Beltane: Community Tales
Our fairy tale year ends with stories of community, cleverness, and celebration! The Bremen Musicians work together, the Brave Little Tailor uses wit over strength, and we dance around the maypole as confident readers and writers.
UU Principle Focus
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
Like the Bremen Musicians working together, we learn that everyone has a voice and a role in our community.
Learning Goals
Language Arts
- • Reading fluency and comprehension
- • Complete cursive alphabet
- • Write original stories
- • Read independently
Math
- • Master addition/subtraction to 20
- • Money and measurement
- • Patterns and sequences
- • Word problems
Form Drawing
- • Complex combined forms
- • Flowing, connected designs
- • Original border creations
- • Maypole ribbon patterns
Social-Emotional
- • Working together
- • Using cleverness over force
- • Gratitude for helpers
- • Celebrating growth
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: The Bremen Town Musicians
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Everyone has gifts to share. What gifts do we bring to our community?
📖 Language Arts
Reading fluency practice - read aloud daily. Character descriptions
🔢 Math
Review all addition/subtraction facts to 20. Speed and accuracy
🌿 Science & Nature
Animal sounds and communication - how do animals 'talk'?
✏️ Form Drawing
Stacked forms - like animals standing on each other
🧶 Handwork
Animal puppets for story retelling
📚 Story
The Bremen Town Musicians by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Bremen Town Musicians animated
- Reading fluency practice
Shows:
- How animals communicate
Audiobooks:
- The Bremen Town Musicians
Week 2: The Brave Little Tailor
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Cleverness and courage can overcome size. When have you been brave?
📖 Language Arts
Reading comprehension - retell with details. Quotation marks introduction
🔢 Math
Word problems - 'Seven at one blow!' Multiplication preview
🌿 Science & Nature
Insects - flies, bees, butterflies. Insect life cycles
✏️ Form Drawing
Small repeated forms - like stitches, like flies
🧶 Handwork
Simple sewing project - felt pouch or bookmark
📚 Story
The Brave Little Tailor by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Brave Little Tailor animated
- Sewing for kids
Shows:
- Wild Kratts: Insects
Audiobooks:
- The Brave Little Tailor
Week 3: The Elves and the Shoemaker (Final Visit)
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Gratitude for helpers. How do we thank those who help us?
📖 Language Arts
Cursive lowercase complete - practice all letters connected
🔢 Math
Money - counting coins, making change. Buying and selling
🌿 Science & Nature
Helpful creatures - bees pollinating, worms composting
✏️ Form Drawing
Shoe and clothing forms - practical objects
🧶 Handwork
Complete sewing project, shoe decorating
📚 Story
The Elves and the Shoemaker - focus on gratitude ending
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Elves and Shoemaker
- Cursive practice videos
Shows:
- Helpful animals
Audiobooks:
- The Elves and the Shoemaker
Week 4: Rumpelstiltskin
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Names have power. What does your name mean? Why was it chosen?
📖 Language Arts
Reading independently - chapter book introduction. Suspense in stories
🔢 Math
Patterns and sequences - Rumpelstiltskin's riddles
🌿 Science & Nature
Gold and precious things in nature - minerals, gems, metals
✏️ Form Drawing
Spiral spinning forms - like spinning straw into gold
🧶 Handwork
Golden crafts - gilding, gold paint projects
📚 Story
Rumpelstiltskin by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Rumpelstiltskin animated
- How gold is made
Shows:
- Rocks and minerals for kids
Audiobooks:
- Rumpelstiltskin
Week 5: Rapunzel
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Beltane celebrates growth. What has grown in us this year?
📖 Language Arts
Cursive uppercase introduction. Writing longer stories
🔢 Math
Measurement review - how long was Rapunzel's hair? Estimate and measure
🌿 Science & Nature
Hair and plant growth - what makes things grow?
✏️ Form Drawing
Long flowing forms - like hair, like vines
🧶 Handwork
Braiding and weaving - friendship bracelets
📚 Story
Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Rapunzel animated
- Braiding tutorials
Shows:
- How hair grows
Audiobooks:
- Rapunzel
Week 6: Year in Review
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Look how far we've come! Share proudest moments from the year.
📖 Language Arts
Create 'My Fairy Tale Book' - write and illustrate original story
🔢 Math
Year-end review - all skills. Math celebration games
🌿 Science & Nature
Garden check - what's growing? Harvest early vegetables
✏️ Form Drawing
Create a year-end border with favorite forms
🧶 Handwork
Complete all projects, prepare for art show
📚 Story
Student's original fairy tale
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Year-end celebrations
- Favorite fairy tales
Shows:
- Garden growing
Audiobooks:
- Favorite stories from the year
Week 7: Beltane Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Beltane ritual - maypole dance, flower crowns, celebrate our year!
📖 Language Arts
Share original fairy tales. Read aloud to younger children
🔢 Math
Fun math games and puzzles. Celebrate math growth
🌿 Science & Nature
Nature walk - observe all the life around us
✏️ Form Drawing
Maypole ribbon designs, flower forms
🧶 Handwork
Flower crowns, maypole ribbons, year-end gifts
📚 Story
Class/family fairy tale performance
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Maypole dancing
- End of year celebrations
Shows:
- Beltane traditions
Audiobooks:
- Celebration music and stories
🌸 Beltane Celebration Ideas
- • Dance around a maypole with colorful ribbons
- • Make flower crowns and wear them all day
- • Perform fairy tales as family plays
- • Have an art show of the year's Main Lesson Books
- • Jump over a small (safe) fire or candles for luck
- • Build fairy houses in the garden
- • Have a picnic outdoors with seasonal foods
- • Celebrate becoming readers and writers!