Fifth Grade

Fifth grade is referred to as the “golden year” because students at this age are enthusiastic about learning, eager for new challenges and capable of hard work and creativity. A sense of self-consciousness emerges, yet they remain confident and harmonious with their surroundings. They develop an ordered sense of space and time and hold a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and the ethics of right and wrong.

Language Arts

The study of ancient civilizations in the fifth grade spans the time from the legendary continent of Atlantis some 10,000 years ago to ancient India, ancient Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt and finally ancient Greece. The children delight in finding common threads in the creation stories and hero tales of the different peoples -- from floods and rainbows, to initiations and quests, to the intervention of the gods in human affairs. Most importantly, the students trace the evolution of human consciousness through millennia and across the globe, especially with respect to views of life, death, and the afterlife.

Classical Greece

Finally, the students explore the life of the ancient Greeks, focusing on Grecian art, culture, language, and movement. The students learn about many ancient Greek contributions to the present day, including ideas about beauty, truth, courage, and the social order.  

Writing

Fifth graders concentrate on topic statements, rough drafts, and revisioning in their writing.  They will pick a topic for a book report and a research paper. The focus is on their writing and their grammar with weekly vocabulary and spelling tests. For their yearly play, fifth graders learn complex memorization of their lines and actions for parts in their play.  

Mathematics

In math, the students begin the year by thoroughly reviewing the four processes, long division, and basic fractions. To further strengthen the grasp on the basic arithmetic facts, students may work daily with speed drills. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of the times tables by fifth grade if they haven't done so in fourth. They may have math homework that supports the morning's classwork, and work in periods outside the main lesson to solidify skills in computation, simple fractions, and mixed numbers. Percents may be introduced and become part of regular practice.

Sciences

The botany main lesson block is an opportunity to see how the living earth is blanketed with plant life. The teacher strives to deepen the students' appreciation for the wisdom of the natural world. Students compare the plant's place in the four kingdoms of nature, comparing life cycles of plants and human beings; they are also led to observe the great differences in the plant world itself. Students may sketch in the gardens on campus, collect leaves from home, and discover through direct observation how, as Plato observed, "God geometrizes." The children's dramatic chalk drawings of the geometric patterns found in flower forms resonate deeply with them. The children usually hike, work, cook, and have the opportunity to see local plants and animals.

SPECIALTY SUBJECTS

Movement

Students have multiple recesses throughout the day, in almost all weather, to energize their bodies, let their academic studies rest, and activate their minds through social play, group dynamics, and exploration of the physical environment.  Students have access to a large playing field, woods and a stream, natural climbing structures and digging spots, all which encourage them to engage them in unstructured and imaginative play.

Physical Education is specifically taught by the Movement and Games teacher and fifth graders begin individual training for a Pentathlon: discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling and running. Students are given a truly unique opportunity to experience the culture of Ancient Greece by participating in the pentathlon, an Olympic competition that is held with other area Waldorf schools.

World Languages

Students in fifth grade continue their studies of German and Spanish, which each meet twice per week throughout the school year.  In Grade Five work begins on developing memory and translative thinking and vocabulary skills.  

Handwork

Coordinated movement of the hands and limbs is essential to the development of the intellect and academic capacities, as well as physical integration of the child’s maturing body.  For this reason, Handwork is taught in all grades, beginning even in Early Childhood. Handwork teaches children to complete challenging tasks and to appreciate each other’s work. Mathematical concepts such as parallelism, mirror-imaging, progression and geometric forms are experienced through this tactile learning experience.  The aesthetic experience of creating something beautiful also nourishes and refines the child’s emotional well-being. Fifth graders work in the round on double pointed needles and make hats, mittens, and socks.

Art

Art is part of every class, every day and the aesthetic focus of all subjects is a hallmark of Waldorf education. Children continue to work on their painting and drawing skills and work with sculptural modeling in relation to their studies.  

Music

Music, like art, is a part of almost every class, every day.  Singing and musical games are an excellent learning tool for students, both in their Main Lesson studies, as well as in special subject classes. The children work on their skills in music literacy and continue their recorder and singing in class and in chorus. All the while taking class lessons in their stringed instrument.