Imbolc: Awakening & Brigid
Imbolc marks the first stirrings of spring. We honor Brigid—goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft—and plant seeds of intention.
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
- • Recognize letters S, T, U, V, W, X
- • Create simple rhymes and poems
- • Retell stories in sequence
Math
- • Count by 2s
- • Measure with non-standard units
- • Recognize and extend patterns
Science & Nature
- • Observe late winter/early spring signs
- • Plant and care for seeds
- • Learn about fire safely
Social-Emotional
- • Set intentions and goals
- • Practice caring for others
- • Express creativity
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: First Stirrings
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Light a white candle for Brigid. What new things do we want to begin?
📖 Language Arts
Letter S - Stir, Spring, Seed. S sounds in nature words
🔢 Math
Counting by 2s introduction. Pairs of things.
🌿 Science & Nature
Signs of late winter - longer days, animal activity, buds forming
🎨 Art & Handwork
Brigid's cross from paper or pipe cleaners
🏃 Movement
Wake up stretches - pretend to be seeds starting to grow
📚 Story Time
Brigid's Cloak by Bryce Milligan
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter S
- StoryBots: Seasons
Shows:
- Nature Cat: Early Spring
Audiobooks:
- Brigid's Cloak audiobook
Week 2: Brigid the Poet
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Share a favorite poem or make up a silly rhyme together.
📖 Language Arts
Letter T - Tell, Tale, Together. Rhyming words and simple poems
🔢 Math
Patterns - AABB patterns like poem rhymes
🌿 Science & Nature
Bird songs returning - listen for birds, learn 2-3 local bird calls
🎨 Art & Handwork
Poetry scrolls - write/draw a poem, roll and tie with ribbon
🏃 Movement
Movement poems - act out action words
📚 Story Time
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter T
- Signing Time: Animals
Shows:
- Wild Kratts: Birds
Audiobooks:
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Week 3: Brigid the Healer
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Who takes care of us when we're sick? How can we care for others?
📖 Language Arts
Letter U - Under, Up, Us. Words about helping and caring
🔢 Math
Measuring - how tall? How long? Using hands and feet
🌿 Science & Nature
Plants that heal - herbs, aloe, chamomile. Grow an herb
🎨 Art & Handwork
Make a healing kit - decorate box, add bandages and comfort items
🏃 Movement
Gentle yoga - caring for our bodies
📚 Story Time
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter U
- Daniel Tiger: Doctor episodes
Shows:
- Curious George: Garden episodes
Audiobooks:
- The Runaway Bunny
Week 4: Brigid the Smith
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Brigid works with fire and metal. What do we want to create?
📖 Language Arts
Letter V - Very, Valuable, Voice. V words about making things
🔢 Math
Shapes in tools - circles, rectangles, triangles
🌿 Science & Nature
Fire safety - what fire needs, how to be safe, fire's gifts
🎨 Art & Handwork
Hammering - golf tees into styrofoam, simple building
🏃 Movement
Blacksmith movements - pump bellows, hammer, shape
📚 Story Time
The Blacksmith and the Fairies (Celtic tale)
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter V
- How It's Made: Kid episodes
Shows:
- Mr. Rogers: How Things Are Made
Audiobooks:
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Week 5: Candles & Light
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Imbolc means 'in the belly' - new life growing. Light candles for hope.
📖 Language Arts
Letter W - Warm, Wick, Wish. W words about light and warmth
🔢 Math
Counting candles, grouping by color, simple addition
🌿 Science & Nature
How candles work - wax, wick, flame. Candle experiments (adult-led)
🎨 Art & Handwork
Dip candles or decorate candle holders
🏃 Movement
Candle dance - move carefully, don't let the 'flame' go out
📚 Story Time
The Story of Light by Susan L. Roth
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter W
- SciShow Kids: Fire
Shows:
- Magic School Bus: Light
Audiobooks:
- Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Week 6: Seeds of Intention
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Plant a seed and make a wish. What do we want to grow this year?
📖 Language Arts
Letter X - eXcited, eXplore. X is tricky! Review S-X
🔢 Math
Counting seeds, estimating - how many seeds in a packet?
🌿 Science & Nature
What seeds need - soil, water, light, warmth. Plant seeds indoors
🎨 Art & Handwork
Seed paper making, decorated plant pots
🏃 Movement
Grow like a seed - start curled, slowly unfurl and reach up
📚 Story Time
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter X
- SciShow Kids: Seeds
Shows:
- Nature: Seeds and plants
Audiobooks:
- The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Week 7: Imbolc Celebration
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Imbolc ritual - light many candles, share hopes for spring
📖 Language Arts
Review S-X. Create a spring word wall. Retell Brigid stories
🔢 Math
Review counting, patterns, measuring. Math games
🌿 Science & Nature
Check on planted seeds. Signs spring is coming
🎨 Art & Handwork
Brigid doll from corn husks or fabric, final candle crafts
🏃 Movement
Celebration dance, candle procession (battery candles for safety)
📚 Story Time
When Will It Be Spring? by Catherine Walters
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Cosmic Kids: Spring Yoga
- Signing Time: Spring
Shows:
- Wild Kratts: Baby Animals
Audiobooks:
- When Will It Be Spring?
🕯️ 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