One of the things I like most about using the Charlotte Mason method in our homeschooling, is how well it trains my sons to focus through narration. For our narration, I read a chapter from a classic book, right now it is Treasure Island, and Aidan, who is seven, tells me back what he can remember. When we first began narration, I would have to stop at the end of a couple of paragraphs and have him narrate because he couldn't focus long enough to tell back an entire chapter. I find, however, that he will focus best if his hands have something to do, so we began using beeswax modelling to compliment our read-aloud time. Shortly after I read, the boys will use the colorful beeswax to model something from the book and use it to retell the story. (For Robin Hood, it was a bow and arrow, and for The Tales of Mr. Pengachoosa, it was a little hamster.) We use it to enhance our nature study as well, shaping the beeswax into flowers, butterflies, rainbows, etc. The children are so proud of their creations.
I learned about beeswax modelling through my research into Waldorf education, where it is often used in the lower grades to supplement main lessons. Initially, I was hesitant to spend the money on the beeswax when play-doh was so inexpensive. But after I purchased some from an area Waldorf school, we were hooked.
The beeswax is a small hard strip, but becomes pliable with the warmth of your hand and is wonderful for fine motor skills. To keep it warm you can set it in a sunny spot or in warm water. As it cools, your creation will harden, but can be remolded easily. The beeswax strips have vibrant colors, are clean to handle, and have a lovely scent - a multi-sensory medium.
Thank you all for participating. Congratulations to, Patti, who has been notified and is looking forward to many creative times using the modeling beeswax.
My next giveaway, also from A Toy Garden, is coming soon...
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My inspiration would be an indoor garden
ReplyDeleteI would love to set up an invitation for my boys with beeswax in front of our flower beds.
ReplyDeleteI've been interested in beeswax for a while but have hesitated because of the expense. I think my son would love the way the beeswax will hardened and you can play with your creations! It would be fun to build the characters from a story and then use them to act out the story :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks beautiful! I am already a fan of yours and of A Toy Garden - I actually just got some playsilks from them and I love them! I mean, er, my kids love them. :) I may or may not run around with them like I'm a beautiful butterfly. Anyway, we're talking a lot about plants and how things grow, so a little flower garden would be a fun thing to model. :) Thanks for the giveaway and the heads up on such a cool product.
ReplyDeleteI was just looking at these the other day, since the Easter bunny left a small piece in my daughter's basket. I'm sure Spring would be the inspiration at this time. What pretty flowers and butterflies we could make with this set!
ReplyDeleteThe girls will probably create animals out of the beeswax. They adore animals and often pretend to be them.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most perfect thing for ym son and I to do at home. He is fascinated with anything that comes from other creatures and plants and how nature helps ever other part of nature. It's really fun to watch his mind expand :) I would love him to have some beeswax to play with just like I did growing up. My mother and my step father met while working on a bee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii, when I was 6 years old working. Now my son and I live here, the smell, the touch, everything about beeswax makes me happy, I would love for him to have the same fantastic experience with bees as I did growing up.
ReplyDeleteI luv A Toy Garden! A few years ago I was lucky enough to meet Sonya in person and get a tour!
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting via Oh What a HAPPY Day Link Party and your newest Follower :)
~ Jill
http://www.frugalplus.com/
My inspiration would be my cat, who was just diagnosed with renal disease.
ReplyDeleteMy girls love storytelling. Getting all of the characters together for different stories tends to take a lot longer than I'd like, as I either sew them by hand or order wooden toys online... But using beeswax to create our own figures would be perfect and would help the girls live out the stories in an even deeper way.
ReplyDeleteBugs In The Garden Is Our NewEst Inspiration
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. Thank you so much for sharing at the Oh What a HAPPY Day party.
ReplyDeleteHolly at Not Done Growing
Our inspiration would be our Enki stories, and we would also use the beeswax with the seasonal stories.
ReplyDeleteI think our inspiration would be some of the modern art books we've been loving.
ReplyDeleteWe have glass stars hanging in our windows, that I think would serve nicely as inspiration.
ReplyDeleteour inspiration would be sensory play as my LO is only 17 months so she's still a little young for it but it looks amazing and I wish we had this stuff when I was little! I followed both How the sun rose and A toy garden on FB
ReplyDeleteWe have a special beeswax story once a week at our house. I let the story develop as i tell it (often it is a healing story about a situation my children may have encountered or that they need to process). It is a special time for us all. the children love to model the beeswax as we go and are getting more and more intricate in there designs. thanks for the special offer of such a beautiful tool <3
ReplyDeleteInspiration is everywhere......I love to put some beeswax out on the table, read to my children and see what they create! Just found your blog through A Toy Garden......it's lovely!! Thanks for the givaway.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest is always making up and drawing his own characters, I would love to see them come to life in wax.
ReplyDeleteBeuatiful pictures!! Our beeswax craetions would be whatever Buny's latest obsession is... horses, fairies, Jemima Puddleduck...
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway! Our inspiration comes from the beautiful nature around us: trees, rivers, rocks, sticks, birds.....
ReplyDeleteOur inspiration would be our lessons and the imagination of the kids.
ReplyDeleteMy children would LOVE this. They usually make people or animals, but have also been known to make imaginary things. :)
ReplyDeleteOh how wonderful! My kids and I are reading about life on a farm at the moment, so I am sure that would be the inspiration :-)
ReplyDeleteI make pottery and my daughter always wants to be right in there making her own, so I am sure that will be her inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI would love to help my son make seasonal inspired things for our nature table!
ReplyDeleteAs a nanny I'd love to use bees wax with many children I care for wheather that be just for fun liittle creations, to helping with lessons, or to using it as a tool for fine moter skills! Children of all ages enjoy creating & with appropriate age bees wax would be a blast!
ReplyDeleteI bet my kids would love to make some Spring flowers and bugs! We've never modeled with wax before. Looks fun!
ReplyDeleteAll my 3 kids love bees vax - for 7yo it helps to develop patience and will, for my soon to be 5yo it is pure fun, and for 2yo it is a great discovery. Away from our Waldorf school for a while, everything new that we see here in US will be our inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWe find inspiration in everything. Both of my daughters would love molding flowers and animals!
ReplyDeleteMy girls are inspired by nature, their favorite critters, and things they are learning about!
ReplyDeleteHannah Pitts
hwm6253(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow A Toy Garden via facebook
ReplyDeleteAnd following How the Sun Rose!
Hannah Pitts
hwm6253(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have never heard of this stuff....it looks very pretty, bright colors. My lil guy LOVES the playdoh so I think I should get us some of this to try out!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Sharing Saturday!