The Waldorf curriculum includes all the standard academic subjects–English, math, history, and science–and also various arts and handcrafts. Each child in a Waldorf school learns to sing, play a musical instrument, draw, paint, model clay, work with wood, knit, sew, recite poetry, and act in a play. The development of social skills, of moral awareness, and awareness of the earth is also an important part of life in a Waldorf school. Under 7s: Learning is based on imitation; the imagination is nourished by the use of simple natural materials and playthings, creative play, no premature intellectual development. There is no 'teaching' at this stage, but the children's capacities are enhanced by listening to stories, painting and making crafts, singing and celebrating seasonal festivals.
7 - 14: An artistic, imaginative approach is taken to all lessons - thrilling tales of adventure in history, true hands-on learning, children creating artistic representations of what they learn. First Graders are introduced to academic work gradually, and always with activity preceding 'head work'. For instance, the children learn to write first, copying letters and, later on, words into Main Lesson books. Reading follows writing and it is the children's own writing which serves as their text.
14 and up: The focus is on rigorous intellectual content (but never neglecting the artistic). Lessons are taught by specialist subject teachers.
