Academic 1-8

Our Lower School students engage in joyful discovery through a curriculum that seamlessly integrates academics and the fine arts with teachers who spend eight full years with their classes. All students participate in an enthusiastic study of two foreign languages, vocal and orchestral music, handwork and woodwork, eurythmy and movement classes. Imagination is cultivated through studies of world legends, mythology and history. Students develop precision in mathematics, geometry, form drawing, and hands-on science.

Lower School Curriculum at a Glance

*Subject*	*1st Grade*	*2nd Grade*	*3rd Grade*	*4th Grade*	*5th Grade*
Language Arts	Writing Reading Drama	Extend Skills	Extend Skills Grammar Letter Writing Drama	Extend Skills Grammar Norse Myths Drama	Extend Skills Greek Mythology Drama
*History* *And* *Culture*	Fairytales	Legends/ Fables	Old Testament Stories	Local / Michigan History and Geography	Ancient Cultures Greek History US Geography
*Foreign* *Languages*	Spanish and German	Spanish and German	Spanish and German	Spanish and German	Spanish and German
*Mathematics*	Add/Subtract Multiply/Divide	Extend Skills Place Value Regrouping	Extend Skills Measurement Time	Advance Skills Fractions	Advance Skills Decimal Functions
*Science*	Nature Studies	Nature Studies	Farming	Zoology	Botany
*Music*	Recorder Singing	Recorder Singing	Violin Recorder Singing	Strings Recorder Singing	Orchestra Recorder Choral Singing
*Fine Arts*	Watercolor Painting Drawing Beeswax Modeling	Watercolor Painting Drawing Beeswax Modeling	Watercolor Painting Drawing	Watercolor Painting Drawing Clay Modeling	Watercolor Painting Drawing Clay Modeling
*Handwork*	Knitting	Knitting	Crocheting	Embroidery	Knitting Woodworking
*Eurythmy*	Eurythmy	Eurythmy	Eurythmy	Eurythmy	Eurythmy
*Movement*	Group Games Rythym/Imagination in Movement	Group Games Rythym/Imagination in Movement	Group Games Movement Patterns Team Games Intro	Motor Skills Refined Sports Skills Intro Team-Building Skills	Individual Skills and Intro to Competition leading up to Pentathlon

*Subject*	*6th Grade*	*7th Grade*	*8th Grade*
Language Arts	Biography Drama Expository Writing	Biography Drama Essay Writing	Biography Drama Creative Writing
*History* *And* *Culture*	Ancient Rome Medieval History World Geography	Renaissance History / World Geography	US & Modern History / World Geography
*Foreign* *Languages*	Spanish and German	Spanish and German	Spanish and German
*Mathematics*	Pre-Algebra Geometry Business Math	Algebra Geometry	Algebra Geometry
*Science*	Geology Physics Astronomy	Chemistry Physics Astronomy Physiology Health/Nutrition	Chemistry Physics Astronomy Mechanics
*Music*	Orchestra Recorder Choral Singing	Orchestra Recorder Choral Singing	Orchestra Recorder Choral Singing
*Fine Arts*	Watercolor Painting Drawing Clay Modeling Set Design	Watercolor Painting Drawing / Printmaking Clay Modeling Set Design	Watercolor / Oil Painting Drawing Clay Modeling Set Design
*Handwork*	Sewing Woodworking	Hand Sewing Woodworking	Machine Sewing Woodworking
*Eurythmy*	Eurythmy	Eurythmy	Eurythmy
*Movement*	Group Games with refinement of Game Rule Development	Group Games Movement Precision Core Strengthening	Group Games Core Strengthening Team-Building Skills