Wheel of the Year

I'm starting with Lughnassadh since most school years begin in August. I know this is not when most people would say the year begins but for me it makes sense that this is when the school year should start. Lughnassadh is traditionally the time when new apprenticeships are set and business deals are struck. An older student might check with a local college to see if they have a small business association and look at what classes they might be offering (hey, sometimes they're free). A younger student might want to see if they can volunteer somewhere new or do a report on a particular job they think is interesting. This has also always been a time when races were held. Sounds like a good idea to me :) How about a race to see who can kick a huge bouncing ball the farthest, a three legged race (if you have enough people), or an egg race. You only need two spoons and a couple of eggs for that one.

 Soon after Lughnassadh, in September is Harvest Home (or one of any number of names for a harvest festival). This is the time that I grew up making corn dollies. This is a great project for most kids to work on. Even the littlest child can usually manage to help shuck corn to dry. Some people make these at Lughnassadh instead, but it's up to you. Older students might prefer some of the other things that took place during this time of year such as quilting bees (maybe you can both learn something new), haymowing contests (might need to borrow an extra lawnmower for this one!) or making a new broom for the household. Smaller children can decorate a broom that can be gotten at a crafts store using odds and ends from around the house (so can you if you're pinched for time or wanting a shortcut).If you think about this time of year you probably think about cornucopias, wreaths made of autumn leaves and large meals. Kids might have fun finding out what the history of the cornucopia is if they don't already know. Maybe they can make one.

For more on projects for this time of year check out http://www.earthwitchery.com/lammas.html

Samhain is a big holiday. It's also a lot of fun and there's always lots to do during this time of year. Most kids go trick or treating and dress up for the holidays. They may bob for apples or any number of fun things that all have their origins in ancient times. This is a great time to talk with kids about your beliefs as well as recap what's happened in the past year, both personally and around the world. Discuss the history of Halloween. Make up stories to tell around a campfire or late at night (they don't have to be scary if the children are too little). What are the best shapes for a Jack O'Lantern (geometry)? There's so much to do this time of year and it is all so much fun! My favorite sites for this time of year are http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween/

                                                     http://www.benjerry.com/halloween/

                                                     http://www.holidays.net/halloween/muertos.htm

  (This one is actually Day of the Dead, but can be adapted pretty easily)

These are websites that fit well with teaching the wheel of the year and the rythyms of nature. The Waldorf method is considered by many to be particularly well suited to teaching this. Also the Oak Meadow school, while it is not a religiously based school is based very much on nature.

http://www.naturenet.com

Many different resources for those interested in teaching using a nature based curriculum.

http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/science.html

Some very cool links. Mostly science based, but not all of them are and there are more links to the right based on subject.There's really a lot of stuff useful to homeschoolers here.

http://www.councilofelrond.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Crafts&file=index

This site is actually a fan site for the Lord of the Rings movies, but it has some fantastic ideas for use around the home and (of course!) is very nature oriented.

http://www.dreamseeker.org/vol01/issue02/article02.html

This site has some good ideas for what a family can do during each part of the year.

Yule holidays focus on family and fun. There's lots of baking, visiting with friends and family and the reminder that there is warmth all around us. Singing songs (for pagan Yule carols try http://members.tripod.com/~Willow_Firesong/Frames/botFrame.html) , burning a Yule log or candles if you can't do an entire log, telling stories about past family events and possibly the history of the holiday are just starters. Read (or have your child read out loud to the family) classic holiday stories. This is great for those reading skills and can actually be a lot of fun. When making all those baked goods have the kids help out and get them to do a bunch of the measuring. This is a great way to help them learn everything from how to measure (in the early ages) to fractions (as they get older). An older student may also be able to look up some of the chemical processes needed for all those baked goods to become fluffy.

