Grade 5 Greek Games
The 5th Grade is often referred to as the “Golden Age” of childhood. At this stage of development students enter a period of enhanced consciousness and sense of self as individuals. In class, study is focused on the history and geography of Ancient India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt & Greece. The year culminates with the Greek Olympiad – a contest with grace, truth, beauty, and skill at its heart.
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OLYMPIC OATH
Glory to thee, O Zeus, most powerful! Give me courage to stand tall. Glory to thee, Athena, of all the Gods most wise! Give me strength to trust myself. Glory to thee, golden Apollo, most radiant! Give me beauty that I may honour your power. Before the Gods I swear that The words of my mouth and the deeds of my hands Will reveal the purity of my heart. Accept my efforts, I pray. |
The Games
Every May our 5th grade students along with their class teacher and Michelle Nagle, our Movement Teacher who is trained in Spacial Dynamics, travel to Hope BC to compete in the Greek Olympiad, fashioned after the original Olympic Games in Greece. This annual event draws students from Waldorf schools from across BC and Alberta for a festive competition that complements 5th Grade studies.
"The focus of these tournaments is on the harmony and beauty of form, the effective dynamic of the movement, and the potential to increase each child’s own individual level of performance with objective measurement. This way of play creates an enlivening and joyful experience, challenging the children to work towards greater harmony rather than challenging each other."
spacialdynamics.com
"The focus of these tournaments is on the harmony and beauty of form, the effective dynamic of the movement, and the potential to increase each child’s own individual level of performance with objective measurement. This way of play creates an enlivening and joyful experience, challenging the children to work towards greater harmony rather than challenging each other."
spacialdynamics.com
City States
For the duration of the Olympiad, the students are divided into teams representing the Greek City‐States; Argos, Athens, Corinth, Delphi, Iolcus, Ithaca, Marathon, Sparta, Thebes. The athletes spend most of their time with fellow city‐state athletes, and participate in every event. A King and a Queen (parent volunteers) accompany each City-State, the Kings chaperoning the boys and the Queens chaperoning the girls.
Events & Awards
The 5 Events participated in by the athletes are: Javelin, Discus, Long Jump, Sprinting and Wrestling. Both technique and beauty are considered by the judges with a tolerance for individual style and physical differences. Students are recognized for their speed, distance, grace and form in the events. We are fortunate to have a number of Spacial Dynamics experts who form a team of Judges headed by Graham Oslund, Michelle Nagle and Les Tulloch.
"This living history experience of the ancient Greek Olympics, is a time to honour the natural athlete in every child."
Garden City Waldorf PE teacher, Bonnie Bolz
Each athlete is honoured with a medallion of participation, and their unique contribution is pointed out quietly by the judges, queens and kings.
The Greek Games are more than an athletic or even an educational event. It is a trans-formative experience of moving into and embodying the Greek Archetypes. Children who play together and learn to honor the graceful in each other in their youth in this way, will continue into adulthood to work together for the good. This event evokes the true spirit of the games: inclusion and celebration of each individual’s efforts and accomplishments. From the ancient fire to these modern flames, the PACT model burns brightly: Pentathlon, Arts, Cooperation, Truce!
"This living history experience of the ancient Greek Olympics, is a time to honour the natural athlete in every child."
Garden City Waldorf PE teacher, Bonnie Bolz
Each athlete is honoured with a medallion of participation, and their unique contribution is pointed out quietly by the judges, queens and kings.
The Greek Games are more than an athletic or even an educational event. It is a trans-formative experience of moving into and embodying the Greek Archetypes. Children who play together and learn to honor the graceful in each other in their youth in this way, will continue into adulthood to work together for the good. This event evokes the true spirit of the games: inclusion and celebration of each individual’s efforts and accomplishments. From the ancient fire to these modern flames, the PACT model burns brightly: Pentathlon, Arts, Cooperation, Truce!
Social Aspect
Students at this age are at a threshold between the imaginative cooperative games of childhood and the competitive oppositional sports of adolescence. The 5th graders have fun, make new friends, and typically become more interested in the performances of others than obsessed with their own victory.
Each class shares a short presentation; a song, a musical presentation, a portion of a class play, or anything from the Greek block studies. In the past the students have written odes that can be shared at the Olympiad. All volunteers are asked to consider ways in which they may enrich and inspire the Olympians’ imaginations, and all are encouraged to embrace the ancient Greek dress and culture for the event!
Each class shares a short presentation; a song, a musical presentation, a portion of a class play, or anything from the Greek block studies. In the past the students have written odes that can be shared at the Olympiad. All volunteers are asked to consider ways in which they may enrich and inspire the Olympians’ imaginations, and all are encouraged to embrace the ancient Greek dress and culture for the event!
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Closing Ceremonial Ode
Mistress of gold‐crowed Festivals,
Olympia, Lady of Truth – your priests with ceremony and with sacrifice Honor Lord Zeus: ‘Bright Thunderer, what would have you for those competing here? Their heart seek praise for high accomplishments and rest from pain.’ Truly, Zeus sends to men who honour him, the grace of answered prayer. O Olympian grove, made lovely with river and well growing trees, welcome this Victory Song, welcome your garlanded winners! Whoever wins your shining prize, Olympia, wears glory always. |
Hands in Peace
International peace efforts around the world, such as Hands in Peace, have joined the Waldorf Schools in this movement model that actively celebrates our common humanity and cultural diversity through non-competitive festivals.
Spacial Dynamics
Spacial Dynamics® studies the fluid relationship between human beings and the space around us. It teaches how to optimize that relationship and break the patterns of old behaviors of movement. Thought, intention, and the human body are interconnected through space. We learn to give this surrounding space direction and dynamic. We then move with enhanced ease, grace, aesthetics, and awareness.
"Space is not a silent void. Space speaks. Its language is movement."
- Jaimen McMillan
www.spacialdynamics.com
"Space is not a silent void. Space speaks. Its language is movement."
- Jaimen McMillan
www.spacialdynamics.com