Description
What are Living Lessons?
Living Lessons are not an online school. Our goal is and always has been to assist the parent/teacher in their own classroom. We also feel it is important that the parent/teacher remains involved in the lessons to stay true to the Waldorf methods. So Living Lessons are a classroom assistant for you and a way for you to become a better teacher by having another teacher lead, guide, and inspire you. Here are some ways in which you may use the Living Lessons:
1. You are homeschooling multiple ages and need a virtual teacher now and then so you can offer each of your students individual attention.
2. You are looking for a virtual classroom experience with a Waldorf teacher.
3. You need a break now and then from homeschooling full time.
4. You want to enhance your own skill set by watching other teachers present Waldorf lessons.
5. You want to join a community of other parents experiencing Living Lessons with opportunities for your kids to connect with other kids in the program.
6. You are running a business or working from home and need a virtual teacher to help you homeschool.
7. You recently moved or are experiencing health challenges that make it hard to homeschool full time.
8. You are new to homeschooling and need a boost of confidence to start off your year.
9. You are new to Waldorf education.
10. You feel overwhelmed with the prospect of homeschooling or you have been forced into homeschooling by the pandemic and are feeling lost.
This package includes the following Living Lesson videos…
Form Drawing Lessons with Waldorf Teacher Nicole
Local Geography Block
Each video covers more than one lesson…
Lesson 1: Introduction to Local Geography
Length – 25:51
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Teacher Nicole introduces local geography. Begin with a chalk drawing and get familiarized with the concept of geography. Next, take your student(s) on a walk from one significant location to another, and create a map tracking your journey. Learn about the native people from your part of the world. Lastly, find time to begin interviewing an older family member. Discover where your family came from and how they got here.
- Where are we in the world?
- Chalk drawing activity
- Outdoor walking activity
- Create your very own map.
- Who are the Kumeyaay people?
- Who are the Native People from your part of the world?
- Interview an older family member.
Member Feedback: “A fantastic introduction to geography with engaging activities that tie in wonderfully with the topic. A little gift of knowledge wrapped up with a bow! Thank you, Teacher Nicole.”
Lesson 2: The Four Directions and Landscape
Length- 47:26
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Start off with a compass drawing activity to learn about the four directions. Next, dive into a watercolor painting of the beautiful coastline. After analyzing and labeling your paintings, see how the four directions relates to what you painted.
- Compass drawing activity
- The four directions verse
- Follow the journey of the sun.
- Interactive painting of a significant location
- Share your interview results from Lesson 1
Member Feedback: “Nicole does a marvelous job getting students interested and involved in the lesson right from the start. The included verse was a great tool in teaching about what lies in each direction.”
Lesson 2B: Coastline Painting Tutorial
Length- 12:27
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Review the Coastline Painting Tutorial video from Lesson 2.
Member Feedback: “I appreciate how she continues to talk and teach while she does the painting lesson. It is also nice that she explains how she does certain artistic techniques, so that we can really follow along. Art and geography lesson all in one!”
Lesson 3: How Nature is Different Depending on Geographical Location
Length- 34:58
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Learn more about the Kumeyaay people while drawing a chalk image of a Kumeyaay man building a home. Explore Teacher Nicole’s geographical location and take a look at real footage of the diverse environment of Southern California including beautiful ocean views, flowing rivers, massive deserts, and lovely flowers. Finish the lesson by drawing a top-down view of San Diego and then try drawing your own geographical home.
- More about the Kumeyaay people
- Explore Teacher Nicole’s geographical home.
- How is our land affected by water?
- What does our land look like from the sky?
Member Feedback: “Learning about the Kumeyaay people has been fascinating. Hearing about the native people from the teacher’s home encourages curiosity about the native people from our own home.”
Lesson 4: The Mojave Desert and The Gold Rush
Length- 24:35
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Begin with a sunset dessert chalk drawing activity while we discuss how California’s geography encouraged lots of people to move there during The Gold Rush. Learn about Nathaniel Harrison – the first African American individual to immigrate to California, buy land, and farm it. Draw the Mojave Desert and learn about its beauty and dangers.
- Sunset dessert chalk drawing
- The Gold Rush
- Nathaniel Harrison
- The Mojave Desert
Member feedback: “This lesson is a great crossover between geography and history. After watching this video, students will really be able to understand the connection between geography and historical events.”
Lesson 5: Mission Basilica San Diego De Alcalá
Length- 49:10
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Follow a chalk tutorial of the Mission Basilica San Diego De Alcalá with teacher Nicole as she talks about the next group of people who came to San Diego to make it their home, and the way it affected the people who were already there.
- Perspective drawing of historical structure
- The Spanish people and the Kumeyaay people
- The Mission Basilica San Diego De Alcalá
- Agriculture
Member feedback: “Nicole touches on some of the more sensitive parts of American history and does it in such a way that is great for a fourth-grade student to understand. You can tell that there was a lot of thought and care into making sure the information is explained in the appropriate manner for this age group. And then when your child asks questions, you can choose how much detail they are ready to learn about. Well done, Earthschooling.”
Lesson 6: Día De Los Muertos
Length- 48:00
Teacher- Nicole Martinez
Learn about Día De Los Muertos while you draw a picture of what your personal family ofrenda may look like. Next, follow along with Teacher Nicole to make sugar skulls. Decorate your sugar skulls with bright beautifully colored frosting. Lastly, learn about The Whaley House, a mysterious historical location. A fun and educational way to end this block.
- Make and decorate sugar skulls.
- Create an ofrenda of your own.
- Try monarch butterfly face paint.
- The Whaley House tour
Member Feedback: “It was great to learn about Día De Los Muertos. What a fun and meaningful family tradition.”
