Picture by Ben	Special Events
	Life takes on a different quality in the third grade. Just as fairy tales in the first grade and fables and legends in the second grade nourished the children, so do stories from the Old Testament form a treasury of sustenance for third grade students. The powerful story of the casting out of Adam and Eve from the Garden closely parallels the third grade child's own experiences; she leaves behind the paradise of early childhood as she becomes more aware of good and evil. Fourth grade students grapple with their earthly existence through experiences of farming, clothing, housing, and social relationships. The study of farming and gardening is a fun filled block that develops an awareness and understanding of the interrelationships of all forms of life. Planting, harvesting, cooking, and composting all bring a sense of wonder and delight. Making butter, grinding wheat, and baking bread are a few of the meaningful activities brought to fourth grade children. The study of animal and human shelters, emphasizing different times and climates, develops an understanding of animal's and man's creativity and their use of materials and tools. Students make models of shelters and frequently do some real construction. Practical domestic arts are visited such a soap making or the processing of wool from sheep to shawl. The basic theme of practical life is integrated into all subjects. Students begin regular library visits and read about the things they are experiencing. Cursive writing is introduced and the study of grammar, spelling, and punctuation commences. The composition of original stories becomes the focus of writing. Students study time, money, weights and measures, all used as tools in dealing with life. Children of this age have an innate feeling of awe and wonder for the world and are alive to the magic of nature. Nature stories abound in the fourth grade, and students experience nature first hand with walks and trips to forest, field, and stream. Much information is transmitted through these studies, and an important goal is to develop a positive attitude toward nature. Third grade students have several specialty classes including foreign language, handwork, movement, and music. Singing instruction continues, and the diatonic flute and traditional musical notation are introduced. Continue scrolling through the grades to better understand the phases of development and learning that Waldorf students experience. Early Childhood | 1st grade | 2nd grade | 3rd grade | 4th grade | 5th grade | 6th grade | 7th grade | 8th grade |Specialties | Back
Sandpoint Waldorf School Where the love of learning that lasts a lifetime . . . begins. P.O. Box 95, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 265-2683 e-mail: sws@coldreams.com