UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND PRIMARY EDUCATION

COURSE CODE: PES 202

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO NURSERY AND PRIMARY

EDUCATION CURRICULUM
 GROUP 5

TOPIC

WALDORF CURRICULUM MODEL

GROUP MEMBERS
1. 21/25OY045
2. 21/25OY046
3. 21/25OY047
4. 21/25OY048
5. 21/25OY049
6. 21/25OY050
7. 21/25OY051
8. 21/25OY052
9. 21/25OY053
10. 21/25OY054
11. 21/25OY055
Lecturer In Charge: DR. Mrs. Adedigba Bukola
 Introduction of The Person That Develop Waldorf Curriculum Model and
His View Believe and Idea About Children

Waldorf education is a worldwide independent school movement developed in Europe nearly

100 years ago by Austrian philosopher, social reformer, and visionary, Rudolf Steiner who was born
in 1861 in Austria-Hungary. He developed his spiritual movement known as Anthroposophy.

He belief that children should be nurtured and educated as whole individuals. The curriculum
is designed to nurture their intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimension. He belief
children should exposure to real-life experiences, such as cooking, cleaning, sewing and gardening,
contributed to a sense of well-being and security. He proposed there were no essential limits to human
knowledge, and that educating a learner will and feelings is just as important as intellectual
advancement

He was a strong advocate of play-based learning, which involves using toys and games to
help children learn and develop skills. He believes that children’s education should be based on the
developmental stages of childhood with each stage corresponding to different learning needs and
abilities. He emphasizes on the importance of a child’s relationship with nature believing that children
should spend time outdoors and learn about the natural world.

Goals and objectives of Waldorf curriculum model

1. It aims to inspire life-long learning in all students and to enable them to fully develop their
unique capacities

2. The goals of Waldorf curriculum are to develop its students in mind, body, and soul to become
actively engaged members of society.

3. It aims to provide a holistic education that includes a variety of subjects and experiences,
including music, art, physical education, and foreign languages.

4. It also aim in making emphasize the importance of handwork and practical skills including
woodworking, knitting and gardening.

5. It aims in developing critical thinking and problems solving skills of the children

6. To emphasize the importance of hands-on learning and experiential education

7. To foster a sense of curiosity, wonder and exploration in children.

8. It aims in tailor educational content and methods to suit the cognitive, emotional, and physical
development stages of the child

9. To recognize and supports each child’s unique abilities, interests, and learning styles through
personalized instruction and assessment.

10. To encourage positive social interactions, teamwork, empathy, and conflict resolution skills
among students.
 Content of Waldorf Curriculum Model K
The Waldorf curriculum model, also known as the Steiner curriculum, is a unique educational
approach developed by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education. Waldorf elementary schools
(age 7-14) emphasize cultivating children’s emotional life and imagination. In order that students
connect more deeply with the subject matter, academic instruction is presented through artistic work
that includes story-telling, visual arts, drama, movement, music and crafts.

The key elements of the Waldorf curriculum model include:

1. Holistic Approach: Waldorf education emphasizes the development of the whole child –
intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual. The curriculum is designed to nurture the child's
natural curiosity and encourage a balanced growth.

2. Experiential Learning: Waldorf schools place a strong emphasis on hands-on, experiential

learning. Students engage in a variety of artistic, practical, and creative activities, such as painting,
woodworking, gardening, and drama, in addition to academic subjects.

3. Developmentally Appropriate: The curriculum is tailored to the different stages of child

development. The content and teaching methods are designed to align with the child’s cognitive,
emotional, and physical maturation.

4. Interdisciplinary Approach: Waldorf education integrates various subject areas, encouraging

students to make connections and see the interconnectedness of knowledge. For example, literature,
history, and art may be woven together in a thematic unit.

5. Emphasis on the Arts: The Waldorf curriculum places a strong emphasis on the arts, including
music, painting, drawing, sculpture, and drama. These artistic activities are seen as essential to the
child’s overall development and learning.

6. Narrative-based Instruction: Waldorf teachers often use storytelling, fairy tales, and myths to
engage students and convey important concepts and values.

7. Delayed Academics: Waldorf schools generally introduce formal academic subjects, such as
reading and writing, at a later age compared to traditional educational models, focusing instead on
developing the child’s imagination and practical skills in the early years.

8. Multiage Classrooms: Waldorf schools often have multiage classrooms, where students of
different ages learn together, fostering a sense of community and peer learning.

The Waldorf curriculum aims to nurture the child’s natural curiosity, creativity, and sense of
wonder, while providing a well-rounded education that supports the child’s physical, emotional, and
intellectual development.
 Method Prescribed by Waldorf Curriculum Model for Teaching Children
The Waldorf curriculum model prescribes several distinct teaching methods and approaches for
educating children:

1. Experiential, Hands-on Learning: Waldorf schools emphasize learning through direct experience
and hands-on activities- Students engage in a variety of artistic, practical, and creative projects, such
as painting, woodworking, gardening, and drama- This allows children to actively participate in the
learning process and develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

2. Storytelling and Narrative-Based Instruction: Waldorf teachers frequently use storytelling, fairy
tales, and myths to convey important concepts and value. Narratives are used across the curriculum,
from history and science to language arts. This approach taps into the child’s natural imaginative
capacities and helps them engage more deeply with the material.

