Grade School at Mulberry
Our unique approach cultivates a love for beauty that is reflected in our Grades 1-4 and 5-8 curriculum. Inspired most deeply through their feelings, Grade School students 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.
- Rigorous academics
- Screen and phone-free school environment
- Multidisciplinary and experiential curriculum
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Morning Lesson
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The Morning Lesson Book
In Waldorf education, a morning lesson book is a handmade notebook that each student creates to record and illustrate the lessons they receive from their teachers. After each lesson, students capture the key concepts and ideas they have learned in these books. The pages include drawings, diagrams, and summaries of the lesson. These colorful, individualized books reflect the progress of each student and are a method of inquiry that increases their capacity for creativity and knowledge. Over time, the morning lesson book becomes a record of a student's academic journey, and a personal treasure that they can keep for years to come. They are a unique and vital part of Waldorf education. |
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Grade School Morning Lesson Curriculum
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Science
Science is taught experientially. The teacher sets up an experiment, then calls upon the students to observe and discuss their findings so that they can understand the underlying scientific principles. This process cultivates observation skills, inquiry, and critical thinking. The sciences begin with Nature Studies in the early grades. Middle School students experience specific subjects such as:
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Mathematics
In the early grades, mathematics is introduced through stories, art, song, and movement. Weekly practice is an important element in a strong mathematical foundation.
In Middle School the focus is on building analytical and critical thinking to prepare students for higher-level math in high school. In middle school, students learn:
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Humanities
The humanities curriculum begins in Preschool and is developed through the use of great stories of the world which reflects a diversity of cultures and the evolution of humanity. The stories selected at each grade reflect the specific stage of child development and serve as a guide for age appropriate striving and sense of purpose. The humanities curriculum begins in Preschool and Kindergarten with fairy tales and stories from around the world. In Grade School, we use a range of stories to teach the humanities curriculum to children. These include:
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Language Arts
In our Early Childhood programs, children develop a rich oral vocabulary through stories, songs, games, and poems. Special attention is given to the development of fine motor skills through activities such as lacing, finger knitting and sewing. In the Grade School, topics, such as letters of the alphabet in Grade 1, are introduced through engaging stories and beautiful art. Learning to read and write is accompanied by daily phonetic work in songs, poems, and games that help to establish a joyful, living experience of the language. Progressive development in language arts is built through a myriad of grammar, spelling, poetry, creative writing, drama, research skills, and diverse literature.
In our Early Childhood programs, children develop a rich oral vocabulary through stories, songs, games, and poems. Special attention is given to the development of fine motor skills through activities such as lacing, finger knitting and sewing. In the Grade School, topics, such as letters of the alphabet in Grade 1, are introduced through engaging stories and beautiful art. Learning to read and write is accompanied by daily phonetic work in songs, poems, and games that help to establish a joyful, living experience of the language. Progressive development in language arts is built through a myriad of grammar, spelling, poetry, creative writing, drama, research skills, and diverse literature.
Grade School Specialties
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French
Starting in Grade One, French is a daily part of the curriculum to establish a rich appreciation of the French language, from its use to its pronunciation and culture. Children in the primary grades have very strong imitative capacities. The “new” language is primarily experienced through the children’s senses as a combination of sounds and rhythm. Useful expressions and vocabulary related to the seasons are learned through oral repetition using mime, poem recitation, songs, guessing games, short dialogues, art and stories.
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In this way, words and its usage are absorbed in memory through play. Slowly and surely, students lay a foundation to grasp diction and intonation as well as progress to written language and grammar.
Starting in Grade 3, the children begin recording some of the information learned so far by heart in their "Cahier de Français". They are invited to observe and describe regularities in the structure of the language and most importantly, play with them! Although grammar is always included in the students' learning process, it is in Grade 5 when it is introduced in a more explicit way (verb conjugation, spelling rules, sentence structure, etc.). At this stage in life, students start asking the “why and how”, they want more information and they enjoy the new structure of how the language is taught. Still, a large part of the lesson is dedicated to experiencing the living qualities of the language through oral expression in the form of role playing, dialogues, speech exercises and singing.
The result is that our students leave Mulberry Waldorf School in grade 8 being able to communicate, read and write in French, while knowing the grammar rules the context and sentence structure requires. As well as appreciate the cultures that belong to this beautiful language around the world. Our alumni students have shared that they are very well prepare for high school French.
Starting in Grade 3, the children begin recording some of the information learned so far by heart in their "Cahier de Français". They are invited to observe and describe regularities in the structure of the language and most importantly, play with them! Although grammar is always included in the students' learning process, it is in Grade 5 when it is introduced in a more explicit way (verb conjugation, spelling rules, sentence structure, etc.). At this stage in life, students start asking the “why and how”, they want more information and they enjoy the new structure of how the language is taught. Still, a large part of the lesson is dedicated to experiencing the living qualities of the language through oral expression in the form of role playing, dialogues, speech exercises and singing.
The result is that our students leave Mulberry Waldorf School in grade 8 being able to communicate, read and write in French, while knowing the grammar rules the context and sentence structure requires. As well as appreciate the cultures that belong to this beautiful language around the world. Our alumni students have shared that they are very well prepare for high school French.
Handwork
Handwork has immense benefits for the growing brain as it both trains the awareness and dexterity of both hands and promotes a child’s cognitive development. As children knit, sew or crochet, they are developing fine motor skills that help make their brains stronger and better at mastering new skills and subjects. Throughout Grade One to Grade Eight, students make different items each year, from a braided belt and a knitted recorder case in Grade One to moccasin slippers and pyjama pants in the upper grades. Incorporating handwork into the Waldorf curriculum aligns with our mission to exercise children’s brains in new ways, helping them succeed in other facets of education and life. Read: 6 Benefits of Handwork in Waldorf Schools |
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'The handwork and practical arts curriculum in Waldorf Schools stimulates the creative powers, while at the same time it establishes aesthetic confidence through a conscious guidance of the student's developing will . This will is the power within us that allows us, through our deeds, to interact with the world. But most importantly, this will activity lays the foundation for our thinking.'
David Mitchell
Music
According to Rudolf Steiner, the human being is a musical being, and the making of music is essential in experiencing what it is to be fully human. Music education is informed by the stages of childhood development and helps meet the needs of students as they grow. Singing is also infused throughout the day. Students are introduced to different elements of music throughout their education, such as singing in choir, playing recorder, music notation and playing ukulele. Music in the Waldorf curriculum awakens and nurtures the deep inner life of the child. To read an overview of the Waldorf music curriculum, including a brief description of the music activities in each grade according to the understanding of child development, click here. |
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Physical Education
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Mulberry Waldorf School’s Physical Education program aims to cultivate a healthy balance of skill development and enjoyment of healthy movement. In the early grades, there is a focus on spatial awareness, as well as fine and gross motor skills through different games that emphasize imagery, story, rhythm and imitation. In the later grades, students learn the nobility of sport through the Ancient Greek games of javelin, discus, long-jumping, wrestling and running. Students are then introduced to team sports such as soccer, volleyball and basketball after they have learned the importance of working with each other, rather than against. All students are encouraged to participate in all aspects of Physical Education.
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