along now.''
''Ferryman why do you pant at the ford?''
''My muscles are iron, my sinews are cord,
But my back with your burden is ready to break,
You double your weight, child, with each step I take!''
''Ferryman, bearer of men o'er the ford,
Christopher, Christopher, I am your Lord.
My frame may be little, and slender my girth,
But they hold all the sorrows and sins of the earth.
Summer Fun
In summer when the sky is blue
And there’s sunny weather,
We’ll take our suits and get on the bus,
Boys and girls together.
Off to Brighton beach we’ll go,
Jump right in! O-ho! Ho! Ho!
Laughing all together,
Laughing all together.
We climb the rocks, we turn around,
Standing there forever.
Some jump in and some dive down,
Some have courage never.
One-two-three-and off we go
To the water down below,
Splashing all together,
Splashing all together.
All afternoon we swim and dive
Till we’re cold and freezing,
And one by one we straggle out,
Sputtering and sneezing.
Then, at last, toward home we turn,
Faces red and shoulders burnt,
Merrily we’re singing,
Merrily we’re singing.
Off to the Sea (by Klaus Barth)
We are off, we are off
To the sea, to the sea,
To the rolling, rocking sea!
Let us speed along the way,
We must reach the coast today,
And there should be no delay!
For we are goin to the sea finally,
With happy song and jollity!
We are off, we are off
To the sea, to the sea,
To the rolling, rocking sea!
If the sky is overcast,
If the rain beats down so fast,
Yet the sun comes out at last!
For we are goin to the sea finally,
With happy song and jollity!
We are off, we are off
To the sea, to the sea,
To the rolling, rocking sea!
Our jalopy dashes on,
Watch the road and don’t go wrong,
Step on the gas and sing a song!
For we are goin to the sea finally,
With happy song and jollity!
We are off, we are off
To the sea, to the sea,
To the rolling, rocking sea!
Just a mile and round the bend,
Here the journey has an end,
For the sea, the sea, my friend
For we have reached the rolling sea finally,
With happy song and jollity!
~Flute Practice
~Main Lesson
Count Plus and his bags of thousands again… and ten thousands…
827361
293524
545443
316899
+ 172135
------------
------------
59435
83842
12467
15433
+ 71174
----------
----------
69102
78121
4632
5789
+ 25143
----------
----------
~Story Time
This block we will hear Jataka Tales from India, here is the first one:
The Monkey and the Crocodile
A monkey lived in a great tree on a river bank.
In the river there were many Crocodiles. A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son: "My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat."
"How am I to catch a Monkey?" asked the little Crocodile. "I do not travel on land, and the Monkey does not go into the water."
"Put your wits to work, and you'll find a way," said the mother.
And the little Crocodile thought and thought.
At last he said to himself: "I know what I'll do. I'll get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank. He wishes to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived. But he was a stupid Crocodile.
"Oh, Monkey," he called, "come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
"How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey. "I do not swim."
"No, but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile.
The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodile's back.
"Off we go!" said the Crocodile.
"This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Monkey.
"Do you think so? Well, how do you like this?" asked the Crocodile, diving.
"Oh, don't!" cried the Monkey, as he went under the water. He was afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water.
When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked. "Why did you take me under water, Crocodile?" he asked.
"I am going to kill you by keeping you under water," answered the Crocodile. "My mother wants Monkey-heart to eat, and I'm going to take yours to her."
"Why did you take me under water, Crocodile?" he asked.
"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I might have brought it with me."
"How queer!" said the stupid Crocodile. "Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?"
"That is what I mean," said the Monkey. "If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it. But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first."
"No, Monkey," said the Crocodile, "I'll take you straight back to your tree. Never mind the ripe fruit. Get your heart and bring it to me at once. Then we'll see about going to the island."
"Very well," said the Monkey.
But no sooner had he jumped onto the bank of the river than, whisk! up he ran into the tree.
