Our students participated in our annual Lantern Walk last week.
Our Lil’ Roots, Sprouts, and Blossoms classrooms shared a beautiful, light-centered experience called the Lantern Walk, which took place in each of our three classrooms. Here’s how the Sprouts in Miss Destinii’s classroom celebrated the event:
After dimming the lights, Miss Destiii sat in her chair with the “little gnomes” in her charge gathered in a circle around her. In a soft, soothing voice, she called each child up one by one to quietly collect their sparkly lantern that they had decorated that week.
The electric candle lanterns emitted a soothing light that tamed even the most talkative tots. As the teacher handed out the lanterns, she whispered: “This is how the lantern likes to walk in the night, so quietly, and so gently,” lulling each child into a mood of reflective curiosity.
As each child collected their lantern and headed back to their circle of friends, an expectant expression washed over their faces – they knew something special was at hand.
Finally when the last child collected their special lantern, Miss Destinii, still in a hushed voice, told an ancient tale of a man named Martin who was traveling on foot to the city of Amiens one day. Martin reveled in his natural surroundings, and pleased with the bounty nature had to offer, proclaimed that the world was good.
As night fell and he entered the city gate, Martin lit his lantern and saw a man barely clothed, crouched and shivering. Martin removed his own cloak, tore it in two, and lay one half over the man, giving him his lantern for light and warmth.
That night, Martin had a dream that an angel, addressing him as “St. Martin” , thanked him for giving warmth and light to the shivering man. Inspired, Martin vowed to feed and clothe those in need for the rest of his life.
The lanterns the children held in their small hands symbolized the potential in each child to bring light and warmth to others, just as Martin did for the shivering man.
At the conclusion of the story, Miss Destinii asked the children to rise from their places on the rug and form a line. Joined by Apple Blossom’s director, Miss Tracey, everyone began to sing together: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”
When the song was finished, Miss Destinii gently instructed the children: “Now little gnome, share your little light with all your friends!”
The Lantern Walk culminated in a special snack of cider, the kids pressed the day before and apple cake prepared by Chef Michaela in Apple Blossom’s vegetarian kitchen. By lantern light, the children ate alongside Miss Destinii and Miss Tracey and chatted about the story, and about their day.
