South Devon Steiner School
Book a Tour | Friday Flier | FAQs | Keep in Touch | Links | News | Support Our School
Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre
Blue Example Button
Safeguarding is our highest priority. Find out more »
+44 (0) 1803 897377  |   Hood Manor, Dartington TQ9 6AB
+++ LATEST SCHOOL NEWS - CLICK HERE +++
  • Home
  • About
    • Ethos and Aims
    • Safeguarding >
      • Blog
      • Online Safety
    • Pupil Safety (COVID)
    • Head Teacher and Management
    • Proprietor and Council of Trustees >
      • Council Meetings, AGMs and EGMs
    • Key Members of Staff >
      • School Faculty
      • Early Years Faculty
      • Safeguarding Team
      • Leadership & Management
      • Administration
      • Council of Trustees
    • Academic Performance
    • School Policies
    • School Inspection Reports
    • Gallery
    • Blog
  • Education
    • Early Years (3 - 6 years) >
      • Our Kindergartens
      • Kindergarten Festival Calendar
      • Kindergarten Curriculum for 5 - 6 year olds
      • EYFS Exemptions and Modifications
    • Lower School (6 - 11 years)
    • High School (11-14 years)
    • Upper School (14 - 18 years) >
      • Curriculum Overview >
        • Arts & Crafts
        • English
        • Languages
        • Mathematics
        • Outdoor Classroom
        • Physical Education
        • Sciences
        • Social Studies
        • Class 12 Project & Play
      • Academic Approach
      • Community Service & Mentorship
      • New Zealand Steiner School Certificate (NZSSC)
    • The Outdoor Classroom
    • A Brief History of the School
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • Fees
    • Take our Virtual Tour
    • Visit Us
    • Book a School Tour
    • Admissions Forms
  • For Parents
    • Attendance
    • School Lunches
    • Term Dates
    • School Calendar
    • School drop-off and collection
    • School Portal
    • Consent Forms
    • Parents' Guide
    • Reading Lists
    • Media Guidance
    • Parents, Parental Involvement & Volunteering
    • Community Space & Shop
  • Vacancies
  • Contact
    • Tell Us What You Think
    • Our Instagram Page
    • Our Facebook Page
    • Parents' Facebook Page
  • International Students
    • International Students Programme
    • Live & Learn Language
    • Live & Learn Language - Vacancies
    • Student Exchanges
  • Staff Page
  • Safeguarding
  • Hall Hire

Nourishing the senses with gymnastics

1/2/2016

 

Working with 8 and 9 year olds as they 'cross the rubicon'
by Tom Towey, Games teacher


Having recently started to do some gymnastics with Classes 3 and 4, I felt inspired to share some experiences and ideas about the curriculum. I have been amazed by their enthusiasm and wholeheartedness.

We have tried forward rolls, wobbly plates, cartwheels, balancing on abeam and some vaults. The approach atthis age is always playful and imaginative. The apparatus is introduced in aplayful way and gradually adapted and evolved to meet different children, either to support or to challenge.

 
At around nine years old, the children go through a stage of development which is called ‘crossing the Rubicon’. It refers to a stage which means coming more on to and into the earth. The children come into themselves more strongly in a physical, earthly way. Our Waldorf curriculum meets this stage, especially in Class 3 with farming and outdoor main lessons and in Class 4 with local geography and walking the River Dart. It is like a mini birth of the ‘ego’, and as with any birth there are often teething issues like headaches or stomach aches. Steiner recommended that the children have no homework at this stage to tax their nervous systems, which are already working hard. They should not force a degree of physical exertion against resistance. 
 
It is this understanding which informs our approach, and so the gymnastics is done with the consciousness that we would like the children to enter into their very own bodies in as balanced a way as possible. The senses are nourished, especially touch, movement and balance. It has been great to see their enthusiasm and non-judgemental attitude to one another. 
​
I have also been doing gymnastics 
with Classes 2 and 5 with a different approach for these classes. Classes 6, 7 and 8 have been doing parcour and I hope to present this later in the term.

Comments are closed.

    This is our school blog

    Contributions to our website are gladly accepted. Please email stories, photographs or news to admissions@south-devon-steiner.org.

    Did you know?

    You can hire classrooms, our kitchen, outdoor spaces and Greenwood Hall !   Click here to find out more.
    Venue Hire Info

    Join our school?

    We welcome all enquiries and applications.  Please contact Kaycee on admissions@steiner-south-devon.org or call +44 (0)1803 897 377 to arrange a visit or to answer any questions.
    Admissions Info

    Learn English?

    Picture
    Overseas Students Info
© Copyright 2015 - 2021 | Rudolf Steiner School South Devon Limited | All Rights Reserved
​Charity no. 286434. Company no. 1693887. Registered at ​Hood Manor, Dartington, Devon TQ9 6AB
Steiner Waldorf School is a collective mark (Regd. TM 3069952) of the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship.