Special Subjects Fifth Grade

Eurythmy

In grade five we continue to deepen the elements of grammar through choreograpies and sound gestures. We experience the spoken word in beauty and rhythm. The five star geometries are introduced, as well as other geometrical choreographies and difficult lemniscates that develop space orientation. In connection with the history block, we use as content the ancient cultures of India, Persia, Egypt and Greece. In tone eurythmy we work on melody and harmony at the same time. Concentration exercises continue and grow more complicated, as do the agility exercises that develop fine motor skills.

Movement – Blood

The fifth grade curriculum works strongly to bring movement out of “pictures” and into the world. The theme of blood, which Rudolf Steiner describes as “encapsulated spirit”, is appropriate for this age. Bringing the classic Greek pentathlon activities of running, long jump, wrestling, javelin and discus encourages both a physical and spiritual connection in the children - the theme of balance that causes fifth grade to be called the “golden year”. The Light Beat Rhythm is the year’s Bothmer exercise and marks the relationship of balance between levity and gravity. The children work with the discus and javelin to enhance their throwing skills.

More team games lead to American football, basketball, volleyball and softball. Students continue to work on circus arts, and the handstand is introduced in gymnastics. At the end of the year, the class attends the regional Classic Greek Pentathlon, where they experience a sense of reverence and appreciation for beauty, grace and style in all events.

Handwork

In fifth grade we begin the year by learning to sew a gusset and make blanket and French knot stitches, as we create lovely doves and cardinals just in time for holiday gifts. The next two projects teach techniques needed in sixth grade, when we knit a pair of wool socks. First we knit a new recorder case in the round, using four double-pointed needles. Then we do the short-row shaping ball, which requires reading and closely following the pattern and teaches the technique for making the heel of the sock.

Gardening

Fifth grade gardening classes emphasize the main lesson botany studies. Gardening tasks and projects offer practical life examples of the various characteristics, structures and cultural requirements of plants and the opportunity to discover and apply this knowledge through work done in the garden. We also hike to the San Antonio Open Space Preserve to discover and observe variations in morphology and habitat within the plant kingdom.

The students learn to observe plants closely and to compare their observations from season to season. This practice in the careful, objective observation of how things are formed and how they evolve is a basic principle of Goethean scientific thinking. Such observations include following the transformation of a seed into a plant or a flower into fruit.

Each child receives a bound gardening journal, which he/she will use in gardening class through the eighth grade. One of the year’s journaling projects is to sketch a tree that grows on campus, with details of its bud, leaf and fruit in each of the four seasons. During their hikes, students also observe and sketch a representative from each of the divisions within the plant kingdom. They document in their journals such class projects as making herbal oil extracts and using them for a salve, and making herb vinegar, herb salts and a dream pillow. The dream pillows are printed using the pigments in flowers and leaves and are filled with herbs that are reputed to enhance restfulness and dreaming.

Each child does a plant study on one herb from the ancient Greek garden behind the classroom. We also make paper from papyrus and from recycled paper pulp and make ink as well.

Music

The year begins with a study of the music of India and continues to match the history and geography curriculum (for example, Greek folk music, song and dance). Musical terminology is introduced through the world and language of Ancient Greece. We carol round the community with violins and vocal harmony, and sing, dance and play music from around the United States. We begin to improvise and compose using pentatonic scales.
Theory includes interval recognition, major scales and identifying simple keys, note writing and reading. Typical field trips are to San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Symphony.

Violin (cello and guitar)

Fifth grade brings continued progress on the violin, viola or cello and with ensemble playing and music reading. By the end of the year, with consistent practice, we are able to play Amazing Grace, Bonnie Bluebells, Branch of May, Finlandia, French Folk Song, Mari’s Wedding, the New World Symphony and Sacha. Some children also learn Egan’s Polka, Moon and Seven Stars, October, Riding on a Load of Hay, Road to Lisdoonvarna, The Wild One and Willafjord.

We continue to make musical contributions to the school, playing for a number of other classes at holiday times, for two dances, for the Rose Kindergarten Mother’s Day celebration and for May Day.

Spanish

Reading acquires great importance in grade five, as does conversation and role-playing. The students deepen their study of grammar and syntax. The emphasis is on verbs, indicative mood of the present tense in its three conjugations, present tense of irregular verbs and reflexive. Students receive a new notebook in which they neatly write poems, stories and dialogues that are beautifully illustrated with pictures. They review and deepen material from the previous year and also begin the study of pre-Columbian cultures.

The Spanish lesson continues to have a three-part rhythmical organization - the opening verse, riddle and song, followed by the longer portion of concentration, listening and interaction, plus work in the Spanish book, and ending with a concert. A volunteer plays a piece of music previously rehearsed on his/her personal instrument while the class sings in Spanish.