Grade 4 Nordic Blocks

One of the more unique and fascinating part of Waldorf curricula is the study of Nordic tales in grade 4. This is presented often through the teaching of Norse mythology, stories about Vikings, information about Scandinavia and Finland, and the Finnish Kalevala. We chose to cover this block during the coldest and darkest time of the year at home, enjoying reading Thorkill of Iceland, D'Aulaires Norse Myths and the Kalavela while naalbinding yarn and sipping hot chocolate....

Main Lesson Book page on Norse God Balder.

Symbols from ancient Finland.

Wet-on-dry watercolor of heroes fighting at Asgard in Norse Mythology.

Lucetting a gift for big brother for Christmas.

Designing and carving Thor's hammer, "Mjolnir" out of clay.

Yggdrasil = The nine worlds in Norse Mythology

Making a raw vegan "Odin's Yule Log"

Creating rune stones out of clay

Baking vegan Santa Lucia buns

A handwork basket filled with Scandinavian tools: nostepinne, lucet, double-lucet, naalbinding needle

Oil crayon drawn, then wet-on-dry watercolor painted Vainamoinen playing the kantele from the Kalevala

Wet-on-dry watercolor of a Viking ship

  

Family Handwork

We love doing handwork projects as a family!  Our new eBook was written to inspire families to create beautiful handwork projects as a family at home.  Available in our Etsy shop.

Our eBook contains instructions and colorful photos for four projects:
1. Knitted gnome and bed
2. Crochet/Knit Baby Blanket
3. Natural Silk Gift Wrapping
4. Handspun Woven Table Runner

Information about supplies, planning, importance of family handwork and resources included. 18 pages. This listing is for one digital copy that is in pdf format. Upon purchase, you will be able to download it directly through Etsy. eBook is for your own personal family use, only. Schools and co-op groups may email us for information on a custom listing for their organization.

Return to Homeschooling

     Wet on dry Viking ship painting

What an adventure--we are homeschooling again! Our family fully supports and embraces a variety of educational opportunities for our children, including public school, private Waldorf school and homeschooling.  This year, we have decided to jump back into the homeschooling realm with Wilson. What a pleasure it is for us to have Wilson at home, growing up with his little sister Linden, actively involved in the home, and enjoying the exciting 4th grade curriculum.

Ceramic Celtic letter tile

We have not been blogging as much lately.  Thanks for being patient with us!  The past two years have been fabulous...a new baby, a new home, and our wedding business has grown three-fold.  So thankful, and so blessed.  

Fractions - Castle story math

Our Syrendell time has been focused on workshops, consulting, private lessons, custom orders for our Etsy shop, our newsletter, and keeping in touch via social media: Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Flickr and Instagram.  Now, we promise to start blogging more again! Please follow us through social media and sign up for our quarterly newsletter.

Form drawing

Enjoy some samples of Wilson's homeschooling adventures this year!

Trip to Lake Solano to observe river otters, geese, peacocks and squirrels and to sketch trees

             Spanish and German months of the year 

Trip to Baldo walnut farm in Rumsey, CA - squeezing our own pomegranate juice

        Violin lesson and learning how to play musical saws at Baldo Farm

Trip to the Maidu Museum and exploring Native American petroglyphs and grinding rocks in Roseville, CA

Autumn nature table

     Wet on dry watercolor of sea turtles

                   Visit to Cache Creek Lavender Farm in Rumsey, CA

Clay runes

              Hike in Stebbins Cold Creek Canyon outside of Winters, CA

 Scandinavian lucetting

       Wet on dry watercolor of a horse

        Homeschool ceramics class at the Davis Art Center

        Needlefelting a Thanksgiving cornucopia with the whole family

Ceramics

       Trip to Sutter's Fort in Sacramento, CA

     Interacting with baby animals at Impossible Acres Farm in Davis

Momix performance at the Mondavi Art Center at the University of California, Davis

Learning about energy and recycling at the Utility Exploration Center in Roseville, CA

  Weaving a Native American-style pine needle basket

   Perimeter of shapes

    Painting and folding a lantern for Martinmas

            Crayon drawing of Miwok Native Americans

Sketching and watercoloring the state of California

Sea animals - Crocheted an octobpus finger puppet and created a play

German retelling of Hansel and Gretel

Fractions tree

Entomology - Metamorphosis of a caterpillar in German

Marine Animals - Trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Ornithology - Kiwi bird

Trip to the San Luis Obispo Mission

Tap dancing

Trip to the Sacramento Capitol building

Major scales on the piano

Compass Rose

Geocaching and Letterboxing around Davis

Wet on dry watercolor of a jellyfish