The Grades Curriculum
Building Mastery, Honoring Childhood
The Grades Curriculum
Building Mastery, Honoring Childhood
Our teachers thoughtfully plan and implement their developmentally appropriate lessons with the greatest of care to prepare the body, mind, and soul to receive the information given them and to engage each part of the child - body, mind, soul - in the learning process. Here you’ll find a broad overview of the main topics taught in each grade along with a few of the skills developed in the Co-curricular classes.
The core subjects - Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies/History- are taught as mastery units meaning they deep dive into the subject and focus mastering the skills taught at that time. Each unit rotates through a block (about 4 weeks long) schedule during a daily 2 hour main lesson. Each core subject is taught twice throughout the year with reviewing during the entire year. Content from these classes are the basis for the development of the student’s main lesson books and the hands on projects for the unit.
Co-curricular classes compliment and support the core classes and help fully implement key principles in Waldorf education. These classes are strengthening and balancing the subtle connections between the body, soul, and mind.
Lower Grades Journey
Grades 1-5
Per AWSNA, “In Grades 1-5 the curriculum expands to include academic subjects such as language arts, mathematics, sciences, history, and world languages. Additionally, Waldorf education emphasizes visual, performing and practical arts, and movement. The goal is to foster a deep love for learning and a sense of curiosity in our students…
1st Grade
Embarking on the Journey
First graders experience the world as whole and unified. Fairy tales, nature stories, letters emerging from images, and rhythmic learning meet their imaginative consciousness. At this age, enjoyment supports security and trust in learning, laying a strong foundation for literacy and numeracy.
Main Lesson Subjects
Language Arts: fairytales instill character & morals while setting the stage for learning the alphabet's sounds, writing, and reading
Science: nature observation & patterns
Math: number concept, the 4 operations (+, -, /, x) and word problems
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: gartner stitch knitting & finger weave
Movement & Eurythmy: cooperation games, spatial awareness exercises to support physical development
Gardening: flower bouquets, corn husking & cutting, apple press, leaf raking, berries, gathering chicken eggs
2nd Grade
Polarity & Character
Around age seven, children begin to notice contrasts: good and mischievous, strong and gentle. Fables and Folklore reflect this inner experience. Humor, movement, and storytelling support moral development while strengthening reading, writing, and math skills.
Main Lesson Subjects
Language Arts: folktales, fables, indigenous lore reinforce character & morals, parts of speech and solidifying reading
Science: animal observation & patterns
Math: advancing the 4 operations, column addition and subtraction, multiplication facts
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: knitting and pearl patterns, simple hand sewing
Movement & Eurythmy: cooperation games, spatial awareness exercises to support physical development
Gardening: flower weeding & planting, drying corn and apples, berries, sawing wood, chicken care
3rd Grade
The 9-Year Change
Around age nine, children experience a new sense of separateness and independence from the world. The curriculum responds with practical, grounding themes such as farming, shelter, measurement, and local geography. Hands-on work and real-world skills help children feel capable and secure while deepening academic understanding.
Main Lesson Subjects
History/World Culture: ancient history starts with the creation through the Hebrew lens and ancient Mesopotamia, then Indus Valley-Persia to ancient China
Language Arts: parts of speech, grammar, spelling, cursive
Science: climate, house building, farming, fiber creation
Math: continuing the 4 operations, measurements, problem solving and computation
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: crocheting, creation of yarn, weaving, felting
Movement & Eurythmy: cooperation games, spatial awareness exercises to support physical development
Gardening: root vegetables & squashes, soil maintenance, bird houses, sheep shearing, bunny care
4th Grade
Standing On One’s Own
Fourth graders are ready to explore structure and independence. Norse mythology, fractions, state geography, and animal studies meet their growing sense of individuality. Lessons emphasize observation, comparison, and accuracy, strengthening analytical thinking while honoring imagination.
