Waldorfish Blog
Waldorf 5th Grade: Weaving Geometry Throughout the Curriculum
“The Crown” form found in our grade five geometry course.
Waldorf fifth grade curriculum includes a variety of subjects to explore.
It is particularly exciting because it is the first year history and science are introduced as stand-alone areas of study. Ancient Civilizations, Greek Mythologies and History, Botany, Decimals, and much more are explored using a variety of approaches, including (but not limited to!) art, music, and story.
One of our favorite aspects of the fifth grade curriculum is Geometry. Through a freehand approach, the fifth grader builds a strong relationship to geometry within their own bodies, and is prepared for the more complex work with tools that they will experience in sixth grade.
Geometry can be taught in block form in fifth grade (where the lessons are taught every school day over a three or four week period) and/or can also be sprinkled in throughout the school year - it is an ideal subject to be woven into other aspects of the curriculum.
Geometry fits in just about everywhere in the fifth grade year- here are several suggestions if you’re interested in weaving it all together:
Javelin throwing is a big part of the Pentathlon and can be a full-body way of exploring parallel lines, angles, arcs, and much more from the geometry curriculum!
Greek history: Greek architecture and art is filled with familiar forms that are found all throughout geometry in fifth grade and will also bring back an opportunity to review form drawing as well.
Movement: As students prepare for the Waldorf Pentathlon (a common activity for fifth graders), students and educators can explore the geometry behind movement. Angles of the javelin throw, symmetry in running strides, and the circular motion in discus throwing all connect back to geometry in a real-world way.
Botany: Flowers and leaves unfurl, bloom, and structure themselves in beautiful patterns naturally! Take the time to find these patterns through nature sketching, or on a hike, and discover just how orderly nature really is.
Ancient Civilizations: Mandalas evoke the beauty of Ancient India, the sculpture and carvings of Ancient Persia have repeating patterns- there is endless inspiration here for things to be created on main lesson book pages and other artwork!
Map drawing: Fifth grade is a wonderful time to bring in a more strategic and skillful approach to map drawing by using freehand grids. Maps can be drawn of students’ home towns, countries, ancient kingdoms, and much more.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Waldorf Education is how various subjects seamlessly weave into each other, and geometry is no exception!
Math into art, history into nature studies, music into movement- the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating a rich tapestry with the fifth grade curriculum.
Explore our blog!
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, 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 Painting Curriculum FAQ’s: How Often Should I Paint with My Lower Grades Child?
Watercolor painting is a staple of Waldorf curriculum, especially in the lower grades (1-4).
A painting from our third grade painting course- a great option for “structured art” time!
First grade paintings are done with one to two colors, and the child is encouraged to build a relationship with color through experience and connection. From there, the second grader finds form in their painting, and the third grade combines color with form for all the more complex and beautiful works of art. As students grow older, paintings grow in their intricacy and subject matter, and are always connected to nature, the seasons, and the curriculum.
A question that often comes through our inbox, especially from homeschooling families, is: How often should I paint with my lower grades child?
This is a great question! From our years of experience in working with students in the classroom and in the homeschool space, we've learned that there are great benefits to two different approaches: structured art time and free art time.
Watercolor painting, when done with a Waldorf approach, falls into the “structured art” category.
The painting activity comes with a fully formed lesson. The adult educator sets up the space, may choose to utilize a verse and set a mood of reverence, and paints alongside the child, leading them through the process from start to finish. It is a time where the educator is truly the captain of the ship, and the children have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the guided experience.
Ideally, we suggest doing structured art time once a week, or more, if you feel your child remains positively engaged with the lessons! In this case, less can really feel like more.
The second category of “free art time” creates opportunities where the child is leading the way.
They can experiment with all kinds of supplies, and work without much guidance- it's their time to create, play, and try new things. Watercolor painting can certainly be a part of this activity as well! Here, the educator is the host, making sure everyone has what they need to create safely, freely, and with joy.
Free art time can be a time of creativity and experimentation!
Free art time can be a part of a rhythm in whatever way works best for the student and the educator. Once a week, twice a week, everyday- as long as the student is engaged during the free art time, it’s a great time for art!
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we are big proponents of the idea that all art is good art!
There are many approaches to teaching watercolor painting and other art mediums, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming to get it “right.” We encourage you to dive in, try it out, and adjust from there. Bringing art into your rhythm should feel doable and meaningful, and however that works best for you and your children is the way to go.
Enjoy!
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, 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!
A Guide to Finding the Right Course from Waldorfish.com
Q: I’m new to Waldorf homeschooling and I’d like to incorporate your courses; what should I choose?
(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: First off, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here!
We offer courses crafted by master teachers, all designed with the Waldorf pedagogy and the homeschooling family in mind. Our courses are suitable for a wide range of ages, grades, and abilities, and include subjects in art, science (physics, chemistry, and botany), form drawing, geometry, and festival life.
So, how do you know which one is best for you and your child?
