CURRICULUM
We have partnered with Oak Meadow, based in Putney, Vermont, to create the curriculum for Wildwood Farm & Forest School. Founded in 1975, Oak Meadow provides a flexible, Waldorf-inspired education for independent learners in preschool to grade 12. Oak Meadow’s approach to schooling is compassionate and student-centered because like us, they believe that children are sensitive and intelligent and that learning can be joyfully integrated into life.
Oak Meadow’s curriculum also aligns with rigorous academic standards, and it can be customized to meet students’ interests, skills, and learning styles. It is accredited by New England Association for Schools and Colleges, one of the most esteemed accrediting agencies in the United States.
Pre-K through Grade 8
Because young children learn naturally through imitation and action, our elementary, or preschool through grade 4, curriculum features lots of healthy activity and movement. We provide lessons rich in experiential learning, actively engaging the student’s mind, body, and imagination. Your children will experience a multi-sensory education as they explore letters, numbers, color, song, rhythm, and verse while learning about themselves and the world around them. As students approach adolescence in grades 5 and 6, they experience a growing sense of independence. Our chosen curriculum supports this developmental stage by encouraging students to look inward while also exploring the outer world in greater depth. They are asked to develop skills in critical thinking and creative problem solving, to analyze and synthesize. In this way, students cultivate an ability to think for themselves that will serve them well in high school and beyond.
Pre-K
Preschool is a play-based curriculum that follows the seasons of the year. Stories for each month are combined with songs, poems, games, recipes, and activities that relate to the season or the story’s theme. The activities inspire an understanding of others’ feelings, provide an opportunity for creative problem-solving, and teach young children how to share responsibilities and develop cognitive skills. Throughout the year, there is an expression of loving kindness and appreciation for each individual’s unique gifts, which will help children build their confidence and self-esteem.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten curriculum reflects the openhearted and imaginative way that young children meet the world.
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Uppercase letters A-I
Letter sounds and shapes
Stories, poetry, and songs
Uppercase letter J-R
Letter sounds and shapes
Uppercase letters S-Z
Stories, poetry, and songs
Family history
Letter sounds and shapes
Emotions
Local community
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Nature through the five senses
Falling leaves and special trees
Animals: similarities and differences
Plant growth: seeds and sprouts
Weather: seasonal changes
Stars and constellations
Animal behavior
Pet/animal care
Plant growth
Weather: seasonal activities
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Numbers 1-6
Geometric shapes
Pattern recognition
Opposites
Comparing quantities
Numbers 7-10
Sorting and grouping
Sequencing and counting
Geometric shapes
Comparisons and patterns
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Throughout the year, students engage in a multitude of art and craft activities including crayon drawing, watercolor painting, sewing, baking, nature crafts, collage, crafts from recycled materials, carpentry, model building, and working with clay.
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Over the course of the year, students participate in activities that help develop musical ability, bilateral awareness, rhythm, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. Sample activities include making and playing homemade instruments, reciting poetry, singing and finger plays, dancing, and playing catch and other kinesthetic games.
First Grade
The lively and engaging First Grade curriculum guides students toward solid reading and math skills while encouraging an active, inquisitive mind.
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Upper- and lowercase letters A-Z
Long and short vowels
Fairy tales and poetry
Word families
Printing words
Phonics
Fairy tales
Form drawing
Printing words
Independent reading
Writing out sentences
Consonant blends
Word games
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History
- Classic fairy tales
- Daily and monthly cycles
- Yearly calendar
Geography
- Navigating with a compass
- Mapmaking and reading maps
- Using a globe
Economics
- Goods and services
- Marketplace exchanges
- Saving and spending
Civics
- Rules and playing fair
- Family jobs
- Respect
- Diversity
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Phases of the moon
Constellations
Life cycle of the seed
Cloud formations
Animal observations
Weather and cloud formations
Seasonal animal behavior, tracks, and hibernation
Deciduous and coniferous trees
Diurnal and nocturnal animals
Forms of matter
Pond and forest life
Seed dispersal
Pollination and bees
Planting and charting plant growth
Scientific inquiry
Life cycle of a butterfly
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Four processes
Ordinal numbers
2, 5, 10 times tables
Translating story problems into equations
Missing numbers
Mental math
Counting and sorting
Form drawing
Odd and even
Number bonds
Multistep problems
3 times table
Explaining math processes
Mental math
Relationships between math processes
Equations in vertical format
Cumulative property of addition
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Throughout the year, students engage in a variety of arts and crafts activities. Fine-motor dexterity and focus are developed through learning to knit, which benefits the child’s developing writing skills. Highlights include making a bird feeder and nesting supply box, maintaining a seasonal display, wet paper watercolor painting, nature crafts, and creative sand and water play.
