The Waldorf curriculum is based upon an understanding of the developing child.  From birth through ages six or seven, children absorb the world through their senses and respond primarily through imitation.  As they enter the primary school years, they are centered more in feeling and imagination. Then, as they continue their journey into the Middle School, rational, abstract thinking begins to emerge. The curriculum respects this developmental process and gives it substance.  Based on the idea that a developing child goes through the phases of human cultural evolution, children at different ages study what is appropriate to their development.

The curriculum of the elementary school is rich and diversified, offering Humanities, Mathematics, Science, and the Arts. The curriculum follows all the Ministry of Education guidelines, but is presented in a unique order to meet the developmental needs of the children intellectually, physically, socially and artistically.

Each morning begins with the “Main Lesson,” lasting for two hours and taught by the class teacher. During this uninterrupted time the class teacher leads the students in a rhythmic component of the lesson and then presents the current academic subject, which the children question and discuss. The teacher engages the students with a variety of approaches: scientific, literary, historical, and artistic. Each student creates a record of Main Lesson work in books that are filled with compositions, observations, maps, diagrams, and illustrations. These colorful Main Lesson books are carefully crafted with attention to detail and artistic presentation. They are a unique and vital element of Waldorf education.

A recess and shorter periods follow the Main Lesson, with subjects such as French, Music (choral and instrumental), Handwork, Woodwork, Form-drawing, Painting, Movement Education (physical education), Eurythmy (form of dance movement), and Gardening/Farming. Thus, the rhythm of the day alternates between work that requires intellectual focus and physical activities that engage the body and hands. Additionally, each class usually presents a play related to the themes in their grade. The school community strengthens the yearly rhythm by celebrating seasonal festivals.

The following is a brief summary of the Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science curriculum presented in Main Lesson, class by class:

Kindergarten: Our two Kindergartens share the new straw-bale constructed Cedar Forest Kinderhouse with our Day-care program.  We have two very experienced Kindergarten teachers, Maria Seeger and Debbie Phelan, leading the children in weekly rhythms of Circle, Story, Nature walks, Baking, Painting, Crafts and Play, along with seasonal, birthday and festival celebrations.

Grade 1:  We welcome Mr. Marcelo Porto Goncalves, a new teacher who impressed us during his 3-week practicum at our school this past winter with his warmth, artistic and scientific interests and commitment to moving to this area.  In Grade 1, fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories are the developmental themes.  Students prepare to read by first discovering the forms of the letters in nature and related visual images, and through writing.  In their main lesson books that are their own textbooks, crayoned pictures of mountains and trees metamorphose into the letters M and T, and form drawings of circles and polygons become numbers.  They experience the qualities of numbers and the four operations in arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).They learn to knit and play the recorder in first grade, as well as begin French.

Grade 2: Our experienced teacher Ms. Tanya Thayer’s large class of Grade 2/3 students will hear fables and legends and stories of saints and heroes from different cultures as they continue their academic work in writing, reading, and arithmetic.  In the spring, they begin cursive writing, from a solid foundation of form drawing which develops eye-hand coordination and mental flexibility.

Grade 3: is a rich experience in Waldorf schools. Class 3 studies the ancient stories of the Old Testament.  The study of practical life includes farming, gardening, housing, and clothing.  Each student builds a model house from anywhere around the world.  In Mathematics, measurement, time, weights and money are learned.  Grammar and composition now enter the curriculum.  Students plant and reap wheat at a local farm, and help with other farm chores.

Grade 4: Students are exposed to Norse mythology, embroidery, zoology, local geography and map-making as well as local history of First Nations peoples and early settlers.  Fractions and decimals are added to earlier math skills.   A holistic approach to the study of the animal kingdom occurs over the year. Students draw complicated weaving forms, such as Celtic motifs. The trip related to the curriculum for this grade is to historic Fort Steele.

Grade 5: Students of Mr. Ralf Hoerger, an experienced teacher with expertise in handwork, games and form drawing, will study history and mythology of ancient cultures of India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt and Greece, as well as the history and geography of Canada, especially related to vegetation and agriculture. Students begin botany, decimals, learn to knit with four needles, play 3 recorders (alto, tenor, soprano) and start Woodworking. The class trip for this grade is the participation in a Waldorf Olympiad with other regional Waldorf schools at a collaborative location.

Grade 6: begins our Middle School program (Grades 6,7,8,) which offers expanded opportunities such as Main Lesson enhancement (skills like calligraphy, poetry, writing, table tennis, soccer, dance); special project weeks twice a year (e.g. song-writing, musical instrument, blacksmithing, felting, marionette making ), and Outdoor Education.  Ms. Donna Switzer has been with the Nelson Waldorf School for almost all of its 26 years; she is taking her third class through its 8-year school journey.  Her students will have their first Physics lessons(sound and light), Geology, Roman and Medieval History (complete with a Medieval Feast in costume!),  Astronomy; Geology; beginning Algebra; Geometry and geometric drawing; Business Math (interest percentage), ratio and proportion. The year ends with a multi-day local bike and camp trip.

Grade 7: Ms. Carron Mulligan offers a strong Middle School experience for her adolescent students. How can we change the way we meet students so that they experience more of a difference in our approach and expectations between Classes 1-6 and Classes 7-8?  In this year, students begin more specialized Math lessons, including algebra, geometry and business math (profit/loss).  In Organic chemistry, Human physiology (health and nutrition); Anatomy, Physics (electricity and magnetism); are Science studies. Creative writing, Geography of Europe, History of the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery are explored.  Students do a felting project, such as slippers, and experience a low ropes course.  The beautiful setting of the Nelson Waldorf School leads us naturally to focus on Outdoor Education as a major component of the curriculum through these upper elementary grades. The year ends with a wilderness adventure such as the skill and character developing Tipi Camp.

Grade 8: In this culminating year, Mr. Phil Fertey brings all his experience from teaching this grade last year.  His students will do a major dramatic production, study Modern History; World geography; Industrial Revolution, French and American Revolutions, Physiology (human skeleton); Physics (electricity and hydraulics); Algebra; Geometry; Organic Chemistry; Meteorology; Poetry (epic and dramatic). Each student researches and works with a mentor to present an individual project in the spring.   Students are fully prepared to successfully transition academically and socially to high school. Final year end trip varies with a focus on a strong experience. The most recent graduates’ trip was several days Tall Ship Sailing.

We invite you to contact us to hear more and/or to arrange a tour of our beautiful and inspiring school.
We are offering a full scholarship for the upcoming 2009 – 2010 school year to one new student per class.
Now is the time to take a closer look at what a Waldorf education has to offer your child.
Please call the school at 250 352-6919 to explore this opportunity.
Visit the Nelson Waldorf School website at www.nelsonwaldorf.org
Thank you for your interest.