Check this site out for more on Yule...

http://www.crystalforest3.homestead.com/Yule.html

Imbolc is just made for kids from my point of view. The litle girl who wears a crown of lights going to each member of the family to bring them sweet cakes or the little boy who playfully torments the members of the household until they are led by him to wherever the household candles are blessed...every child has a part to play in the day. It's a pretty traditional thing to make sweet cakes (usually with some saffron in them) for this time of year. Have your children help to make cinnamon bread or you can look up a recipe for saffron sweet cake and see what you find. This is a great way to learn more about other countries.

If you want to use a crown like the one I mentioned use a child safe one like those sold here (these are St. Lucia crowns, but there are a lot of similarites in the celebration. St. Lucia's Day is Dec. 13th)

http://www.hemslojd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=HEM/CTGY/xmas_lucia

If you want more information on the saint's day check it out here (I really wonder about the story behind this one...hehe) There's also a recipe for the saffron bread here.

http://www.post-gazette.com/food/20011206saintlucia1206fnp2.asp

Spring Equinox or Oestara is a perfect time to let kids dye eggs using natural dyes or get creative making Russian style eggs. The older kids can go one step further by researching the chemical processes of the dye or the history of Russia and the eggs they make. It's really a very interesting one. You can get more information on natural egg dyes here http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/easter/natural.htm or the Russian decorated eggs here (along with a bunch of really interesting information on the mystical egg and it's history)

http://www.mystical-www.co.uk/eggs.htm

May is when many students, at least the ones who take time off during the summer, begin thinking more of having time off than schoolwork. Even when you're homeschooling many things may slow down during the summer even if you school year round. There may not be as many group trips or friends may leave for vacations with their parents.

May Day or Lady's Day or however it may be termed is usually celebrated March 31st or May 1st. Up until the last few decades seeing a Maypole erected and kids playing May games was not an unusual thing. Leaving May baskets are still sometimes left at the home of a loved one. You can have your children help to "bring in the May" a little if you happen to be in an area where you can pick flowers or other items to use in a garland. I like honeysuckle vines for this. If they like they can also make their own "flowers". For small flowers use 6 squares of tissue paper about 4-6" each (must be equal legnth to each other). Staple the centers and have your child scrunch each individual layer up towards the center just a little bit. Soon you will have a "flower" these can then be glued onto picture frames, other craft projects, or a shoe box to use as a May basket.

For more on May Day ideas go to:

http://www.preschooleducation.com/amayday.shtml

June is the time for summer solstice. Our favorite thing to do is to go to the beach or a lake for the day and have a picnic lunch. Grab some sand while at the beach and bring it home. You can make a Midsummer candle using objects you find on the beach or on the lakeside (make sure they're small). You could possibly even do this in a sandbox. Have your child dig a shallow circular hole into the sand about the width  of your hand. Have some candle wax standing by in a double boiler (or you can use two pots stacked on top of each other with water in the bottom one). If you're outside you can use a camp stove to heat this. Please be safe and keep it out of your child's reach. Wax can scald! Let your child choose a crayon to use for color...I'd suggest a cheap crayon pack for this. Once the child has dug the hole have him/her stand back so they don't accidentally get burned. Weigh a wick (can get at a hobby store) down with a #2 washer or poke it into the sand with a finger. Tie the top of the wick to a pencil or dowel rod and place across the top of the hole so it doesn't fall in. Pour the wax with your child standing well away in safe area. Go play somewhere for a day or so while the wax cools. Come back the next day and it will probably have shrunk. For this project that's ok. Heat up a little of the wax to pour in to even it out if you wish or leave as is. You can either have your child glue shells and other items to the top of the candle (on the top edges so that the candle flame won't catch anything on fire) or have your child place shells, pine needles or whatever onto the top before doing a second pouring of the wax.

For other ideas that you might be able to use try going to http://www.dilsworth.com/serenity/pagankids.html It's mostly aimed at ideas to use with younger kids for celebrating the different sabbats, but definitely worth a look.