Middle School
The Waldorf Middle School curriculum is designed to meet the needs of pre-adolescents while directly building on the foundation laid in their elementary years. Hard sciences, advanced math classes, independent research projects, and courses in technology ethics guide and build their capacities to eagerly and compassionately move out into the wider world as they develop a deeper understanding of themselves.
Sixth Grade
In Sixth Grade, students tend to be inwardly focused, entering middle school and the self-consciousness of puberty. They are encouraged to carefully observe before jumping to conclusions, and they lend that observation to the study of physics, geology and astronomy. They move on in history to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and the Middle Ages. The growth and decline of empires introduces the beginning of a study of world geography that continues throughout middle school. Medieval Europe and Japanese Samurai bring the concept of chivalry and a conscious morality that culminates in another inter-Waldorf athletic event, the Medieval Games, an event held with a spirit of honor, sportsmanship, and ethical conduct. Further academic expansion happens in geography, mathematics, and music.
Seventh Grade
Seventh Graders experience a rapid expansion of academic capability and curiosity, reflected in the curriculum focus on the Renaissance. Social, artistic, and scientific developments of the period as well as biographies of individual global explorers, inventors, and artists and thinkers fuel the students’ internal Age of Discovery. Perspective and geometric drawing feed artistic impulses, while study of mechanics, inorganic chemistry, nutrition and physiology echo the great leaps in understanding of human beings and the world during the Renaissance era. Mathematics moves into the conceptual realm of negative numbers, square roots and ratios, and creative writing paves another avenue for self-expression and discovery.
Eighth Grade
In Eighth Grade, students study Revolutions. In a culminating year before high school, they move into a study of modern history with the American, Haitian, French, and Industrial Revolutions, and on into the 20th century. Review and expansion of sciences includes meteorology, physiology, physics, and organic chemistry. Students prepare for high school mathematics in algebra and geometry, with advanced classes available to prepare for the NYS Algebra and Earth Science Regents exams. Handwork and visual art classes introduce the exciting use of sewing machines and work with more precious materials. Both an advanced string instrument ensemble and a beginners’ guitar ensemble allow students to continue with their orchestral mastery or exercise “beginner brain” with a new instrument. Many of our 8th graders have had over 10 years of Spanish instruction, and may take a Spanish equivalency exam to place into Spanish 2 classes in high school. As a requirement for graduation, each individual student proposes and carries out an extensive independent research project with written, oral, and physical components. The class celebrates the end of their 8-year journey together with their teacher with an 8th Grade trip – active time spent together as they stand ready for the transition to High School.