Grade 5
Fifth grade is referred to as the “golden year” because students at this age are enthusiastic about learning, eager for new challenges and capable of hard work and creativity. Even in the social arena, they display a harmony that will soon be challenged by the adolescent years.
The language arts and history curriculum lets students explore ancient civilizations including India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. Students hear the mythologies of these cultures and discuss their philosophies of creation, life and death, and religion.
Geography is viewed in terms of how it influenced each group’s world views and connections to other cultures of the time. Working with early forms of writing, geometry and architecture, students experience some of the roots of modern culture.
Fifth grade also marks an important learning transition from mythology to history. Through study of the ancient Greeks, students develop an appreciation for the balance between skill and beauty, art and science, earthly life and spirituality. In the spring, students participate in a five-event Greek Pentathlon with students from other Waldorf schools, allowing them to test their skills in a celebratory environment.
Architecture is studied in relation to the different cultures. Botany is also introduced, bringing in concepts of the balance between beauty and nature, awareness of the natural world and the connection between scientific observation and appreciation of beauty.