GRADE SCHOOL
Inspired most deeply through their feelings, grade school children respond powerfully to what is beautiful in the world, this feeling for beauty is cultivated by the tools and approaches used in their main lesson work. From Grades 1 through 8 each student begins the school day with an individual greeting from their class teacher. The morning lesson begins with music and verse; each main lesson block is an immersion in a particular academic subject from English, history or geography to mathematics, botany or astronomy. The block, lasting three to four weeks, is shaped and enlivened by the teacher through the arts of music, poetry, painting, drawing, movement and drama. This allows the child to become fully absorbed in the subject matter through all their senses.
This main lesson teacher stays with the class for several consecutive years, enabling a deep understanding of each student’s strengths and challenges and supporting the development of a rich social dynamic in the class. The class teacher is also able to bring continuity to the curriculum, unifying the various disciplines over the years while providing an opportunity for forging deep, meaningful relationships between the students, their families, and the teacher.
Local field trips and, later, multi-day camping excursions deepen the learning and strengthen the social fabric of the class.
The children create their own main lesson books; observations, compositions, diagrams and drawings are recorded illustrating their studies. These colourful, very individualized books reflect the progress of each student and are not only a record of what has been studied, but a method of inquiry, increasing the students’ capacities for creativity and for knowledge. They are a unique and vital part of Waldorf education.
As well as the main lesson, the weekly class schedule includes lessons in handwork (fibre arts), woodwork, PHE, music, French, and land care, as well as skills building in numeracy, literacy and art.
Learning More
Our Grade school hours are 8:25am-3:10pm Monday to Friday. Contact our Admissions office for more information or to arrange a school tour.