An Overview of the Elementary Math Curriculum

Please note: This is my own interpretation of the Waldorf math curriculum, based on my training at Rudolf Steiner College and my work with students. Some variation from other representations of the Waldorf curriculum is to be expected. It is just an overview, and many details have not been included. Also, some aspects have been listed in one year, but they could begin sooner and continue after.

1st Grade: Introduce the qualities of the numbers 1 to 12. Introduce the four arithmetical processes by working from the whole to the parts. (Work with multiple addends (e.g. 3+5+2+4+6) to prepare for multiplication, which is a “code” way of writing statements such as 3+3+3+3+3.) Act out number stories using stones or other manipulatives to explore numbers less than 20. Write and read simple number statements. Introduce number families (e.g. 8=6+2, 8=2+6, 2=8-6, 6=8-2). Practice counting by ones, twos, tens, hundreds and fives. Practice counting backwards by ones from ten (and later from 20). Explore the ways we can make 10 by adding two numbers together. Practice math facts using dice.

2nd Grade: Rhythmic counting, artistic representations of the multiplication tables (such as number stars), place value, writing and reading numbers into the millions, carrying in addition (introduced as “bundling” groups of ten, or I use bagging groups of ten apples), borrowing in subtraction (“unbundling” or emptying bags as needed), the long division way of writing division, more number families, expanding numbers (e.g. 347= 300+40+7), counting by tens from any number, mental math, square numbers (introduced showing how 4, 9, and 16 objects naturally form a square when pushed together).

3rd Grade: Solidify previous work, addition and subtraction facts for sums less than 20, the first 12 multiplication tables up to 12 times each number. Learn how we measure time, weight, distance and volume. Introduce and work with division with remainders, carrying in multiplication and simple long division. More mental math.

4th Grade: Expand and solidify previous work. Introduce and work with fractions, including adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions. More long division and mental math.

5th Grade: Expand and solidify previous work. Decimals, formulas for area and perimeter of squares, rectangles and triangles, charts and graphs and negative numbers.

6th Grade: Algebra, business math, geometric formulas for perimeter, area, circumference, and volume.

7th Grade: Exponents, powers and roots, linear equations, the geometry of angles, the Pythagorean Theorem, prime factoring.

8th Grade: Expand and solidify all previous work. Number bases and quadratic equations.