Candlemas

 "Candle, candle burning bright,
Winter's halfway done tonight,
With a-glowing we are knowing,
Spring will come again."


"Jack Frost was in the garden, I saw him there at dawn, A’ dancing round the bushes, And prancing on the lawn. He wore a cloak of silver, A hat all shimmering white, A wand of glittering star-dust, And shoes of moonbeam light." --Based upon the poem by John P. Smeeton. 


In the Winter Garden

In our Winter garden, seeds lie warm below,
flowers are waiting, waiting, waiting
for the Spring to show









​





​
SNOWDROP SONG and STORY

Snowdrops, snowdrops little drops of snow

What do you do when the cold wind blows

I hang my little head and say

cold wind cold wind go away

Snowdrops, snowdrops dressed in green and white

What do you do when the sun shines bright?

I raise my little head and say

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling here comes Spring!




The Snow Drop 

By Hans Christian Andersen (Adapted)


The snow lay deep, for it was winter time. The winter winds blew cold, but there was one house where all was snug and warm. And in the house lay a little flower - in its bulb it lay, under the earth and the snow.

One day the rain fell and it trickled through the ice and snow down into the ground. And presently a sunbeam, pointed and slender, pierced down through the earth, and tapped on the bulb.

"Come in," said the flower.

"I can't do that," said the sunbeam - "I'm not strong enough to lift the latch. I shall be stronger when springtime comes."

"When will it be spring?" asked the flower of every little sunbeam that rapped on its door. But for a long time it was winter. The ground was still covered with snow, and every night there was ice in the water. The flower grew quite tired of waiting.


"How long it is!" it said. "I feel quite cramped. I must stretch myself and rise up a little. I must lift the latch, and look out, and say 'good morning' to the spring."

So the flower pushed and pushed. The walls were softened by the rain and warmed by the little sunbeams, so the flower shot up from under the snow, with a pale green bud on its stalk and some long narrow leaves on either side. It was biting cold.

"You are a little too early," said the wind and the weather - but every sunbeam sang, "Welcome," and the flower raised its head from the snow and unfolded itself - pure and white, and decked with green stripes.

It was weather to freeze it to pieces - such a delicate little flower, but it was stronger than any one knew. It stood in its white dress in the white snow, bowing its head when the snowflakes fell, and raising it again to smile at the sunbeams, and every day it grew sweeter.

"Oh!" shouted the children, as they ran into the garden, "see the snowdrop! There it stands so pretty, so beautiful - the first, the only one!"



PANCAKE DAY!


Mix a pancake,
Stir a pancake, 
Pop it in the pan;
Fry the pancake, 
Toss the pancake, 
Catch it if you can.


Winter to Spring transitional poem (could be used as part of a circle time story, with props): "There came a knock at the outer door; 'Who’s there?' King Winter cried; “Open your palace gates,” said Spring. “For you can reign no more as King, No longer here abide; This message from the sun I bring, “The trees are green, the birds do sing; The hills with joy are echoing: So pray, Sir—step outside!”

​Like a leaf or feather
In the windy autumn weather
We whirl around
And twirl around
And all fall down together



Drip drop drip drop
The rain is falling down
Drip drop drip drop
Splashing all around




Autumn showers, autumn rain
Wash the apples clean again




​The leaves are green, the apples are red
They hang so high above my head
Leave them alone until windy weather
​Then, they will all fall down together

​The leaves are red, the nuts are brown
​They hang so high and will not come down
Leave them alone 'till frosty weather
Then they will all fall down together.


​

​
Autumn comes, the summer is past, winter will come too soon,
Star will shine clearer, skies seem nearer
Under the Harvest Moon

Autumn comes, so let us be glad, singing an autumn tune
Hearts will be lighter, skies seem brighter
Under a Harvest Moon

Sweet September

Sweet September, golden sky, the acorns falling on to the ground, fresh winds, cooler mornings;
a lovely warmth inside my heart when I see all the leaves turning yellow, red and brown...


Autumn gardens, Apple trees, Pears and Plums, Grapes and Squashes...crumbles baking, sweet smelling home!


Grinding Flour, making dough, baking Bread, cooking Soup...The Harvest Time is a Happy Time.


Autumn in my Heart 

Autumn Term- New Beginnings

Acorns Adult and Child group sessions


The apples are rosy red and the last summer sun rays are ripening the berries;

The miller is grinding the flour and the farmer gathering the harvest.

