So why this for class 7?  This age is about half way through their educational journey. At this age the child can look back at the childhood they are leaving and look forward to the new experiences and responsibilities of adolescence and adulthood. So often there is a push by society to rush these young teenagers into consumerism, sensuality and more. 

The Waldorf curriculum attempts to bring to this passage a balance between old connections to the spiritual world and new awakenings. We make this transition slower in order to tend to the innate qualities of childhood (rather than hold them back) which become strength of soul and character for their entire adult life. 

Keeping the wonder alive whilst also meeting the need to understand the World scientifically, we teach them the methods behind drawing and writing. 

This main lesson uses many guided writing exercises to teach the pupils how to "paint pictures" with their words. We made many observations with all our senses, they heard the biographical wish stories of Malala and of my grandmother before writing their own character studies, wish poems and fairy tales, then the main lesson culminated in a surprise outing to Cirque de Solei at the Albert Hall. They didn't know where they were going until we got there. 

We will be drawing on the experiences of surprise, excitement, anticipation and frustration to help write story endings with a twist and write the plot for our forthcoming play which will have no speech but music, dance , eurythmy, circus skills and science!

Rachel Gatehouse, Class 7 Teacher