PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Primary Education – Years One to Seven

 

The Primary School firstly respects the essential nature of childhood and the child's imagination. Our curriculum adopted from the Rudolf Steiner Schools of Australia curriculum “Working with Curriculum in Australian Steiner Schools”, balances the academic achievements, artistic experience and practical skills. In educating the head, heart and hands the curriculum addresses the whole human being, allowing students to experience rather than simply receive information. “With the intellect nature is but understood,” says Rudolf Steiner, “Only by artistic feeling is nature made a living experience.” The curriculum emphasises a love of nature. It also emphasises art as an educative force and values creativity as an integral part of human endeavour.

Our curriculum differs from the State's in that it encourages students to learn independently of exams. It is based on the conviction that schooling does not stop with the passing of exams and that individuals who have learned at school to love learning, will develop the maturity, interest and enthusiasm to direct their own lives in the future. However, our curriculum outcomes are in line with the Queensland Studies Authority outcomes for Literacy and Numeracy and nationally it is recognised that children leaving a Steiner school at Class Seven are at least as academically as advanced as their state school counterparts.

 

Main Lesson

 

Each class begins the school day with the Morning Circle, which usually includes movement, gesture, recitation, singing and counting activities. The Morning Circle Time is very enriching, and strengthens the children for the day’s task.

 

Morning Circle makes up the first part of the Main Lesson, which is an integrated, multi sensory approach to a topic spanning 3 or 4 weeks, designed to deepen, enrich and unify the child’s learning experience. The topic is approached through a variety of means perhaps through stories, painting, recitation, a physical group project, or a game until the children have made some connection to it with every part of themselves. Literacy, numeracy, social studies (including contemporary geography, world history and nature studies) and science objectives are taught as Main Lesson topics. Language and Maths are covered in Main Lesson blocks but are also revised regularly in practice sessions.

 

Eurythmy

 

Eurythmy is an art of movement in which the whole human being, as the bearer of the ability to think, feel and act, becomes the instrument of artistic expression. Each vowel, consonant and nuance of speech, each musical note, chord or interval has an intrinsic gesture and form, which can be revealed through the movement of the limbs. For the developing child, eurythmy helps them achieve an inner strength, through the child being actively involved in artistic movement that is in tune with the natural movement principles surrounding the earth. Through eurythmy, children develop and experience a harmonious relationship with themselves, their peers and their surroundings. These movements of eurythmy give us access to a creative realm that is otherwise reached in moments of inspiration, thereby nourishing our imagination, bringing harmony to our feelings while strengthening our bodies.

 

Indonesion

Children’s understanding and respect for other people’s diverse cultures, values and points of view, is enhanced through the development of a second language. The school’s second language is Indonesian.

Music

 

Music is an integral aspect of our curriculum. Recorder playing, rhythmic activities and singing start the day to help stimulate the child’s imagination before the academic aspects of Main Lesson begin. The music program includes class music with a specialist teacher, strings in classes 3 and 4 as a compulsory study, with further compulsory study in class 5. Classes 3 to 7 are involved in orchestra and ensemble work, which aids in the children’s musical and social development by combining their individual musical talents, while fostering an understanding and an appreciation of the contribution of others. Woodwind and guitar can also be taken as electives for children in Classes 5 to 7. 

Art and Craft

Our approach to artistic activity is designed not to produce artists but rather to develop human beings who can be creative in all walks of life. This is achieved through a range of artistic activities that include: painting, drawing, form drawing, bees wax modelling, sculpture, weaving, knitting, crocheting, sewing and woodwork.

 

Games and Sport

 

Children grow through games, developing many skills that they will call on throughout their lives. It is therefore important that certain games/sports be brought to the child when age appropriate, allowing the child time to play with imagination and enjoyment. Starting with simple circle games, games that we as parents played as children, then slowly building to modified major sports in upper primary. Whatever we play we always play in a way that encourages the child to play with a sense of beauty, truth and strength of character. Children need to be free to play with sport, not playing the sport; free to develop a strong sense of fair play and to develop the idea that how we play together is more important than who wins. When children are free to play in this way they take to games with great delight, inventing their own games and rules formed from the richness of their own imagination.

 

 

Gardening/farming

 

Our school has a firm commitment to understanding and working with our unique environment. All children are involved in regular activities that increase their awareness of environmental and land care issues and the broader communities’ responsibility for its care. This is achieved through working with the seasons and understanding the importance of creating sustainable yet environmentally friendly gardening practices. The children participate in every facet of our school grounds as part of their curriculum.

Class 3 Building Project

 

Each year the children from Class 3 transfer their newly developed classroom skills to a real-life application by undertaking a building project that will be of benefit to the school community. Projects to date include: wood fire pizza oven, bridges over natural water-courses, eating areas and a cubby house for Preschool.

Children’s Library

 

The school has a growing library to support our children’s reading experience. The library is funded through Commonwealth Government Grants, P & F support, various fund-raising events and through generous donations. Library classes are held each week.

Learning Support

 

The Learning Support unit will assess children having difficulties. Our Learning Support unit works closely with the Class teachers and offers extra support to children in class or in the Learning Support room, individually or in a group.

The school also offers Extra Lesson, Painting Therapy and consultations with an Anthroposophical Practitioner.

Upper Primary Sport

Our Extra-curricula Sports program is designed to provide Class 6 and 7 students with the opportunity to experience a broader range of activities than those currently offered in our Sports Curriculum. The students will also become aware of activities and organisations in the local area that offer social and sporting activities after school hours. Where possible, the children will be awarded certificates that will enable them to participate in more advanced courses. Such activities include surfing, sailing, badminton, tennis, water polo and archery.