This is the new term, the big children back at school; all feels fresh and new.

This is a little guide full of resources for the sessions, compiled by me; I do it for myself, really, but I like to share with you.


​Simplicity, simplicity and more simplicity!

It is so tempting to try something different and new...yet, we, at Adult and Child sessions on purpose keep the same old same: sequence, rhythm, times, snacks, style, toys, songs...everything...as almost time has not passed, yet, the children get older, and then the magic happens. The spark in their eyes as they 'remember'; that feeling is the same feeling we get when we go home on Sundays for our family roast dinner, or every Christmas, full of treasured memories.
​The essence of Acorns is the 'home coming' feeling!

I remind myself each time to keep things simple, too, as often I forget what is like to be first time mum and caring for a little one, no time to read or talk, just keep to the basic and putting children first. This is why it is important for the parents to learn a nice craft and relax as it allows them to feel acknowledged. The children play better when the adults are working and learning and sharing. The children sense the community, feeling and play in this lovely space we are all creating together. This is the magic of the Parent and Child sessions. Usually, at some point in the middle of the session time stands still and everyone and everything is connected and there is a little silence…

Seasons and Festivals; Autumn Festivals

In this term we have two main themes: the harvest, and the days getting darker and colder.
Within these themes we have Michaelmas, Halloween and Martinmas.

For the meaning of each festival please refer to the Festivals book or go google info, I have also separate sheets and resource documents, I gathered info in the past years.

The ring time songs talk about squirrels gathering nuts, apples falling, leaves dancing and winds blowing, story time brings tales of animals gathering food and getting ready for the colder days; the activities suggested are below but please keep it simple if you are a new leader:

Grinding flour and making bread rolls

Leaf and seed/conker mobiles

Pressing leaves, tracing leaves – drawing and colouring on top- leaf crowns

Animals and people made of cones-sticks-conkers, etc…

Conker spider webs, with sticks and wool

Making apple juice, or apple sauce or apple tarts

Corn dollies

Walnut cots with little wool baby

For Michaelmas, dragon bread or dragon wool- felted or knotted magic wool figures

Pumpkin carving, pumpkin soup

​And for the St Martin or lantern Festival, making lanterns

Acorns adult and Child's soup recipe, which has been passed down from Kindergarten to Acorns, not quite modified or re-adapted, but rather changed and slightly distorted, as in a recipe Chinese Whisper!
It has never been written down, by us in Acorns, nor Greenwich Steiner School, as far as I know! I am sure there is a recipe in one of the Steiner books somewhere...

I am slightly reluctant writing this down, so I do it with the knowledge that you understand 
two things: it will be similar but never exaclty the same as Susannah's soup, now, Gity's soup,
and for this reason, each soup is unique and the product of one or two or more kitchen fairies! 
The second thing is that this is an ever changing and quite flexible recipe as it needs to change according to the season and ingredients available!

I have one rule of my own: I do not put nightshades in with the exception of an occasional potato or tomato, but for sure, never aubergines and mushrooms. I simply do not like them in a soup! Perhaps sauteed or grilled but not swimming in broth! It's a personal thing!

​So, for the Acorns soup there are different options: with grains added at the beginning or at the end; this depends on how long the grain needs cooking.

As for quantities, this soup fills the pot and it is a sharing soup, I do not 
measure anything and it should feed the whole group - avarage number of people, 15!

Barley and vegetable 
soup:

Sautee 1 onion in sunflower oil
Add  pearl barley - about one cup
stir and 
add 2 chopped carrots, 
add a bit of water and a bay leaf
add root vegetables such as half a swede, cubed
turnips,
a parsnip, sliced/chopped or cubed
add some golden beetroot
or some butternut squash
and/or some sweet potato
all root vegetables cut small
stir
add more water
cook for 15 minutes
add some more water
add leeks, sliced
maybe add greens such as kale, cabbage cut or shredded small
parsley
marigold boullion, I like the orange top one or the purple-reduced salt- 
about one large tablespoon
switch off and cover with lid
serve after about 10 minutes, so is cooler for little mouths!

​Spring is coming, spring is coming: birdies build your nest!

Weave together straw and feather, doing each your best!

Spring is coming, spring is coming: flowers are coming too,

Pansies lilies, daffodillies,

All are coming through!

