Circle Time or Morning Basket

One of the morning routines we are reintroducing as the lessons begin in earnest is our Circle Time or Morning Basket Time to start us on our way with the official start to the study day. 

This actually comes after our  morning Breakfast Table time which consist of breakfast and the reading and prayer time we do there together first followed by morning chores.

Over the years we have done variations of this time together with all sorts of resources.

Here I would like to share where we are now.

Of course this may change depending on family circumstances and how it continues to work for us but at the moment it working wonderfully.

* First off we come together: that is Moran, Myffwyn, Corbyn, Arwen and Trahaearn along with myself of course.

We come together and sing our Welcome/Gathering song-

'Come, little children, come dance, every one.

Come, little children, and smile in the sun.

Come now, my friends, to the circle with me.

Let us join hands in our circle.

Come, little children, we’ll dance and we’ll sing.

Come, little children, your light you will bring.

Come now, my friends, our day has begun.

Let us join hands in our circle.'

* Then we take turns lighting the candle- a different child each day

While lighting the candle we say this verse-

'I can light a candle. 

God can light a star.

Each of us is shining, 

shining where we are'

* Then we memorise our scripture verse for the week -
This week it is from Our 24 Family Ways and is tested on Friday at our Tea Time

* Next up is the Seasonal poem we are learning and this month it is a Summer Verse-

'The great sun is rising above the green hill, 

His golden light gleaming on meadow and rill,

 He shines on the flowers, they wake one by one, 

And spread out their petals to greet the great sun. 

They dance in the sunshine to greet the bright day. 

They dance in the sunshine so blithe and so gay. 

The violets all curtsey, the bluebells ring sweet. 

The daisies twirl round in their skirts white and neat.'

* After this we are working our way through the 

New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism one chapter each day.

* Then it is on to movement based activities-
This week we are doing: 4 items

1. Here is a Beehive

'Here is the beehive.  Where are the bees?

(hold up fist)

Hidden away where nobody sees.

(move other hand around fist)

Watch and you'll see them come out of the hive

(bend head close to fist)

One, two, three, four, five.

(hold fingers up one at a time)

Bzzzzzzzz… all fly away!

(wave fingers)'

2. Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Turn around!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Touch the ground!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Dance on your toes!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Touch your nose!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Climb the stairs!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Say your prayers!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Say Goodnight!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Turn out the light!

Followed by

3. The Wheels on the Bus  (with additional verses we make up)

4. Here we go Looby Loo

* After this movement time we settle back down and I read from a character building book-

Currently we are working through 

Angel Food: Little Talks to Little Folks but there is also a free recording of this found here and in iTunes for free

* Our last read aloud  (for this part of the day) is any book of interest to us-

Currnetly we are reading 

The Wise Enchanter and

The Fairy Necklaces

*At this stage we are just about finished and so the lighter of the candle now picks up the snuffer ready to put the candle out

We say our closing verse of-

'Our work is done, our day is past,

We'll go our separate ways.

And I will hold so tight and fast

What I have learned today.

I¹ve given with my heart and mind

The effort that it needs.

And I will strive in me to find,

Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.' ................and snuff out the candle.

* The final thing to do is to play an 'Ending Game'-

In a small cup I have 5 sultanas, one for each child.

I hide a sultana in my closed fist and put them both in front of me

One at a time they come up to me, usually youngest to oldest and say this rhyme

'Ticka Tacky

Nicky Nacky Nu

Dear little sultana where are you?'

After this they choose a hand and win the sultana.

Then they go off to start their individual table time work as I spend time with the two youngest ones.

All in all this varies from 30-45 mins a day but usually the 30 mins.

The younger ones are free to come and go as they please but usually end up staying for all of it.

And that is how we do Circle Time/ Morning Basket in our home.

Blessings to you and your homes,