This year, our elementary school's fall festival was all about St. Martin's Day. A diverse program was prepared with great dedication, introducing the children to the story of St. Martin in a playful, creative, and musical way. At a total of seven varied stations, the classes were able to discover, craft, listen, and participate.
In addition to the film about St. Martin's Day, the children had the opportunity to design matching coloring pages and make stick puppets. The Kamishibai storytelling theater also generated great enthusiasm. In the atmospheric setting of the small wooden theater, the story of St. Martin came to life and captivated the young audience.
At the "Music and Movement" station, the children experienced a sound story together, in which they could use various instruments. Afterwards, everyone sang the popular song "Lichterkinder" (Children of Light) together, which sparked anticipation for the lantern season.
Things got particularly creative when making a goose out of apples. This station was accompanied by a story about St. Martin's goose, which taught the children about the origins of this tradition.
Of course, the classic lantern crafting was also a must. With a lot of patience and imagination, small colorful lanterns were created.
Another creative task was offered at the station where the children could paint a lantern and also design the life story of Saint Martin. In this way, they playfully worked out the central contents of the legend of Saint Martin.
By working together to create a circle of eggs, the children were able to sort, organize, and discuss the most important aspects of St. Martin's Day. This made it clear how much they had learned that day—about sharing, about charity, and beyond that, about what it means to be there for one another.
The basic idea behind St. Martin's Day was also implemented during the breakfast break, when the children were given bread rolls to share with each other.
The fall festival was a resounding success and offered a wonderful mix of creativity, games, exercise, and contemplation. A heartfelt thank you to all the helpers who made this special day possible!
