Beltane: Joy & Celebration
Spring bursts into full bloom! We celebrate growth, community, and the joy of learning as we master our math facts and reflect on our year of fables and legends.
UU Principle Focus
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of democratic process
Community celebrations teach us to work together and honor each voice.
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: May Day & Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
May Day celebrates life and joy! What brings us joy?
📚 Language Arts
May Day traditions around the world. Read festive poems. Write a celebration story
✖️ Math
Multiplication mastery - timed practice 2s-5s. Fact fluency
🌱 Science
Flowers - parts of a flower, pollination, why flowers bloom in spring
✏️ Form Drawing
Flower forms - petals and centers
🧶 Handwork
May baskets with flowers
📖 Story
Jack and the Beanstalk
Week 2: The Maypole & Community
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The maypole weaves us together. How do we weave community?
📚 Language Arts
Maypole history and symbolism. Write about community helpers
✖️ Math
Multiplication mastery - timed practice 6s-9s
🌱 Science
Bees and pollination - how bees help flowers and food grow
✏️ Form Drawing
Weaving and braiding forms
🧶 Handwork
Simple weaving project or friendship bracelets
📖 Story
The Bee Tree
Week 3: Fairies & Nature Spirits
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Many cultures have stories of nature spirits. What do these stories teach us?
📚 Language Arts
Fairy tales from different cultures. Compare versions. Write a fairy encounter story
✖️ Math
Division introduction - sharing equally. Connection to multiplication
🌱 Science
Insects that seem magical - fireflies, butterflies, dragonflies
✏️ Form Drawing
Wing forms - butterfly and dragonfly
🧶 Handwork
Fairy house building from natural materials
📖 Story
Fairy tales from around the world
Week 4: Growing Things
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Everything is growing now. How have we grown this year?
📚 Language Arts
Garden poetry. Plant journals. Write observations of growth
✖️ Math
Division practice - groups and sharing. Remainders introduction
🌱 Science
Plant growth experiments - measure and record. Photosynthesis basics
✏️ Form Drawing
Vine and tendril forms
🧶 Handwork
Garden tending - weeding, watering, observing
📖 Story
The Tiny Seed
Week 5: Animal Families
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Spring brings baby animals. How do animal families care for their young?
📚 Language Arts
Animal family stories. Compare animal and human families. Write about family
✖️ Math
Division and multiplication fact families. Inverse operations
🌱 Science
Baby animals - mammals, birds, reptiles. Parenting in nature
✏️ Form Drawing
Parent and baby animal forms
🧶 Handwork
Bird watching and nature journaling
📖 Story
Make Way for Ducklings
Week 6: Fire & Transformation
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Beltane fires represent transformation. What transformations have we seen this year?
📚 Language Arts
Transformation stories - caterpillar to butterfly, tadpole to frog. Write a transformation tale
✖️ Math
Mixed multiplication and division. Word problems
🌱 Science
Metamorphosis - complete and incomplete. Life cycles
✏️ Form Drawing
Transformation sequence - egg to butterfly
🧶 Handwork
Caterpillar/butterfly craft or raise butterflies
📖 Story
The Very Hungry Caterpillar revisited with science
Week 7: Beltane Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Beltane ritual - dance the maypole, celebrate growth, honor the fire
📚 Language Arts
Write year-end reflections. Create a memory book of 2nd grade
✖️ Math
Math celebration - games, puzzles, show what we've learned
🌱 Science
Year in review - favorite discoveries, nature timeline
✏️ Form Drawing
Create a Beltane border with flowers, bees, maypole
🧶 Handwork
Flower crowns, maypole dancing, celebration feast
📖 Story
Share favorite stories from the year
🌺 Beltane Celebration Ideas
- 🟡 Dance around a maypole (or ribbon wand)
- 🟡 Make flower crowns and garlands
- 🟡 Have a picnic feast outdoors
- 🟡 Create May baskets for neighbors
- 🟡 Jump over a (small, safe) fire or candle
- 🟡 Celebrate the year's growth and learning