Grades
In the typical Waldorf-inspired elementary school program, children are guided by a class teacher who begins with the first grade and ideally carries the same group of children through the eighth grade. The goal of the grade school program is to support all students in developing their highest potential by encouraging the child’s artistic, creative, and imaginative life and by providing a strong base in academic studies.
Subjects are taught in such a way that the whole child is involved in the learning process, from writing and illustrating their own lesson books beginning in Grade 1, to building shelters in Grade 3, and acting out stories from Norse Mythology in Grade 4.
The Waldorf Curriculum provides an interdisciplinary approach to a wide range of academic subjects including mathematics, grammar, botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, physiology, history and geography in blocks that span multiple weeks per subject. Teachers strive to bring the subject alive, first within themselves, and then through their presentation to awaken the enthusiasm and interest of the students. Additionally, students learn through specialty subject classes such as music, foreign language, movement and handwork.
View curriculum by grade:
In 1st grade, your child will learn:
Science
Nature studies
Mathematics
Whole numbers, four processes, counting/skip counting, Roman numerals, patterns
Language Arts
Introducing the alphabet through images, stories and sound symbols; vocabulary development with poetry and stories; fairy tales and folk tales from around the world
Art
Form drawing, wet-on-wet watercolor painting, beeswax modeling
Foreign Language
Spanish
Handwork
Knitting
Movement
Group and teamwork activities
Music
Pentatonic flute, beat rhythms and seasonal songs
In 2nd grade, your child will learn:
Geography & History
Native American legends as part of American history; ancient myths and cultures
Science
Nature studies; gardening and farming
Mathematics
Place value; carrying and borrowing; four basic operations; multiplication table
Language Arts
Native American legends; animal fables; daily dictation; spelling, punctuation and sentence structure; poetry
Art
Form drawing, wet-on-wet watercolor painting, beeswax modeling
Foreign Language
Spanish
Handwork
Knitting
Movement
Jump rope, hopscotch, rhythmic games
Music
Pentatonic flute, folk songs
In 3rd grade, your child will learn:
Science
Gardening and farming
Mathematics
Introduction to measurements; four basic operations; multiplication table; division
Language Arts
Cursive handwriting; weekly dictation; simple grammar; independent story writing; independent and group reading; introduction to the basic parts of speech: noun, verb, adjective and adverb
Geography & History
Practical local life; ancient myths and cultures
Foreign Language
Spanish
Art
Form drawing, painting and beeswax modeling
Handwork
Crochet
Music
Pentatonic flute, unison singing
Movement
Teamwork activities with rules and strategy
In 4th grade, your child will learn:
Science
Zoology – descriptive study of animal behaviors/environments
Mathematics
Four basic operations; measurements; averages; fractions
Language Arts
Introduction to grammar and parts of speech; dictionary work; sentence structure; paragraph development; independent and group reading
Geography & History
Cardinal directions; map making – classroom > home > county > state > region; Local geography
Art
Modeling animals and local land forms; painting; drawing
Foreign Language
Spanish
Handwork
Cross stitch, embroidery and braiding
Music
Instruments: Pentatonic flute, string instrument; singing and playing rounds
Movement
Running, jumping and throwing games; movement skills
In 5th grade, your child will learn:
Science:
Botany
Mathematics
Fractions and decimals; metric measurement; freehand geometry
Language Arts
Weekly dictation, extended grammar skills, descriptive & expository writing; ancient mythologies
Geography and History
North American geography & civilizations; ancient cultures of India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt & Greece
Art
Painting and drawing; sculptural modeling
Handwork
Knitting simple article of clothing; woodworking
Music
Stringed instruments; choir
Movement
Physical education; group games; Pentathlon training – discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling, running
Foreign Language
Spanish
Science
Physics I, Geology/Mineralogy, Astronomy
Mathematics
Geometry and business math
Language Arts
Extended grammar skills; independent writing; Weekly dictation, spelling; Book reports and research papers; Business letters
Geography & History
Ancient Rome through the Middle Ages; World Geography
Art
Painting – landscapes, color contrasts, triads, spectrum; Drawing – exact geometrics, black & white; Sculptural modeling
Foreign Language
Spanish
Handwork
Advanced sewing (creating a pattern), Needle felting, Spinning and weaving, Woodwork
Music
Stringed instruments; choir
Movement
Circus arts and medieval games
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In 7th grade, your child will learn:
Science
Physics II, Physiology and Nutrition, Inorganic chemistry
Mathematics
Pre-algebra
Language Arts
Creative Writing; continuation of extended grammar and writing skills, spelling
Geography & History
European Exploration, the Late Middle Ages; World geography & civilizations
Art
Perspective Drawing
Foreign Language
Spanish
Handwork
Advance wet-felting with a knitting project, Sewing, Crochet, Leatherwork and Woodwork
Music
Ukulele, guitar
Movement
Circus arts, dance, fitness, intramural sports
In 8th grade, your child will learn:
Science
Physics III, Organic chemistry, Anatomy, Meteorology
Mathematics
Algebra; 3D geometry
Language Arts
Elements of a short story; continuation of extended grammar and writing skills, spelling; biographies; Shakespeare
Geography & History
American History with biographies of the Greats; World geography & civilizations
Art
Portraiture; elements and principles of design
Foreign Language
Spanish
Handwork
Machine sewing, Quilting/hand sewing, Embroidery, Bookbinding, Woodwork
Music
Ukulele, Guitar
Movement
Intramural sports, Physical education
For the 2022-2023 school year City of Fountains is pleased to offer free-standing classes for first through third grades, combined Fourth/Fifth grade and Sixth/Seventh grade classes, and a free-standing eighth grade class. The curriculum of the combined classes are organized such that both age groups are able to complete the full curriculum for their age group and the class teacher strives to make each lesson accessible as well as challenging to each student.