"Walk Around The Sun" - A Montessori Birthday

Posts on the Montessori Method are a recurring feature on the blog, written by Crystal Herzog, mom to Iris (Sunflower) and Margot (Elementary)

Summer birthdays are coming and my sweet Margot turns six this week, so today’s post focuses on birthdays.  The traditional birthday celebration for children in a Montessori classroom includes the “Walk Around the Sun,” a powerful, special, and educational Montessori tradition.  The basic form is used by Sunflower Montessori: to place a lit candle in the center of class floor to represent the sun, while the birthday child’s classmates form a large circle, or an ellipse, on the floor surrounding the candle, to represent the Earth’s orbit.  The birthday child holds the continent globe and begins to walk a circle around the sun, while her classmates surrounding her sing:

 “The earth goes round the sun,

  The earth goes round the sun,

  It takes 12 months for the earth to go around the sun,

  And then Margot was one…

“The earth goes round the sun,

  The earth goes round the sun,

  It takes 12 months for the earth to go around the sun,

  And then Margot was two…

(And on until the child’s age)

“The earth goes round the sun,

  The earth goes round the sun,

  It takes 12 months for the earth to go around the sun,

  And now Margot is six!”

At Sunflower, classmates of the birthday child help count and talk about significant stages or developments that happen in each year.  Ms. Correy notes the tradition is extra meaningful when a child brings photos of themselves at each year for their teacher to share with the class as they circle the sun.  The “Walk” has many variations and each teacher at Sunflower adds their personal flair.  A common variation is laying down the months of the year around the sun, allowing the birthday child to start their walk on their birth month and step from month to month as she circles the sun.  A variation of the birthday song lyrics can be sung to the tune “Happy Birthday,”

“We celebrate your birth
  And your place on the earth.
  May the sun, moon, and stars
  Bring you peace where you are.”

In addition to the “Walk Around the Sun,” Sunflower welcomes a child bringing treats from home (if he wishes) to share with his class, but asks that the treats not be edible.  Past ideas include pencils, tattoos, little wooden trains, and glow-sticks.  If you would like to send your child to school with treats for the class, please be sure to give them to Ms. Katie or Ms. Correy at drop off so they can remind the lead teachers to celebrate at circle time.  If you need help figuring quantities, Ms. Katie and Ms. Correy are happy to provide a head count as well.  Happy Birthdays!