Description

In this week’s adventure, Laura invites Explorers on a journey to Japan to meet Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess. According to ancient chronicles, Amaterasu is revered as the goddess of the sun and the universe. Legends tell how she once hid herself inside the Heavenly Rock Cave after a quarrel, plunging the world into darkness. The gods devised a joyful plan to coax her out by hanging jewels and a mirror on a sacred sakaki tree and dancing with laughter until curiosity drew her from the cave, restoring light to the world.

As we learn this story, Laura guides kids through Sun Salutation, a yoga sequence that awakens the body, builds strength and flexibility, and helps us honor the light within ourselves. Research shows that yoga and mindfulness can improve balance, strength, endurance and aerobic capacity in school‑age children; it can also boost focus, memory and self‑esteem, and reduce anxiety and stress. This movement‑meets‑mythology episode will leave young listeners feeling grounded, grateful and ready to shine.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode

• A Shinto legend of light: learn about Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess, and how the gods used music, dance and a mirror to bring her out of hiding.
• Sun Salutation sequence: flow through a gentle series of poses (mountain, forward fold, plank, cobra and downward dog) designed for kids. We talk about how this sequence wakes up our muscles, stretches our bodies and calms our mind.
• Spark of Light game: imagine what brightens your world, from family and friends to acts of kindness, and share your ideas with Laura.
• Belief Backpack treasures: pack gratitude, resilience and curiosity into your Belief Backpack to carry with you all week long.

Perfect for children ages 5–12 and their grown‑ups, this story‑meets‑movement adventure shows how legends can inspire healthy habits and inner strength. Bring a yoga mat (or a beach towel), comfy clothes and your imagination.

For Parents and Educators

This episode introduces Shinto mythology, basic yoga and social‑emotional learning in one engaging lesson. Suggested uses include:

• Homeschool enrichment: pair the legend of Amaterasu with a Sun Salutation practice and journal about how light is important in different cultures.
• Classroom SEL: use the Spark of Light game as a circle‑time activity; ask students to share ways they bring light to others.
• Movement breaks: practice Sun Salutation between lessons to reset focus and build physical strength.
• Comparative religion studies: explore sun deities in different traditions and discuss similarities (e.g., Apollo, Ra) and differences.

Printable Activities & Experiments

Make the learning hands‑on! Our Shining Science 4: Light and Sun Experiments for Kids pack is a great follow‑up to this episode. Inside you’ll find four simple experiments that explore the science of sunlight. Try making a sun dial, creating rainbows, revealing sun prints and crafting a solar oven. These activities complement the Amaterasu myth by showing how sunlight affects our daily lives. Use them:

• After listening to the episode, challenge kids to build their own version and record observations over several days.
• Pair the Sun Salutation with a shadow‑tracking experiment; measure your shadow in the morning and afternoon to see how the sun’s position changes.
• Discuss how ancient people used the sun for timekeeping and seasons, connecting science to mythology.

Grab your copy here: Shining Science 4 – Light and Sun...