Grade School Curriculum
Grade 1

The bridge between kindergarten and the grades. The curved and the straight line. Fairy tales and the alphabet. Oneness. Pentatonic flutes, knitting, painting, languages, Eurythmy, beeswax modelling, and play.
Lighting the Head and Heart with Storytelling
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Introduction to the alphabet through pictures, stories and sound symbols
- Form Drawing
- Literacy is strengthened through vocabulary development, poetry and stories
- Writing
- Pictorial and Phonetic Introduction to Letters
- Reading Approached through Writing
- Speech Formation/Dramatics
Mathematics
- Basic facts to 10
- Foundational operations: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication
- Geometric Movement
Natural Sciences
- Nature study
Social Sciences
- Nature stories, fairy tales and ancient legends
Specialty Subjects
- French
- Free-hand Drawing, Wet-on-Wet Watercolour Painting, Beeswax Modelling
- Knitting
- Pentatonic Flute and Singing
- Eurythmy, Games, Rhythmic Movement, Outdoor Activities
- Day trip outing
- Class Play
Grade 2

Awakening to the world of feelings – wonder, pity, joy. Fables and foibles, legends and Saints. Rhythmic counting and multiplication. Form Drawing, grammar, painting, modelling, crochet. Languages, flute, singing, and Eurythmy.
Heroic Tales & Ethical Fables
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Writing (spelling, punctuation, syllables, upper and lower case, writing sentences)
- Reading
- Poetry
- Rhyming
- Speech Formation
Mathematics
- Continuation with the four processes (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication)
- Multiplication Tables
- Geometric Movement
- Place Value (1-1000)
- Carrying/Borrowing
Natural Sciences
- Nature Walks
- Field Trip
Social Sciences
- Fables, Legends, Saints and Animal Stories
Specialty Subjects
- French
- Form Drawing, Watercolour Painting, Drawing, Beeswax Modelling
- Knitting and Purling, Crochet, Sewing, Making Soft Toys
- Pentatonic Flute and Singing
- Eurythmy, Cooperative Games, Rhythmic Movement, Outdoor Activities, Day Hikes
- Day trip
- Class play
Grade 3

The turning point of childhood: the 9-year change. Farming, gardening, baking. The Old Testament, building, form drawing, languages and grammar. Drama, music, singing in-round, Eurythmy, and introduction to the recorder.
A New Outlook Towards the World
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Literacy
- Basic elements of grammar (Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation)
- Cursive writing
- Speech Formation (Noun, Verb, Adjective and Adverb)
- Independent reading
- Comprehension and Sequencing
- Story Writing
Mathematics
- All Four Operations (long division & multi-digit multiplication, add and subtract columns)
- Advanced carrying and borrowing, charts, data collection and problem-solving
- Measurement: distance, capacity, weight & time
- Geometric Movement
Natural Sciences
- Shelter building
- Nature Study
- Gardening
- Farming
- Cooking
Geography & History
- Hebrew language, culture, rituals & history
- Shelters: climate and location in relation to ancient and modern house building techniques
- Grains: nourishment and world cultures
- Study of Practical life
- Pioneer Life
Specialty Subjects
- French
- Watercolour Painting, Form and Freehand Drawing, Beeswax and Plasticine Modelling
- Knitting – three-dimensional project, Sewing, Crochet
- Music literacy through Story, Singing in rounds, Pentatonic flute & beginning diatonic recorder, Notation of rhythm & notes
- Eurythmy, Cooperative Games, Day Hikes
- Farming field trip/overnight
- Class Play based on the curriculum
Grade 4

The 4th grader finds balance in the 4 elements, directions, and seasons. Cross stitch, Celtic knots, fractions, geography, local history, stories from Canada’s Indigenous People, Norse mythology, heroes and the Kalevala. Grammar and composition. The comparative study of humans and animals. Strings, choir, Eurythmy performance, PE and French.
Revealing Strength, Courage & Adventure!
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Writing
- Reading for comprehension
- Spelling
- Grammar and Speech Formation
- Paragraph development
- Dramatization
- Composition and Letter Writing
- Book reports
Mathematics
- Fractions (equivalent fractions, expanding, reducing, greatest common factors and least common multiples)
- Long Division
- Long Multiplication
- Geometric Movement
Natural Sciences
- Study of humans and animals
Geography
- Local Geography
- Map Making (travel routes, home and school)
- The four directions, geographic placement through movement
Social Sciences
- Norse Mythology and Sagas
- Stories from Canada’s Indigenous People
- History of North Vancouver
- Early Settlers
Specialty Subjects
- French (writing, reading and vocabulary)
- Watercolour painting (warm/cool colours), Form drawing, Advanced drawing techniques, Beeswax modelling, Celtic knot illustrations, Modelling animals & local landforms
- Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Felting
- String orchestral instrument, C Flute, Singing (canons and rounds), Choir, Musical notation (sing and play from sheet music)
- Eurythmy, Cooperative Games and Sports, Day Hikes
- Overnight trip to Big House
- Class play based on the curriculum
Grade 5

