The
Chennai
Waldorf School

Awakening new faculties and subjective feelings

By second grade, children have a depth of imagination, interest and focus that is strongly attuned to learning.  They become increasingly aware of their experiences in the larger world and the values and perspectives of others. Their sense of community deepens even as they extend the security of “family” to classmates and mentors. “The children make a great leap from First to Second Grade, perhaps one of the biggest leaps in their school career. Writing, which was virtually an extension of drawing in Grade One, now stands on its own; numbers, whose qualitative aspect was stressed last year, now are recognized as quantities, extending in space and time. And the world of Fairy Tales, although not completely absent, now makes way for the Lives of the Saints/Leaders – biographies of men and women with a historical verity – and fables. If the circle is a picture of First Grade, all whole and unified, each part sustaining the rest, the Second Grade may be seen as two parallel lines. For the child is no longer carried by the dreamy sense of security in all that encircles him, but begins to experience a delicate quality of “apartness”, of “identity”. At this age, criticalness may suddenly appear, along with a tendency to squabble endlessly, or feel persecuted by “everybody”, bereft of friends. The Fables point out the foibles suddenly appearing all over; the Saints’ legends calm, console and reassure”.

A second grade child is like a butterfly who has just emerged from the hard imprisoning chrysalis and sits upon the leaf waiting expectantly for those glorious new wings to dry and strengthen. He is truly poised for flight. Rudolf Steiner has described the seven year life cycles and the importance of the moment when the forces working within the child cast off the baby teeth and construct a smile that gleams with permanence and strength. A second grader has this process well underway. He/She is on the threshold of newly awakening faculties.

 

 

1. FORM DRAWING:

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Symmetrical exercises are developed as well as metamorphosing forms and combinations. When creating symmetrical forms the children find a balance between left and right, the centre being the spine. They learn to seek a balance inwardly. In the first place we work vertically. Always first the experience of the movement, walking, drawing in the air before the forms are done on paper. In the second half of the year, horizontal forms that are mirrored upward or downward, are started. All forms can become more complicated and challenging by now.  Different metamorphosing exercises are done.

 

2. LANGUAGE ARTS:

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Fables reveal human weaknesses and legends exemplify the noblest strengths of humanity.  In second grade children listen to stories of fables and legends and through their imagination, the children arrive at the important life lessons contained within these stories. Second graders practice and expand skills in retelling of these stories and fables in sequence.  The children practice hand writing and are introduced to spelling and punctuation as they write summaries of these stories in their own Main Lesson Book.  By the end of the school year many second graders are ready to begin the process of writing independent compositions.Reading continues as children read from their own work and begin to read a book as a class, each taking a turn.Recitation of poems, rhymes, and tongue twisters continue to build a love for language, phonemic awareness, and clear speech.

 

3. MATHEMATICS:

Arithmetic in second grade begins with a recapitulation of first-grade material including the quality of numbers, basic number relationships and introductory math facts. This includes a full review of the four basic processes: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Material is presented with story, imagination, manipulatives and concretely through movement. The reciprocal nature of addition and subtraction are generally introduced first followed by multiplication and division. This work can move into carrying and borrowing with addition and subtraction. Long multiplication and division may be hinted at but are not formally worked with in this grade. Place value, mental math, and the quality of the times tables through 12 x 12 are introduced.

 

4. TAMIL:

Tamil language has its own beauty and character. Tamil is the ancient classical literature and tradition of the world with an estimated history of more than 3000 years. Many scholars and linguists learn Tamil literature because of its richness and variety. Tamil literature is also a part of curriculum of AKSHAR. In order to attain proficiency in literacy, one must first have a solid foundation of oral language. [1] In other words, children must hear language in order to learn language; orality is the precursor to literacy. Rather than over simplifying language or analyzing it, the emphasis is on keeping the language experience whole and living.  The oral tradition of storytelling like stories from Akbar & Birbal, Thenaliraman, Araneri Kathaigal; reciting Thirukurral and Bharathiyar kavithaigal, and singing songs like Tamil Thai Valthu is integral in the Second Grade Tamil language class. UYIRMEI ELUTHUKAL is introduced through songs, recitation and movement. After gaining mastery in all letters, children learn to read and write words and sentences.

