Class 5

The Fifth Grader has enhanced his recent gains in consciousness and grown more accustomed to being an isolated self, seeing the world in a new perspective. Yet, like the Third Grader, he is about to leave another phase of childhood behind him and to cross a new threshold of experience. The curriculum continues to build on established foundations and introduces new elements to prepare him for his next step forward.

History had until now only a pictorial and personal nature and no attempt was made to introduce exact temporal concepts or to proceed in strict sequences. Now, History becomes a special Main Lesson subject, as does Geography. History, telling of man’s deeds and strivings, stirs the child to a more intense experience of his own humanness. Geography does exactly the opposite; it leads him away from himself out into ever-wider spaces from the familiar to the unfamiliar. History brings the child to himself; Geography brings the child into the world.

Ancient History starts with the childhood of civilized humanity in ancient India, where men were dreamers. The ancient Persian culture that followed the Indian felt the impulse to transform the earth, till the soil, domesticate the animals while helping the sun god conquer the spirit of darkness. The next great cultures were those of the Chaldeans, the Hebrews, the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Egyptians. Next comes the civilization of the Greeks, with whom Ancient History ends. Every means is used to give the children a vivid impression of these four ancient cultures. They read translations of poetry, study hieroglyphic symbols of the Egyptians, sample arts and crafts of the various ancient peoples, trying their hands at similar creations. History is an education of the children's feelings rather than of their memory for facts and figures, for it requires inner mobility to enter sympathetically into these ancient states of being so different from our own.

Geography emphasizes human contact as Canadian Geography is studied. Every consideration of the earth’s physical features is linked with a study of the way human life has impacted the region; the human uses of natural resources, industry and produce.

Continuing their study of the living earth, Fifth Graders begin a study of Botany, the plant world. After discovering some of the secrets of the plant life found in his own environment, the child’s attention is drawn to vegetation in other parts of the world.

Fractions and Decimals continue.

Regular Choral Singing is practiced and the C-Recorder flute is played. Woodworking begins with carving, and Knitting now uses four needles. Eurythmy, Foreign Languages and Physical Education also continue.