One of the things found in essentially every Waldorf classroom (as well as many homes with children attending Waldorf schools or homeschooling with Waldorf influence) is a Jahreszeitentisch, or rather a Seasons or Nature table.
This table usually displays little scenes, typical of the current season, often using animals and figures (made out of wood, felt, etc.), gemstones, as well as leaves, flowers, nuts brought in from outside. As far as I understand it, it's partly there to connect the children with nature, with the season. In my opinion it helps them become more aware of the passage of time, and how the world changes around them.
(Helen of Curly Birds, making a guest post at Sarah's blog, Moon Child, seems to be saying similar things. You can head over there for some more pictures of an autumn nature table.)
It also allows them to contribute to a part of the classroom. They can bring in something they found outside. Just this past week, a student brought in a stone that he had found for the seasons table.
In late summer, when my students made little hedgehogs out of the clay and wood chips they found outside, they were displayed on the seasons table. In fall as horse chestnuts fell in droves, many horse chestnuts wandered onto the table.
During advent, leading up to Christmas, our advent calendar consisted of each day a child opening a figure for the nativity on our seasons table. This was always met with eager anticipation--who would get to open the package and what would it be? It started out fairly empty...
but by the end it got quite full!
Having a Seasons Table has also given me new motivation to be crafty..In the summer, while visiting F's parents, I made a little raspberry girl, with a beaded raspberry basket. Here was the first display after Christmas.
Last week I made a snow queen. (Recycling highlight: her body was made in part out of the paper tube that holds produce bags from our Aldi as well as some old nylons).
I also just crocheted a Fliegenpilz (fly agaric mushroom). The stem was using some more of that paper tube from Aldi :).
And here's the blackboard picture that gets changed each day (as long as I remember..they're good at reminding me :) ):
(Helen of Curly Birds, making a guest post at Sarah's blog, Moon Child, seems to be saying similar things. You can head over there for some more pictures of an autumn nature table.)
It also allows them to contribute to a part of the classroom. They can bring in something they found outside. Just this past week, a student brought in a stone that he had found for the seasons table.
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