Magic of Waldorf Astronomy

Last year, I embarked on a remarkable journey – teaching astronomy to a class of curious and imaginative Waldorf sixth graders. As in Waldorf schools, parents volunteer for many activities, and I took it upon myself to spark their interest in the vastness of the sky.

Our first class, held on the equinox last year, began with sharing memories of the darkest sky we’d ever seen. We also delved into the story of Pathani Samanth, a 19th-century Indian astronomer from Odisha known for his naked-eye observations and precise eclipse calculations. To understand the two significant astronomical objects, we created a sun and moon calendar.

Thereafter, I embraced a hands-on approach, weaving every lesson with concepts, drawings, stories, and poems. Together, we explored the wonders of our world – the phases of the moon, the sun’s movements, charting the night sky, the interplay of light and shadow during eclipses, and the unique aspects of Indian calendars and timekeeping. Waldorf Teachers Resources and notes on Indian Astronomy by Mayank Vahia along proved invaluable in designing these blended sessions. The children especially loved some of my favorite Hindi poems, my sun photography and my attempts at Waldorf art activities. 

I am truly inspired by the children’s curiosity, their inherent awe and wonder. Their fascination with the universe fueled my own learning journey in how to effectively facilitate learning. They readily absorbed every poem, story, and name, and created beautiful paintings in response. Some of the most fulfilling moments included:
– Children precisely specifying their reference frame, including latitude and longitude, while discussing observations.
– Grasping the vastness of astronomical timelines and thoughtfully mentioning that the current North Star won’t be the same in a few thousand years!
– Instantly recalling Varāhamihira and Āryabhata as early references for eclipses, even pulling out their notes to provide the Sanskrit text.

This experience instilled a deep sense of gratitude. It was an opportunity to unlearn and learn anew. A commitment to children must be honored; actions speak louder than words. Children are perceptive, and learning is inherent. Joyful learning is the most powerful way to foster knowledge. 

While managing work, travel, and schedule changes might seem daunting, it was absolutely worthwhile. Even during illness, the thought of the next class brought a smile to my face. I realize it wasn’t just my commitment and discipline, but also the children’s deep interest and motivation that fueled our journey. Together, we had nearly 40 hours of sessions between three equinoxes and two solstices. 

I am filled with contentment that I could play a role in igniting a passion for astronomy in young minds. This experience has been truly rewarding, reminding me of the magic that happens when we nurture children’s natural wonder.