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

    In 6th grade, your child will learn:

    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.