Last night the volunteer Storytellers, for our Spiritplay program for preschool-Kindergarten children, met at church and prepared for the upcoming church year. I’m very glad that we are going into our fifth year of Spiritplay, as this program has proven to be a marvelous method for our young children.
Spiritplay is based on the Montessori method, and like Montessori it stresses the importance of a prepared environment and freedom of choice within that environment. In 1971 an Episcopal priest, Jerome Berryman, studied the Montessori method in Italy and then set out to develop a method for religious education, which he called Godly Play. Godly Play was then adapted (with permission) by Unitarian Universalists Nita Penfold D.Min, Rev. Ralph Roberts, and Beverly Leute Bruce.
When children arrive in our Spiritplay classroom, they find a large circle rug on the floor. Each class begins with a circle for Joys and Concerns to be shared and then for some element, such as a song or creative movement, that settles them into the space. Then the storyteller (teacher) will present a story using a basket of prepared materials, such as the one pictured here. After each story there will be a few Wondering Questions for the class to think about and discuss, and then for the remainder of the time they will have Work Time. We call it Work Time to honor the importance of what they are doing, as play and creative expression truly is the work of the young child. Materials to choose from during Work Time include art supplies, yoga cards, picture books, building blocks, and the story baskets.
In the Spiritplay classroom, the method is the message, and every part of the class is imbued with respect and love for the child. Our next Spiritplay year starts on September 20th.