Handwork and Handicrafts - Waldorf Research Institute

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better to make a herd of charging elephants.” This was done with great enthusiasm by the
children. There happened to be an animal show in Stuttgart at that time; the children were
allowed to ride on the elephants in the open air, and were able to acquire a much more
intimate feeling for the living animals.
How is such a herd made? First, the animals are drawn on the blackboard. Then each
child draws an elephant in profile on a piece of firm wrapping paper and cuts it out. This
silhouette is traced on to a double piece of muslin and then cut out, allowing for seams all
round. The two parts—with the exception of legs and feet—are now sewn together. A third
piece of material is added, supplying the half required for rounding off the legs and also the
underside of the elephant’s body.
In Berlin in 1916 Steiner gave suggestions for a puppet theatre, which was then
constructed by members of the Anthroposophical Society for children whose fathers were
on active service in the War. He said that the dolls should be manipulated from above by
means of strings or wires. In addition he said that one should aim at developing the puppet
show artistically to the point that the dolls could do eurythmy. In 1916 Snow White was
performed. Steiner said that the dwarfs should sit at a round table, and that they should be
moved in such a way that they are always fidgeting. “Dwarfs must be thorough fidgets,” he
said. The next year Sleeping Beauty was performed. One should not think of making such a
theatre in school before the children are twelve to thirteen years old (see chapter IV).
In the eleventh lecture of the “Practical Course for Teachers,” Dr. Steiner spoke of
how, in connection with the teaching of geography from the twelfth to the fifteenth year, the
child should be shown the relation between agriculture and human life and receive a vivid
conception of the plough, the harrow, and so forth:
Try especially to get the child to imitate the shapes of some of these simple
implements, if only in the form of a toy or a piece of handwork. It will make
the child skillful, and will help him to place himself properly into life when
he is older.
ENDNOTES
1. See beginning of chapter II.
2. See chapters II–IV.
3. Practical Course for Teachers, lectures 7, 8, 10.
4. Cologne, December 1, 1906. The numerous indications and suggestions it contains make this
booklet indispensable to both parents and teachers.
5. See reference to dolls in chapter VII.
6. Teachers’ Conference, November 15, 1920.