Norse Mythology and the 9 -10 Year Old

Traditionally in Class 3 the children cross the 9-year-old threshold, also known as the Rubicon.  The Old Testament stories support the child as they begin to question you as a parent and me as a teacher.  “How do you know this?"  "Are you sure this is right?"  The invisible strings that the children have followed me around with in Class 1 and 2 seem to lapse, the words I spoke in Class 1 and 2 were swallowed up and taken up as Gospel, now I need to have back up!

Times change in Class 3…  Children become more critical, they question you continuously, and even when you answer they are not always happy with your response.  The threshold is not severe, but there is more distance, not only to the parents and teacher, but also to everyone else in the child’s life.

The continuous and underlying theme of the Old Testament is a similar estrangement, but it appears between people and God.  Through the Old Testament stories the children are buoyed in what can be a challenging time for children, parents and teachers.

Currently we have a mixed 3-4 class in 2020 and a little extra planning is required to meet the needs of the cohort.  Their previous teacher Jan first introduced the children in Class 3, to the Stories of Creation at the end of Class 2.  In Semester One of this year the Class 3 children studied the Old Testament stories of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark and Joseph.

This semester as a class 3-4 we have begun the Norse Mythology main lesson together.

Why do we teach Norse Mythology?

As a teacher I usually research why we teach a certain main lesson when we do.  I like to fully understand its importance and I feel I need to have a response should a parent ask.  Oddly I don’t get many, which instills me to reflect on me as a parent, as I have had 3 children educated through the Steiner Curriculum.  I think as a parent you live and breathe what your child is doing, where they are at, what they need and how their current curriculum supports them.  When I look back at my own children and Norse Mythology, I recall it being what they needed, they were ready for it, they were capable to delve deep and recall the wonderful stories of the Northern mysteries… and they loved it!!!!!  I didn’t need to ask questions.

Steiner recommended Norse Myths for the Class 4 (9-10 year old) children.  The mythologies bring drama, humour, and high literary quality – all of which give them universal appeal.

Why are they so appealing…?

The children are touched deeply between light and darkness, extremes of cold and heat, which threaten Asgard, the preserve of the good and the beautiful.  Over all hangs the question; will it survive?  Will Ragnarok, the last battle, cause the eventual destruction of the home of the gods?  Despite Odin’s wisdom, Thor’s strength, Loki’s inventive schemes, Tyr’s bravery, Idunn’s apples and all the ruses and alliances, which protect Asgard, uncertainty underlies each drama.

The Norse mythologies bring brutal and barbaric behavior, love and romance, trust and loyalty, and Loki brings uncertainty and surprise to every outcome.

We have spent the last 3 weeks studying Norse Myths and will again in week 7 to 10 of this term.  Over the next 3 weeks Class 4 will be focusing on their second fractions main lesson and Class 3 will begin their process and strategies numeracy main lesson.  I'm sure the Norse Myths will still be a topic of discussion and look out for the many god and goddesses and perhaps a few strange animals as we will be having a dress up day in Week 7 to begin our second Norse Myths main lesson!!

Below is some of the wonderful class work produced by the Class 3-4 children during their first Norse Mythology main lesson.

Robyn

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