Ostara: Thor's Adventures & Spring's Return
As spring bursts forth, we follow Thor on his adventures and explore the treasures of the gods.
UU Principle Focus
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Follow Thor's adventures and understand his role as protector
- • Learn about the treasures of the gods and the dwarves who made them
- • Introduce geometry: angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, perimeter, and area
- • Study spring weather, pollination, and bee ecosystems
- • Observe reptiles emerging and pollinators returning
- • Celebrate the spring equinox and new life
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: Thor's Adventures Begin
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Thor is brave and strong, but sometimes acts without thinking. When has acting quickly helped or hurt you?
📚 Language Arts
Read Thor's adventures in Jotunheim. Write about a time you faced something scary.
✖️ Math
Geometry introduction: angles and shapes. Identify angles in Thor's hammer.
🗺️ Science & Geography
Spring weather patterns: thunderstorms, rain, and growth. How does weather change in spring?
✏️ Form Drawing
Hammer and angular patterns—strong geometric shapes
🧶 Handwork
Transplant seedlings outdoors; garden preparation
📖 Story
Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Thor Mythology
- Spring Thunderstorms
Shows:
- Storm Chasers
Audio:
- Thor stories
Week 2: Thor and the Midgard Serpent
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Thor's greatest enemy is Jormungandr, the world serpent. What challenges seem too big to face?
📚 Language Arts
Read about Thor fishing for the Midgard Serpent. Write about facing fears.
✖️ Math
Types of angles: acute, right, obtuse. Measure angles with a protractor.
🗺️ Science & Geography
Snakes and reptiles: How do they survive? Spring emergence from hibernation.
✏️ Form Drawing
Serpent patterns—curved, coiling lines
🧶 Handwork
Create a serpent craft; coiled clay or fabric snake
📖 Story
Thor and Jormungandr
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Midgard Serpent Explained
- Snakes Waking Up
Shows:
- Reptiles: Cold-Blooded Survivors
Audio:
- Norse Mythology—Thor
Week 3: Thor's Hammer Lost and Found
🕯️ Hearth Circle
When Thor lost his hammer, he had to dress as a bride to get it back. Sometimes we must do uncomfortable things to solve problems.
📚 Language Arts
Read the comic tale of Thor's stolen hammer. Write a funny story about solving a problem in an unexpected way.
✖️ Math
Triangles: equilateral, isosceles, scalene. Find triangles in nature and buildings.
🗺️ Science & Geography
Pollination: How do flowers and bees work together? Observe pollinators.
✏️ Form Drawing
Triangle patterns and geometric designs
🧶 Handwork
Make a flower press; collect spring flowers
📖 Story
The Theft of Thor's Hammer
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Thor's Hammer Story
- Bees and Pollination
Shows:
- The Secret Life of Bees
Audio:
- Funny mythology stories
Week 4: Sif's Golden Hair Restored
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The dwarves made treasures for the gods, including Sif's new golden hair. What gifts do craftspeople give the world?
📚 Language Arts
Read about the treasures of the gods (Mjolnir, Gungnir, Draupnir). Write about something beautifully made.
✖️ Math
Quadrilaterals: squares, rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids. Classify shapes.
🗺️ Science & Geography
Metals and minerals: Where do they come from? How are they shaped?
✏️ Form Drawing
Geometric treasure patterns—jewels and metalwork
🧶 Handwork
Metalwork or jewelry craft; wire wrapping or beading
📖 Story
The Treasures of the Gods
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Dwarves in Norse Mythology
- How Metal is Made
Shows:
- Metalworking Ancient and Modern
Audio:
- Dwarf stories
Week 5: The Mead of Poetry
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The mead of poetry gives the gift of words. What words have inspired or moved you?
📚 Language Arts
Read about Odin stealing the mead of poetry. Write your own poem or song.
✖️ Math
Perimeter: measuring around shapes. Calculate perimeters of garden beds.
🗺️ Science & Geography
Bees and honey: How is honey made? The importance of bees in ecosystems.
✏️ Form Drawing
Honeycomb patterns—hexagons and tessellations
🧶 Handwork
Beeswax crafts; make candles or lip balm
📖 Story
Odin and the Mead of Poetry
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Mead of Poetry Story
- How Bees Make Honey
Shows:
- Honeybee Documentary
Audio:
- Poetry and mythology
Week 6: Ostara—Spring Equinox
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Day and night are equal again, but now light is winning. What new life do you see around you?
📚 Language Arts
Write about balance and new beginnings. Create spring blessings.
✖️ Math
Area introduction: measuring inside shapes. Calculate area of garden plots.
🗺️ Science & Geography
Spring equinox science: equal day and night. Track sunrise and sunset times.
✏️ Form Drawing
Egg and spiral patterns—symbols of new life
🧶 Handwork
Decorate eggs; plant more seeds; spring crafts
📖 Story
Ostara traditions and spring celebrations
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Spring Equinox Explained
- Ostara Traditions
Shows:
- Spring: Nature's Renewal
Audio:
- Spring celebration stories
🌸 Ostara Celebration
- 🟡 Decorate eggs with natural dyes and symbols
- 🟡 Plant seeds and bless the garden for the growing season
- 🟡 Hold an egg hunt with nature treasures
- 🟡 Create a spring altar with flowers, eggs, and symbols of new life
- 🟡 Watch the sunrise on the equinox
- 🟡 Feast on spring foods: eggs, greens, and fresh bread