The
Chennai
Waldorf School

Mastery in Middle School and Beyond

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Do you recognize your child? An astronomer, historian, and mathematician. A sculptor, a classical musician, and conversant in another language. Your child can recite Shakespeare, write haiku poetry, and describe the wonders of sacred geometry. The Chennai Waldorf School offers a comprehensive liberal arts education - in middle school. It's an uncompromising, yet unexpected foundation that will serve your child for the rest of their life.

 

Grade 7:

 

A year of exploration, awakening and discovery Seventh-graders experience blooming curiosity. An intense physical and mental

growth has them stretching for experience. They’re yearning for independence but still need guidance and structure. They often feel strongly that they are no longer children, but neither are they fully capable of holding onto their new elusive maturity. Seventh Graders can feel emotionally adrift at times, and usually turn to each other for guidance that will meet and support, while the mentor can become somewhat of an afterthought but it is the curriculum which help them best. As they build bridges using their power of judgment, we dig deeper into history and explore the cultural significance of the Renaissance – a lasting period of change that provided context for centuries to come. Students will study exploration, the invention of printing, humanism, heliocentric astronomy, Joan of Arc and the historical impact of conviction. Seventh graders will learn about their circulatory, digestive, respiration and reproductive systems, alongside hygiene and self-care to understand the responsibility for self and the respect for others. Mechanics is the topic of the seventh-grade physics curriculum, and in geography, the focus is on climate, topography and regional culture of India and the world. Seventh graders also explore the wonder of creative writing as a tool for self- expression and discovery.

 

Language Arts (English Literature & Creative Writing)

Writing is the foundation of virtually every subject that the students study. Work with language arts is woven into all aspects of the main lesson content and bookwork. In Grade 7 the students take their writing skill to the next logical level expanding on past years’ lessons. Advanced focus on proofreading and simple editing are manifested through their work on drafts. Further advancement is made through their writing using elements of idea, style, structure and clarity. Students develop a new appreciation for “good writing” and an interest in the editing process as their capacity to discern stylistic features and mechanical errors grows and as they learn to make corrections and adjustments. Seventh grade lessons in language arts include analyzing compositions.

 

Students strengthen language skills in the creative writing block while still keeping that feeling life involved. The pedagogical aspects of the WISH, WONDER, and SURPRISE block bring consciousness to complex concepts like materialism, continuity of thinking, and can include aspects of social challenges. Daily lesson work is comprised of three general activities: recitation of poetry, stories and literary passages; discussion of the issues related to the literature, interpretation and speculation; and the composing of short stories, poetry and interpretations. In addition to this, the literature is supplemented with visual artistic activities such as drawing and painting illustrations, creating scenes in clay, etc. Some lessons are also devoted to developing effective and descriptive writing: simile and metaphor, active verbs, descriptive adjectives, etc.

 

During class discussion time on literature, students are often asked to reflect on what has been discovered and learned. The focus of these studies is to help the student learn to summarize important sections, explain relevance of certain passages, identify specific literary devices an author uses to involve readers, identify author’s purpose and point of view, formulate and defend opinions about what they have read, as well as to make connections between their own lives and the characters, events, and circumstances represented in various works. The continuation of these conversations also enhances their speech work.

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Mathematics

The study of Mathematics in seventh grade is geared principally at the understanding of the foundation of algebra and the evolution of the equation, and why there are variables. Algebraic topics covered in this block included order of operations, exponents, mathematical properties, equations and ratio. Geometric topics covered a review of area, perimeter and circumference which was covered in 6th grade and lead to the deeper look at volume and area as they reflect three-dimensional structures such a cubes, spheres and cones. The geometric study further reviewed angles, rules that govern angles and lead further into the art of perspective following the parameters laid down in this area by Leonardo da Vinci. During the course of the study, rules surrounding negative and positive numbers are reviewed and incorporated into the rules used in the processes associated with exponents. The layering effect that comes into play here asks the student to remember multiple sets of rules and rather than using each independently, the student must cognize which rule to use as they face more detailed calculations. The basic four processes are constantly put to use and given increased meaning by the introduction of the order of operations and clear definitional use of why the processes work the way they do.

 

Science: Physics, Physiology, Chemistry

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Physics: In Grade 7 the comparative observation based approach takes on a new direction, towards technical applications in life of mechanics. Students work with simple mechanical theories involving the use of levers.

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Physiology: Through all studies the human being remains the centre; the Physiology block allows students to see how the human body works through lessons on the systems of the body. Reproductive, respiratory, circulatory, nerve/ sense, and metabolic systems are the focus. Other areas of exploration can include studies about the eye and ear and hand-eye coordination.

 

Chemistry: In Grade 7 we begin the rudimentary study of chemistry, based on experiments and observations of life and matter. Students are introduced to the four elements (water, fire, air and earth) as related to the early exploration of these subjects in History; combustion and its properties; phosphorus, sulphur and carbon; acids and bases, salts and finally limestone and the lime cycle. Water is looked at in more depth, which includes the processes of evaporation condensation, expansion/contraction, and circulation.

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History

- Age of Exploration: Marco Polo, Columbus, Magellan and others

- The Renaissance period in northern and southern Europe, including notable personalities of the time in politics, art, and science

- The Reformation, including biographies of leading historical figures

- Indian History

 

The history block of the Renaissance and Reformation really begins with a dauntless quest into the unknown, which is also akin to the seventh grader’s soul mood. Allegiance to traditional authority no longer holds sway. Human capacities are limitless, as epitomized by Leonardo Da Vinci. As with the true spirit of the Renaissance, the only boundaries acknowledged are boundaries to be crossed. Here the student realizes the individual cannot only make a difference, but can create a new world if one’s conviction is strong enough. As this historical period was an age of doubt that followed the unquestioning faith of the Middle Ages, so too adolescents need to find things out for themselves. Their doubt and resistance to authority mark a giant step toward self-recreation and individual thinking. Birth in the Renaissance parallels this birth in students’ thinking, feeling and willing.

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Geography

• Geographical regions of the world/contrasts in landscape and climate

• Latitude and longitude, relationship of longitude to time

• Geography of India and the world, physical and political boundaries, capitals, cultures, and livelihood of people World geography, with a focus on oceans and climate, runs parallel to the history units, covering the entire globe. It helps students better understand the theme of exploration from different perspectives: from the explorers venturing into the unknown with courage and strength, to the indigenous people whose land was being explored. Students look at colonization similarly, from the the perspective of the group colonizing and the group being colonized.

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LANGUAGES:​

Tamil – Grammar, Literature

and activities for LSRW

Sanskrit – Pronoun tables in all 3 genders, 2 vowel sandhis, Atmanepadi verbs,

Bhagavadgita, Amarakoshah, Subjashitani and and activities for LSRW

 

 

SPECIALTY SUBJECTS:

Hindi, French, Classical dance, Classical vocal, Performing Arts, Violin, Recorder, Pottery, Woodworking, Painting, Handwork, Origami, Craft and Physical Education are done simultaneously.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

  ATB (Awareness Through The Body)

  Cooperative games and sports

  Gymnastics

  Yoga

  Pranayama

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AKSHAR gives lots of importance to the traditional games of Tamil Nadu and

KOLAM is also taught to the kids. Separate schedule is set aside for Health & Safety

for it is obviously a very important subject.