The Sword Inside

STORY

The Sword Inside

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School

Martin wants to be a real knight for Halloween — and real knights, he says, have horses, metal helmets, and iron swords. Daddy wonders about this. Is a knight still a knight without horses, helmets, and swords? Martin doesn’t know — but he gets a surprising answer in Wilderness School that morning. He learns that knights, as well as everyone else, have swords…on the inside.

17 min
4+
Topics: HalloweenNatureAutumn

Projects, Crafts, and Recipes for this Story

Sparkle Schoolhouse

The Wonder of Halloween

David talks about why children actually want to dress in gory costumes of monsters, the undead and the maimed: they are still looking for wonder!

Sparkle Crafts

Nature School Project: Mineral Rich Tea

Rachel is here with us today to share her recipe for a homemade mineral rich tea that will strengthen and fortify any child for hours of imaginative play. Whether as a knight, a dragon or whatever their hearts desire.

Characters in this Story

Dion

Martin

Martin & Sylvia's Nature School

Nature Notes

Nature Notes

Martin worries he won't be able to keep up with his schoolmates on a reading and writing assignment at Nature School.
24 min
4+

Painting the In Between

Painting the In Between

Daddy's excitement about the season changing inspires Sylvia and her friend to paint the "in-between" colors of nature.
18 min
4+

Pretend Poetry

Pretend Poetry

Sylvia thinks Spring has arrived but comes to understand that it's likely Winter will return with the help of some poetry.
27 min
4+

Winter Wonder

Winter Wonder

Martin helps a friend who is missing her warm Arizona home to appreciate the gifts of Winter.
25 min
4+

The Bud's Story

The Bud's Story

Martin's disappointment about being late for Nature School turns into excitement about the year ahead after learning about a tree bud's life cycle.
23 min
4+

Bittersweet

Bittersweet

Sylvia helps Martin decide on the perfect gift for his friend for the last day of Wilderness School before the holiday break.
15 min
4+

Snow Candles

Snow Candles

Martin, Sylvia, and friends discuss different types of families while enjoying the day making snow candles.
22 min
4+

Mother Earth Art

Mother Earth Art

Martin ponders messages for Momma's Mother's Day card while focusing on Mother Earth at Nature School.
25 min
4+

The Sword Inside

The Sword Inside

Martin and Daddy explore whether knights are still knights without horses, armor and swords...
17 min
4+

The Color is Always There

The Color is Always There

Martin, Sylvia and Nature School friends explore different ways to find color, even when the weather seems dreary and brown.
25 min
4+

All the Pretty Voices

All the Pretty Voices

Martin wakes up thinking about how different voices make him feel. This exploration continues at Wilderness School when they listen to the different "voices" of the birds.
20 min
4+

Change Fairies

Change Fairies

Martin explores different ways to think about fire and other things that go through changes.
22 min
4+

The Perfect Mix

The Perfect Mix

Mr. Brown explains the importance of dirt, and the miraculous way that it is made, from things both alive and dead.
22 min
4+

Wrappings

Wrappings

With the help of the apprentice at Nature School, Martin realizes what he is feeling — he is missing his sister, Sylvia.
24 min
4+

Touch of Nature

Touch of Nature

Martin learns to appreciate his senses besides "sight" as he explores the natural world using sound, smell and touch.
28 min
4+

Birds and Squirrels

Birds and Squirrels

Sylvia thinks she is doing more work than her friend, Sofia, but discovers that there are different ways of helping out.
20 min
4+

Out in the Sticks

Out in the Sticks

Martin and Sylvia each cope with frustration and disappointment in Nature School this week...
27 min
4+

They Were Here

They Were Here

Martin considers whether people, as well as animals, make an impact on the forest, just by visiting it.
23 min
4+

Camouflage

Camouflage

Sylvia learns a trick at Nature School that helps her improve her camouflage skills.
16 min
4+

I Feel Orange

I Feel Orange

Sylvia and friends explore what it means to "feel" different colors.
22 min
4+

What is Underneath

What is Underneath

Martin gets to know his nature schoolmate, Alexander, by doing a project that reveals "what is underneath".
21 min
4+

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part Two

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part Two

As Wilderness School comes to a close for the year, Martin realizes he learned a lot about the natural world, but even more about himself.
31 min
4+

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part One

Song of the Hermit Thrush: Part One

Martin wonders which Wilderness School group he will be part of as he listens to the descriptions of each and feels like he could belong to them all.
35 min
4+

Guardians of the Garden

Guardians of the Garden

Momma and Sylvia enlist Mrs. Brown's help to keep rabbits and other animals from eating their garden veggies.
20 min
4+

Trusting the Forest

Trusting the Forest

Martin tries to understand why his friend Alexander doesn't want his father to attend the Goose-eye evening program.
29 min
4+

Brave Salad

Brave Salad

Sylvia has been having bad dreams and is worried about going to bed. Her friend Sofia has an excellent idea to help: brave salad!
20 min
4+

Nature School Apprentice

Nature School Apprentice

Martin is reluctant to participate in Sylvia's Nature School until Momma asks him if he'll be the apprentice and share his knowledge with the younger kids.
20 min
4+

Kings and Queens of the Forest

Kings and Queens of the Forest

Martin feels he's missing out on helping Daddy and Sylvia with their May Day preparations but comes to have his own May Day fun at Wilderness School.
23 min
4+

Measuring the World

Measuring the World

Sylvia learns about the "scientific method" while exploring what she does and does not know about her best friend, Sofia.
30 min
4+

Setting the Table

Setting the Table

Sylvia and Sofia try to escape the black flies by bringing their nature art project in the house, but they are surprised by what comes with them.
19 min
4+

Bugged by Bugs

Bugged by Bugs

Martin tries not using bug spray at Wilderness School and finds that it's hard not to be bugged by the bugs!
23 min
4+

Tender Seedlings

Tender Seedlings

Sylvia wonders why they always have the same thing for breakfast, and begins to relate to the garden seedlings who also don't want lots of change.
24 min
4+

Sugaring Together

Sugaring Together

Martin is upset to miss the first day of sugaring at home, but is surprised to learn he'll be teaching the sugaring lesson at wilderness school!
21 min
4+

Talking Stick

Talking Stick

Martin and his friend, Alexander, use a "talking stick" to work out a plan for their day of activities at camp.
20 min
4+

A Geometry of Hearts

A Geometry of Hearts

Martin uses geometry to explore shapes at the Goose-eye Camp, and realizes math can be useful and fun.
21 min
4+

Evergreen Brushes

Evergreen Brushes

With help from Sylvia and Sofia, Daddy gets creative with nature to make paint brushes for his art lesson at Nature School.
20 min
4+

Impressions

Impressions

Sylvia and her friend, Sofia, realize that like leaves make an impression in the ice, people can make big impressions in the world.
19 min
4+

Nature Medicine

Nature Medicine

Martin tries to make it through the day at Nature School even though he's feeling under the weather and gains some wisdom from the natural world.
19 min
4+

Gentle Tracking

Gentle Tracking

Martin is disappointed that Sylvia has to join him on a hike with his friends, but ends up appreciating that she's there in the end.
24 min
4+

Get our Newsletter

Sign up to receive weekly email updates with new stories, Sparkle news, and seasonal activities!

Stay Connected

Download on the Apple App StoreDownload on the Google Play
ContactFAQPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceResources
©2023 Sparkle Stories. All rights reserved.