Our first main lesson this term is Stories of Saints and Heroes.  I have to admit I've felt somewhat challenged with the teaching of the saints stories, as Christian stories dominate our culture and can bring about strong reactions.  I've found a happy understanding of why these stories are told and have chosen a selection of stories encompassing saints and heroes across many cultures and religions, including Saint Francis, Saint George and the Dragon, Santa Lucia, Sadako and the Thousand Cranes, Vincent Lingiari and Finn MacCool. 

These Saints and Heroes stories are told to celebrate the virtues they teach.  They feel more like fairy tales than historical biographies.  Throughout the years of Steiner education, we tell stories from many different cultures and religions.  The individuals in this main lesson represent archetypes that have a timeless quality, remembered and celebrated for representing our highest ideals in human nature. 

Around age 8, children are changing, not just physically but in how they relate to the world around them.  Seven year olds in Class 1 often just want to please the adults in their lives.  By Class 2 at age 8, they often begin to enjoy a bit of mischief!  The Animal Fables we told last term mirror that mischievous element, with one-sided stories of moral qualities such as greed, cunning and envy.  Legends of saints and heroes balance that out by giving the children examples of people who did good deeds, by bring harmony to one-sidedness and by finding strength in love and compassion in order to serve fellow humans.

In other Class 2 news, we are connecting with some of the local wildlife - mostly snails!  The children have been finding, studying and finding out more about snails - do you know that snails lay eggs?!  This week stay tuned for some snail races.