Class 3

Quickened physical growth takes place during this transition period in which the age of dream is passing and a new age is beginning to dawn. The child’s relation to the world around him changes. The child begins to feel separate from the world he seeks knowledge of and his studies will now have a more realistic, practical character.

In this transition to realism, Social Studies is introduced into the Main Lesson. The children learn how the kingdoms of nature mutually support and complete one another and visit a farm for concrete experience of the dependence of man on plans and animals. They study shelter and house building, contrasting their home with those of other times, peoples and climates. All teaching is done through the teacher’s spoken word and direct experience from excursions, thus keeping the learning warm and human.

Arithmetic becomes practical, applied to “real life situations”, such as measuring, cooking and money. Rhythmic reciting and stepping of tables continues with added mental gymnastics.

Stories and poems of the Old Testament dealing largely with real persons and happenings whose drama parallel the 8 year old’s own experience are the children’s’ first introduction to History. Their own illustrated book soon emerges from the Old Testament drama with stories retold in the children’s’ own words. Grammar studies continue. Spelling receives much attention. Painting, Drawing, Modelling continue in connection with all Main Lessons. In Music, they begin to learn notation. Simple Sewing is introduced and useful articles are crocheted and knitted.

Unifying the first three years of education is the child’s need for living pictures, requiring the teacher to become an artist at knowledge. Stories are the teacher’s chief means of making learning live.