Socrates
10:00am – 3:00pm Fridays
Socrates / Ages 11 - 13
Scroll down to view more detailed class descriptions for our 11-12 age group.
Main Lesson Teacher: Greg Hernandez
Students join us on Fridays from 10:00am to 3:00pm for a Waldorf-inspired schedule that includes: Main Lesson, Gardening, Lunch, Yoga/Mindfulness, Intro to Entertainment Media, and Theater.
Middle school students begin to face themselves and the world, and this can lead to some discomfort: the world does not look the same as it did when they were younger. Every aspect of learning in a Waldorf school middle school curriculum is designed to stretch students to explore a topic through several avenues, and increasing the depth of learning rather than just a surface approach or memorizing. Students’ awakening intellects are ready for critical and objective thinking, knowledge of cause and effect, and more refined observation.
MAIN LESSON- The main lesson is a deep dive into a subject for a period of time. Important skills will be incorporated, such as writing and composition, grammar, literature, the arts, math, vocabulary, spelling, and more. Example topics include: Creative Writing (Poetry/Penny Stories/Short Stories), Western Philosophy, and Eastern Philosophy. This class will include engaging projects and activities to reinforce each topic.
Outdoor and Recess Times- These activities will be incorporated into the day so that students have a natural balance of active play time and time to quietly focus.
GARDENING- Gardening will not only provide students with practical, hands-on experiences that immerse students in the world of food, nature, and community, but also will serve as a powerful tool for addressing pressing issues such as climate change, public health, and social inequality. Beyond the educational value, gardening instills invaluable life lessons and offers a joyful experience for kids of all ages.
YOGA/MINDFULNESS- This class begins with an alignment-based yoga practice to build strength, mobility, and body awareness. We then take those physical skills to our mental and emotional lives. We learn skills to help us regulate emotions, navigate fear, increase self-compassion and self-confidence, and strengthen our relationships.
INTRO TO ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA- Students will explore the inner workings a variety of entertainment-related topics, such as broadcasting, photography, podcast creation, media etiquette, and more.
THEATER- In this theater course, students will be encouraged to embrace their inner performer with optimal performance opportunities, improv games, and theater history. Students will also learn what goes into the behind the scenes process of being in a performance. Students will gain confidence, as well as social and communication skills while working as a group or independently.
WALDORF FESTIVALS
Our students spend time preparing for Waldorf festivals and holidays. These are special times to learn about and celebrate. This will be a time for storytelling, art, crafting, literature, poetry, song, and excitement. Examples of festivals or seasonal days include Martinmas, Michaelmas, Christmas, Candlemas, St. Nicholas Day, May Day, and more. We will work on crafts and art projects to further enhance your family celebrations at home. We will not focus on the religious aspects at school, but encourage you to do so at home or make it your own in however works best for your family. These special festivals are integral to the rhythm of life and passing of the seasons. In celebrating seasonal holidays, the goal is to develop in the child (and adult) a sense of the rhythm of the seasons and the passage of time, and a sense that there is something bigger than himself.
“The original idea of any sacred festival is to make the human being look upward from his dependence on earthly things to those things that transcend the Earth.” – Rudolf Steiner
Even more than that, though, we take these moments as opportunities to show gratitude both for the time we’ve been granted together, and anticipation of the gifts of time that lies ahead.
Waldorf Answers explains our focus on festivals further:
“Seasonal festivals serve to connect humanity with the rhythms of nature and of the cosmos. The festivals originated in ancient cultures, yet have been adapted over time. To join the seasonal moods of the year, in a festive way, benefits the inner life of the soul. Celebrating is an art. There is joy in the anticipation, the preparation, the celebration itself, and the memories.”