Circle Time: Winter Woods

Our winter woods animals surrounding our Circle Time candle
and Angel of the Forest on the mantle

We had a wonderful time today doing the "Winter Woods" movement journey from Winter Seasons of Joy. While it's not practical for us to go out into the woods for real right now-- it's bitterly cold here!-- I really do feel like we've created a feeling of reverence for Mother Nature and her winter animals during this circle.

Favorite activities include moving like some of our favorite animals, pretending to ice skate on a frozen pond with fishies swimming deep underneath, and playing "Gray Squirrel" by hiding a beanbag "seed" somewhere and finding it again.

And the song that ties the whole thing together:

Winter's coming, winter's coming,
How do the creatures get ready?
Winter's coming, winter's coming,
Time to get ready for snow!

Even my two-year-old caught on and was singing along by the end of circle.

And we have a final moment of reverence before we blow the circle time candle out:

My heart swells in joyfulness.
(Hands crossed over heart)
My spirit dwells in peace.
(Hands upraised over head)
My body rests in quietness.
(Hands down at side)
Our circle time has ended.
(Hold hands and be still for a moment)