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In addition to singing exercises, students learn how to play instruments like the recorder. Movement activities focus on balance, coordination, directional awareness, and rhythmic movements such as jumping rope.
Second Grade
Second Grade curriculum expands on your child’s natural intelligence and growing confidence as a reader and writer.
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Independent reading
Writing short paragraphs
Consonant blends and word families
Poetry
Fables and other classic stories
Summarizing stories
Descriptive writing
Memorization and recitation
Sight words
Animal stories and fables
Dramatic storytelling
Independent reading
Summarizing stories
Vowel combinations
Vowel/consonant combinations
Creative writing
Comparison writing
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History
- Folklore of Ancient China
- Ancient Mali and Sundiata
- Ancient Celts
- Family customs and traditions
Geography
- Cardinal and ordinal directions
- Map reading and using a globe
- Climate regions
- Continents and oceans
Economics
- Natural, human, and capital resources
- Money and economic transactions
- Scarcity and abundance
Civics
- Kindness and reciprocity
- Honesty and tall tales
- Qualities of good leadership
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Animal observations and research
Charting data
Interdependence in nature
Sorting and classifying
Animal habits and habitats
Vertebrates and invertebrates
Warm- and cold-blooded animals
Food chain
Carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores
Animal behavior and communication
Animal classification
Life of a frog
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Four processes
Vertical and horizontal equations
Missing numbers
Writing numbers in expanded forms
Carrying in addition
Place value
Number patterns
Form drawing
Mental math
Times tables up to 12
Borrowing in subtraction
Greater than/less than
Number bonds up to 20
Multistep problems
Multistep mental math
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Students explore color through watercolor painting and crayon drawings as they illustrate the many stories and poems presented in language arts. They engage in various hands-on activities that help develop fine-motor coordination and focus. Highlights include crocheting a scarf, and working with clay.
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Students continue to develop their instrument skills by learning several new notes and mastering simple songs. Focus on breath control, tonality, and technique help enhance the student’s musical ability.
Third Grade
The challenging and practical tasks of Third Grade’s curriculum encourage new skills and awareness through observation, precision, imagination, and creativity.
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Sentence composition
Paragraph composition
Memorization and recitation
Suffixes
Parts of speech
Punctuation and capitalization
Spelling rules
Folk tales and classic literature
Cursive handwriting
Read aloud with fluency
Syllabication
Poetry and classic literature
Cursive handwriting
Read aloud with fluency
Story summaries
Vowel-consonant combinations
Journaling
Correcting faulty sentences
Parts of speech
Poetry, folk tales, and classic literature
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History
- Ancient cultures
- Ancient writing systems
- Native American creation stories
- American Frontier
Geography
- Latitude and longitude
- Mapping skills
- Continents and oceans
- Ancestry
Economics
- Interdependence of resources
- Traditional jobs
- Specialization and trade
Civics
- Forms of government
- Laws and community rules
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Movements of Earth and moon
Gravity
Decomposition
Photosynthesis
The water cycle
Weather patterns and phenomena
Seasonal changes
Global climate zones
Seasonal weather cycles
Biomes
Earthquakes and volcanoes
Erosion and weathering
Rock cycle
Geology
Extinct and endangered species
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Commutative and associative properties
Borrowing and carrying
Ordinal numbers
Telling time
Weights and measures
Money math
Zeros in multiplication
Form drawing
Geometry
Division with remainders
Roman numerals
Multistep mental math
Temperature measurements
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Students explore color through watercolor painting and crayon drawing as they illustrate the many stories and poems presented in language arts. They engage in various hands-on activities that help develop fine-motor coordination and focus. Highlights include crocheting a scarf, working with clay, and completing crafts
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Students continue to develop their musical skills by learning several new notes and mastering simple songs.
