Fifth Grade

Developmental Profile of an Fifth Grade Child*

This age marks the pivotal point between childhood and puberty and the child attains a certain ease and grace of movement intrinsic to the age. Movement that is coordinated, balanced and harmonious is a key-note of the developmental stage. Cognitively, the children are more able to understand questions and phenomena in a realistic and reasoning manner.

Out of the growing memory powers, a sense for time has developed. Memory allows for looking back and planning for the future and, combined with deepening feeling, for the emergence of conscience and responsibility.

Educational Experience

The children now feel secure enough in their sense of self to begin the exploration of the world in ever-widening circles of time and space. In geography, they study the United States and its neighboring North American nations. In history, they meet the ancient civilizations of India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece through the study of mythology and culture.

Plant life is the focus of science, and decimals are introduced in the mathematical lessons. Instrumental music, singing and artistic studies continue.

History/Social Studies
India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece.
Literature
Greek mythology; biographies of great people, fiction & nonfiction.
English and Grammar
Active and passive, subject and predicate, syntax, writing,
paragraph organization, essays, composition, spelling.
Foreign Language
Simple text, syntax, short descriptions; Greek.
Geography
Geography of the United States.
Sciences
Zoology: lesser known animals; botany.
Mathematics
Decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, reciprocals, ratio & proportion,
Pythagorean theorem, graphs & tables, measurement.
Music
Major and minor scales; strings and winds.
Drawing
Free geometric drawing, dynamic drawing.
Painting
Work from darkness into light.
Handwork
Four needle knitting: socks, mittens, etc.
Woodwork
Carving spoons and bowls.
Modeling
Clay modeling: clay tablets, Greek vases.
Eurythmy
Rod exercises; geometric forms; beat, rhythm, & pitch.
Physical Education
Greek sports: javelin, discus, shot put, long jump, etc.

* The Educational Tasks and Content of the Steiner Waldorf Curriculum, Edited by Martyn Rawson and Tobias Ritcher