Grade 5
A Time of Balance and Harmony
Fifth graders have new capacities for thought and reflection, and begin an exploration of human history and world geography. They are creative, confident, and eager to work cooperatively. They have an emerging sense of personal responsibility and community.
Students explore the physical characteristics of the earth and the plant life that grows on its surface. In botany, the class studies monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants, algae, and mosses, and investigate how climate and geography affect plant growth. In math, students practice fractions and decimals, ratios and proportions.
Ancient Civilizations
Fifth graders journey back to the dawn of civilization in India, Persia, Eygpt, and Greece. Students begin to see the world through the perspective of these early people—through their art, music, and mythology. This is the beginning of their multi-year exploration of the development of human consciousness.
Subjects
Grade 5 Faculty
Alyssa Stellar
Class Teacher
Spanish
Mandarin
Yoriko Yamamoto
Handwork
Rodney Sutton
Woodwork
Monika Leitz
Eurythmy
Lisa Sargent
Music
Mona Nemetz
Games and Gym
Pentathlon
Fifth graders from Waldorf schools around the Bay Area come together to compete in a Pentathlon: javelin, discus, long jump, running, and wrestling. The event, like the early Olympics, reflects the ideals of balance, strength, and peaceful competition. For the students, it is the culmination of their study of Ancient Greece and skills practiced in Games & Gym.