Waldorf School First Grade Curriculum

Fairy Tales, Math, Physical Learning, & Go-Slow Approach to Reading

Jan 28, 2009

The Waldorf curriculum, adapted from philosopher Rudolf Steiner's ideas, is designed to appeal to the young child's imagination and love of active learning.

Children typically begin first grade in a Waldorf school at about age seven, the age when Waldorf educators consider them ready to start academic work. In the Waldorf view of child development, the years between ages 7 and 14 are dominated by the child’s emotions and imagination, so the teaching of every subject is designed to help develop those qualities.

Mathematics

First graders learn about numbers, counting, and the four basic math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The math curriculum includes stories that feature numbers, such as “The Three Little Pigs,” and movement exercises that help imprint math operations kinesthetically through stomping, clapping, and tossing bean bags back and forth in defined patterns.

Language Arts

The gradual Waldorf method of teaching reading is perhaps the most controversial aspect of the curriculum, especially in an era when most schools are pushing formal learning to earlier and earlier ages. The first grade language arts curriculum moves from the spoken word, in the form of fairy tales from around the world which are told to the class by the teacher, to learning the letters of the alphabet as shapes and sounds, to writing basic sentences toward the end of the year. Reciting poems and verses out loud is also an important part of the curriculum. First graders do not do much reading in school. Regular reading practice begins in second grade.

Foreign Languages

Waldorf students learn two foreign languages starting in first grade, and continue studying foreign languages all the way through high school. In first grade, the children learn through songs, stories, games, and puppetry. The focus is on learning to love the sounds of another language, becoming flexible in pronouncing sounds very different from those of the child’s own language, and appreciating other cultures. The languages the children learn are chosen partly for their local usefulness and partly to offer them two very different models of grammatical structure and sounds. Spanish is often taught with German or Chinese, for example.

Music

First graders learn to play the pentatonic flute. They also do a great deal of singing as part of morning circle time. The class play typically includes songs as well as spoken lines.

Art and Handwork

Art is an integral part of every subject in the Waldorf academic curriculum. First graders draw numbers and letters with beeswax crayons, have regular painting lessons with the Waldorf wet-on-wet watercolor method, model small sculptures with beeswax during story time, and may do seasonal art projects such as making paper lanterns or tissue paper window transparencies.

Handwork is taught as a distinct subject in Waldorf schools. In first grade handwork, the children make their own wooden knitting needles and learn to knit.

Physical Education

The children typically begin every day with a 30-45 minute circle time that involves moving as a group while singing and reciting poems, verses, and number games. They typically have recess twice a day for free play outdoors. They also take regular nature walks to observe the seasonal cycles of the year. Finally, first graders practice eurhythmy, an art of movement developed by Rudolf Steiner which uses gestures and body movements to express the sounds of the spoken language.

Form Drawing

Form drawing is a Waldorf technique of drawing geometric shapes to help develop concentration and other helpful qualities in young children. Form drawing lessons focus on two elements throughout the first grade year: straight lines and curved lines. The children learn how every shape in nature consists of either straight lines, curves, or a combination of both. The simple forms they draw help them form the shapes of letters and numbers.

Drama

Each Waldorf class typically performs a play every year. In first grade, the play is usually a fairy tale such as Snow White and Rose Red.

Across all subjects, the Waldorf curriculum is designed to introduce academics gradually while engaging the young child’s intellect, imagination and body in the joy of learning.

The copyright of the article Waldorf School First Grade Curriculum in Primary School Curriculum is owned by Christine Mann. Permission to republish Waldorf School First Grade Curriculum in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.