Waldorf Art: How is Art Incorporated into the Waldorf Middle Grades, 5-8?
Q: How is art incorporated into the Waldorf middle grades, 5 through 8?
(This post is part of a series in which we answer the most common questions we receive in our inbox re: homeschooling, Waldorf curriculum/pedagogy, and whatever else comes our way! Click here to read more from the series!)
A: Art is woven into every aspect of the Waldorf upper grades curriculum, no matter the subject!
(And just so we’re all on the same page, we’re using ‘middle grades’ and ‘upper grades’ interchangeably to refer to the grades 5-8.)
Whether in history, science, or math, the upper grades student is continuously learning through artistic skills and expression.
It is common in today’s world to think of art as its own stand-alone subject; many students experience “art class” where there is a specific time in a student’s school day for art, and otherwise, they are focusing on non-art subjects like math or science.
A pencil drawing from a sixth grader’s main lesson book- Roman history coming to life!
But in Waldorf education, art is naturally incorporated into each subject- it is not a separate subject, it is the mechanism used to explore, study, and understand everything!
So, what does this art curriculum really look like in the upper grades?
For example, in seventh grade, students explore the Renaissance and all the discoveries, inventions and artistic movements that arose from that time. Instead of just listening to the biographies of great artists such as Michaelanglo, Raphael, or da Vinci, the students will copy their works of art in detail: a masterclass in figure drawing! Though history may be the focus, students engage with the curriculum through their own artistic endeavors.
The skills built through seventh grade figure drawing lead directly into the next grade’s curriculum. In eighth grade, students explore the human body in an Anatomy block. They will learn about muscles, the nervous system, how various organs function, and much more. Skills in figure drawing will grow all the more through this block; drawing a human hand with the knowledge of its skeletal and muscular structure creates a deeper connection to the beauty and function of the human body. It’s artistic work supporting scientific study!
As well, the upper grade student studies Physics from sixth through eighth grade, which includes exploring light and all its properties. The perfect art medium to deepen one’s study of light is charcoal. Drawing with charcoal encourages a student to really observe light and how it travels, reflects, bounces, and highlights an object, and how the lack of light creates shadow and depth. Drawing light and darkness in an accurate, beautiful way requires the understanding of light itself- once again, art and science working as one!
Stunning charcoal drawings from a seventh grade Waldorf classroom- we especially love how each has their own style and personality.
The actual outcome of the final piece of art is of secondary importance to the process of creating and exploring connections. The act of creating the art is a process which supports their learning.
Truly, art is woven throughout the upper grades; here are some examples:
Pencil Drawings- Found in geometry forms, nature sketching, physiology and anatomy diagrams, mathematical proof work, astronomy observational notes and more! Pencil drawings are also the predominant art medium used in creating main lesson books.
Perspective Drawing- A skill learned most often in seventh grade, sometimes in its own short block. The process of perspective drawing to show depth and distance is used in studying the Renaissance, architecture, geological landscapes, astronomy illustrations and observations, and more.
Charcoal Drawing- Commonly introduced in sixth grade, this artistic medium is used throughout the upper grades, especially to study and illustrate the properties of light in physics and chemistry blocks. As well, charcoal drawing is used for portrait drawing or historical figures, detailed human anatomical studies, art-history inspired works, and more!
Watercolor Painting- Though this art medium is done more often in the lower grades, middle school students will continue to engage with watercolor painting on a regular basis! From botany paintings of flowers, to a colorful volcanic eruption of red and oranges, painting connects to nearly every aspect of the curriculum.
Clay Work- Working with clay is a powerful, sensory experience for the middle school student. It encourages the student to build and create from a new, 3D perspective, which is very different from many of the art mediums they have become familiar with thus far! Students may sculpt the bones of a human leg, a Roman aqueduct, an example of layers of sedimentary rock, a bust of a historical figure, and more.
Students often work with clay in the eighth grade as they study the Platonic Solids, and elsewhere in the upper grades too!
The list could go on and on! Truly, there are no bounds around how art can be used as a tool for learning in the upper grades.
Art is in everything, and an essential cornerstone to all the curriculum studies of the upper grades student.
Looking to bring Waldorf upper grades art curriculum into your homeschooling routine?
About the Authors
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and a course instructor for two of our courses - Waldorf Art for Beginners and Weekly Art Foundations. You’ll find her intuitive touches and influences throughout everything Waldorfish offers! Robyn has been in the world of education for almost 30 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable to homeschoolers all over the world.
Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, and Botany, as well as our Administrative Assistant. From a young age, Caitlin has been immersed in Waldorf education, attending a Waldorf school from K-8. After receiving a BA in History, Caitlin gained her certification in Waldorf teaching, and spent seven years as a Waldorf class teacher in the upper grades. With a special fondness for watercolor painting and geometry, Caitlin loves bringing Waldorf education to her students all over the world, and seeing their own individuality and style bloom from the curriculum!