(age 8 – 9)
The child of eight still lives in a vivid world of pictorial imagination, but with an alertness and keenness for challenge and adventure. The lengthening of the limbs continues, and the child is more dexterous and confident physically.
By Class 2, children have greatly extended their periods of concentration and are now capable of remembering greater amounts and in sequential order. They are capable of developing their own images and so rise from perception to concepts. Now is the time for extending the amounts of writing and reading and more complex mathematical work. The intellect is further awakened, through an artistic approach that builds on the love of pictures, colour and music.
The mood of wholeness is breaking down, individual differences are becoming more apparent, both academically and socially.
Needs of this age:
Security & Support:
for their emerging individuality, which sometimes brings mood swings and strains social relationships.
Challenges:
for their emerging intellect, brought to them through pictures and their feeling life.
Steiner Curriculum themes and methods to meet the needs of this age:
Stories reflecting a stronger connection with the world Whereas in Class 1, stories reflected the wholeness of the human, animal and natural worlds and the heavens, in Class 2 the stories are chosen to reflect a differentiation between these kingdoms.
Fairy stories gradually give way to myths and legends, particularly of the Celtic culture.
Animal legends, particularly Aboriginal Australian Dreamtime stories.
Animal fables, showing individual differences and characteristics; some characters manifest one-sided aspects of moral qualities, others show goodness and balance.
Stories of individual courage and idealism
Stories showing the ennoblement of moral, emotional, and personality characteristics.
The Saints and holy people of a variety of cultures - showing the human being reaching beyond personal qualities for the spiritual. These stories show goodness and courage, and often a relationship between the human and animal worlds- eg St Francis and the birds.
Stories of physical challenge and striving, with underlying spiritual metaphors and truths eg the Irish King of Ireland's Son.
Form drawing
Exercises to help develop thinking, without slipping into the intellectual.
Symmetry exercises with an emphasis on axis, mirroring, and above/below.
Four-sided symmetries with rounded forms and their metamorphosis into angular forms.
Main Lessons Class 2
Lower Case Alphabet (if not done in class 1, then first term Class 2 - Continuing work on letter formation and page layout)
Word and Spelling Games
Reading Library
Grammar and Punctuation
Measurement (informal units)
Times Tables
Number and Problem Solving
~ 4 processes and problem solving
~ vertical algorithm (not trading)
~ patterns in number
Space, Patterns and Form Drawing
Animal Fables
Aboriginal Culture and Stories
The Four Kingdoms
Saint Stories (may include Buddhist Stories)
Celtic Stories
Practice & subject lessons relating to these themes:
Games, activities and creative tasks to help social interaction
Artistic work, modelling etc on main lesson themes reinforce the beauty of nature
Teaching styles
The teacher maintains strong leadership and consistency, as the children become more individualistic
Continuation of group activities including singing, verses, games, movement
Work with quality of social interaction and peer support within the class to foster harmonious work and play environment.