From the topmost branches he called down to the Crocodile in the water below:
"My heart is way up here! If you want it, come for it, come for it!"
~Snack Time & Break
~Painting
Saint Jerome
Give the page a lemon yellow wash, a stronger shade at the top, where the halo is, and in the corner where the lion is lying. Then paint Saint Jerome’s blue robe in a sitting position, with his arms on his lap. Make a bit of brown for his hair and book on a piece of scrap paper and paint those and his shoes. Then paint the hill and grass he is sitting on with Prussian blue on top of the yellow, carefully avoiding the lion.
The Holy and the Lowly, Summer Term, Block Four, Arithmetic
Day Two
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
Reading Practice – This block, it is up to you to choose the book you want to practice in. Maybe you can go to the library and find an interesting looking book – or, maybe there is one on your own shelf that you have been meaning to read for a while. Read for five or ten minutes every day.
~Main Lesson
Sir Minus
9786
-5432
---------
---------
8643
-123
---------
---------
5643
-2515
---------
---------
7531
- 6420
--------
--------
9476
- 3469
--------
--------
Remember yesterday’s story and make a drawing of it – maybe a crocodile, or a monkey in a tree, or even both?
~Story Time
Remember and continue yesterday’s story:
The Monkey soon moved away from that tree.
He wanted to get away from the Crocodile, so that he might live in peace.
But the Crocodile found him, far down the river, living in another tree.
In the middle of the river was an island covered with fruit-trees.
Half-way between the bank of the river and the island, a large rock rose out of the water. The Monkey could jump to the rock, and then to the island. The Crocodile watched the Monkey crossing from the bank of the river to the rock, and then to the island.
He thought to himself, "The Monkey will stay on the island all day, and I'll catch him on his way home at night."
The Monkey had a fine feast, while the Crocodile swam about, watching him all day.
Toward night the Crocodile crawled out of the water and lay on the rock, perfectly still.
When it grew dark among the trees, the Monkey started for home. He ran down to the river bank, and there he stopped.
"What is the matter with the rock?" the Monkey thought to himself. "I never saw it so high before. The Crocodile is lying on it!"
But he went to the edge of the water and called: "Hello, Rock!"
No answer.
Then he called again: "Hello, Rock!"
Three times the Monkey called, and then he said: "Why is it, Friend Rock, that you do not answer me to-night?"
"Oh," said the stupid Crocodile to himself, "the rock answers the Monkey at night. I'll have to answer for the rock this time."
So he answered: "Yes, Monkey! What is it?"
The Monkey laughed, and said: "Oh, it's you, Crocodile, is it?"
"Yes," said the Crocodile. "I am waiting here for you. I am going to eat you."
"You have caught me in a trap this time," said the Monkey. "There is no other way for me to go home. Open your mouth wide so I can jump right into it."
The Monkey jumped.
Now the Monkey well knew that when Crocodiles open their mouths wide, they shut their eyes.
While the Crocodile lay on the rock with his mouth wide open and his eyes shut, the Monkey jumped.
But not into his mouth! Oh, no! He landed on the top of the Crocodile's head, and then sprang quickly to the bank. Up he whisked into his tree.
When the Crocodile saw the trick the Monkey had played on him, he said: "Monkey, you have great cunning. You know no fear. I'll let you alone after this."
"Thank you, Crocodile, but I shall be on the watch for you just the same," said the Monkey.
~Snack Time & Break
~Knitting
As described.
The Holy and the Lowly, Summer Term, Block Four, Arithmetic
Day Three
~Welcome the Day
(as on day one of this block)
~Flute Practice
~Morning Exercises
Reading Practice
~Main Lesson
Lord Times, too, can do his multiplying by placing his numbers and bags of numbers on top of each other.
14Here we say two times four first = eight
X 2then we say, two times one = two
----so, the answer is 28.
----the eight goes exactly under the four and the two under the one.
