Stories of the Saints
updated August 19, 2023
Recorded here is my own personal collection of articles, resources, favorite links, teaching ideas, and lesson plans. It encompasses many years, from the very beginning of my experience studying and learning about Waldorf to the present time. People from all around the world visit my site and recommend it to others. Welcome!
This site records my journey. I hope my honesty is encouraging and helps break down some barriers that may prevent people from trying Waldorf methods. Because this is an ongoing site documenting my curriculum planning and ideas, some materials are more Waldorf-y than others. Please feel free to take what you like and leave the rest.
This page has helpful links and LOADS of free resources to help you plan your second grade year. Enjoy!
Mission Statement - Consulting Services - Lending Library
Saints
for Class 2
5-DAY ONLINE COURSE:
Waldorf Main Lesson Block Planning: Saints
Join a community of fellow homeschoolers planning this exact same main lesson block for plenty of help and support.
This course is aimed at homeschoolers who are already familiar with the Waldorf method, but
would appreciate extra feedback and encouragement in planning this block.
Make friends and ask specfic questions of
an experienced Waldorf homeschool teacher and consultant as you work through this inspiring, do-able, step by step course.
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Pinterest - Renee Schwartz
My curated collection of visuals! Browse sample main lesson book pages, watercolor paintings, chalkboard drawings, etc. for
Saints.
collections of "Saints Faith Stories" available online at Gateway to the Classics:
The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown
The Book of Saints and Heroes by Mrs. Lang
A Child's Book of Saints by William Canton
A Child's Book of Warriors by William Canton
Christ Legends by Selma Lagerlof
God's Troubadour: The Story of St. Francis of Assissi by Sophie Jewett
In God's Garden by Amy Steedman
Legends and Stories of Italy by Amy Steedman
Our Island Saints by Amy Steedman
Saints and Heroes to the End of the Middle Ages by George Hodges
Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages by George Hodges
Saints of Italy by Ella Noyes
The Seven Champions of Christendom by F.J. Harvey Darton
Stories of the Saints by Grace Hall
The Story of Saint Christopher and the Story of Saint Cuthbert by Marcy Macgregor
FREE eBooks at the Online Waldorf Library
Excellent resource! Published Waldorf curriculum books provided here in PDF format for you to download, keep, and read... for free!
As My Heart Awakes by Arthur Pittis
When I Hear My Heart Wonder by Arthur Pittis
Snip Snap Snout by Arthur Pittis
Saint Odelia by Jakob Streit
Hawthorne Valley Harvest: A Collection of Plays for the Elementary Grades ed. by William Ward includes
"Saint Martin Legend" plus scripts for five class plays:
- "The Voyage of Saint Brendan" by Kevin Kilb
- "Saint Jerome and the Lion" by William Ward
- "Odelia and Aldaric" by Laura Summer
- "Saint George and the Dragon" by Claire McConnell
- Saint Martin's Pageant" by William Ward
Whittle Your Ears: Poems, Songs, and Plays for Children by Barbara Dawson Betteridge contains a script
for one class play:
- "Mont Saint Michel" by Barbara Dawson Betteridge
25 Plays Inspired by Waldorf Teachers ed. by David Mitchell contains a script for one class play:
- "Brother Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio" by Arthur Auer
Pedagogical Theater by Arthur M. Pittis
- "The Legend of St. Odelia" class play script, p.91
- "St. Francis and the Wolf" class play script, p.
Creative Pathways: Activities that Strengthen the Child's Cognitive
Forces by Elizabeth Auer
- Plays, pp.30-31
- Festivals, p.32
Learning about the World through Modeling by Arthur
Auer, Human and Animal Legends, pp.59-60
- Monk Francis, the Wolf, and the Fish
- Knight George and the Dragon
Sample Lessons and Free Curriculum
Other Helpful Links
Books to Buy
There are SO many resources for the Saints block! But
I have owned, read, and used almost all of them and narrowed it down quite a bit. I found the best!
There are basically two collections of stories from which to choose, depending on whose style you prefer: Ursula Synge or Cynthia Zarin.
The Giant at the Ford and Other Legends of the Saints by Ursula
Synge (15 stories) is out of print (the link to the stories online is above; thank you, Noa, for letting me know about it).
I primarily use Cynthia Zarin's Saints Among the Animals (10 stories).
Both collections are very well written.
Saints Among the Animals
by Cynthia Zarin
UPDATE 10/15/2020:
I have been searching for more stories about Black Saints and am very happy to share
that I found a great one! It is an easy-to-read chapter book with large print, perfect
for kids this age. It is about Moses the Black, a fascinating character because he was
a robber and a murderer before he became a monk. I highly recommend it, and you'd
likely have to buy it since it probably won't be at your local library.
The book is called Abba Moses: Notorious Robber, Desert Father by Andrew Votipka.
 
I did this main lesson block in November 2015. Here is the blog
post with photographs of all of Leah's MLB pages. Our final list of saints was:
Note: We didn't do this -- we created an illustration using dried rose petals -- but the
Celery Heart Roses would make a very beautiful art project for St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
It would be a very easy main lesson book illustration as well!
My blog posts from teaching this bock in 2020:
My blog posts from teaching this block in 2018:
My blog posts from teaching this topic in 2015:
my older Saints Unit (PDF)
Note: This block is meant to be taught
in December. Please be aware that this block is written for families who celebrate Christmas; however, it can easily be modified.
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contains instructions for flat wool pictures of St. Christopher carrying the child (figure 21) and St. Francis preaching to the birds (figure 27). Example pictures for each are shown. 