Fourth Grade
The Fourth Grade curriculum reflects the awakening intellect and independence of fourth graders.
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Parts of speech
Journal writing
Paragraphing skills
Revision skills
Sentence variety
Poetry
Memorization and recitation
Dialogue punctuation
Short story writing
Plurals and possessives
Editing and proofreading
Grammar rules
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Topography observation and model
Permanent and migrating animals
Native American research paper
Model of Native American village
State geography and landforms
State symbol, flag, and bird
State history
Colonial America
Mapping skills
Native American leaders
Material culture of pioneers
Model of pioneer settlement
California Gold Rush
The Pony Express
Transcontinental Railroad
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Geometry and patterns in nature
Relationship between form and function
Charting data
Seed dispersal
animal species and breeds
Nutrition
Basic cell structure
Nature observations
Constellations
Moon and gravity
Solar system
Planet research project
Measuring altitude
Longitude and latitude
Cardinal directions and compass navigation
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Carrying and borrowing
Division with remainders
Multistep word problems
Weights and measures
Two-digit multiplication
Roman numerals
Adding and subtracting fractions
Money math
Rounding and estimating
Long division
Mixed numbers and improper fractions
Equivalent fractions
Common denominator
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Students learn the seven laws of drawing perspective. Each law is explored in depth and students gain ample practice in using the various techniques including tonal drawing, foreshortening, overlapping, and shading.
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Students continue learning to play an instrument.
Fifth Grade
The Fifth Grade curriculum awakens the student’s intellect and introspection through the lives of great people in history.
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Dependent and independent clauses
Compound and complex sentences
Capitalization and punctuation
Sentence types
Direct quotations and in-text citations
Prefixes and suffixes
Verb tenses
Plurals and possessives
Five-paragraph essay
Citing sources
Homophones
Creative writing
Descriptive writing
Antonyms and synonyms
Biography
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Early navigation and exploration
Mayflower Compact
Map making
Colonial life in North America
Taxation without representation
American Revolution
U.S. Constitution
Westward expansion
Indian Removal Act
Native American leaders
U.S Civil War
Abolition and the Underground Railroad
Women in U.S. history
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Basic Environmental Science
- Scientific inquiry
- Indicator species
- Wetlands models
- Metric conversions
- Ecosystem diversity
- Biomes
- Water cycle
- Astronomy
- Renewable and nonrenewable sources
- Energy conservation
Basic Life Science and Physical Science
- Weather patterns
- Classification systems
- Human body structures and systems
- States of matter
- Types of energy
- Principles of physics
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Place value and rounding
Measuring time, adding and subtracting time
Borrowing across zero
Borrowing from a borrowed digit
Bar and line graphs
Roman numerals
Squares and square roots
Perimeter and area
Two-digit divisors
Expanding and reducing fractions
Rate and distance
Lowest common denominator
Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers
Dividing fractions and mixed numbers
Adding and subtracting decimals
Sixth Grade
The Sixth Grade curriculum engages the emerging adolescent with dramatic stories of struggle and exploration.
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Note-taking and citations
The writing process
Direct and indirect quotations
Writing a research report
Short story writing
Expository essay
Comparative essay
Persuasive essay
Using supporting details
Creative writing
Writing dialogue
Verb tenses
Prefixes, suffixes, and base words
Parts of speech
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Early human culture
Ancient cultures of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
Ancient Greece and Roman Empire
Ancient systems of government, religion, and philosophy
Celtic and Germanic Tribes
Europe and the Middle Ages
Innovations and art of the Renaissance
Early cultures of North America
Ancient civilization of the Aztec, Maya, and Inca
Early navigation and exploration
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Scientific method and experimentation
Cell structure and cell division
Plant structure and reproduction
Photosynthesis
Soil and nutrients
Classification of living things
Plant and animal kingdoms
Animal life cycles
Food chains and food webs
Ecology and ecosystems
Global climate change
Human nutrition
Human body structures and systems
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Two-digit divisors
Reducing fractions to lowest terms
Lowest common denominator
Multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers
Multiplying and dividing decimals
Dividends of less than one
Measurements of distance, weight, and volume
Calculating percentages
Converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages
Ratios and probability
Perimeter, ration, and diameter
Area of irregular shapes
Equations with missing numbers
Exponents
Order of operations
Seventh Grade
The Seventh Grade curriculum helps students gain a global perspective through a study of World History, from the Age of Enlightenment to the present.
