2024/2025 Class 9 Full Experience Details
Live Zooms in Pacific Time
Main Lesson: Tuesday & Thursday 10 am
Science Block: Monday at 7 am
Math: Tuesday at 12 pm
Guardianship: Thursday 7 am
Four Fold Enrichment: Wednesday 8 am
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Humanities Main Lesson Blocks with Mr. Siepker
Modern History: Children have journeyed through the epochs of time, characterized by myths and legends. They soon arrived at real recorded Historical events. These events have led us to modern times and more practically into the modern age. The focus will be on specific ideals that were at the forefront of certain historical events and the biographies of key figures. We will endeavor to create a space for them to form their own judgments from within their own capabilities. History lessons will lead the children, from passing judgment to forming judgments of their own.
Art History: The powerful subjectivity and emerging critical intelligence of the young adolescent encounter an underlying theme of polarities woven through the Waldorf curriculum for Ninth Grade. The weeks of studies in the realm of Art History will take us on a journey through human history through art while echoing the gesture of the dramatic tension between opposites. As we explore various times of history through changes reflected in art, we will encounter dramatic tension of dualities – light and darkness, Human Being and Nature, pagan and Christian, good and evil, death and resurrection – resonating with the inner search for identity and meaning.
This Main Lesson block is an overview of the primary visual arts, mostly painting, and sculpture, from pre-historic times to the Renaissance.
Students will look at various examples of art through slides, be encouraged to visit local Art Museums to look at their exhibits, explore and discuss some of the online museum exhibits during our live online class sessions, and create their own copies of pieces inspired by various periods we will explore.
In the process, students will create a main lesson book consisting of artwork, written composition texts, diagrams (if applicable), and personal touches that show attention to aesthetic appearance and page design for both, pages of writing as well as the pages of drawing. While following the cultural development through active observation of historical works of art, students will also develop an appreciation for art, aesthetics, and attention to detail.
The Novel: In this main lesson block, we will examine the genre of the novel through the prism of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. This classic was produced during the time when the genre was in its fullest development and creates the opportunity for students to become familiar with the challenges of reading historical writing. We will study various elements of the novel, such as story, plot, and character, as well as aesthetic and thematic development as the novel genre grows and changes over time.
With this understanding, students will workshop excerpts from their own “novel.” This will create an opportunity to apply these specific aspects of fiction to their own work, as well as practicing the use of rich vocabulary, imagery, and other written conventions. Additionally, students will work on both self and peer editing skills to solidify their grasp of correct grammar, spelling, and mechanics.
Finally, we will explore questions of translations, abridgments, and omissions. Noticing these changes and how they depend on the audience and historical period of a publication continues to be relevant in how language is used and influenced in our contemporary world.
Class 9 Play:
"When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning or in rain. When the hurly-burly's done, when the battle's lost and won!"-William Shakespeare's Macbeth
What an amazing opportunity to work with the beautiful words of the Bard! His world is one filled with polarities:good and evil, darkness and light, and this addresses the world of the Class 9 Student. During this block we will focus on Macbeth. This play will be approached in its entirety and viewed as a live experience. We will focus on the very multi dimensional characters and settings within this play, and also focus on the social environment of the era. Students will be challenged to focus on Monologues and Dialogues and master the word and rhythms. The play is filled with beautiful language and symbolism, which we will analyze throughout our Main lesson block.
Guardianship Class with Ms. Daniela and Mr. Siepker
Guardianship Class: Our Guardian teachers will support the full experience students through monthly and seasonal themes of focus and various projects. Students will have support and guidance in developing capacities for managing their time, leading and collaborating as a team, finding opportunities to go out and serve their local communities, asking for help when needed, and so on.
Guardian teachers are inspired by the striving to build a sense of connection and belonging for the group that will help students create ways of both, deepening their High School community and staying accountable to themselves and their teachers in their learning and creative work.
Math with Mr. Starzynski
Math Track: We will begin this course with a review of prealgebra concepts. We will then dive straight into algebra spending a significant portion of the year on solving linear equations using multiple techniques. Along the way, we will review and deepen basic geometry concepts and begin to look at combining geometry and algebra (a.k.a. graphing). Ultimately, the class will build up to solving 2nd-degree equations (quadratics).
During this year, we will also look at several interesting math puzzles.
