Elementary
This is our time
to shine.
Elementary students occupy the main floor of our big school. During this developmental phase, the children's consciousness is still anchored in creativity, but gradually shifts from a pictorial to a more conceptual focus. These creative interests are enlivened when mathematical concepts and other academics are delivered through carefully structured lessons, enriched with choral singing, storytelling, rhythmic activities, and dynamic discussion. The teacher balances artistic expression with intellectual and emotional development by engaging the child’s heart and hands, as well as their mind.
The school day begins with the Main Lesson. During the rest of the day, shorter lessons concentrate on specific subjects such as music, German and French, the visual arts, movement and games, handwork, practical arts, as well as further practice of academic skills.
Throughout the Elementary years and across curricular studies, Waldorf learning is highly imaginative and artistic, creating a rich, stimulating and engaging learning experience for the child at each grade.
Grade 1
The transition from Early Childhood to Grade 1 marks a child’s readiness for formal learning. CWS recognizes this milestone with the Rose Ceremony, a celebration where our Grade 9 students welcome our Grade 1 students to the 'big school'. This is the year that foundations for all future learning are laid, both in the fundamentals of language and numeracy, as well as the routines of daily classroom life.
Grade 2
As the class teacher and students move together into Grade 2, the rhythms and routines built in Grade 1 are firmly set in place such that there is a “Yes! Let’s get going” energy to the beginning of Grade 2. Learning and class community are picked up again almost seamlessly, and the continued focus in language and numeracy is augmented with fables from around the world and nature studies.
Grade 3
Grade 3 is a year of busy, engaging, experiential activities like gardening, building structures and measuring. This is the year that children generally experience a marked transition in consciousness. Steiner refers to this awakening to themselves and the world around them in new ways as the "nine-year change." The Harvest Feast, a meal grown and cooked by the students for their parents, kicks things off in September.
Grade 4
Grade 4 marks a clearer introduction to specific subjects, particularly local and cultural geography and zoology.
The telling of Norse myths and sagas strongly echoes this element of conscious choice in a manner that poetically focuses on strength and boldness, demonstrating dramatic consequences and deeds of courage. This courage and independence is re-enforced in the child through the participation in their first overnight cross-country ski trip.
Grade 5
Grade 5 is considered the “Golden Age of Childhood.” The students are more awake, aware, and balanced—and ready to journey into the studies of Ancient Civilizations and Natural Sciences.
Ancient Greece is a primary focus in this grade, and the children in a five-event Greek Pentathlon along with students from the Edmonton Waldorf school.
Grade 6
In Grade 6, children are on the cusp of adolescence and its accompanying emotional and physical changes. Learning experiences are crafted to hone careful observations and the development of critical thinking. Curricular studies include geology, astronomy, physics, Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and geometry.
The students travel to Edmonton for medieval games and a knighting ceremony. This is a right of passage that challenges the students to be their best selves, and a symbolic transition into junior high.
