Subjects Curriculum

 

Encouraging curiosity | Developing potential | Inspiring innovation

Spanish

World languages are an integral part of the curriculum in Waldorf schools. The purpose of language study is to develop the ability to communicate, raise one’s social conscience, and cultivate an interest in others. In addition, when we learn a new language, we become more aware of our mother tongue.


Music

The Emerson Waldorf School campus resounds with music. Early Childhood and Grades students sing every day. In the early years, EWS music classes nurture and strengthen a child’s natural musicality without any academic instruction, but eventually expand to include music literacy instruction. Classes focus on all aspects of music education: listening, responding, intonation, reading music, and improvising.


Handwork

Handwork is taught to all students in grades 1-8. Handwork really begins in the Early Childhood classes with finger knitting and simple hand sewing. Then, it continues and expands through the grades with knitting, crocheting, embroidery, fine hand sewing, and finally machine sewing in 8th grade.


Farm

Since the first Waldorf school open in Germany over 100 years ago, farming has been an important part of the curriculum. The Emerson Waldorf School farm has been operational for more than eight years. The 11-acre farm is cared for by our school farmer with support from our facilities manager, parent volunteers, teachers and students who work on the farm weekly.


Woodworking & Blacksmithing

“Children who learn while they are young to make practical things by hand in an artistic way, and for the benefit of others as well as for themselves, will not be strangers to life or to other people when they are older. They will be able to form their lives and their relationships in a social and artistic way, so that their lives are thereby enriched. Out of their hands can come technicians and artists who will know how to solve the problems and tasks set us.” – Rudolf Steiner


Physical Education

We provide Physical Education classes twice a week for children in Grades 1-8. As one might expect in a Waldorf School, PE looks very different from grade to grade, as the children are in different places developmentally. In the early grades, students play imaginative games which include running, jumping, skipping, and dancing and provide both exercise and good lessons in social interaction.


Eurythmy

Eurythmy is a hybrid of expressive art and movement originated by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century. Primarily a performance art, it is also used as an educational tool in Waldorf schools. Eurythmy translates the creative elements in music and speech into physical movements. Participating in and experiencing Eurythmy strengthens one’s connection to their body, challenges balance, increases concentration among other things. Eurythmy is taught from nursery through high school.