Elementary School Curriculum
Waldorf elementary education integrates academics with the arts and movement, emphasizing experiential and holistic learning. Retaining relevant information and learning to learn are the primary goals, not testing or achieving external rewards. Special subject integration into main lesson material is key to the holistic academic experience with subjects like Spanish, handwork, gardening, violin, cooking, and more. Academic concepts are taught by the block method of studying a particular theme for a number of weeks. See curriculum details by grade below or click here for our curriculum one sheet.
Grade 1
Language Arts: Movement, recitation, storytelling, art and music teach reading and writing basics (introduction to letters and writing) through folktales and fairy tales.
Mathematics: Whole numbers and the four processes of arithmetic are taught using multidisciplinary methods like movement, recitation, manipulatives, music and cooking.
Science: Nature focused study of seasons & life cycles are taught w/ nature hikes & observation.
Spanish: New language familiarity starts w/ songs, verse, counting & colors using multidisciplinary methods like movement, music & art.
History & Geography: Fairy tales and folklore, introduce history & mythology concepts through imaginative and exciting narratives.
Music: Pentatonic flute, choral melody, rhythm & meter is taught through multidisciplinary methods including games & movement
Art & Handwork: Student learn simple pattern form drawing, watercolor painting, hand sewing, knitting & beeswax modeling.
Movement: Outdoor recess 3x a day. Non-competitive games & activities in PE class. Extra Lesson builds spatial awareness, sensory integration and other motor skills.
Grade 2
Language Arts: Multidisciplinary teaching methods continue. Reading and writing sentences, rhyming words, and speech work taught through fables and stories of great people in history and legend.
Mathematics: Multiplication tables are introduced. Process relations, carrying & borrowing are taught using multidisciplinary methods.
Science: Expanded nature studies are taught using gardening and nature hikes.
Spanish: Vocabulary and common language basics begin (counting, animals, seasons & months) taught through story & imitation using multidisciplinary teaching methods.
History & Geography: Stories of great people and fables introduce geography and cultural examples around the globe.
Music: Pentatonic flute continues. Choral music songs that reflect language arts & history curriculum using multidisciplinary methods.
Art & Handwork: More complex form drawing is added, watercolor continues, crocheting introduced & beeswax modeling continues.
Movement: Outdoor recess 3x a day. Non-competitive games & activities in PE class. Extra Lesson builds spatial awareness, sensory integration and other motor skills.
Grade 3
Language Arts: Sentence structure, word types, punctuation & spelling are taught through multidisciplinary methods. Stories of the Hebrew people tie into multiple subjects.
Mathematics: Multiplication tables, measurement, time, patterns, carrying & borrowing are taught using multidisciplinary methods. The class building project reinforces this work.
Science: The third grade gardening class teaches botany via farming, soil study, seed life.
Spanish: Nouns & verbs added to vocabulary & language knowledge through story & imitation while using multidisciplinary teaching methods.
History & Geography: Ancient history & Middle Eastern geography are taught through stories of the Hebrew people. Home surroundings lessons teach about how people have traditionally lived in various regions of the world. A small scale house building project introduces early culture housing by geographic region.
Music: Students learn recorder, are introduced to violin & begin music notation. Choral music reflects language arts & history curriculum
Art & Handwork: Form drawing continues along with watercolor painting, crocheting & beeswax modeling. Embroidery is introduced.
Movement: Outdoor recess 3x a day. Non-competitive games & activities in PE class. The beginnings of more complex games & sports are introduced.
Extra Lesson builds spatial awareness, sensory integration and other motor skills.
Grade 4
Language Arts: Sentence structure, word types, punctuation & spelling are taught through multidisciplinary methods. Legends from Europe and North America tie into multiple subjects.
Mathematics: Multiplication tables, measurement, time, patterns, carrying & borrowing are taught using multidisciplinary methods. The class building project reinforces this work.
Science: The third grade garden teaches botany via farming, soil study, seed life.
Spanish: Nouns & verbs added to vocabulary & language knowledge through story & imitation while using multidisciplinary teaching methods.
History & Geography: Local history and geography are explored through stories, map making and field trips.
Music: Students learn recorder, are introduced to violin & begin music notation. Choral music reflects language arts & history curriculum
Art & Handwork: Form drawing continues along with watercolor painting, crocheting & beeswax modeling. Embroidery is introduced.
Movement: Outdoor recess 3x a day. Non-competitive games & activities in PE class. The beginnings of more complex games & sports are introduced.
Extra Lesson builds spatial awareness, sensory integration and other motor skills.