Lightsong Waldorf Outdoor School

Lightsong First Grade School Year Curriculum Overview

The First Grade Year begins with the discovery that behind all forms lie two basic principles: the straight and curved line. The children find these shapes in their own bodies, in the classroom and the world beyond. The straight and curved line are then practiced through walking, drawing in the air, perhaps in the sand or soil, then finally on paper.  These form drawings train motor skills, awaken the child’s powers of observation and provide a foundation for the introduction of the alphabet.

Through fairy tales and stories, the children are introduced to each letter of the alphabet.  Instead of abstract symbols, the letters become actual characters with whom the children have a real relationship.”S” may be a fairy tale snake sinuously slithering through the grass on some secret errand.

In a similar way, the children first experience the qualities of numbers before learning addition and subtraction.  Counting is introduced through clapping, rhythmic movement and the use of stones, acorns, and other natural objects.  Only after considerable practice in adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing are the written symbols for these operations introduced.

Foreign Languages, knitting and playing the pentatonic flute are also introduced in the first grade.The arts are integrated into the entire  academic curriculum, including mathematics and the sciences.  Through the arts, imagination and creative powers awaken, bringing vitality, possibility, problem solving and wholeness to learning.

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