Michaelmas in the Nursery

Well it has been quite awhile since I posted to this blog. But now I am called to start writing posts again. I have finally become a full time lead Nursery teacher with my own class at a Waldorf School and have completed both the Level I and II training at Sophia's Hearth for Childcare Birth to 3 and 3 to 7. The children I teach are aged 18 months to 3 years. By then end of the year sometimes, some may have turned 4 years old. This is my second year teaching this program. I have ten children. We just finished celebrating Michaelmas. I was not comfortable bringing the little ones to the all school play so I created a celebration in the classroom. in lieu of our circle time, for three days starting on Michaelmas (September 29) I offered the children a puppet play adapted to their developmental stages. Here is what I wrote and performed. I m sorry I forgot to take photos of the play setup Michaelmas Puppet Play for toddlers The boy knew he must go out in search of fire. The boy did not want to go out in the dark and the cold. But he looked upon his sleeping feverish parents and knew that he must. So he put on his coat and his hat and his gloves and boots and out he went. He walked into the forest and went deeper and deeper and deeper. He came to a clearing where there were no trees and looked up at the sky. There in the heavens he saw the stars shining bright. Oh I wish with all my might that you would send down your fiery light. And the stars in the sky heard him and raced down to the earth and made a big fire in the center of the clearing. But this woke the sleeping dragon nearby who came out growling and snarling. I am the keeper of fire and light and the stars shall not give this to you. And the dragon planted herself firmly in front of the glowing fire. “Oh whatever shall I do,” said the boy. “I cannot fight this dragon. I am so small and weak.” And the boy thought he heard a song, “Micha-el, Micha-el, Be with us, Be with us, Give us courage, give us strength, to do what is right and good.” The stars heard and saw..and sent a golden beam of light down to the earth. Upon this beam rode down from the stars a shining knight on horseback. The knight stood before the boy and smiled. Then he turned to the dragon and said,” You may move away from the fire.” “I shall not,” said the Dragon. The knight again faced the dragon firmly and said, “You may move away from the fire.” The dragon said, “No!” The Knight said, “You may move or I shall help you move.” And the dragon hung his head and said, “Ok.” Then he slunk off back to his cave. The knight, hopped off his horse and took a branch from the ground and plunged it into the flames. When he took it out, it was a burning golden sword. “Here hold this and ride with me, I shall take you back to the cottage.” The knight rode swiftly through the dense wood, the boy held tightly to the flaming sword and soon reached the cottage. The boy thanked the knight for his kindness and asked his name. “I am called Mich-a-el,”said the knight and he turned his horse and galloped back up to the stars. And the boy heard in the distance , “Micha-el, Micha-el, Be with us , Be with us. Give us courage, give us strength, to do good on earth.” The boy started a great fire in the hearth and the next day his parents woke and were well. The fire in the hearth never went out again. I wrote a version of this same story last year, but cannot find a copy so I rewrote it this year. I believe last year I had the little boy turn into St. Michael...finding the courage within. At first I wondered how I was going to have Michael subdue the dragon in an age appropriate way. I came up with the dialogue above, which in effect mirrors many interactions with two and three year olds and their adult caregivers. I feel this spoke to them. On the fourth day, one little boy was disappointed that we would not be having puppet play again. Interestingly enough, this is the little boy (3 yrs old) that I most often have those "dragon interactions" with. Please feel free to share this story with your colleagues or use it yourself. Just note where it came from. Blessings on your work.