Waldorfish Blog
The Middle Grades Research Project: Four Ways to Challenge and Inspire
The middle schooler is in a particularly special and challenging time in their development.
They are undergoing great change in the physical body, and also cultivating their own inner world as an individual.
Research projects create space for students to draw on existing skills, cultivate new ones, and immerse themselves in a subject more deeply than ever before!
The middle schooler is ready for new challenges and approaches to learning.
As the educator gently guides the process, the student becomes the driving force behind the learning - perfectly suited to the middle grader, who is beginning to experience themselves as a more independent individual. Many schools introduce such projects in sixth grade, though they can be utilized throughout middle school.
Research projects may include some or all of the following components, each requiring unique skills:
Written portions that include summaries and detailed descriptions.
Artistic components that portray the subject at hand through the students’ own work.
A physical representation, which could be in booklet, poster, or other form.
An oral presentation, which asks the student to be well-versed in their subject.
A social component, which asks others to assist in their learning. This could be an interview, written letter, or some other form of person-to-person communication.
Putting all of these elements together is certainly a challenge, and it provides an opportunity for the middle grader to experience and learn in new ways.
Here are a few examples of learning opportunities offered by a research project:
Discovering the Greater World
A project allows the student to connect with a topic outside of what they currently know; something brand new and unfamiliar! This awakens inspiration, and a curiosity about what else there is to know and explore.
Students learn from authors through research materials, such as guide books, biographies, articles, and more. As well, this is the perfect opportunity to discuss the importance of citations and bibliographies!
2. Skill Building and Application
Projects require the student to apply many skills at one time: reading comprehension, note-taking, the ability to summarize, provide detail, and much more. They also need to communicate their findings to others in a clear and dynamic way: a new challenge in itself.
3. Awakening New Artistic and Presentation Skills
With a research project, the students are not working out of their own creative imaginations. Instead, they are using the power of observation and artistic representation to illustrate and portray the beauty of their subject. For example, students may be asked to draw a state flag, a specific animal, or a recognizable landmark- all requiring attention to detail, careful drawing, and other artistic skills.
Some projects may require a poster, booklet, or other display. It is the students’ job to present their information clearly, and also make things balanced, colorful, and eye-catching.
4. Stepping into the Social Realm
The middle school student is ready for a challenge, and is ready to communicate in a more mature, focused, and purposeful way. A research project is the perfect time to introduce an opportunity to speak to and ask questions of a professional, either in oral or written form. Learning from experienced professionals is a direct and personal way to learn, and also asks middle school students to be prepared with their questions, respect others’ time, and be in charge of the conversation.
A charcoal drawing lesson of Half Dome is included in our Geology course.
If you’re feeling called to offer your middle schooler a thoughtful research experience - but aren’t quite sure where to begin - our Geology course would be a gentle place to start.
Included is a carefully structured research journey called The National Parks Project, designed to support both student and educator every step of the way.
You’ll find language arts components, artistic extensions, clear outlines, citation and note-taking guidance, and even optional interview questions for a park ranger or other professional in the field.
With these pieces already in place, you’re free to spend less time planning and more time learning alongside your child!
Together, you can choose a national park that sparks curiosity and allows the project to unfold naturally, guiding your student into a deeper understanding of geology, flora, fauna, and the living landscape as a whole.
And if questions arise, you’ll have access to the course instructor, Caitlin Amajor, one of our trained Waldorf teachers, offering steady guidance and support along the way!
More from Waldorfish!
About the Authors
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season, 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 over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world.
Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, Botany, and Geology 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!
Waldorf Geology: Adapting the Curriculum to Your Region
In Waldorf education, the curriculum really shines when we adapt it to our local regions.
Use your observation skills and senses to explore geology where you live!
This encourages students not only to connect with the material and the greater concepts, but also to deepen their relationship with the land on which they live.
When we teach through the lens of place, we invite students into a living relationship with their surroundings. This is especially true in the Geology block, where children begin to explore how the Earth was formed, how landforms came to be, and how the very ground beneath our feet tells a story about time and transformation.
In the Waldorf Geology curriculum, we explore many facets of the Earth - the formation of rocks, mountains, and valleys; the work of glaciers and volcanoes; and the long arc of change that shapes the landscape. These are big, sometimes abstract ideas. But when we connect them to what’s right outside our door, they become tangible and meaningful.
Pedagogically, this connection is vital. Around ages 10 to 12, children are moving from an imaginative, story-based way of knowing to a more observational, cause-and-effect understanding of the world. Geology meets this developmental moment beautifully: it offers real-world evidence of forces at work, while still appealing to the child’s sense of wonder.
When students can see, touch, and question the rocks in their own landscape, learning becomes personal.
Here are five simple ways to make the Geology curriculum come alive where you live:
Our course creator for Geology grew up in Northern California, and was inspired by nearby Half Dome in Yosemite National Park!
Keep it simple- go outside!
Go on a hike for the day, walk around your neighborhood, and notice the rocks around you. Even landscaping stones, rock walls, or architectural features can become starting points for observation and conversation. Ask: What might this rock have looked like before it was shaped or moved? Where might it have come from?
Go to your local library and explore books about your region.
Even tourist-focused resources may be helpful.
Do some internet research around local mineral, rock or geology clubs.
You may be surprised at how many active groups are nearby!
