| Come join me. . . Let's play with the Children! On this page you will find... 2nd – 3rd Grade Waldorf (Rudolf Steiner) School Circle Songs and Activities Below is a collection Waldorf Circle songs, verses and activities that have been shared with me over the years when I would visits schools to perform the 2nd Grade Screenings (in the Extra Lesson method). There is also a Waldorf teacher / Steiner teacher nightly meditation in an MP3 format free to download or listen to from your computer. In Waldorf Schools, the circle time is an important time for class community building, memory formation (through verse and movement), bodily integration / developmental healing, and basic skills review. Circle is designed to be fun and connecting for the students and teacher. Enjoy!
(Waldorf class teachers meditate on each of their students every night as Rudolf Steiner recommended, and parents are often surprised to find that a teacher understands their child as well or better than they do.)
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Click on the title of the activity below to either activate the Circle MP3 down loadable to copy or to simply listen to the activity being performed from your computer, wherever you are. *** -sing- "I wake myself to greet the day to see, to hear, to work and play!" Repeat multiple times with tapping or rubbing on various body locations or parts, beginning with head and working down to feet. End with clapping hand to elbows, followed by own hands to partner's hands. For students prone to dyslexic tendencies add with the song: - Lift navel slightly with one hand and rub below the ends of the collarbones (K27's) with the other hand. Switch hands and repeat. (for students with right left switching problems or who switch "d" and "b".) - Lift navel slightly with one hand and rub the top and bottom lips with the other hand. Switch hands and repeat. (for students with above below switching problems or who switch "b" and "p".) - Lift navel slightly with one hand and rub the tailbone with the other hand. Switch hands and repeat. (for students with front and back switching problems.) (with hand gestures) Firm and strong I build my house With shinning windows looking out Straight and tall the chimney stands The roof above is holding hands A window to the left A window to the right A garden round with flowers bright I open a door and so let out Some friends who like to…. (hop about, skip about, crawl about, caterpillar about, etc.) and those friends are wearing … (poke-a-dots today, red today, stripes today, etc.) Once around the circle and return to your place. (touch each finger tip to thumb in turn from index finger to pinky finger. Once time through in front of body, one time through above head and one time through in front of body with arms crossed at wrists. This is similar to "Hello/Good-bye" from the Extra Lesson) Chip, Chop, Chip, Chop Choppers with their choppers chop Chip, Chop, Chip, Chop Choppers with their choppers chop On oaks and larches and beeches too Their axes gaily ring And when they ring so merrily So merrily they sing. Partners to Ten Students walk forward in the circle ten steps, counting as they go, one step per count to 10 Pause, 0 backwards Walk forward 9 steps, one count per step to 9 Pause, clap one backward with no counting, one clap per backward step Walk forward 8 steps, one count per step to 8 Pause, clap 2 backward steps, one clap per backward step (2) Walk forward 7 steps, one count per step to 7 Pause, clap 3 backward steps, one clap per backward step (3) Walk forward 6 steps, one count per step to 6 Pause, clap 4 backward steps, one clap per backward step (4) Walk forward 5 steps, one count per step to 5 Pause, clap 5 backward steps, one clap per backward step (5)…cont. until clapping back 10x (with hand gestures and small partnered dance for honey bee section) One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. Two for the night and day. One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. Three for me for here I find Strong lips, dear heart and clear true mind And two for the night and day. One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. Four for the seasons slowly turning Three for me for here I find Strong lips, dear heart and clear true mind And two for the night and day One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. Five for the stars so brightly burning Four for the seasons slowly turning Three for me for here I find Strong lips, dear heart and clear true mind And two for the night and day One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. (wait…assign honey comb, honey bee ) Six for the honey comb on the bee hive Bring that sweet sweet honey to me And five for the stars so brightly burning Four for the seasons slowly turning Three for me for here I find Strong lips, dear heart and clear true mind And two for the night and day One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. One, two, three, four, five, six, Seven for the wonders of the of the sun for the days at thirty past five Six for the honey comb on the bee hive Bring that sweet sweet honey to me And five for the stars so brightly burning Four for the seasons slowly turning Three for me for here I find Strong lips, dear heart and clear true mind And two for the night and day One for the golden sun. One for the golden sun. One for the golden suuuunnnnnn. Intuitive Times Tables All students sitting in a circle with eyes open or eyes closed. Teacher chooses a times table. One at a time and only one student speaking, the times table is counted forward and backward with no two students saying the answer at the same time. Students listen for a silence and then take turns speaking one answer at a time when they feel or intuit it is their turn to say a product. Game starts over if two students speak at the same time or if one student says more than one. Pez Game Teacher chooses a times table. Students then count around a circle. 