D A I L Y // R H Y T H M for July 31st // W E E K 04
Celebrate the first harvest sabbat with friends at Camp Mansfield. To honor the first harvest, we will find Lammas on the wheel of the year and discuss similarities between the eight seasonal holidays and the other major holidays we are familiar with and celebrate. We will bake bread to break bread and discuss the importance of community.
Did you know the word companion has Latin origins meaning 'with bread' and that 'breaking bread' is a common phrase for describing gathering with friends? Check out the itinerary below!
itinerary
- Arrival + CIRCLE TIME 9-9:30am // Verses, songs and movement games in the backyard. I mentioned duck, duck, goose to a few of the kids recently and quite a few friends perked up, we didn’t have time to play that day but I’m on a mission to corral everyone for a serious game of this nostalgic favorite.
- MORNING FREE PLAY 9:30-10:30am // We will have blankets spread out in the grass, building blocks, books and a curated morning basket. Below are a few books that I’ve drawn inspiration from in creating family and community rituals. The Wheel of the Year by Fiona and Jessica is one of the most straight forward guides to the magick of nature’s cyclical energy. It’s an illustrated guide meant for children but I find the imagery and fundamental nature of the text to be easily digestible and organized. This is a newer addition to my library and it has become one I refer to quite often!
- STORY TIME 10:30am // We jumped ahead a little last week and read the Cat and Mouse story I had selected for this week. I may try my hand at a felt story board and retell this story, it’s such a lovely portrayal of community and helping others. In my own life, I am being challenged to rely on others for support and I love how this story reminds us that it’s okay to ask for help. Something beautiful may come from such an act of vulnerability and there is such beauty in those connections - even though they might make us uncomfortable at first.
- GUIDED ACTIVITY 10:30-11:30am // Wheel of the year crafts. We will bring out chalk during story-time and I’ll have materials prepped for some activities from the Earth Child’s Handbook.
- FREE PLAY + LUNCH PREP 11:30am // Wander and mingle until lunch is served. Help with lunch, continue crafting or do your own thing. Browse the morning basket for activities and books.
- LUNCH 12:30pm // Salad and bread. We can make sandwiches with freshly baked bread or chomp it with butter and make salads with garden treasures. Because it will be the eve of Lammas, the first of the harvest sabbaths, I’d really love to sit down for an intentional, organized meal. I think the kids really appreciate being involved in special meals and menu planning that can commonly be reserved for the adults. We can craft a magical mocktail that everyone can delight in for a celebratory toast.
- QUIET TIME 1-3pm // Naps for littles. Older children to assist in afternoon reset and set-up art table. Child-led art to last until about 4pm.
- ART until 4pm // Child-led art. During this time, art supplies will be provided for undirected creating. Kids will be free to cut, color, paste, pipe, calligraph, paint and play to their hearts content. For many people, when they think of art, they think of a finished product, such as a museum painting or a sculpture. But art is also a process, and when working with young children, art experiences should focus on the process rather than the finished product.
- SNACK 4pm // Melon madness. I don’t know about you, but some of the most vibrant memories of my childhood involve watermelon. Racing my cousins to devour quarters of watermelon with our hands tied behind our backs, smashing our faces into the oozing red and green crescents. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to successfully grow any kind of melon in my garden and unfortunately, we’re not going to have melon races but I’ll definitely grab some from the market and we can enjoy the taste of summer.
-AFTERNOON FREE PLAY + Departure until 5pm // After snack we will tidy up and play freely until departure.
As always, take what you like, leave the rest. Adapt it. Bop it. Bang it. Whatever.
Next week we will be on vacation! I've been brainstorming all the beachy crafts and books. I'll share the fun stuff that's a hit.