Waldorf 8th Grade Organic Chemistry: In the Kitchen!
A frequent favorite in the eighth grade Waldorf curriculum is the study of organic chemistry (aka biochemistry) - really, it’s true!
Working with essential oils is a wonderful addition to the 8th grade chemistry block!
It’s a fun block for the teacher as it’s very hands-on, and preparation often involves a quick trip to the grocery store. Students enjoy their biochem studies because they get to experience chemistry in a way that feels fun and not too serious, but also pushes them to grow in their observational and abstract thinking skills (more on that here!).
As with everything in Waldorf education, we’re taking a step further in our investigation of the natural world.
In seventh grade chemistry, the focus was on inorganic chemistry, which means studying substances that do not contain carbon (with some exceptions!)
In eighth grade, the focus is on the chemistry that arises through living processes. For instance, what is the chemical process of digestion? How does a human body absorb nutrients? How do fats, proteins and carbohydrates act individually or together? Where in our natural world do these different macronutrients exist (such as starch in potatoes, fats in dairy products, protein in eggs) and what can we do with them?
Hence, in eighth grade the study is truly biochemistry- the chemistry of life!
The curriculum is rich with hands-on experiments - this includes cooking and many other activities that involve consumable products. If you were to pop in on an eighth grade chemistry main lesson, you’d find the students observing various kinds of sugars (using taste, touch, smell, and all the senses!), making their own lotion or lip balm (experimenting with different fats and oils), or stirring up mayonnaise (an investigation into emulsifying!)
In 8th grade chemistry, the students learn through cooking!
This block is an excellent bridge from the literal into the abstract, meeting the developing eighth graders right where they are.
If you’ve ever met an eighth grader, you may have noticed they are absorbed in the physical world, and are experiencing significant changes in their own bodies. There is no better time than now to weave the curriculum into their current state of being! Focusing on what we put in and on our bodies, from food to skin care, heightens the eighth graders' sense of inquisitiveness, and encourages them to explore chemistry in a way that truly resonates.
An eighth grader is just on the precipice of a wide new world and all that comes with going to high school, but they aren’t ready to move on just yet. They have begun to think more abstractly, but are still learning to hone their observational skills on what is placed in front of them. As well, Waldorf curriculum plants seeds along the way as the grades progress, and in eighth grade, those seeds begin to sprout and bloom.
For example, cooking is a curricular staple in the third grade curriculum, and here in eighth grade, cooking is perceived through a fresh lens that comes with the study of biochemistry.
This chemistry block is designed to bridge the gap between the abstract and concrete.
Ready to cook with your eighth grader?
We’ve got a gift for you!
Click below to enjoy a recipe written by our Waldorfish Chemistry teacher, Ari Magruder. Incorporate a fun recipe into your curriculum that’s perfect for the upcoming fall season. Enjoy!
About the Author
Ari Magruder is currently the middle school science and math teacher at Sacramento Waldorf School. She also contributed to the teacher education and summer Art of Teaching programs at Rudolf Steiner College for many years.
