Class Description

Welcome to Class Seven!
This year can be seen as a year of exploration and discovery. Students of this age seek to test the boundaries of that which is known and that which is allowed, the limits and authenticity of authority, and to discover the realms beyond that which they are used to. Capacities for discernment, objectivity, and reasoning strengthen and the curriculum meets the students right along those paths inviting them to question, discern, experiment, explore, and discover.

Themes of the blocks will challenge the students’ objectivity, precision, and discipline through the beauty of geometry, perspective in drawing, math and introductory algebra. Independent projects in creative writing and cultural history through biographies will invite the students to deepen their interest and to discover new things about the world that was, the world that is, and to imagine the world that is yet to be.

Science block themes in Nutrition, Physiology, Physics, and Chemistry will engage students in observations, experiments, and creative work through which they will observe the phenomena, but also seek to understand and describe it.

Cultural World Geography will take us on a journey through the lens of Age of Exploration opening the windows and docking our ship in harbors that will invite us to learn about and understand various cultures around the world.

Themes of this year’s main lesson blocks strive to meet the students’ inward experiencesin their outer world. Meeting the children in the realm of feeling while engaging their awakening capacities for independent thinking, understanding of the varying points of view, various personal and cultural perspectives, the curriculum also guides the children through the year in a way that requires discipline and invites them to practice self expression at the same time.

I am so overjoyed that you are joining us on this special journey and feel excited to meet you very soon!

With love and gratitude,

Ms. Daniela

Class 7 Steiner pedagogy:

Language Arts: Research papers, poetry, play writing. Exploring language through themed papers, including Wish, Wonder and Surprise. Biographies of historical figures. Arthurian legends

Mathematics: Continued practical mathematics, business mathematics, algebra, graphing, areas, perimeters

Science: Chemistry including combustion, chemical transformations. Physiology including reproduction, the circulatory system, nutrition, first aid. Physics of light, magnetism, static and current electricity, mechanics. Astronomy

Social Studies: History from 1400 to 1700, The Age of Exploration, The Age of Discovery, The Renaissance,  geography of Africa and Europe, geographical terminology.

Artistic Studies: Perspective drawing, watercolor painting modeling with clay.

Sample Video's from Ms. Daniela:

Handwork With Ms. Maggie

The focus of handwork in seventh grade is the ancient art of felting. We will begin by learning the history of felting and exploring the uses of wool felt. After being introduced to this beautiful art, the students will use both wet felting and needle felting techniques to create three-dimensional art forms from wisps of colorful wool. The students will felt useful items such as unique geode-shaped pin cushions, slippers, lanterns, bowls, and a pencil roll. Felting is an art form that increases special awareness and fine motor skills.

Eurythmy Inspired Movement With Ms. Tiffany

The theme of the Seventh grade is moody drama. We will work with this by working with the soul gestures of affirmation/negation and sympathy/antipathy. We will learn how to move through and occupy the etheric space around us as we learn to form walk with continuous forms. For tone, we will solidify basic tone gestures, work with sharps and flats, and work with major/minor chords and moods. For copper rods, we will dive deeper into advanced copper rod exercises fitted for the seventh grade.

German with Mr. Dornemann

The aim of the course is to experience the German language, to get used to its sounds, acquire basic vocabulary and speaking skills. It is intended for beginners with no or little previous exposure to the German language.  

In the recorded part of the lessons there will be listening and speaking activities, poems, songs, stories and tongue twisters. Students will practice speaking by repeating what the teacher presents. In our live sessions we will engage in speaking and conversation as well as call and response.  

The vocabulary covered will include actions, counting, phrases, cultural references and many words describing aspects of everyday life.

Music with Mr. Mark 

In Music Class 7 we use singing games, dancing games, and sing-alongs to create music together. We explore physically the steady beat, how the beat relates to rhythm, and how beat and rhythm relate to melody in a naturally organic progression. The material we use incorporates aspects of the students’ Main Lesson blocks. Emphasis is on creative expression and musical exploration, where everyone participates together in the creation of beautiful music. Rythmic and Melodic Notation are explored in a fun, organic way that relates to the Feeling Life of the music rather than the Intellectual, and we will compose our own songs. We incorporate Intermediate Recorder into our musical explorations (many students have already been playing recorder at this age, and I take that into account as I incorporate complete beginners with those who have some recorder skills, so that we can all progress together). We will also incorporate Beginning/Intermediate Ukelele!