1,2,3,4,5 and when a product of that times table is reached, the student instead says “Pez” and sits down. For the 3s table it would sound like: 1….2…. Pez….4…..5….Pez…..7….8…Pez and with each Pez, the Pez student sits, leaving the remaining students to come to a product on their own as the game cont. around the circle. Biz, Buzz, Bop, Doodley-Doo This is a counting game. Biz is said instead of the 2s tables, Buzz instead of the 3s times tables, Bop for the 5s times tables and Doodley-do for the 7 times tables. In third grade other made-up still words can be used for the 4s, 6s, 8s and 9s. Begin with just a Biz game and the 2s times tables. Sounds like each students saying one as it goes around the circle: 1… Biz…3… Biz… 5…. Biz…(up to 2x12) Then add the 3s time tables also: 1…. Biz…. Buzz…. Biz…..5…. Biz-Buz…..7…..Biz…Buzz…Bizz…11…(up to 3x12) Then as the students get good at this, add the 5s times table 1…. Biz…. Buzz…. Biz…..Bop…. Biz-Buz…..7…..Biz… Buz….Biz-Bop….11…(up to 5x12) Then as the students get good at this, add the 7s times table 1…. Biz…. Buzz…. Biz…..Bop…. Biz-Buz…..Doodley-doo ...Biz… Buz….Biz-Bop….11…Biz-Buzz….13…..Biz-Doodley-Doo …(up to 7x12) Eye Tracking – Lazy 8s (2nd grade) To the poem: Acorn and Oak by Paul King Right thumb up on extended right arm out in front making sideways figure 8s and eye tracking thumb nail to verse (watch children to see that eyes, not heads, are tracking the thumb nail): “Oh I’ll never be big,” the acorn said
As it gazed on high to the oak tree tall,
“I’m little and round as a miller’s thumb,
I’ll never be big, I’ll always be small.”
Left thumb up on extended left arm out in front making sideways figure 8s and eye tracking thumb nail to verse (watch children to see that eyes, not heads, are tracking the thumb nail): The oak tree smiled a knowing smile,
“My trunk is thick, and my roots are deep,
My branches and twigs spread high and wide,
For birds to nest in, and bugs to sleep.
Both thumbs up and crossed on extended arms out in front making sideways figure 8s and eye tracking crossed thumbs to verse (watch children to see that eyes, not heads, are tracking the thumbs): But I was an acorn too on a time,
- ‘Oh I’ll never be big, I’ll never be strong,’-
That’s what I thought many years ago...
And, dear little acorn, you see I was wrong!” Eye Tracking – Lazy 8s (3rd grade) To the poem: Lovely Things by H.M.Sarson Right thumb up on extended right arm out in front making sideways figure 8s and eye tracking thumb nail to verse (watch children to see that eyes, not heads, are tracking the thumb nail): Bread is a lovely thing to eat -
God bless the barley and the wheat!
Left thumb up on extended left arm out in front making sideways figure 8s and eye tracking thumb nail to verse (watch children to see that eyes, not heads, are tracking the thumb nail): A lovely thing to breathe is air -
God bless the sunshine everywhere!
Both thumbs up and crossed on extended arms out in front making sideways figure 8s and eye tracking crossed thumbs to verse (watch children to see that eyes, not heads, are tracking the thumbs): The earth’s a lovely place to know -
God bless the folks that come and go!
Alive’s a lovely thing to be -
Giver of life - we say - bless Thee! Centering Verse This is good for transitions or when the class needs to be "hauled in", just say,"Dip, dip, dip.." Dip Dip Dip My blue ship Sails along the water Like a cup and saucer Dip dip steady: I am ready!!! (at this point, all supplies are either taken out or put away, ready for the transition to whatever is next) Reinforcing Verse (for the end of circle time with hand gestures) We are truthful and helpful And loving in trust For our heart's inner sun Glows brightly in us. We will open our hearts To the sunbeams so bright And we'll fill all the world With our heart's inner light. Other Common Verses for the Home: Bedtime Verses: Angel of God who is guarding me Be Thou a bright flame before me Be Thou a shining star above me Be Thou a smooth path below me Be Thou a kind shepherd behind me, Today, Tonight and Forever. Angel of God my guardian dear
To whom God's love entrusts me here
Ever this day be at my side
to light and guard
to rule and guide. Amen. Bless my pillow, Bless my bed
Bless me please from feet to head
Watch over me while I play
Keep me safe each and every day. O God! Guide me and protect me Make me a shining lamp and a brilliant star Thou art the mighty and the powerful
Angel of God R. Steiner
Angel of God who is guarding me
Be thou a shining light above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a good shepherd behind me
Today and tonight
When the stars are shining bright
and forever..... . Common Lunch Verse: Blessings on the blossom. Blessings on the fruit. Blessings on the leaf and stem. Blessings on the root. Common Dinner Verse: Before the flour the mill Before the mill the grain Before the grain the sun and rain The beauty of God's will Please email your additions to this page if you would like to add to the sharing... Email: Lori@yourfullpotential.net Phone: (808) 987-3928 | 