3. Rhythmic Instruction: Waldorf education emphasizes the importance of establishing rhythms and
routines in the school day and throughout the school year. This includes things like opening and
closing the day with structured activities, such as songs, verses, or movement exercise. The rhythmic
approach helps provide a sense of security and predictability for students.

4. Multimodal Instruction: Waldorf teachers integrate a variety of learning modalities, including

visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements. This allows children to engage with the material in ways
that best suit their individual learning styles and developmental needs.

5. Holistic, Integrated Approach: The Waldorf curriculum is designed to be interdisciplinary, with

subjects and concepts woven together, rather than taught in isolation. This encourages students to
make connections and see the interconnectedness of knowledge.

6. Developmentally Appropriate Instruction: Waldorf teaching methods are tailored to the different
stages of child development, with content and activities aligned to the child’s cognitive, emotional,
and physical maturation. For example, formal academic subjects like reading and writing are
introduced later in the Waldorf model, with a focus on developing the child’s imagination and
practical skills in the early years.

7. Teacher-Student Relationship: Waldorf education values the close relationship between the teacher
and the students, with the same teacher often staying with a class for multiple years. This allows the
teacher to deeply understand the individual needs and learning styles of each student and provide
personalized support. Overall, the Waldorf teaching methods prioritize experiential learning,
imagination, and the cultivation of the whole child, rather than a narrow focus on academic
performance.

8. Blocks and Main Lessons: Waldorf schools organize the curriculum into 3-4 week “main lesson
blocks” that focus on a single subject in-depth. This allows for more immersive and integrated
learning, as opposed to the typical short daily lessons. During main lesson blocks, the teacher will
lead the class through a sequence of activities, including storytelling, discussions, artistic projects,
and experiments.

9. Artistic Activities: The Waldorf curriculum places a strong emphasis on integrating the arts
throughout the learning process. Students engage in a variety of artistic activities, such as painting,
drawing, sculpting, drama, and music. These artistic experiences are seen as essential for the child’s
overall development and learning.

10. Rhythm and Movement: Waldorf education incorporates rhythmic activities, such as circle games,
eurhythmy (a form of movement-based expression), and structured physical activities. These
movement-based exercises help students develop coordination, concentration, and a sense of
community.

11. Nature-based Learning: Waldorf schools often incorporate nature-based activities and outdoor
learning to cultivate a reverence for the natural world. This can include gardening, nature walks, and
exploration of the local environment. These experiences connect students to the rhythms and cycles
of the natural world.

13. Thematic Approach: Waldorf teachers often use a thematic approach, integrating various subject
areas around a central theme or topic. This helps students make connections and see the
interdisciplinary nature of knowledge. By emphasizing experiential learning, imagination, and the
development of the whole child, the Waldorf teaching methods aim to nurture a lifelong love of
learning and a deeper understanding of the world.

Materials recommended for teaching children

The Waldorf approach emphasizes the use of high-quality, natural materials that encourage
imagination, creativity, and a connection to the natural world. The focus is on providing a simple,
beautiful environment that supports the child's optimal development. Here are materials and resources
recommended by the Waldorf curriculum model for children:

1. Natural Materials: Waldorf schools prioritize the use of natural materials, such as wood, wool,
cotton, beeswax, and clay, for toys, art supplies, and classroom furnishings. These materials are seen
as more conducive to imaginative play and creative expression.

2. Open-Ended Toys: Waldorf encourages the use of simple, open-ended toys that allow for
imaginative and cooperative play, such as wooden blocks, silks, dolls, and natural loose parts. These
types of toys foster creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction.
3. Art Supplies: Waldorf classrooms are typically equipped with a variety of art materials, including
beeswax crayons, watercolor paints, pastels, and natural modeling materials like clay or play dough.
The focus is on process-oriented, open-ended art activities rather than product-based projects.

4. Handwork Materials: Waldorf education places a strong emphasis on practical life skills and
handwork, such as knitting, sewing, and woodworking. Accordingly, classrooms may have various
materials for these activities, like knitting needles, yarn, and woodworking tools.

5. Musical Instruments: Waldorf schools often incorporate music education, and may have a variety
of simple musical instruments, such as recorders, lyres, and percussion instruments.

6. Natural Lighting and Furnishings: Waldorf classrooms typically feature natural lighting, wooden or
natural fiber furniture, and an overall minimalist aesthetic to create a calming, nurturing environment.

7. Seasonal and Outdoor Materials: Waldorf schools may have supplies for outdoor exploration,
gardening, and nature-based activities, such as magnifying glasses, digging tools, and nature journals.
Seasonal decorations and materials related to festivals and celebrations are also common.

8. Story and Picture Books: Waldorf schools often have a robust library of high-quality children's
literature, including fairy tales, folk tales, and beautifully illustrated picture books. These books are
selected to align with the developmental stages and themes being explored in the curriculum.

