Fifth Grade

New Horizons

Fifth Grade is a year of new challenges and broadening horizons, laying the groundwork for our interdisciplinary and experiential middle school program with more independent work, increased critical and creative thinking, and broader multicultural perspectives throughout the curriculum. Students travel across the globe and through history in their study of ancient civilizations in India, Persia, Egypt, and Greece, learning about world history, art, culture, and belief systems. 

Building on the Fourth Grade study of fractions, Fifth Graders dive into decimals and ratios, in addition to beginning their explorations of geometric drawing. Classwork in botany is brought to life in our biodynamic teaching garden and through field trips that explore the school’s local ecosystems, while the physical education program dovetails with the social studies curriculum, with students training in ancient games to understand history and culture from a unique perspective while pushing their limits physically to develop strength and confidence. 

Through theater and oral presentations, our students build self-confidence and public speaking skills, while our teachers continue to center respect, kindness, and inclusiveness within the class community as the students prepare to enter middle school. 

Fifth Graders at San Francisco Waldorf School learn:

• Math: Decimals; fractions; metric system
• Literature & Grammar: Ancient stories; 
elements of grammar; continuing cursive; punctuation; compositions
• Science: Botany; Inductive Method; reproductive systems 
• Music: Singing; recorder; and orchestra
• Physical Education: Introduction to competition via the first Olympic Games (AKA Pentathlon), competitive games, and movement activities
• Eurythmy: Movement to music and poetry
• Art: Calligraphy; painting; clay modeling; woodworking; handcrafts
• World Languages: Spanish and Mandarin immersion (grammar; past and future tenses; reading simple stories)
• Handwork: Knitting in the round; knitting socks, hats, or mittens (develop and follow written instructions)
• Woodwork: Introduction to working with wood (rasping, filing, and sanding) creating simple projects
• History & Social Studies: Ancient civilizations
• Geography: North American geography
• Theater: Annual class play based on main lesson curriculum

Daily Schedule (Grades 4-8)

8:30am-3:10pm, Monday-Wednesday, Friday
8:30am-2:15pm, Thursday
The Grades After School program begins immediately following dismissal and runs until 5:30pm daily.