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"The Rainbow Bridge" by Brenda - Copyright 2005

The following is a basic overview of the content of the Waldorf curriculum for Grades 1-8 as it is typically offered in a Waldorf school setting. The content, as well as the methodology used to implement the curriculum, is based on Steiner's understanding of the development of human beings and, in particular, ways to meet the needs of the growing and changing child. What may be actually offered in a Waldorf school and how some of the work develops usually depends on the pulse and flavor of that particular community. It's the same with Waldorf Homeschooling. As a homeschooling family, we use the same content and methods, yet adapt these so that we may strive to create a "living education". After reading over the curriculum content, be sure to visit our Sample Work page to get a feel for the type of work one can do on the Waldorf Homeschooling path.


[Pleaese note that the curriculum outline for Gr. 9-12 will be added soon.]

Grade 1

  • Language Arts (upper case letters, simple writing, drama)
  • Literature & History (folk tales, fairy tales)
  • Mathematics (whole numbers, patterns, counting, roman numerals)
  • Geography (a sense of place, nature stories)
  • Eurythmy (movements copying human actions, vowels)
  • Form Drawing (straight line and curve, linear forms)
  • Foreign Language (by ear - songs, verses, dances, games)
  • Physical Education (cooperative games, outdoor play, circle games) 
  • Handwork (knitting)
  • Artwork (painting, drawing, beeswax modeling)
  • Music (pentatonic recorder, singing, rhythmic activities)

Grade 2

  • Language Arts (lower case letters, drama, grammar)
  • Literature & History (fables, legends of saints and heroes)
  • Mathematics (whole numbers, times tables, number patterns, column addition)  
  • Geography (a sense of place, nature stories)
  • Eurythmy (rhythms, consonants)
  • Form Drawing (linear forms)
  • Foreign Language: (by ear - poetry, alphabet, numbers)
  • Physical Education (cooperative games, rhythmic games, outdoor play)
  • Handwork (knitting and purling, crochet)
  • Artwork (painting, drawing, beeswax modeling)
  • Music (pentatonic recorder, singing, rhythmic activities)

Grade 3

  • Language Arts (cursive writing, grammar, spellling, drama) 
  • Literature & History (Biblical stories as part of ancient history), Native American tales) 
  • Mathematics (whole numbers, times tables, money, measurement, carrying/borrowing) 
  • Geography (practical skills, shelters, farming, gardening)
  • Eurythmy (rod exercises, the octave)
  • Form Drawing (vertical symmetry)
  • Foreign Language (by ear - continued work)
  • Physical Education (cooperative games, outdoor play, line games)
  • Handwork (more complex knitting and crocheting)
  • Artwork (painting, drawing, beeswax modeling)
  • Music (soprano recorder, singing in rounds, music notation)

Grade 4

  • Language Arts (grammar, spelling, drama, poetry)
  • Literature & History (local history, Norse Mythology)
  • Mathematics (review arithmetic operations, times tables, fractions, long division, averages, word problems) 
  • Geography (local geography, mapping)
  • Eurythmy (concrete and abstract forms)
  • Science (Zoology)
  • Form Drawing (braided forms)
  • Foreign Language (grammar begins, simple reading)
  • Physical Education (cooperative games, team skills, square dancing)
  • Handwork (add cross-stitch, embroidery)
  • Artwork (painting, drawing, clay sculpting)  
  • Music (recorder, singing, notation, instrumental music)

Grade 5

  • Language Arts (grammar, composition writing, oral and written reports, letter writing, spelling, drama)
  • Literature (Greek Mythology)
  • Mathematics (decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, reciprocals, metric system, free-hand Geometry) 
  • History (ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia, India, Persia, Egypt, Greece) 
  • Geography (North American)
  • Eurythmy (limb control exercises, movment to simple poems)
  • Science (Zoology, Botany)
  • Foreign Language (continued work, Greek phrases, Sanskrit poems)
  • Physical Education (Greek Olympics)
  • Handwork (knitting with 4 needles - socks and mittens)
  • Artwork (painting, drawning, clay sculpting - Greek vase) 
  • Woodworking (egg shape carving, simple toy)
  • Music (recorder ensemble, singing - rounds, harmonies, music notation, orchestra, chorus, Greek music) 

     

Grade 6

  • Language Arts (grammar, composition, descriptive writing, business letters, spelling, drama, poetry)
  • Literature (tales of chivalry, biographies of great men and women)  
  • Mathematics (percentages, business math, problem solving, estimation, precise Geometry) 
  • History (Rome and The Middle Ages) 
  • Geography (Latin America, Earth's configurations and contrasts)
  • Eurythmy (rod exercises, three fold walking)
  • Science (physics, geology & mineralogy)
  • Foreign Language (continued work, Latin sayings, proverbs)
  • Physical Education (team sports, archery)
  • Handwork (stuffed animals or dolls, work aprons)
  • Artwork (painting, drawing: black/white media, clay sculpting) 
  • Woodworking (wooden spoon carving)
  • Music (recorder ensemble, singing - rounds, harmonies, orchestra, chorus, Roman music) 

Grade 7

  • Language Arts (grammer, composition, creative writing, spelling, report writing, note-taking skills, researching, drama)
  • Literature (Arthurian legends, biographies, poetry)
  • Mathematics (business math, pre-Algebra skills, precise Geometry, graphing, roots)
  • History (The Renaissance, The Age of Discovery)
  • Geography (European and African Geography, tides, weather)  
  • Eurythmy (contrasting moods, inner characteristics of poems)
  • Science (physics, chemistry, astronomy, physiology)
  • Foreign Language (conversational, vocabulary, word study)
  • Physical Education (team sports, archery, gymnastics)
  • Handwork (sewing clothing, slippers, hand puppets)
  • Artwork (painting, perspective drawing, clay sculpting - the human hand, foot, bones, fired pottery)
  • Woodworking (primitive bowl)
  • Music (recorder ensemble, orchestra, chorus, ballads, opera, Renaissance music)

Grade 8

  • Language Arts (grammar, composition, creative writing, spelling, report writing, note-taking skills, researching, drama, literary forms, Shakespeare)
  • Literature (Shakespeare, poetry) 
  • Mathematics (practical math, Algebra, precise Geometry)
  • History (American history, current events) 
  • Geography (Asia, Australia, Antarctica, contrasts)
  • Eurythmy (poems with tension/relief, contraction/expansion)
  • Science (physics, chemistry, physiology)
  • Foreign Language (conversational, vocabulary, word study)
  • Physical Education (team sports, Greek wrestling, gymnastics)
  • Handwork (machine sewing, simple clothing)
  • Artwork (painting, drawing, clay sculpting - the human head)
  • Woodworking (simple moveable toy, stool)
  • Music (recorder ensemble, orchestra, chorus, Elizabethan songs)


Copyright  © 2008 Waldorf Family Network