First Week In 3rd Grade!
Main Lesson: Creation Stories - Ancient Hebrews with Mr. Séamus

September 15-17, 2026

We began each morning, this past week, with speech and poetry, entering into literary works, including excerpts from Genesis, the poets Charles Mackay and William Shakespeare. After our poetry work we delved into the beginnings of the world as told by the ancient Hebrew people. We heard about the emptiness, darkness, also described as the “void” which offers the potential for something new and beautiful to be born. This was understood by the children as they encounter their first experiences of soul darkness, or emptiness in themselves that comes with growing up and being human. 

In this void of potential that they experience, the light from each of their individualities shines brightly. To stand in front of them as their teacher is like seeing the rays of the sun. We understand that these profound archetypes of being human will be reflected in the many different creation stories from all around the world throughout the curriculum as they continue to grow at Phoenix. After listening and recalling the stories we had heard together, we practiced drawing and writing in our main lesson books. 

Another highlight this past week was learning how to play “Spaceball” - a social game that involves skillful passing of a ball to teammates, and dexterously intercepting passes without ever entering into other players’ personal spaces or crowding them in our effort. It was impressive to watch them take up the new skills involved in this game. They played exceptionally well for a first round and we will certainly be playing more spaceball together in the coming weeks!

Mr Séamus 

Old Tubal Cain was a man of might 
In the days when earth was young: 
By the fierce red light of his furnace bright 
The strokes of his hammer rung; 
And he lifted high his brawny hand 
On the iron glowing clear, 
Till the sparks rush'd out in scarlet showers, 
As he fashioned the sword and spear. 
And he sang - 'Hurrah for my handiwork! 
Hurrah for the spear and the sword! 
Hurrah for the hand that shall wield them well, 
For they shall be king, queen and lord!' 

Excerpt from Tubal Cain by Charles Mackay