One common Waldorf circle time story is 'The Little Red Hen'. In this story, the hen does all the work of growing and harvesting wheat while the other animals decline to help, but then want to share the bread at the end. Another could be 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff', which teaches about facing challenges as the goats cross the bridge over the troll. And 'The Gingerbread Man' is also often told, with its exciting chase and the moral about being too confident.
Waldorf circle time stories can enhance children's imagination. When they listen to these stories, they picture the characters and settings in their minds. For example, in the story of 'The Little Red Riding Hood', kids can imagine the dark forest and the big bad wolf.
The concept of star money in Waldorf circle play is really interesting. Let's say the story goes like this. There was once a little girl in a Waldorf school. One day, she found a piece of star money while playing in the circle. She didn't know what it was at first. But as she held it, she felt a strange warmth. She showed it to her teacher, and together they started to explore the mystery of the star money. They discovered that it had special powers. It could make plants grow faster in their little garden at school. So, they decided to use it to make their school environment more beautiful. They planted more flowers and trees, and with the help of the star money, the garden flourished. The other children were amazed and learned about the importance of taking care of nature and the magic that can be found in simple things like the star money in their Waldorf circle play.
One way is to make the star money a reward. For example, in the story, the children complete certain tasks in the Waldorf circle play, like singing a song in harmony or sharing toys nicely, and they are given star money as a reward. Then they can use the star money to 'buy' special privileges, like choosing the next game or getting an extra snack.
In Waldorf education, Waldorf Old Testament stories are often taught through storytelling. The teacher may use vivid language and gestures to bring the stories to life for the students. For example, when telling the story of David and Goliath, the teacher might act out how David bravely faced the giant with just a sling and a stone.
Introducing Old Testament stories in the Waldorf curriculum usually happens when students have sufficient background knowledge and emotional readiness. This could be in the middle school years, as they are better equipped to handle the complexity and depth of these stories and engage in meaningful discussions about their significance.
A circle time story is a story told during circle time. Circle time is a period when people, often children in a classroom or a group setting, sit in a circle. The story can be educational, like teaching about kindness or animals. It can also be just for fun, to engage the group and encourage interaction.
One example could be 'The Three Little Pigs' felt story. You can use felt pieces to represent the pigs, the houses, and the big bad wolf. Another is 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. Felt can be used to make Goldilocks, the bears, and the different sized items in the bears' house.
Some popular circle time stories for preschoolers are 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. It's a simple and colorful story about a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. Another one is 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?' which has repetitive phrases that kids can easily follow and join in. 'Goodnight Moon' is also great as it has a soothing rhythm for winding down.
Perhaps a 'Waldorf Horror Story' involves a mysterious figure that was seen lurking in the hallways of a Waldorf hotel. People reported seeing a shadowy form but when they got closer, it disappeared. This led to a lot of unease among the guests.