Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades

Third Grade

Third grade is a busy year. Students in third grade are experiencing the "9-year change" , this is the age when a child who has been slowly coming down to earth since birth, suddenly experiences the realm of the physical world. The third grade curriculum responds to this developmental milestone with a year of learning about the physical world through practical activities such as farming, cooking, and building. Old Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Moses, and Abraham are the children's first exposure to history and will serve as metaphors for the children's inner experiences of leaving the paradise of early childhood behind.

We suggest the following books and supplies for the Third Grade year:

Books
And Then There Was Light , Journey to the Promised Land and We Will Build a Temple (Jakob Streit) Stories to support the Third Grade Old Testament block.
Earth, Water, Fire, and Air: Playful Explorations in the Four Elements (Walter Kraul) Another Favorite! This book encourages children to play outside in the elements and suggests many interesting outdoor projects. See also the Kraul's craft kits...
Green Fingers and Muddy Boots: A Year in the Garden for Children and Families (Ivor Santor) Lively, imaginative, and practical guide to gardening with children.

Supplies
Main lesson books
Large, good quality colored pencils such as Lyra
Beeswax block crayons
Beeswax stick crayons
Stockmar watercolor paint
Paint brushes
Good quality watercolor paper
A Painting board and resealable glass jars
Modeling beeswax
Wooden knitting needles and wool yarn
Crochet hook and yarn
Additional natural craft materials
Wooden recorder
A variety of natural toys and playthings

Fourth Grade

Fourth graders are confident with their new way of seeing the world and are eager to learn about it in a more concrete manner. Norse mythology provide thriling content so that the children can relate to and explore the personalities of the characters: clever Loki, strong Thor, and wise Odin. Studying local geography gives the children knowledge about their immediate world and provides a wonderful opportunity to reach out and interact with the community. Fourth graders also study animals in relation to human beings focusing on how unique human qualities compare and contrast with the animal world.

We suggest the following books and supplies for the Fourth Grade year:

Books
D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Myths (D'Aulaire) Invaluable resource for 4th Grade Norse Myths block. The D'Aulaires present the Norse Myths superbly
Norse Mythology (Charles Kovacs) Norse myths retold in a picturesque and engaging manner
Thorkill of Iceland:Viking Hero Tales (Isabel Wyatt) Viking sagas
Swedish Folk Tales A fabulous collection of Scandinavian folk stories
Celtic Wonder Tales (Ella Young) Collection of Celtic stories
The Human Being and the Animal World (Charles Kovacs) A resource book for teaching about animals in relation to human beings.
Hear the Voice of the Griot: A Guide to African Geography, History, and Culture (Betty Staley) A superb resource! We used this comprehensive book for a very successful African Main Lesson Block.
Tales from African Dreamtime (Magdalene Sacranie) Vibrant collection of African stories

Supplies
Main lesson books
Large, good quality colored pencils such as Lyra
Good quality artists pencils such as Caran D'ache
Beeswax block crayons
Stockmar watercolor paint
Paint brushes
Good quality watercolor paper
A painting board and resealable glass jars
Modeling beeswax
Wooden knitting needles and wool yarn
Sewing and cross stitch supplies
Additional natural craft materials
Wooden recorder
A variety of natural toys and playthings

Fifth Grade

The study of ancient civilizations in the fifth grade spans the time from the legends of Atlantis 10,000 years ago to ancient India, ancient Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt and finally ancient Greece. The children delight in finding common threads in the creation stories and hero tales of the different peoples -- from floods and rainbows, to initiations and quests, to the intervention of the gods in human affairs. Most importantly, the students trace the evolution of human consciousness through millennia and across the globe, especially with respect to views of life, death, and the afterlife. Finally, the students explore the life of the ancient Greeks, focusing on Grecian art, culture, and language. The students learn about many ancient Greek contributions to the present day, including ideas about beauty, truth, courage, and the social order. Later, the botany main lesson block is an opportunity to see how the living earth is blanketed with plant life.

We suggest the following books and supplies for the Fifth Grade Year:

Books
Myths of the World (PadraicColum) Comprehensive collection of stories from many cultures including Egyptian, Babylonia, Persia, Greece, Judaism, Roman, Celtic, Scandinavian, India, Asian, and South American
Ancient Mythologies: India, Persia, Babylon, Egypt (Charles Kovacs) Human development from Atlantis to the civilizations of India, Persia, Babylonia, and Egypt
Ancient Greece (Charles Kovacs) Vividly narrative stories from Ancient Greece paint a literary picture of Grcian accomplishments including the fearless deeds of the Greek Gods as well as the birth of modern medecine, philosophy, and science
Botany (Charles Kovacs) Describes the plant kingdoms from fungi, lichen, and moss to the more developed rose and lily families
Drawing from the Book of Nature (Dennis Klocek) A very useful aid to help with drawings from the plant and animal kingdoms

Supplies
Main lesson books
Large, good quality colored pencils such as Lyra
Good quality artists pencils such as Caran D'ache
Beeswax block crayons
Stockmar watercolor paint
Paint brushes
Good quality watercolor paper
A painting board and resealable glass jars
Carving knives and woods
Natural clay
Wooden knitting needles and wool yarn
Sewing supplies
Additional natural craft materials