Main Lesson Subjects
History/World Culture: the northern European (Nordic to Vikings) and the ancient African civilizations
Language Arts: advancing grammar and sentence structure, letter and essay writing
Science: geography and mapping, zoology
Math: the 4 operations, measurements, arithmetic facts, and fractions
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: embroidery, cross stitch, fine hand sewing
Movement & Eurythmy: team building skills, spatial awareness dances to support physical & rhythmic development
Gardening: maintaining animal homes, leafy greens and vegetables, mulching and ground cover
5th Grade
Balance & Harmony
Often described as the “golden year of childhood,” fifth grade reflects balance in the child. Studies of ancient civilizations -Persia, Greece, botany, and geometry emphasize order, beauty, and form. Students experience joy in mastery and clarity as skills consolidate and confidence grows.
Main Lesson Subjects
History/World Culture: Greek mythology, early USA history & presidents
Language Arts: poetry, independent writing, reports, biographies
Science: botany, entomology, North American geography
Math: the 4 operations with fractions
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: knitting in a round (4-5 needles), natural plant dying
Movement & Eurythmy: self improvement skills, Greek games, spatial awareness dances to support physical & rhythmic development
Gardening: natural pest control, vine plants - cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, etc.
Upper Grades Journey
Grades 6-8
Per AWSNA, “In Grades 6-8 the curriculum expands and deepens. The goal is to continue to deepen a love for learning while also increasing student confidence, skill building, and proficiency.”
6th Grade
Awakening Critical Thinking
As children approach early adolescence, their thinking becomes more logical. Roman history, geology, physics, and business math reflect a new interest in law, structure, and cause-and-effect. The curriculum meets their readiness for rigor and responsibility with clarity and challenge.
Main Lesson Subjects
History/World Culture: Ancient Rome, Islam, medieval times and the crusades
Language Arts: advance grammar, word parts and sentence parts, essays, descriptive and narrative writing
Science: mineralogy, astronomy, physics
Math: business math, decimals, percentage, geometrical constructions, islam geometric art
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: hand sewing soft sculptures, weaving wall hanging, paper making & calligraphy
Movement & Eurythmy: group skills, medieval games, dances to support physical & rhythmic development
Gardening: tool care, pruning berries, planting & harvesting grains, crop rotation
7th Grade
Change & Questioning
Seventh graders experience rapid inner and outer change. Themes such as medieval history, the Renaissance, revolutions, chemistry, and physiology speak to their questioning minds and growing capacity for abstract thought. The curriculum invites them to think critically, connect ideas, and see transformation over time.
Main Lesson Subjects
History/World: reformation, renaissance, exploration, and ancient South America
Language Arts: research & reports, creative writing & poetry
Science: physics, chemistry, human physiology - nutrition & body care
Math: geometry, pre-algebra
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: sewing soft sculpture - human form, doll clothing design, needle felting
Movement & Eurythmy: athletics, dances to support physical & rhythmic development
Gardening: herbs for tea and cooking, animal care, milking
8th Grade
Integration & Perspective
Eighth grade brings a readiness to synthesize and reflect. Modern history, physics, chemistry, anatomy, and project-based work ask students to integrate knowledge, form judgments, and express independent thinking. Capstone projects and presentations demonstrate academic maturity and readiness for the next stage of learning.
Main Lesson Subjects
History/World Culture: age of enlightenment (1700), industrial revolution, USA history civil war to modern times
Language Arts: review of all grammar and writing concepts
Science: geology, meteorology, chemistry, human physiology - mental and emotional care
Math: advancing geometry, algebra
Co-curricular Classes
Handwork: basket weaving, machine sewing - clothing, quilting
Movement & Eurythmy: athletics, dances to support physical & rhythmic development
Gardening: tree pruning, food preserving, animal care
Friday BRANCH Program
Lead by Rooted Meadows Parents & Volunteers, Open to Enrolled Children & Local Home-School Families
As part of our commitment to educating and developing the whole child, we recognize the importance of providing a wide range of extracurricular activities. Our BRANCH program allows our learners to try something new, have fun and pursue their interests with friends and classmates and in some classes with family members.
We regard these extracurricular classes and clubs, while optional, a vital part in the holistic development of our children. Research has time and again shown that learners’ in these settings gain an abundance of life skills - from socialization and team skills, to practical skills and executive function improvement, all the way to stress management and improved mental health.
These classes and clubs give every child the opportunity to build self-confidence by honing a talent, learning to persevere in learning something new, accomplishing challenges, and building positive relationships . The rotating variety we offer gives every child many possibilities to uncover skills and hobbies that can last a lifetime.