During the Main Lesson, subject matters in the Waldorf curriculum are taught in 3–5 week blocks throughout the school year. Blocks allow students to be immersed in a particular topic, approach it from multiple perspectives, and allows them to bring personalization, beauty, joy and relevancy to lessons. The creation of a Main Lesson book is an active, hands-on experience of learning that encourages both intention and creativity.
Our curriculum is based on the Waldorf curriculum and is adapted to suit the needs of students that require a more practice-oriented approach to learning. In addition to Main Lesson instruction, our students receive daily individualized Ability Group instruction in both math and reading.
Early Grades
Language Arts
Introduction to reading through multicultural folk & fairy tales, Introduction to letters and sounds, Form drawing, Handwriting
Math
Arithmetic (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division)
Science
Experience & observation of nature, Nature stories, Cooking, Gardening
History
Ancient legends from around the world
Music
Singing, Music therapy
Movement
Traditional games & Movement Exercises (Take Time & Brain Gym), Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Beeswax modeling, Drawing, Seasonal Crafts
Language Arts
Reading, Animal folklore/fables/legends, Grammar & punctuation, Form drawing, Handwriting
Math
Arithmetic, Multiplication tables, Numerical form, Pattern recognition
Science
Experience & observation of nature, Nature stories, Cooking, Gardening
History
Multicultural legends of heroes & saints, Fables
Music
Singing, Music therapy
Movement
Traditional games & Movement Exercises (Take Time & Brain Gym), Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Beeswax modeling, Drawing, Seasonal Crafts
Language Arts
Reading, Grammar, Form drawing, Handwriting, Cursive letter writing
Math
Arithmetic, Long division, Measurement, Multi-digit multiplication
Science
Experience with nature, Human vocations: house building, farming, gardening, cooking, weaving, etc
History
Multicultural creation stories
Music
C flute, Singing, Music therapy
Movement
Traditional games & Movement Exercises (Take Time & Brain Gym), Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Beeswax modeling, Crocheting, Drawing, Seasonal Crafts
Language Arts
Reading & research, Grammar & spelling, Form drawing, Composition, Letter writing
Math
Fractions, Long division, Freehand geometric drawing
Science
Human & animal studies (Zoology), Gardening
History
Norse legends, Local/state geography, Map-making & history, North American Indigenous legends & cultures
Music
C flute, Singing, Music therapy
Movement
Traditional games & Movement Exercises (Take Time & Brain Gym), Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Clay modeling, Drawing, Papier mâché, Seasonal Crafts
Middle Grades
Language Arts
Reading & research, Grammar & spelling, Form drawing, Composition, Group projects, School play
Math
Decimals & fractions, Freehand geometric drawing, Ration & proportion, Numbers & bases
Science
Botany, Insects, Zoology, Gardening
History
Ancient civilizations: India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Geography of North America, North American Indigenous legends & cultures
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Traditional games & Movement Exercises (Take Time & Brain Gym), Eurhythmy, Pentathlon
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Clay modeling, Cross-stitch, Embroidery, Drawing, Papier mâché, Knitting
Language Arts
Literature & biography, Grammar & spelling, Composition, Group projects, Creative writing: poetry, School play
Math
Pre-algebra, Formal geometric drawing, Business math, Percentage
Science
Mineralogy, Astronomy, Physics: optics, thermodynamics, acoustics, electromagnetics
History
Roma, Medieval & early Islamic history, Geography of South America, Empires of Asia
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Clay modeling, Cross-stitch, Embroidery, Drawing, Papier mâché, Knitting, Hand-sewn dolls
Language Arts
Literature & biography, Grammar & spelling, Creative writing: short story, School play
Math
Basic Algebra, Euclidean geometry, Area & circumference
Science
Human Physiology, Introduction to Chemistry, Physics: mechanics
History
Renaissance & Reformation, Age of Exploration World Geography: cultural & physical
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Clay modeling, Cross-stitch, Embroidery, Drawing, Papier mâché, Knitting, Hand-sewn dolls, Hand-sewn garments
Language Arts
Literature & biography, Speech, Grammar & spelling, Playwriting, Composition, Group projects, School play
Math
Basic Algebra, Euclidean geometry, Platonic solids & volume
Science
Human physiology & anatomy, Chemistry, Physics: aerodynamics, hydraulics, electricity, meteorology
History
U.S. History: American Revolution to present, World geography: political, Geography & cultures of Africa
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Clay modeling, Cross-stitch, Embroidery, Drawing, Papier mâché, Knitting, Hand-sewn garments, Machine sewing
Transition Class
Language Arts
Comedy and tragedy essays, Biography Poetry Creative writing Summarization, School play
Math
Basic Algebra, Practical use of Money: Values, budgeting, management with the Unique Learning System
Science
Geology, Meteorology, Chemistry, Physiology: homeostasis, immunology, reproduction, Physics: electricity, magnetism, sound, light
History
Modern history: late eighteenth century to the present The great inventions
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Weaving, Ceramics, Papermaking, Candlemaking, Woodworking
Language Arts
Literature & novels, Creative writing, Short essays, Poetry, School play
Math
Basic Algebra, Practical use of Money: Values, budgeting, management with the Unique Learning System
Science
The Earth as a whole, Chemistry: metals, chemical reactions, Physiology: embryology organs Physics: mechanics, Earth sciences
History
Ancient history: the earliest Indian, Persian, and Egyptian history up to the decline of the freedom of the Grecian states under Alexander the Great
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Weaving, Ceramics, Papermaking, Candlemaking, Woodworking
Language Arts
Contrast is the theme of the year. Writing: contrast and analysis, Story writing, Dramatic poetry, School play
Math
Basic Algebra, Practical use of Money: Values, budgeting, management with the Unique Learning System
Science
Cartography, World Geography, Chemistry: atomic theory, Comparative Physiology: plants and animals, Physics: electricity, magnetism, Botany: cell structure
History
Roman, medieval, and Renaissance history
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Weaving, Ceramics, Papermaking, Candlemaking, Woodworking
Language Arts
Literature & novels, Essays, Creative writing, Lyric poetry, School play
Math
Basic Algebra, Practical use of Money: Values, budgeting, management with the Unique Learning System
Science
Cartography, World Geography, Biochemistry, Physics: light, Zoology: all realms of nature together
History
Modern and world history survey: looking at history from our present perspective, Look at communism, fascism, the threefold social order, etc.
Music
Pentatonic flute, Music therapy
Movement
Team sports, Social dancing, Curative Exercises, Eurhythmy
Art & Handwork
Watercolor, Weaving, Ceramics, Papermaking, Candlemaking, Woodworking
Form Drawing
Form drawing is unique to the Waldorf curriculum and develops visual, dexterity and handwriting skills, and strengthens eye-hand coordination and the connection between the hand and brain.
Unique Learning System
Taught through the Unique Learning System, a one-of-a-kind program designed specifically to give students with complex learning needs meaningful access to the general education curriculum.
Speech Therapy
Through a partnership with NOLA Public Schools, all Raphael Academy students are eligible to receive speech therapy once or twice a week during the school day in individual or small-group settings.