2024/2025 Class 9 Full Experience Details
Live Zooms in Pacific Time
Main Lesson: Tuesday & Thursday 10 am
Math: Tuesday at 12 pm
Guardianship: Thursday 7 am
Four Fold Enrichment: Wednesday 8 am
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Humanities Main Lesson Blocks with Mr. Siepker
Modern History: Children have journeyed through the epochs of time, characterized by myths and legends. They soon arrived at real recorded Historical events. These events have led us to modern times and more practically into the modern age. The focus will be on specific ideals that were at the forefront of certain historical events and the biographies of key figures. We will endeavor to create a space for them to form their own judgments from within their own capabilities. History lessons will lead the children, from passing judgment to forming judgments of their own.
Art History: The powerful subjectivity and emerging critical intelligence of the young adolescent encounter an underlying theme of polarities woven through the Waldorf curriculum for Ninth Grade. The weeks of studies in the realm of Art History will take us on a journey through human history through art while echoing the gesture of the dramatic tension between opposites. As we explore various times of history through changes reflected in art, we will encounter dramatic tension of dualities – light and darkness, Human Being and Nature, pagan and Christian, good and evil, death and resurrection – resonating with the inner search for identity and meaning.
This Main Lesson block is an overview of the primary visual arts, mostly painting, and sculpture, from pre-historic times to the Renaissance.
Students will look at various examples of art through slides, be encouraged to visit local Art Museums to look at their exhibits, explore and discuss some of the online museum exhibits during our live online class sessions, and create their own copies of pieces inspired by various periods we will explore.
In the process, students will create a main lesson book consisting of artwork, written composition texts, diagrams (if applicable), and personal touches that show attention to aesthetic appearance and page design for both, pages of writing as well as the pages of drawing. While following the cultural development through active observation of historical works of art, students will also develop an appreciation for art, aesthetics, and attention to detail.
The Novel: In this main lesson block, we will examine the genre of the novel through the prism of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. This classic was produced during the time when the genre was in its fullest development and creates the opportunity for students to become familiar with the challenges of reading historical writing. We will study various elements of the novel, such as story, plot, and character, as well as aesthetic and thematic development as the novel genre grows and changes over time.
With this understanding, students will workshop excerpts from their own “novel.” This will create an opportunity to apply these specific aspects of fiction to their own work, as well as practicing the use of rich vocabulary, imagery, and other written conventions. Additionally, students will work on both self and peer editing skills to solidify their grasp of correct grammar, spelling, and mechanics.
Finally, we will explore questions of translations, abridgments, and omissions. Noticing these changes and how they depend on the audience and historical period of a publication continues to be relevant in how language is used and influenced in our contemporary world.
Class 9 Play: Details coming Soon!!
Guardianship Class with Ms. Daniela and Mr. Siepker
Guardianship Class: Our Guardian teachers will support the full experience students through monthly and seasonal themes of focus and various projects. Students will have support and guidance in developing capacities for managing their time, leading and collaborating as a team, finding opportunities to go out and serve their local communities, asking for help when needed, and so on.
Guardian teachers are inspired by the striving to build a sense of connection and belonging for the group that will help students create ways of both, deepening their High School community and staying accountable to themselves and their teachers in their learning and creative work.
Math with Mr. Starzynski
Math Track: We will begin this course with a review of prealgebra concepts. We will then dive straight into algebra spending a significant portion of the year on solving linear equations using multiple techniques. Along the way, we will review and deepen basic geometry concepts and begin to look at combining geometry and algebra (a.k.a. graphing). Ultimately, the class will build up to solving 2nd-degree equations (quadratics).
During this year, we will also look at several interesting math puzzles.
Permutations, Combinations & Probability Block:
“Probability is the very guide of life.” -Cicero"
The Permutations, Combinations & Probability Main Lesson is an exploration into possibilities and chance. We will learn how to find the number of possible outcomes in an event and then use these outcomes to discover the likelihood of a specific outcome occurring. Along the way, we will learn how probability theory developed during the 17th century and we will look at various applications.
Science Main Lesson Blocks with Ms. Vidhya
Physics: Our very first science block will be the study of Thermodynamics. We will perform experiments to understand the laws of thermodynamics, understand the relationship between heat and temperature, build our own thermometer and finally work our way up to understanding the workings of an engine. Students will perform experiments, write Main lesson entries, write quizzes, read science articles and present their individual projects.
Chemistry: Our second science block will involve the study of organic chemistry. We start by studying what makes up a plant? What is the inter-relationship between elements found in nature and the way plants store energy? How do we name these organic compounds? We will learn this and more by conducting experiments, writing quizzes, writing main lesson entries, reading articles and presenting a project.
Biology: In the biology block , we start by studying how humans interact with the world by studying the five main senses - sight, smell, hearing, feeking and taste. How does the body sense? What challenges may come up and how have humans worked through any problems? We then go from extremities of our body to what makes up the core of our body - the bones / skeletal system. We will study this subject through artistic drawings, modeling, descriptive writing and by conducting a few simple experiments.
Enrichment is incorporated in your full class experience!
Meet your Four Fold Enrichment teachers!
Handwork With Ms. Maggie
The main focus of handwork in Class 9 is the ancient craft of basketry. We will begin by exploring the history of basketry and how baskets have been essential since the beginning of human civilization. Students will learn different coiling and weaving techniques and use materials from nature to create several styles of baskets.
Eurythmy Inspired Movement With Ms. Tiffany
The theme of the ninth grade is “Dynamics, Dionysus, Polar Opposites", and we will explore this by connecting movement and gestures to their most intimate feelings. We work with dramatic soul gestures and specific concentrated exercises. For tone, we will work with intervals, harmonies, and tone gestures, as well as, gravity and levity through raying and streaming. For copper rods we will learn to master and properly execute advanced copper rod exercises and put together a copper rod “piece.”
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 9 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 incporporate 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!