Art activities include art history, world music, pen and ink drawings, and collage. In Earth Science, students study Earth and its natural processes, phenomena, and interactions between systems. Students apply what they learn and observe in hands-on lab investigations and activities related to astronomy, geology, meteorology, and environmental science. The math curriculum prepares students for higher level math courses, and covers skills including simple and compound interest, signed numbers, graphing inequalities on a number line, probability in a series, third and fourth roots, and more.
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Grammar and Composition
Paragraph and sentence structures
Dependent and independent clauses
Prewriting techniques
Confusing word pairs
Citing sources and plagiarism
Spelling rules and frequently misspelled words
Types of nouns and pronouns
Verb tenses
Shifts in tense and person
Subject/verb agreement
Dangling and misplaced modifiers
Parallel construction
Writing a business letter
Literature
Analysis of literary themes
Analogy, metaphor, and simile
Story predicitions
Plot and character development
Poetry
Free verse
Citing textual evidence
Story structure
Family stories
Biographies and autobiographies
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Empires of Asia
European Age of Enlightenment
French Revolution
Industrial Revolution
Slavery and U.S. Civil War
Nationalism and Imperialism
World Wars
Influential people in history
United Nations
Cold War
Conflicts in Asia and the Middle East
Information Age
Technology
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Variables and controlled experiments
Movement of Earth and moon
Astronomy
Geology
Weathering and erosion
Plate tectonics
Student-led scientific inquiry
Global climate change
Meteorology
Water cycle
Atmosphere pressure and wind patterns
Earth’s resources
Human population growth
Biodiversity and habitat loss
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Order of operations
Factors and prime numbers
Simple and compound interest
Equations with missing numbers
Metric units of measure
Signed numbers
Rules of equations
Probability and probability in a series
Using a calculator
Circumference and area of a circle
Construction triangles and calculating area
Applying and transforming formulas
Applying functions to find unknown values
Ratios and proportions
Bisecting lines and angles
Volume of geometric solids
Roots and exponents of fractions and negative numbers
Scientific notation
Graphing a line for an equation
Eighth Grade
The Eighth Grade curriculum introduces students to the concepts of civics through a study of the champions of freedom, federal, state, and local governments, and the economic system.
Civics for 8th grade asks students to witness their local government in action, explore issues affecting their state, and also become aware of national issues. Our experiential approach to understanding social issues includes practical activities such as community service projects and interviewing local community leaders. In English, students read seven classic novels while studying vocabulary drawn from the reading and concentrating on grammar and composition skills. The science curriculum focuses on the principles of physical science, including mass and matter, force, energy, sound, light, color, electricity, magnetism, and mechanics. The 8th grade math curriculum explores the advanced uses of fractions, decimals, and percents and then introduces beginning concepts of algebra in preparation for high school.
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Composition
Vocabulary development
Figurative language
Concise writing
Comparative essay
Persuasive writing
The writing process
Timed essay
Writing a book review
Timeline of biographical events
Interviewing skills
Writing in verse
Literature
Plot and character development
Textual evidence
Story themes
Foreshadowing
Story structures
Poetry
Story predictions
Literary comparisons
Summarizing a plot
Biography/autobiography
Differing character perspectives
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Qualities of good citizenship
Community leaders
Decision making
Immigration and citizenship
Disability awareness
Personal and public health
Political heritage and governing structures
Landmark cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Civic debate
Voting rights and responsibilities
Branches of the U.S. federal government
State and local government
Media influence and news literacy
Civic involvement
Earth stewardship
Community service project
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Controlled experiments
Periodic table of elements
Mixtures and compounds
Force vectors
Mass, weight, and gravity
Laws of motion
Types of energy
Properties of waves
Electromagnetic spectrum
Reflection, absorption, and refraction of light
Electric charge and electrical current
Measuring and controlling electricity
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Mechanical advantage
Principles of aerodynamics
Student-led scientific inquiry
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Graphs
Decimals
Percentages
Measuring length, area, and volume
Algebraic equations
Rate word problems
Scientific notation
Ratios and proportions
Graphing inequalities
Negative coefficients
Estimating roots
Angles and triangles
Negative exponents
Permutations