Spring is coming, spring is coming,

All around is fair!

Shimmer, quiver on the river

Joy is everywhere!

Wake up, wake up, all you little children, 
Sunlight, sky bright,
Spring is coming now

Gusty March winds blowing
Daffodils a blowing,
Birds sing, bells ring,
There’s blossom on the bough.

Piper, piper , play your happy music!
Singing, singing, we will follow on.
Dancing through the daytime
Lead us to the May time
Ding dong-Spring song, Winter ‘s past and gone!

Our Acorns popular songs


I met a little tidy mouse

He said let’s tidy up this house

Tidy, tidy here and there

Tidy, tidy everywhere!

When all is tidy and the toys covered and things are safe, we make a space in the middle of the hall.I go and stand there and call everyone.

Who will come into my small ring, my small ring, my small ring,

Who will come into my small ring and make it a little bit bigger.

Good morning dear Earth, good morning dear Sun

Good morning dear stones and flowers , everyone

Good morning dear creatures, and the birds on the tree

Good morning to you and good morning to me.


Down is the Earth, up is the sky

Here are my Friends, and here am I;

Two eyes to see, two ears to hear

And two feet to walk and run;

Here are my hands, give yours to mine: Good Morning Everyone!


Horsey horsey don’t you stop

Just let your feet go clippety -clop

The tail goes swish and the wheels go round

Giddi-up you are Homewood bound



Trot trot trot trot trot- go and never stop

Trot along my dearest pony, where is rough and where is stoney

Trot trot trot trot trot- go and never stop



Mummy and daddy and auntie Con

Went on a horsey and rode along

Mummy fell off-wheeeeeee!

Daddy fell off- wheeeeeeeee!

And auntie Con went on and on and on!

Sleepy Bunnies
See the little bunnies sleeping ‘till is nearly noon…
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh so sweet- Are they ill? Wake up soon!

Hop 
little bunnies hop, hop, hop,

Hop 
little bunnies hop, hop, hop
 
Ten little fairies stand up straight
Ten little fairies make a gate
Ten little fairies bow to the King
Ten little fairies make a ring
Ten little fairies dance and play
Ten little fairies fly away ( hide away)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daffodilly down came to town
With her yellow bonnet and her green gown!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Crocus, crocus , open up - Catch a Sunbeam in your cup! 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The silver raindrops patter upon the earth today
Tip tap, their knock is gentle and this is what they say
“Awake now little flowers and open wide your door,
Put on your rainbow dresses as Spring is here once more!






Sleepy Bunnies
See the little bunnies sleeping ‘till is nearly noon…
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
Oh so sweet- Are they ill? Wake up soon!

Hop 
little bunnies hop, hop, hop,

Hop 
little bunnies hop, hop, hop
 
Ten little fairies stand up straight
Ten little fairies make a gate
Ten little fairies bow to the King
Ten little fairies make a ring
Ten little fairies dance and play
Ten little fairies fly away ( hide away)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daffodilly down came to town
With her yellow bonnet and her green gown!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
Crocus, crocus , open up - Catch a Sunbeam in your cup! 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The silver raindrops patter upon the earth today
Tip tap, their knock is gentle and this is what they say
“Awake now little flowers and open wide your door,
Put on your rainbow dresses as Spring is here once more!

​​Snowdrops, snowdrops, little drops of snow
What do you do when the cold winds blow?
We bough our little head and say:
​Cold winds, cold winds blow away!​



Happy New Year

Dear Acorns Families!


Colourstrings music sessions starting again this Spring term.

I hope you have all had lovely rests and are prepared to get through the winter singing!


We start back next week: Tuesday the 12th at 10am for the babies to 3 year olds with their carer present, and Thursday the 14th at 1.45pm for the over 3 year olds who are ready to stay in class on their own (after settling in with a carer).


Our half term is February the 15th-19th, so the ten week term ends on the 21st and 24th of March.


The room rental has gone up quite a lot at Mycenae House so I am going to have to put the fees up - by just £5 this term and a further £5 next term.  Please bring £65 when you come to class at the beginning of the term - Thank you. 


I’m really looking forward to singing our way to Spring; moving and creating music, memories and friendships amongst the children together.


Many thanks,


Jo Barwick
07791 863 618
Colourstrings
Facebook page:  Colourstrings Early Years Music classes South London