Sophie's Walk Around The Sun

We feel so blessed that our children are getting a Montessori education during their preschool years.  Of all the activities that the girls have done while at school, I really love their "Walk Around The Sun" that they do for their birthday.  

And I'm not the only one.  Sophie has been looking forward to her "Walk Around The Sun" since, well, Claire's back in May!  She was so excited to get her chance on the Thursday before her birthday, which was the 27th of September.  I met her at school with the boys a few minutes before the end of the day.  Johnny attended summer school, so he knew just what to do when he got there.  He found some work and a place to sit!

Sophie also knew just what to do.  She waited patiently while all the kids got seated in a circle around her and settled down.

Unfortunately, Grandma was gone in California meeting Baby Liam, so she wasn't here to do Sophie's "Walk Around The Sun".  So it's a good thing that Sophie has so many teachers that she loves dearly!  Mrs. Reid was the lucky teacher that day, so she sat down with Sophie and they got started.

First, Mrs. Reid lit the candle and told Sophie that the light of the candle would represent the sun.  She asked Sophie why they couldn't have the sun in their classroom, and she replied that it was too hot and too big.  So, with the candle representing the sun, Sophie walked the globe around the "sun" 4 times, one revolution for each year old she is.  

While Sophie revolved around the "sun", Mrs. Reid told a little about each year of Sophie's life.  What sibling was born and where we lived.  After each revolution, she would stop and put a marker down.  I love how this activity helps to illustrate the passage of time in a concrete way that the kids can understand.

After she had made it around four times, she sat down, blew out the "sun", and her class sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  I can assure you, Sophie sucked up every bit of attention!  She loved it!

And then she was presented her Birthday Crown, which she has also been dying to have since Claire got hers. :)  At this point, it was time to dismiss for the day.  While kids were being picked up by parents, the other kids did some yoga poses to help keep them calm.  I love it!  Sophie particularly liked the sun salutation.  

And Johnny did exactly what he knew he should.  He put his work away!  This boy is chomping at the bit to get into school with the big kids.

This year, instead of handing out a treat to their friends, the kids have been asked to bring a book to leave at the school, with their picture in it.  Sophie chose one of her favorites, a Little Critter book.  She loved putting her picture inside, and is excited that Johnny and Luke and other siblings and cousins will be able to read her book when they go to school.

It was a wonderful "Walk Around The Sun", and the perfect way to start Sophie's birthday weekend!