4th Grade Hearth Circle
Norse mythology, local geography, and growing independence. Fourth graders take full ownership of circle.
🕯️ Fourth Grade Focus
Fourth grade features Norse mythology with its themes of courage, fate, and the struggle between order and chaos. Children are more grounded after the 9-year change and ready to explore the wider world through local geography and history.
Duration: 25-30 minutes. Fourth graders can lead circle entirely and engage in sophisticated discussions.
📋 Daily Structure
1. Opening (3 min)
- • Student leads entire opening
- • Bell, candle, Norse-inspired verse
- • Moment of centering silence
2. Calendar, Weather & Geography (5 min)
- • Full date and time
- • Detailed weather observation
- • Local geography fact of the day
- • Cardinal directions practice
- • Moon phase and seasonal markers
3. Gratitude & Goals (5 min)
- • Gratitude with specific details
- • Review yesterday's goal: "Did I accomplish it?"
- • Set today's intention
- • Journal writing
4. Verse & Movement (5 min)
- • Norse-themed or seasonal verse
- • Movement: yoga, stretching, or active game
- • Song related to current theme
5. Story & Discussion (10 min)
- • Norse myth or local history/legend
- • Discussion: character analysis, themes, connections
- • "What would you do in this situation?"
- • Connect to UU principles
6. Closing (2 min)
- • Closing verse or blessing
- • Extinguish candle
- • Preview day's work
🌿 4th Grade Norse-Inspired Verses
🌾 Lammas
"Freyr blesses field and grain,
Golden harvest, sun and rain,
We gather what the gods have grown,
And reap the seeds that we have sown."
🍂 Mabon
"As Yggdrasil's leaves turn gold,
Ancient stories now are told,
Day and night in balance stand,
Autumn spreads across the land."
🎃 Samhain
"In Hel's realm the ancestors dwell,
Their stories we remember well,
The veil grows thin, the worlds draw near,
We honor those we hold most dear."
❄️ Yule
"In Fimbulwinter's darkest night,
We kindle flames of hope and light,
Like Baldur rising from the dead,
The sun returns with golden thread."
🕯️ Imbolc
"Idunn's apples promise spring,
Renewal that the seasons bring,
Though frost still grips the frozen ground,
New life is stirring all around."
🥚 Ostara
"Ostara's hare leaps through the field,
As winter's grip at last must yield,
The world tree blooms with life anew,
And Bifrost gleams with rainbow hue."
🌸 Beltane
"Freya dances through the May,
Blessing all on Beltane day,
The nine worlds bloom with life and song,
As summer days grow bright and long."
☀️ Litha
"Sol rides high in summer's peak,
Her golden blessings now we seek,
Like Thor who guards the realms of men,
We celebrate the sun again."
⚔️ Working with Norse Mythology
Norse myths speak to fourth graders' growing sense of self and the wider world:
- • Courage - Facing challenges even when afraid
- • Fate and free will - What can we control?
- • Order vs. chaos - The struggle to maintain balance
- • Consequences - Actions have results
- • Community - Working together against challenges
💡 4th Grade Tips
- • Full independence - Students run circle with minimal guidance
- • Character analysis - Discuss motivations and choices
- • Local connections - How does our geography shape our lives?
- • Longer memory work - Memorize Norse poems and verses
- • Map work - Include geography in daily observations