Imbolc: Brigid's Gifts
As spring stirs beneath the snow, we explore tales of awakening and transformation. Sleeping Beauty wakes, swans become princes, and we begin the beautiful art of cursive writing.
UU Principle Focus
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth
Like seeds beginning to grow, we encourage each other's growth and accept where each person is on their journey.
Learning Goals
Language Arts
- • Learn letters R, S, T, U, V, W from stories
- • Begin cursive writing (round letters)
- • Understand cause and effect
- • Use question words
Math
- • Numbers to 100
- • Addition/subtraction facts to 20
- • Skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s
- • Word problems
Form Drawing
- • Rose and thorn forms
- • Spiral and flowing forms
- • Swan curves
- • Connected, cursive-prep forms
Social-Emotional
- • Patience through transformation
- • Healing and self-care
- • Creative expression
- • Setting intentions
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Sleeping Beauty (Part 1)
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Light a candle for Brigid. What is awakening in us this season?
📖 Language Arts
Letter R from picture - Rose thorns around the castle. Predicting what happens next
🔢 Math
Numbers to 100 - counting the years the princess slept
🌿 Science & Nature
Dormancy and awakening - seeds, bulbs, hibernating animals
✏️ Form Drawing
Rose and thorn forms - curved petals, pointed thorns
🧶 Handwork
Needle felting introduction, rose crafts
📚 Story
Sleeping Beauty (Part 1 - the curse and sleep)
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter R
- Sleeping Beauty animated
Shows:
- How seeds wake up
Audiobooks:
- Sleeping Beauty
Week 2: Sleeping Beauty (Part 2)
🕯️ Hearth Circle
What wakes us up? Love, light, warmth, hope...
📖 Language Arts
Letter S from picture - Spindle that pricked her finger. Cause and effect
🔢 Math
Addition facts to 20 - 'The prince traveled 12 days, then 8 more...'
🌿 Science & Nature
Signs of late winter - longer days, melting, early buds
✏️ Form Drawing
Spiral forms - like spinning, like roses opening
🧶 Handwork
Simple drop spindle introduction (or continue felting)
📚 Story
Sleeping Beauty (Part 2 - the awakening)
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter S
- Sleeping Beauty conclusion
Shows:
- Early spring signs
Audiobooks:
- Sleeping Beauty
Week 3: The Six Swans
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Brigid is goddess of poetry. Share a poem or create one together.
📖 Language Arts
Letter T from picture - Transformation of brothers. Silent letters introduction
🔢 Math
Subtraction facts to 20 - 'Six swans, one shirt finished, 5 more to make...'
🌿 Science & Nature
Bird behavior in late winter - nesting preparation, songs returning
✏️ Form Drawing
Swan forms - graceful curves, wing shapes
🧶 Handwork
Simple weaving or knitting (making 'shirts' like the sister)
📚 Story
The Six Swans by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter T
- Six Swans animated
Shows:
- Wild Kratts: Swans
Audiobooks:
- The Six Swans
Week 4: The Water of Life
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Brigid is goddess of healing. What helps us feel better when we're sick or sad?
📖 Language Arts
Letter U from picture - Underground spring. Question words (who, what, where)
🔢 Math
Word problems with addition and subtraction to 20
🌿 Science & Nature
Water sources - springs, wells, aquifers. Water cycle review
✏️ Form Drawing
Flowing water forms - waves, springs, drops
🧶 Handwork
Continue weaving project, water color painting
📚 Story
The Water of Life by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter U
- Water of Life animated
Shows:
- Where does water come from?
Audiobooks:
- The Water of Life
Week 5: Brigid's Fire
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Brigid is goddess of smithcraft. What do we want to create or forge?
📖 Language Arts
Letter V from picture - Valuable sword forged in fire. Action verbs
🔢 Math
Review addition/subtraction to 20. Mental math strategies
🌿 Science & Nature
Fire and transformation - how fire changes things, safety review
✏️ Form Drawing
Flame and forge forms - dynamic, rising shapes
🧶 Handwork
Simple metalwork (wire bending) or continue weaving
📚 Story
Celtic tales of Brigid the Smith
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter V
- How blacksmiths work
Shows:
- Fire science for kids
Audiobooks:
- Brigid stories
Week 6: Cursive Introduction
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Our letters will learn to dance! Flowing, connected writing.
📖 Language Arts
Introduce cursive - lowercase a, c, d, g, o, q (round letters). Letter W from picture
🔢 Math
Counting by 2s, 5s, 10s to 100. Skip counting patterns
🌿 Science & Nature
Patterns in nature - spirals, branches, waves
✏️ Form Drawing
Flowing, connected forms - preparation for cursive
🧶 Handwork
Continue projects, Brigid's cross making
📚 Story
The Princess and the Pea
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter W
- Cursive writing songs
Shows:
- Patterns in nature
Audiobooks:
- The Princess and the Pea
Week 7: Imbolc Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Imbolc ritual - light many candles, plant seeds, share hopes for spring
📖 Language Arts
Review R-W. Practice cursive round letters. Write Imbolc wishes
🔢 Math
Review all skills. Math celebration games
🌿 Science & Nature
Check for spring signs - buds, shoots, animal activity
✏️ Form Drawing
Create an Imbolc border combining forms from the unit
🧶 Handwork
Complete weaving project, Brigid doll, seed planting
📚 Story
Student retells favorite story from unit
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Spring awakening videos
- Imbolc traditions
Shows:
- First signs of spring
Audiobooks:
- Favorite fairy tales
🕯️ Imbolc Celebration Ideas
- • Make Brigid's crosses from rushes, straw, or paper
- • Light many candles to welcome the returning light
- • Plant seeds indoors to start your spring garden
- • Make a Brigid doll from corn husks or fabric
- • Leave out a cloth for Brigid to bless overnight
- • Clean and organize - spring cleaning begins!
- • Write poems or intentions on paper
- • Visit a blacksmith or watch metalworking videos