This is the Live-Education 7th grade Waldorf curriculum. It comes with several main lesson blocks: Perspective Drawing, Renaissance Biographies, Creative Writing, The Age of Discovery, Algebra, Physics and European Geography. The curriculum also comes with an introduction to the 7th year as well as recommendations for other main lessons blocks. This year you'll need several new supplies that were not needed before like the material for physics. Some supplies you'll need that you may have already purchased are a compass, fountain pen, main lesson books, color pencils, watercolors, drawing paper, watercolor paper and graph paper.

One of my favorite subjects in the Waldorf curriculum is Geometry. The way it is presented according the Waldorf pedagogy is perfection, just like geometry itself. Geometry is presented in Grade 5 and again in Grade 6 and both main lesson blocks are artistic, informative and observable. Proofs are discovered through working with the geometric form. Geometry is presented in connection with Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Botany, Mineralogy and Astronomy. Geometry is beautifully integrated into the the Grade 5 and Grade 6 main lesson blocks.

We have worked through our Geometry main lesson blocks at least 4 times in the years we have homeschooled and each time it feels new, beautiful and just as wonderful. Some of these lessons are tutorials, others are lessons with my children and yet others are based on the Live Education Waldorf curriculum. In all lessons, you’ll find an artistic representation of the lesson using colored pencils, watercolors or other art mediums. Geometry is meant to be experienced with this beauty and perfection, so have some high quality art materials available so you may enjoy the process and results fully.

Explore the Algebra resources we have used in our homeschool. We reserve the study of Algebra until Grade 9 and occasionally Grade 8. But as algebra calls on a student’s capacity for critical and abstract thinking, it’s best to present it after puberty when the student may fully engage in the learning. Attempting to introduce a simplified and intuitive form of algebra starting in Grade 1 with questions like “what plus 6 equals 10” does a student a deep disservice as a student that age is not using “X” to qualify an unknown nor is she learning to balance an equation. So this line of teaching needs to be undone before actual algebra may be taught.

When I first started sharing our homeschooling journey online, I had already been homeschooling for over 10 years. In that time, I had already done our Geometry block once with my oldest son. Now I was introducing the subject area to my second child but it’s my third child who was only 8 at the time who really loved these geometry lessons as well. I found that because of the artistic nature of these lessons and the slow build of concepts that this presentation of Geometry worked well as a family lesson rather than just for my Grade 5 student. In this way, everyone participated in the Geometry lessons. And everyone enjoyed them!

Circle symmetry is one of the most beautiful geometric projects you can easily do with your students. While some symmetries are more complicated, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-fold are fairly straightforward and can be achieved with moderate effort and skill, in my opinion and experience. Today's project is a tutorial for threefold symmetry. While you can explore this design and come up with creative ways to paint or color in the shapes, it's not my favorite. I like the symmetry starting at 6-fold symmetry. But, I'd love to see what you come up with. Maybe your creative way of painting this design will change my mind. Honestly, the possibilities are endless and that's exciting.

In Grade 5 students are introduced to the beauty and function of geometry with the exploration of shape and how shapes come about in the world around us. Shapes are dynamic even though we see a still shot of quadrilaterals and triangles. In Grade 6 we explore the circle in depth looking at not just 6-division of a circle and its representations in nature and mineralogy, but now we explore 5-division of a circle and the pentagon and the golden ratio. A connection to astronomy and music as well as botany previously illuminates the deep sacredness that geometry of the heavens is astronomy, the geometry of sound is music, the geometry of the mineral kingdom are crystals and the geometry of the plant kingdom is botany.

As we advance in Geometry, we explore the book A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe: Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science by Michael S. Schneider. This book details the quality of numbers 1-10. Instead of making the Platonic solids with templates, we learn to make them through the construction of the regular shapes through their the division of the circle. We also do the same with the Golden Rectangle.

Physics is introduced gradually, beginning in Grade 6 and deepening through Grades 7 and 8, always grounded in direct, sensory experiences before abstract theory. In Grade 6, students explore acoustics, optics, heat, and magnetism through hands-on demonstrations. The focus is on careful observation and describing phenomena in precise, vivid language. In Grade 7, the curriculum introduces mechanics and electricity. Students examine simple machines, levers, and pulleys, observing how force, work, and motion interact. By Grade 8, physics becomes more analytical and quantitative. Topics such as hydraulics, aerodynamics, and electromagnetism are explored.

Chemistry is introduced in Grade 7 and further developed in Grade 8, always beginning with observation and experience before moving into theory. In Grade 7, students explore combustion, acids and bases, and the transformative nature of substances through dramatic, hands-on demonstrations. In Grade 8, chemistry becomes more structured and analytical. Topics such as the lime cycle, photosynthesis, and industrial processes like fermentation and metal refining are explored.

Anatomy is introduced in Grade 7 with a focus on the human being as a harmonious whole, rather than a collection of isolated parts. The approach is both reverent and artistic, emphasizing the wisdom and beauty of the human body. Lessons begin with major systems such as the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems, exploring how each one supports life and interacts with the others.

What's the difference between Waldorf chemistry resources and Unit Study resources? Primarily, it's in the scientific content. You'll find all the science that's been discovered through years and years of science exploration in chemistry and beyond collected and organized in the following resources. What you won't find is the opportunity for your student to make his or her own conclusions based on observations of the phenomenon through chemistry demonstrations. Explore resources for both a chemistry unit study as well as a Waldorf inspired Chemistry main lesson block

For this Chemistry Block, we worked through the Live Education Waldorf curriculum for many of our demonstrations and lessons while including the book Chemistry the Waldorf Way for addition demonstrations. We documented each demonstration and lesson including the written narrations or lab reports.

For this chemistry block, I had to think of projects and hands-on activities that would round out this study and deepen our level of understanding for the subject area. As there were limited kits and books on what I was specifically looking for, I ended up coming up with a few projects similar to ones we’ve done for other blocks.

As there are many sub-topics in our Physics main lesson block and because physics is taught in Grade 6, 7 and 8, I have several resources and videos. However, the majority of the videos are only available for purchase at the moment.

Explore some of the lessons in our physics main lesson block. The majority of these lessons are from the final time we did our Physics main lesson block.

Our Projects & Activities for physics are included here as well as in the Physics Course where I share over 30 video tutorials.

In a Waldorf setting, the Age of Discovery is presented in Grade 7 along with the Age of Exploration, Renaissance Biographies, Reformation Biographies, and European Geography. The Age of Discovery covers the explorers, such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and the Hernan Cortez and Francisco Pizarro (who conquered parts of central and South America)

The Colonial Times along with the American Revolution and Civil War are covered in the US history block for grade 8, while Western Expansion is taught in a local history block in Grade 5. However, I brought this unit to elementary school as a unit study rather than a Waldorf inspired main lesson block. 

Our American Revolution Unit Study was completed a few times with unique projects each time. While some books (especially picture books) may be used again when a unit comes around again, often I collect some fresh books to inspire all of us. This unit was small and was a companion to the Colonial Times unit. Many of the projects may be used with either unit.

Upon entering adolescence, the Grade 8 student has a desire for stronger critical thinking and refined moral capacities. The ability to engage in critical thinking is a milestone marker of puberty. The Civil War provides a rich opportunity for student to discuss, examine conflict, freedom, justice, and human rights. By this age, students can understand social upheaval and national transformation.