The Golden Age of childhood! Enhanced consciousness and sense of self as an individual. History and Geography. Ancient India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt & Greece. Study of the living earth, freehand geometry, fractions and decimals. Choir, strings, practical arts, Eurythmy, painting, PE. Greek Pentathlon.
The Golden Year
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Independent Writing
- Reading, Vocabulary and Grammar
- Spelling
- Speech Formation/Dramatics
- Composition/Creative Writing
- Novel Study
- Plays
Mathematics
- Freehand Geometry
- Fractions
- Factoring
- Decimals
- Ratio
- Long Division
- Multiplication
Natural Sciences
- Botany
- Zoology
Earth Sciences
- Canadian Geography
Social Sciences
- Greek Mythology and History
- Ancient Civilizations: Egypt, India, Mesopotamia and Persia
Specialty Subjects
- French (develop memory, language, translative thinking and vocabulary skills)
- Watercolour painting, Form and freehand geometric drawing, Sculptural modelling, Woodwork
- Cross Stitch, Sewing, Four-needle Knitting for mittens and hats
- Strings, Recorder, Singing, Music literacy, Choir
- Cooperative Games, Greek Pentathlon (discus, javelin, wrestling, long jump, and running), Team sports, Eurythmy
- Greek Pentathlon, multi-night overnight trip
- Class Play based on the curriculum
Grade 6

Geometrical Drawing, Natural Science: Astronomy & Mineralogy, Language Arts, Mathematics, Roman History, Physics, European Geography, & Medieval History.
Emphasizing the Concrete World
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Writing: Expository, Descriptive and Narrative Writing, Conditional Sentences
- Reading, Vocabulary and Grammar
- Spelling
- Composition, Report Writing, Editing
- Biographies
- Speech Formation
- Creative Writing
- Literature
- Drama
Mathematics
- Geometric drawing with instruments
- Percents
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Business Math
- Graphs
- Ratio
- Interest
- Discount
Natural Sciences
- Physics: sound, light and colour, heat, magnetism, static electricity
- Botany
Earth Sciences
- Minerals and Geology
- Geocentric Astronomy
- World Geography
Social Sciences
- Roman and Medieval History
- The Crusades
- Medieval Society, Arthurian legends
- Ancient History, Troy
Specialty Subjects
- French
- Watercolour painting, Drawing, Sculptural modelling, Three-dimensional work, Woodwork/Carving
- Pattern-making and Sewing
- Strings, Recorder, Singing, Music literacy, Choir
- Eurythmy, Cooperative Games, Sports, Circus arts
- Caving field trip: Geology and Mineralogy trip
- Class Play based on stories from the history curriculum
Grade 7

Perspective Drawing, Late Medieval History, Mathematics, Grammar, Physiology, Geography & Age of Exploration, Physics, Renaissance History, & Chemistry.
An Age of Exploration & Human Greatness
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Essays, Expository Writing
- Note-taking
- Poetic Structure
- Grammar
- Reading
- Spelling
- Research Skills
- Composition/Creative Writing
- Literature and Drama
Mathematics
- Geometry
- Algebra
- Power
- Square Roots
- Solve computation problems and conceptual word problems
Natural Sciences
- Inorganic Chemistry: lime cycle, salts, acids and bases
- Physics: mechanics and simple machines
- Human Physiology: systems of the body
Earth Sciences
- Geography of Europe and Africa, or the Americas
- Astronomy
Social Sciences
- Renaissance
- Reformation
- Age of Discovery
- Age of Exploration
Specialty Subjects
- French
- Knitting (advanced), Painting, Clay modelling, Perspective drawing, Freehand drawing, Woodwork: carving, objects with moveable parts
- Pattern-making and Sewing
- Strings, Recorder, Singing
- Team sports, Eurythmy, Cooperative Games, Health, Circus arts
- Adventure field trip
- Class play: Typically builds on some aspect of the curriculum
Grade 8

Geometry, History, Mathematics, Human Anatomy, Meteorology, Organic Chemistry, Physics, World Geography & the Grade 8 Project.
Exploring Integration and Interconnectivity
Main Lessons
Language Arts
- Creative Thinking and Critical Reasoning
- Oral Presentation
- Vocabulary Development
- English composition, grammar and spelling
- Reading
- Research Skills and Report Writing
- Poetry and Short Story Analysis and Writing
- Composition/Creative Writing
- Speech Formation/Dramatics
- Advanced Literature
- Short Story
- Shakespeare
Mathematics
- Pre-Algebra, Mechanical/Mathematical Geometry
- Review of solids and measurement
Natural Sciences
- Physics: Hydraulics, Aeromechanics & Electromagnetism
- Chemistry: studying the properties of Sugars, Starches, Proteins, Fats & Oils
- Physiology and Nutrition
Earth Sciences
- Geography: surveys of landforms, oceans, atmosphere, climates and ecosystems
Social Sciences
- American Revolution to the modern-day
- Industrial Revolution to modern history
- French Revolution
- Reformation
Specialty Subjects
- French
- Painting, Clay Modelling, Drawing, Drama
- Machine-sewn garments, Woodworking: building a useful object, like a small table
- Strings, Recorder, Singing
- Sports, Eurythmy, Cooperative Games
- Camping trip
- Grade 8 play production: Shakespeare comedy, musical or operetta, or a well known classic
For more information, contact our Admissions Coordinator
604-985-7435 ext 200
admissions @ vws.ca