Quality of Numbers: Five & Six

This Waldorf block is quite different from how numbers are introduced in traditional American schools, and the rationale behind it is fascinating!

• Quality of Numbers: One & Two
• Quality of Numbers: Three & Four

Tuesday, November 12

RNS prep beforehand:
cover fifth paper with salt

• have children solve the fifth riddle
• move salt to reveal Roman and Arabic numerals for 5
• discuss IV, V
• rhythmical walking - Miss Prim
• rhythmical walking - Grandpa Hugh
• rhythmical walking - Little Timmie
• rhythmical walking - Cousin Lenore
• rhythmical walking - Cousin Clive
• skip count by 5's to 100 (forward and backward)
• discuss What is Five?
• practice drawing V and 5 in the salt tray
• add V and 5 to MLB
• look at Hand Paintings in Rock Art Around the World
• trace hand and add to MLB
• hear riddles for six (we are doing the six edible parts of the plant)


The riddle for FIVE:

Four together and one apart,
Hold them still and behold -
What is the number that
I do hold?

~ Four Fingers and a Thumb / The Roman Numeral for V

from Eric Fairman, p.21



The riddles for SIX

I am a seed with three letters in my name.
Take away two letters and I sound quite the same.
What am I?

~ A Pea


A one-seeded fruit I may be,
But all of your calendars are full of me.
What am I?

~ Dates


What has green hair,
a round red head, and
a long, thin white beard?

~ A Radish

from The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids, pp. 99 and 108

Thursday, November 14

RNS prep beforehand:
cover sixth paper with salt

• have children solve the riddles for six
• move salt to reveal Roman and Arabic numerals for 6
• discuss IV, V, VI
• read and perform "From Big Voice to Tiny Voice" poem from Verses and Poems and Stories to Tell by Dorothy Harrer
• rhythmical movement - the Elf Beatrix
• discuss What is Six?
• read The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
• grind wheat berries into flour
• look at rosemary topiary, pinch and break and sniff leaves, list the six edible parts of the plant (seed, root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit)
• taste/smell examples: peas & black sesame seeds, radish & purple carrot, celery & cinnamon (bark) & maple sugar (sap), red leaf lettuce & tea, broccoli & marigold flowers, dates & mango & goji berries
• practice drawing VI and 6 in the salt tray
• add VI and 6 to MLB
• add colored pencil artwork of six edible parts of the plant to MLB
• hear seventh riddle




The riddle for SEVEN:

I am beautiful, up in the sky.
I am magical, yet I cannot fly.
To some people, I bring luck;
To some people, riches.
The person at my end does whatever he wishes.
What am I?

~ A Rainbow

from The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids, p.109

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