Permutations, Combinations & Probability Block:
“Probability is the very guide of life.” -Cicero"
The Permutations, Combinations & Probability Main Lesson is an exploration into possibilities and chance. We will learn how to find the number of possible outcomes in an event and then use these outcomes to discover the likelihood of a specific outcome occurring. Along the way, we will learn how probability theory developed during the 17th century and we will look at various applications.
Science Main Lesson Blocks
Physics: Optics with Ms. Jaia- Of all of our senses, our vision connects us with the outside world, giving us knowledge by which we make decisions large and small. During this block, we will explore the somewhat mysterious process of seeing. We will first look at the human eye and brain, before exploring the nature of light. Students will conduct hands-on experiments and be encouraged to explore and make connections in the natural world.
Topics will include:
• The eye and vision, visual centers of the brain
• How light travels, shadows, waves, colors
• Refraction, Snell’s Law, lenses, prisms, Goethe and Newton
Biology- Embryology with Mr. Siepker: This Main Lesson will take us from the very beginnings of human life and the formation of the reproductive cells, to the challenges facing human beings in old age. The emphasis will be on identifying different processes involved in human growth and development and how these continue throughout life. We will use various artistic means to explore the characteristics of these processes, to enable us to come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of them. Some aspects that will be covered will include:
- The Edocrine system
- Structure of the cell
- Male and female reproductive organs
- Conception of the embryo
- Phases of Embryonic development
- Phases of child development
- Phases of adult development
Earth Science- Gardening with Ms. Daniela: Themes of this block: Agriculture and Gardening, Geomorphology, Geology, Climatology
One inner aspect of the high school student experiences is the expansion of the power of individual judgement which stirs within a desire for knowledge and the first steps on the search for one’s future. Through this main lesson block, we will strive to begin forming an understanding of the qualitative richness and order of the kingdoms of nature while also studying the dynamic life of Earth. Human, deeply held, need to live in harmony with nature will be explored through practical experiences in the realm of forests as well as agricultural and gardening practices. Lessons will guide students through practical and imaginative explorations of the main themes of this block. In the process, students will refine their observation skills in a controlled manner and employ their imaginative abilities while being challenged to imagine the processes and the ways in which they affect Earth and life on Earth.
Enrichment is incorporated in your full class experience!
Meet your Four Fold Enrichment teachers!
Handwork With Ms. Maggie
The main focus of handwork in Class 9 is the ancient craft of basketry. We will begin by exploring the history of basketry and how baskets have been essential since the beginning of human civilization. Students will learn different coiling and weaving techniques and use materials from nature to create several styles of baskets.
Eurythmy Inspired Movement With Ms. Tiffany
The theme of the ninth grade is “Dynamics, Dionysus, Polar Opposites", and we will explore this by connecting movement and gestures to their most intimate feelings. We work with dramatic soul gestures and specific concentrated exercises. For tone, we will work with intervals, harmonies, and tone gestures, as well as, gravity and levity through raying and streaming. For copper rods we will learn to master and properly execute advanced copper rod exercises and put together a copper rod “piece.”
German with Mr. Dornemann
The aim of the course is to experience the German language, to get used to its sounds, acquire basic vocabulary and speaking skills. It is intended for beginners with no or little previous exposure to the German language. In the recorded part of the lessons there will be listening and speaking activities, poems, songs, stories and tongue twisters. Students will practice speaking by repeating what the teacher presents. In our live sessions we will engage in speaking and conversation as well as call and response. The vocabulary covered will include actions, counting, phrases, cultural references and many words describing aspects of everyday life.
Music with Mr. Mark
In Music Class 9 we use singing games, dancing games, and sing-alongs to create music together. We explore physically the steady beat, how the beat relates to rhythm, and how beat and rhythm relate to melody in a naturally organic progression. The material we use incorporates aspects of the students’ Main Lesson blocks. Emphasis is on creative expression and musical exploration, where everyone participates together in the creation of beautiful music. Rythmic and Melodic Notation are explored in a fun, organic way that relates to the Feeling Life of the music rather than the Intellectual, and we will compose our own songs. We incporporate Intermediate Recorder into our musical explorations (many students have already been playing recorder at this age, and I take that into account as I incorporate complete beginners with those who have some recorder skills, so that we can all progress together). We will also incorporate Beginning/Intermediate Ukelele!
