Primary School - Classes 1 to 6
Tamar Valley Steiner School offers single stream classes from Class 1 to Class 4, and a composite 5/6 Class.
In the Primary School the curriculum is structured to match the child’s imagination and learning readiness. The teacher fosters a balance between the gaining of knowledge, the development of skills and a healthy creativity of mind and emotion.
Like many other Steiner schools, the Class 1 teacher accompanies the children throughout their primary years, where possible. This ongoing relationship enables the teacher to develop an insight into the needs of each child and better nurture their learning and wellbeing.
The traditional learning sequence within Steiner schools is in three parts :
Main Lesson
The two-hour Main Lesson block focusses on an academic theme such as maths, humanities or science, however the class teacher integrates storytelling, drama, rhythmic movement, visual arts, music, practical activity and formal academic work to progressively explore the central theme, and engage whole-hearted participation.
Each Main Lesson theme usually lasts 3-4 weeks, which allows children to explore issues in depth and from many different angles. The Main Lesson relates to the students’ stage of development and is linked to other subjects, building upon prior knowledge, experience and skills in creative ways that engage students in their learning.
Students create their own Main Lesson books, which will be a reflection of what they have learned presented in words, pictures, charts, and diagrams.
Following on from Main Lesson each day a range of additional subjects may be explored, such as:
Tamar Valley Steiner School offers single stream classes from Class 1 to Class 4, and a composite 5/6 Class.
In the Primary School the curriculum is structured to match the child’s imagination and learning readiness. The teacher fosters a balance between the gaining of knowledge, the development of skills and a healthy creativity of mind and emotion.
Like many other Steiner schools, the Class 1 teacher accompanies the children throughout their primary years, where possible. This ongoing relationship enables the teacher to develop an insight into the needs of each child and better nurture their learning and wellbeing.
The traditional learning sequence within Steiner schools is in three parts :
- Academic learning during the morning Main Lesson;
- A practice or artistic lesson in the middle period of the day, which includes music, languages, art and drama;
- Craft and practical activities in the afternoon which may include handwork, gardening or games.
Main Lesson
The two-hour Main Lesson block focusses on an academic theme such as maths, humanities or science, however the class teacher integrates storytelling, drama, rhythmic movement, visual arts, music, practical activity and formal academic work to progressively explore the central theme, and engage whole-hearted participation.
Each Main Lesson theme usually lasts 3-4 weeks, which allows children to explore issues in depth and from many different angles. The Main Lesson relates to the students’ stage of development and is linked to other subjects, building upon prior knowledge, experience and skills in creative ways that engage students in their learning.
Students create their own Main Lesson books, which will be a reflection of what they have learned presented in words, pictures, charts, and diagrams.
Following on from Main Lesson each day a range of additional subjects may be explored, such as:
- Bush School
- Arts
- Crafts such as modelling, knitting, weaving and woodwork
- Music and Recorder
- Indonesian
- Health and PE
- Geography
- Gardening and Botany
- Cooking
- Drama
- Form drawing
- Eurythmy (a form of movement which is unique to Steiner schools)
“Learning is the key to human development, but it is not a simple, homogenous process. What to learn, when to learn, and how to learn are arrived at through a conscious and careful study of children as well as a comprehensive understanding of the human being through all stages of human development. Teachers strive to help each child eventually to become a clear-thinking, sensitive and well-centred adult.” — Rudolf Steiner
