Afterschooling in January

Are you a parent looking for some holistic after school activities for your children? Our Waldorf-Inspired January Afterschooling Program is just what you need to create a beautiful month together.

Week One, January Sheep's Wool, Warmth (New Years)

~ Read Stories of Wool and Warmth
~Bake a Twelfth Night Cake(for detailed ideas on celebrating Three Kings Day
this week see our Three Kings EBook)~Create Your Own Felt Out of Sweaters
~Share Verses and Songs with the Children
~Implement Some New Ways to Create Warmth
in Your Home or School
~Create a Winter Woolen Playscape for Your Children
~Learn the Knit and Purl Songs on Your Pennywhistle or Flute
and Enjoy the MP3
~Read About the Benefits of Saunas and Put
Together an After-Sauna Snack
~Create a Felt Crayon Holder for Your Block Crayons
~Meditate on Warmth and What it Means in Our Lives

Week Two, January
Animals in Winter, Deep Rest

~Read Stories of Animals and Hibernation
~Share Songs and Poetry with Your Children
~Track Wildlife Prints Outdoors
~Draw Beautiful Animals with Your Beeswax Crayons
~Learn the Pentatonic Song 'Deep Rest' on Your Home
Instrument and Enjoy the MP3 Version
~Create and Drink Restful Herbal Tea
~Make a 'Ta i Tre' Touch Wood with the Children
~Meditate on What Deep Rest Means Can Do for
Your Life this New Year

Week Three, January
Snowflakes, Tolerance

~Read Stories of Snowflakes and Peace
~Share Verses and Song to Welcome the Snow
~Study Snowflakes Up Close
~Teach Children the Beauty of Diversity and Tolerance
~Make Pancake Snowmen for Breakfast
~Create Snow Lanterns Outdoors
~Learn 'Little Flakes of Snow' on Your Pennywhistle or
Flute and Enjoy the MP3
~Create Beautiful Snowflake Fairies to Hang
Over Your Nature Space
~Make a Batch of Winter Burritos to Warm Their Bellies
~Create a Peace Pole for Your Home or School
~Weave Diversity on a Handmade Cardboard Loom
~Meditate on Tolerance and the Beauty of the
Difference that have Blessed Your Life

Week Four, January
Ice, Forgiveness

~Read Stories of Ice and Forgiveness
~Go Outside and Look for Icicles
~Share Songs and Verses of Ice
~Talk about Forgiveness with Your Children
~Create a Beautiful Ice Medallion with Nature Items
~Learn the 'Icy Icicles' Song on Your Home Instrument
and Enjoy the MP3
~ Create Ice Blocks and Light Them Up!
~ Make Ice Paintings with the Children
~ Craft Ice 'Scrumbles' by Learning Freeform Crochet
~Make Frozen Banana Treats
~Meditate on Forgiving Yourself, Others and
Past Experiences as You Begin a Fresh New Year

Little Jack Frost - Winter Circle Time Verse

Little Jack Frost went up the hill, 

Watching the stars and the moon so still -

Watching the stars and the moon so bright

And laughing aloud with all his might.

Little Jack Frost walked through the trees;

"Ah," sighed the flowers, "we freeze, we freeze!"

"Ah," sighed the grasses, "we die, we die!"

Said little Jack Frost, "Goodbye, goodbye."

Little Jack Frost tripped 'round and 'round 

Spreading much snow on the frozen ground,

Nipping the breezes, icing the streams,

Chilling the warmth of the sun's bright beams.

January Preschool/Kindergarten At-Home Program

January Preschool/Kindergarten At-Home Program

Photographer: Heidi Fraser

FOUR Weeks of Blessings, Verses, Nature Walks, Crafts, Book Recommendations, Teacher's Classroom Work Ideas, Story Time Prop Ideas, Blackboard Drawing Ideas, Recipes, Children's Meditations, Caregiver Meditations, Outdoor Suggestions, Stories, Fingerplays and More!

Please note that our At-Home Kindergarten Guides are a Non-Academic Program Inspired by the Waldorf Philosophy of Education, as well as other Holistic Educational Methods.

Week One, January
Sheep's Wool, Warmth

Week Two, January

Animals in Winter, Deep Rest

Week Three, January

Snowflakes, Tolerance

Week Four, January
Ice, Forgiveness

Morning Blessing* Circle Time* Blackboard Drawing* Morning Talk Suggestions* Weekly Story with Puppet Show Ideas* Daily Activity* Teacher's Classroom Work* Nature Walk* Children's Meditation* Outdoor Play* Mealtime* Rest Time* Caregiver Meditation* Evening Routines* Bedtime Story and Blessing*

This program was designed for homeschooling parents, teachers or childcare providers who wish to share the joy of nature with the children in their care and create a healthy rhythm to their day. It is ideal for mixed-aged situations with ideas for both young and older children included.

While our curriculum is not religiously oriented, Little Acorn Learning does honor a Creator in many of the verses, songs and blessings that we use. We celebrate many seasons and festivals, with an emphasis on Christian saints and holidays. We encourage you to weave your own traditions and customs into the program to make it work best for your program.

January Preschool & Kindergarten Lesson: Hibernation

In our January Preschool & Kindergarten Program, we have so many fun ways to learn about warmth and hibernation:

Talk to your child about hibernation 

and the fact that when the cold 

weather comes some animals hide and 

sleep through the entire winter. 

Help your children make a fun indoor fort out of all the 

blankets, pillows and cozy things you can find! Invite a few 

well-loved stuffed toys or your child’s favorite dolls to have a 

make pretend sleepover party. Or make an Igloo outdoors!  This requires a lot of work but the children will remember it for a lifetime!

January 2019 Caregiver's Calendar is Available

The January 2019 Caregiver's Calendar is here! And yes.. it really is only $2 for a month-full of ideas and inspiration. 

(Photography by my dear friend, Marianne Frost)

Our Caregiver's Calendars are filled with important dates, festival celebrations, colors/grains for the day, full moon dates and a daily inspirational idea and suggestion for each day of the year inspired by Waldorf Education while weaving in many traditions and holidays. This calendar is a wonderful peek into Little Acorn Learning's ideas and philosophy and will help you create a more peaceful and mindful home or school!