1st Grade
Ages 6-7 | Full Year Curriculum
First grade is the year of fairy tales! Through classic stories, children learn to read fluently, write in sentences, and master math facts to 20. The Waldorf approach uses storytelling as the primary teaching method, making learning magical and memorable.
📚 1st Grade Resources
Everything you need to get started and stay organized throughout the year:
📅 School Year at a Glance
Schedule
- • Start: First Monday of August
- • End: Last Friday of May
- • Days: Monday – Thursday
- • Fridays: Field trips & enrichment
Daily Rhythm
- • Hearth Circle (15-20 min)
- • Main Lesson block (60-90 min)
- • Practice/Skills time (30-45 min)
- • Story time & handwork
✨ First Grade Focus: Fairy Tales
In Waldorf education, first grade is the year of fairy tales. These stories speak to children's developmental stage—the world is still magical, good triumphs over evil, and transformation is possible. Through fairy tales, we teach:
- • Reading: Letters emerge from story pictures; words from letters
- • Writing: Children write their own fairy tale sentences
- • Math: Number stories with characters (4 dwarves + 3 more = ?)
- • Values: Courage, kindness, perseverance, honesty
Units by Sabbat
Lammas/Lughnasadh: Harvest Stories & Beginnings
Aug 4 – Sept 5
We begin with fairy tales about work and reward, learning to read and write as we harvest summer's gifts.
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web
Mabon: Fairy Tales & Balance
Sept 8 – Oct 17
Classic fairy tales teach us about choices and consequences as day and night find balance.
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web
Samhain: Stories of Transformation
Oct 20 – Nov 21
Tales of change and magic as we honor ancestors and learn that endings lead to beginnings.
2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion
Yule: Light in Darkness
Nov 24 – Jan 9
Stories of hope and generosity warm us through the darkest days as we master reading basics.
1st Principle: Inherent worth and dignity
Imbolc: Brigid's Gifts
Jan 12 – Feb 27
Poetry, healing, and craft inspire us as we strengthen reading fluency and begin cursive.
3rd Principle: Acceptance and spiritual growth
Ostara: New Life Stories
Mar 2 – Apr 10
Tales of spring, eggs, and renewal as we read independently and explore addition/subtraction.
4th Principle: Free and responsible search for truth
Beltane: Community Tales
Apr 13 – May 29
Stories of friendship and cooperation celebrate our growth as confident readers and learners.
5th Principle: Right of conscience and democratic process
Litha: Summer Adventures
June – July
Reading adventures and nature exploration keep skills sharp through the sunny months.
6th Principle: Goal of world community
Subjects Covered
📖 Language Arts
- • Phonics mastery (all letter sounds)
- • Reading fluency (CVC → blends → digraphs)
- • Sentence writing with capitals and periods
- • Cursive introduction (second half of year)
- • Spelling patterns and sight words
🔢 Math
- • Numbers 1-100 (counting, reading, writing)
- • Addition facts to 20
- • Subtraction facts to 20
- • Place value (tens and ones)
- • Time (hours) and money (coins)
🌿 Science & Nature
- • Seasonal observations and nature journaling
- • Weather patterns and tracking
- • Animal homes and habitats
- • Plant life cycles (hands-on gardening)
- • Five senses exploration
🎨 Arts & Handwork
- • Watercolor painting (wet-on-wet)
- • Beeswax modeling
- • Finger knitting → beginning knitting
- • Form drawing (straight and curved lines)
- • Seasonal crafts for each Sabbat