First, it’s important to note that we do not offer a full curriculum for a specific grade, or as it is sometimes called, a “boxed curriculum”.
We offer courses in an à la carte fashion, meaning they are stand alone courses that focus on a certain subject or skill.
What does that mean for you?
A landscape drawing using block crayons.
It means you can use our courses to supplement and enhance your homeschool curriculum, and essentially plug-in our offerings where you feel they will serve your family the best!
A quick pep talk: just because you’ve chosen to homeschool, does not mean you have to do everything yourself! Really, you don’t! Take the time to identify your strengths and challenges, and find support where you need help.
One way to do this is with our courses.
So, which course should you start with?
Here are a few questions consider:
Are you looking for a grade-specific course, or something more general and designed for a wide range of ages? Do you plan to have children of various ages work together with one course?
Is your child in the lower, or the upper grades (grades 1-4, or grades 5-8 and beyond?)
As the adult educator, are you hoping to have your child working independently with the lessons, or are you hoping to take the course on your own and then present the material to your child? Maybe you envision working in tandem with your child through the lessons?
Are you hoping to begin the course right away? (All but one of our courses are open for enrollment year-round; our Weekly Art Foundations course has two enrollment windows a year- click here to join our newsletter and receive more info!)
Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, check out the chart below. You’ll find courses that overlap in various categories, and others that are more specific to a grade or age.
Where would you like the most support?
Click here or on the chart below to explore!
For all of our courses, you can expect:
Lifetime access (this means you can circle back to the lessons anytime - with younger children as they age up too!)
Instructor support
Detailed supply lists
Pedagogical and practical support ideas
Original courses inspired by Waldorf curriculum created by experienced, master teachers and home educators
Once you’ve identified where you’d like the most support, take some time to check out our Free Sample Lessons.
Each free lesson is pulled directly from the course itself- there is no better way to get an idea of the instructor’s style, a lesson’s pace, and overall, how our courses work!
There are a lot of options to choose from- if you’d like some help making the right choice, send us a message - we’re happy to help!
Enjoy, and we can’t wait to see what you choose!
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!
Waldorfish Homeschool Courses: Four Steps To Creating The Ideal Schedule for Your Child
Welcome! You’ve purchased a Waldorfish course, and now you’re ready to bring the curriculum into your student’s world.
You may be asking yourself “How do I fit these courses into our schedule? How often should they do the lessons, how much time will they take, what will work best for us?”
The good news is that whatever plan you decide to run with, you can always change your mind, adjust, and keep exploring what works best!
There is no wrong way to schedule our courses - it’s all about what works best for your family.
Our courses are designed to be flexible.
Nearly all of our programs deliver the full course and all the lessons at once, meaning you have all the material at your fingertips- no waiting for new lessons to be released. You can jump right into your planning and scheduling.
Lessons can be done each day, one per week, one every other week, or whatever rhythm works best for your family.
Homeschooling courses should work for you and your child’s schedule- not the other way around!
But how to decide what schedule is best?
We encourage you to observe how your child typically responds to their daily and weekly rhythm, and consider these four things:
Finding the right rhythm:
When starting something new, does your child jump right in and want to fully immerse themselves in the subject? Or do they prefer to ease in, and take their time bringing the new lessons into their rhythm? Your answer here will help you decide how to schedule things. Once a day, once a week, or somewhere in between? No matter what you decide, keep it consistent, and keep it on the calendar. (If it’s not on your calendar, it’s much less likely to get done!
How much support will your child need?
Take into account the material: Is this material in your child’s “wheelhouse,” something they generally enjoy, or is it something that they find more challenging? How involved will you need to be to make the most of the lessons?
What amount of prep time is required?
Consider the course at hand: what are the supplies needed? Is the student working with the lessons independently, or are you presenting the information to them? Make your prep time a part of the lesson- remember: preparation is key to a smooth lesson!
What works for you?
And don't forget about YOU! What feels doable to you? While the lessons are designed to be watched by the student, some children need more support from their adults than others. Is your child one to self-direct and able to do the lessons on their own (mostly)? Or, do they need you more on hand in a supportive role? If the latter feels more true, don't forget to take your own schedule and needs into consideration as well!
The outdoors are a wonderful place to learn and grow together!
You’ve got this.
With some experimentation, flexibility, and planning, we’re confident you’ll find the best way to incorporate our courses into your homeschool schedule!
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!
Looking for something?
Welcome to Waldorfish! We started this adventure in 2012 out of a desire to make Waldorf training more accessible to class teachers in remote locations and to homeschooling families everywhere! Read more, click here.
WE WON! Our Weekly Art courses were voted “best interactive art program.” Learn more about the award, here.
Click here for a full list of schools we work with.
A few of our most popular blog posts:
Who are our courses for?
Starting Waldorf First Grade
4 Things to Know Before Planning Your Homeschool Year
In Praise of Balance: A Healthy Festival Life
Science in Waldorf Middle School: Starting Something New!