Curriculum Chart

Bookcase in Raphael Academy classroom

Curriculum Chart

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.

Raphael Academy student does classwork at her desk

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

Raphael Academy student reads at his desk

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 student does classwork

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.