9. Rhythm and Movement Resources: Waldorf classrooms may have materials to support rhythmic
and movement-based activities, such as scarves, hoops, and beanbags for games and eurhythmy.
Audio recordings of traditional songs, verses, and music may also be utilized.

10. Practical Life Materials: To support the development of practical life skills, Waldorf classrooms
may have child-sized tools and equipment for activities like baking, woodworking, sewing, and
gardening.

11. Sensory Materials: Waldorf education values the development of the senses, so classrooms may
have materials that engage the senses, such as beeswax, essential oils, or various textured surfaces.

12. Specialty Paints and Dyes: Waldorf art activities often utilize specialty paints and dyes, such as
mineral paints, plant-based dyes, and watercolor paints, to align with the natural, organic focus.

The Waldorf approach emphasizes quality, natural materials that foster imagination, sensory
integration, and a connection to the natural world. The focus is on providing a rich, engaging
environment that supports the holistic development of the child.

Waldorf Curriculum View about Assessment of Children

The Waldorf approach to assessment prioritizes the holistic development of the child,
emphasizing observation, documentation, and qualitative feedback over standardized testing and
numerical grading. This aligns with the curriculum's focus on nurturing the whole child and fostering
a love of learning. The Waldorf curriculum model approaches the assessment of children quite
differently than traditional standardized testing models. Here are some key points about how Waldorf
schools assess student learning and development:

1. Emphasis on Observation and Documentation: Waldorf teachers place a strong emphasis on

observing and documenting each child's individual growth and progress over time, rather than relying
solely on test scores or grades. This involves detailed record-keeping, portfolios, and narrative
assessments that capture the child's academic, social, emotional, and physical development.

2. Formative and Narrative Assessments: Waldorf schools use formative assessments throughout the
learning process, providing ongoing feedback to students and guiding instructional decisions. These
assessments often take the form of narrative reports that describe the child's growth, challenges, and
strengths in a holistic manner.

3. Absence of Standardized Testing: Waldorf schools generally do not administer standardized tests,
as they believe these measures do not adequately capture the multifaceted development of the child.

- Instead, Waldorf teachers rely on their in-depth knowledge of each student and their customized
assessment methods.

4. Focus on Intrinsic Motivation: Waldorf education aims to foster intrinsic motivation and a love of
learning, rather than extrinsic motivators like grades or test scores. The assessment process is
designed to support the child's self-discovery and personal growth, rather than to rank or compare
students.

5. Multimodal Demonstration of Learning: Waldorf students are often encouraged to demonstrate

their learning through a variety of mediums, such as artwork, performances, hands-on projects, and
verbal presentations. This allows them to showcase their understanding and abilities in ways that go
beyond traditional paper-and-pencil assessments.

6. Conferences and Student-Led Presentations: Waldorf schools often facilitate regular parent-teacher
conferences and student-led presentations, where the child has an active role in reflecting on their
own learning and growth. These interactions foster a collaborative, supportive environment for
assessment and feedback.

7. Emphasis on Qualitative Feedback: Rather than providing numerical grades, Waldorf teachers offer
qualitative feedback that focuses on the child's strengths, areas for growth, and the overall trajectory
of their development.

Other Uniqueness of Waldorf Curriculum

The Waldorf curriculum model has several unique features that distinguish it from more
traditional educational approaches:
1. Developmental Appropriateness: Waldorf education is designed to align with the distinct
developmental stages of childhood, addressing the intellectual, emotional, and physical needs of
students at each age. The curriculum and teaching methods are tailored to match the child’s evolving
capacities and interests.

2. Integrated, Interdisciplinary Approach: Waldorf classrooms utilize a thematic, cross-curricular

approach, integrating academic subjects with the arts, practical skills, and exploration of the natural
world. This holistic integration aims to foster a deep, contextual understanding of the subject matter.

3. Rhythm and Blocks: Waldorf schools organize the curriculum into extended “main lesson” blocks,
typically 3-4 weeks long, that allow for in-depth exploration of a single subject. This rhythmic
structure supports focused, immersive learning, in contrast to the typical short daily lessons.

4. Emphasis on the Arts: The Waldorf curriculum places a strong emphasis on integrating artistic
activities, such as painting, drawing, music, drama, and handwork, throughout the learning process.
The arts are seen as essential for the child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.

5. Delayed Technology Integration: Waldorf schools tend to delay the introduction of digital
technologies, focusing instead on developing cognitive and creative capacities through more hands-
on, analog activities. The use of technology is gradually introduced as students get older, with an
emphasis on using it as a tool rather than an end in itself.

6. Multiage Classrooms: Waldorf schools often have multiage classrooms, where students of different
ages learn together. This fosters a sense of community, cooperation, and peer learning among the
students.

7. Reverence for the Natural World: Waldorf education emphasizes a deep reverence for the natural
world, incorporating nature-based learning and activities that connect students to the rhythms and
cycles of the environment.

8. Focus on Imagination and Creativity: The Waldorf approach places a strong emphasis on nurturing
the imagination and fostering creative expression, rather than solely focusing on academic skill-
building.

These unique features of the Waldorf curriculum model reflect a holistic, developmental, and
artistically-enriched approach to education that aims to support the flourishing of the whole child.