Try these:
12
X 2
----
----
11
X 2
----
----
21
X 2
----
----
23
X 2
----
----
11
X 3
----
----
~Story Time
The Merchant of Seri
There was once a merchant of Seri who sold brass and tin-ware. He went from town to town, in company with another man, who also sold brass and tin-ware. This second man was greedy, getting all he could for nothing, and giving as little as he could for what he bought.
When they went into a town, they divided the streets between them. Each man went up and down the streets he had chosen, calling,
"Tin-ware for sale. Brass for sale." People came out to their door-steps, and bought, or traded, with them.
In one house there lived a poor old woman and her granddaughter. The family had once been rich, but now the only thing they had left of all their riches was a golden bowl. The grandmother did not know it was a golden bowl, but she had kept this because her husband used to eat out of it in the old days. It stood on a shelf among the other pots and pans, and was not often used.
The greedy merchant passed this house, calling, "Buy my water-jars! Buy my pans!" The granddaughter said: "Oh, Grandmother, do buy something for me!"
"My dear," said the old woman, "we are too poor to buy anything. I have not anything to trade, even."
"Grandmother, see what the merchant will give for the old bowl. We do not use that, and perhaps he will take it and give us something we want for it."
The old woman called the merchant and showed him the bowl, saying, "Will you take this, sir, and give the little girl here something for it?"
The greedy man took the bowl and scratched its side with a needle. Thus he found that it was a golden bowl. He hoped he could get it for nothing, so he said: "What is this worth? Not even a halfpenny." He threw the bowl on the ground, and went away.
By and by the other merchant passed the house. For it was agreed that either merchant might go through any street which the other had left. He called: "Buy my water-jars! Buy my tin-ware! Buy my brass!"
The little girl heard him, and begged her grandmother to see what he would give for the bowl.
"My child," said the grandmother, "the merchant who was just here threw the bowl on the ground and went away. I have nothing else to offer in trade."
"But, Grandmother," said the girl, "that was a cross man. This one looks pleasant. Ask him. Perhaps he'll give some little tin dish."
"Call him, then, and show it to him," said the old woman.
As soon as the merchant took the bowl in his hands, he knew it was of gold. He said: "All that I have here is not worth as much as this bowl. It is a golden bowl. I am not rich enough to buy it."
"But, sir, a merchant who passed here a few moments ago, threw it on the ground, saying it was not worth a halfpenny, and he went away," said the grandmother. "It was worth nothing to him. If you value it, take it, giving the little girl some dish she likes for it."
But the merchant would not have it so. He gave the woman all the money he had, and all his wares. "Give me but eight pennies," he said.
So he took the pennies, and left. Going quickly to the river, he paid the boatman the eight pennies to take him across the river.
Soon the greedy merchant went back to the house where he had seen the golden bowl, and said: "Bring that bowl to me, and I will give you something for it."
"No," said the grandmother. "You said the bowl was worthless, but another merchant has paid a great price for it, and taken it away."
"It is a golden bowl."
Then the greedy merchant was angry, crying out, "Through this other man I have lost a small fortune. That bowl was of gold."
He ran down to the riverside, and, seeing the other merchant in the boat out in the river, he called: "Hallo, Boatman! Stop your boat!"
But the man in the boat said: "Don't stop!" So he reached the city on the other side of the river, and lived well for a time on the money the bowl brought him.
~Snack Time & Break
~Nature Walk
Scarlet Poppies are giving the fields their lovely, cheerful benefit, and Rabbits coming out of their warrens holding their little pink noses up high, to catch the scent in the breeze.
Looking up, through the leaves of a tree, with the sunlight dappling and the blue sky smiling down on me, still brings me that joyous feeling, like butterflies in my tummy. Pleasure!
The birds are so quiet and settled, I feel. Their calls definitely have a cooing quality today. The breeze among the leaves is louder than the birds, and the buzzing of the bees too.