Waldorf schools promote creative thinking, problem-solving, organic living, respect for nature, and respect for others. So you will see all sorts of interesting things going on in a Waldorf school – gardening, knitting, breadmaking, woodworking, painting, singing, and all sorts of activities. Familiar as I am with the school, though, sometimes I still get taken aback by some of the things even the youngest children are encouraged to try.
One day last week when I went to pick up Liam, I saw his teacher coming across the play yard towards the back porch. In her hand she had a large hand drill. The bit on this drill was about a foot long, and an inch across. I must have given her a funny look, because she looked at me, then glanced down at the drill and said, “Oh, yes! The children wanted to have maple syrup with their muffins, so we tapped a tree.”
I guess maple sugar candy is on next week’s kitchen activity?
Now that’s a dedicated teacher!
Mmmm…. fresh maple syrup…
Wow, do they actually have sugaring facilities there? Because trying to make maple syrup in a regular kitchen can take the paint/wall paper right off the walls because of the amount of water boiled off (it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup). It should be a fun activity for the kids in any event!
that teacher rocks the universe!
the waldorf school here is forty minutes drive from our place compared with the school up the road (2 mins) – i know, i am such a pragmatist.
cos if it was closer i think we’d be super keen.
especially if the teacher drilled for maple syrup… X
What an amazing school (and teacher)! I don’t think we have anything like that where we live at all. It would be so incredibly refreshing though, and such an amazing opportunity to really learn. Liam must absolutely love it!
See, that’s the kind of experiences I want my daughter to have. Thanks for a quick peek into the day of a Waldorf School. It’s amazing what can be done when there’s no state test to cram for! I just wrote a post myself about Waldorf School and how I’m thinking of sending my daughter to one.