Go to your town’s local visitor center and explore the history of your town.
See how you can connect the vast world of geology to your region. Remember: Geology is connected to everything! Industrial history, rivers/lakes/water usage, city planning, etc.
Visit a Natural History Museum.
Many museums have geology or rock exhibits that tie local formations into larger geological stories. Seeing specimens up close helps students link their personal observations with the broader scientific picture.
Enjoy exploring the beauty of the natural world, and find geology all around you.
Overall, enjoy weaving the curriculum with where you live, and keep it simple. The act of observing, discussing, and connecting the material to what is around you is one of the most important and valuable activities your student can engage in.
When children experience that the land they live on is part of a great, unfolding story, learning becomes not just academic - it becomes soulful. This is meaningful learning, rooted in place and alive with curiosity.
About the Authors
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season, 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 over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world.
Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, Botany, and Geology 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!
Is Waldorf Botany Academic as Well as Artistic?
Q: Is the Waldorf Botany curriculum academic?
(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: A frequent misconception that we run into is that science and art cannot walk hand in hand. However, in Waldorf education, the two meld together to create a curriculum that is beautiful, deep, and academic!
Waldorf botany lessons include art, storytelling, and hands-on learning, all through the lens of scientific exploration.
Botany is usually taught in two separate blocks (to learn more about why, click here!) and each is imbued with scientific study in different ways.
A main lesson book page illustrating the inner structure of a seed- with plenty of color, of course!
The first block explores the “lower plants”- such as lichen, moss, ferns, and algae- and these plants are explored through the use of storytelling and artistic imagery. In this block, the educator is not focusing on the more complex aspects of these plants, but instead painting the picture of how these seemingly ‘simple’ plants live, thrive, and play important roles in the health of our planet.
In the first block, students explore the lower plants through imagery and imagination, while weaving in the science of the plants as well.
For example, the educator may tell the story of algae, while including that algae has no stem or real roots, cannot stand on its own, and provides much of the oxygen for all living things on earth. Through story, the child builds an understanding of algae as a living, beautiful, and essential plant.
The second Botany block, often taught later in the school year, is taught in similar ways to the first, though here, the educator brings in the method of phenomenology. (In short, phenomenology is the process of learning through doing and observation.)
The process of photosynthesis illustrated on a main lesson book page!
As the child has been growing throughout the year, by spring they are typically ready for a more complex curriculum, and ready to see plants in a new way!
Expanding upon the first block’s studies, the more complex plants are now explored: from seeds, to germination, photosynthesis to blossoms, and pollination to seed dispersal, the second block is a robust, more detailed study of the plant world.
The educator still uses art and storytelling (and will throughout eighth grade and beyond!) but they also bring in more opportunities for the student to observe, come to their own conclusions, and explore how plants grow and reproduce in a real way.
For example, learning about seeds will take a variety of forms. The educator may tell the story of the little seed waiting to sprout, and how it holds all the promise of what it will become within- even the smallest seed holds all of the potential to grow into a mighty Sequoia tree- it just needs a bit of help from air, water, and light!
The story of pollinators represented in one drawing- a perfect opportunity for students to combine science and art!
As well, the educator will bring in hands-on demonstrations, such as sprouting seeds on a windowsill, and dissecting a seed to see what’s inside.
What seeds sprout more quickly? Under what conditions? How do the sprouts differ from one type of seed to another? Can we observe the energy reserves of the seed, and what parts will sprout into the first leaf and root once it germinates?
Using this approach, the educator guides the children into seeing the plant in its entirety and its parts; how plants are not only beautiful, but how they function, and how the individual parts of a plant each have essential roles in making the plant whole.
Waldorf Botany curriculum is a wonderful example of how art, storytelling, and science can meld together to become a rich academic learning experience for the child!
Enjoy!
About the Authors
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season (coming soon!), 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 over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for 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!
Waldorf Science: What is a phenomenological approach to teaching?
Q: What is a “phenomenological approach” when teaching science in Waldorf education, and what are its benefits?
(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!)
A: Waldorf science curriculum is taught using a specific strategy called the phenomenological approach. Don’t worry, we’ll explain! It’s actually much more approachable and doable than it may first appear.
A phenomenological approach emphasizes the direct observation and exploration of the natural world through one’s senses.
In Waldorf education, the middle school science curriculum includes sensory experiences-like movement!
Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process, and when they are able to connect their experiences and observations to the laws of science.
By fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them, this approach aims to inspire students to become lifelong learners and form deep connections with the natural world.
(To learn more about teaching science in Waldorf middle school grades, click here!)
So, what does “doing” really look like when applying the phenomenological method to science curriculum?
Here are some concrete examples…
Sixth graders use wax, a heat source, and various types of metals to learn about conductivity.
Seventh graders are tasked with lifting a heavy object, such as a tree stump, and explore how a lever and fulcrum can make the job the most efficient.
Eighth graders create lip balm and lotions to study the different properties of fats and oils.
Do. Observe. Conclude.
When we apply a phenomenological approach to teaching, students connect their experiences and observations to the laws of science.
Through hands-on activities and experiments, students develop a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world, which in turn inspires life-long curiosity and deep connections with the natural world.
Plus bonus, it’s a lot of fun for students AND educators alike!
About the Authors
Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and a course instructor in three of our courses - Simple Season, 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 over 25 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!
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