 

5. SANSKRIT:

Sanskrit is the language of Divinity, language of gods. Sanskrit is the container of all that which is Indian. In other words, understanding and appreciation of numerous Indian things whether music, dance, arts, rituals, tradition, religions, values, languages, science etc. will be easy for one who knows Sanskrit. Sanskrit being the mother of all Indian languages and a sister of all the European languages, with its knowledge children are capable of learning most of the current world languages easily. As its name itself explains, it is systematised and perfected. Its alphabets are impeccably arranged. They are easy to remember and help in memorising textual stanzas which explains why the oral tradition of Indian wisdom is so popular and long- standing in the entire world. “A rich experience of orality is an indispensable prelude to literacy.” Grade Two children learn this unique language through slokas, verses, songs and stories.  Oral stories help to develop speech and vocabulary in children as they are introduced to words and phrases that may not hear in everyday language. Besides, formal teaching of reading, writing, and spelling begins in grade two.

 

6. FRENCH:

 

Through learning a foreign language, the child’s thinking becomes more flexible, and his whole horizon is widened. The learning of a foreign language greatly depends on imitative musical abilities. In grade two, we use these imitative abilities to teach language through gesture, mime, songs and poems. Through games, the class learns their numbers, colours, names of clothing, parts of the classroom, parts of the body, the seasons, etc, in French so that such words become a part of their vocabulary. Recitation is done mostly in chorus, but the children are slowly encouraged to speak along, to answer questions about their family, pets, and their house in French. All work is done orally.

 

7. HINDI:

One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way. ‒ Frank Smith It is widely spoken by over 425 million people around the world. India is a growing country. If you learn Hindi, it does not mean you are learning only one language. It will be a head start for you to understand, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Urdu. Every country and its citizens love to learn their own language and take pride therein. By telling thematic stories, singing songs, reciting poems, doing speech work, and playing games in Hindi which are rich in imagery, the students are exposed to the fullness of the language. Children are given ample opportunities to absorb the language and encouraged to develop their communication skill in Hindi.

 

8. NATURE STUDY:

The main goal is to enable the child to directly experience phenomena, to be actively engaged in the environment and to have sense-enriching experiences. Added to this is more gardening and a more conscious awareness of the weather as well as animals and plants in the immediate environment. By visiting the farm, by taking the hikes or nature walks, by being outdoors in the garden at different times of year, children will have a living experience of the changes taking place in nature over time. The fostering of a healthy respectful attitude towards the EARTH in all children is the key part of Nature Study.Nature study continues with nature walks along with poetry, stories, legends and imaginative descriptions of natural processes.

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9. SOCIA STUDIES:

History is very important because it takes us back into the times of kings, princesses, horses, warriors, geniuses, wars, inventions and discoveries. History provides identity, improves our decision making and judgment. History shows us models of good and responsible citizenship. Second graders learn about “Prehistoric Era”, “Early Rulers of South India” and Stories of great freedom fighters and leaders through stories, pictures and discussions. Children visit the local museum and other historical places to widen their knowledge. They learn many patriotic songs and poems in this block. Children begin a study of geography, starting with the forms & motions of the earth, our world, zones, seasons and landforms.

 

10. HEALTH & SAFETY:

Separate schedule is set aside for Health & Safety for it is obviously a very important subject. Topics include:

• Knowing names, address and phone numbers

• Basic hygiene

• Traffic awareness

• Safety around animals

• Stranger danger

• Healthy eating habits

• Respect towards others

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11. SPECIALITY SUBJECTS:

The Waldorf method of education, through the arts, awakens imagination and creative powers, bringing vitality and wholeness to learning. No other educational movement gives such a central role to the arts as does Waldorf education.

 

 VISUAL ARTS:

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• Watercolour painting

• Drawing

• Pottery

• Class play

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 FINE ARTS:

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• Recorder

• Classical dance

• Classical vocal

• Performing arts

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HANDWORK:

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• Felting

• Quilling

• Sewing

• Knitting

• Origami

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 PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

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• ATB (Awareness Through The Body)

• Cooperative games and sports

• Eurythmy

• Yoga

• Pranayama

• Tai-chi

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AKSHAR gives lots of importance to the traditional games of Tamil Nadu and KOLAM is also taught to the kids.