These are examples of beeswax modeling projects that were done to
complement a main lesson block in Mathematics related to the four processes. This was one of the very
first main lesson blocks we ever did, when our children were around age 7.
Here we have two gnomes: Minus (in blue) and Plus (in green).
On the first day, a story about four gnomes (each one representing one of the four processes) was told. In the story,
the spirit of Minus is of one who is often losing things, while Plus is often at the
other end of the spectrum. The figures were an artistic expression of the lesson. As with the parts of speech, each
color references one of the four temperaments.
These are examples of beeswax figures that were made by one of our
children at 8 years old, and remain on our family nature table today. They were inspired by a series of
nature stories that were told around the same time.
While beeswax modeling is typically done in the early years in a Waldorf
school as one of the primary ways of artistic expression to accompany main lesson work, it can certainly be
used at any time if the mood strikes. Usually hard at first, beeswax becomes
softer as it is worked with the hands. We always found it to be a wonderful compound for "working the will", as
any work with the hands can be. We were rarely without small pieces of beeswax in hand when we traveled anywhere when
our own children were a lot younger.
Need more information about how to work with
modeling beeswax?
Visit Stockmar for free downloads on painting, using wax crayons, and more! (Be sure to click
on the icon for English if the page comes up in another language.)
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