Curriculum for the Preschool Years
updated January 4, 2020
The Waldorf method emphasizes imaginative play, art and creative activities, music, storytelling, authentic handwork, and honoring the rhythms of the seasons and of life. The preschool years are recognized to be a special time in the development of the child.
Our literacy-rich, play-based early childhood program provides children the opportunity to play and work and explore their world in an unhurried environment. The main emphasis is placed on developing imagination and creative thinking skills, rather than early exposure to academic content.
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Daily circle time includes movement, poetry and singing.
- Teachers tell nature stories and folk and fairy tales from around the world.
- Children experience artistic activities such as watercolor painting, drawing, beeswax modeling, music and movement.
- Other activities may include gardening, woodworking, food preparation and sewing.
- Through the example of the teacher, the students develop social skills and reverence for the world around them.
Homeschooling with My Three Daughters (Infant, Toddler, Preschool)
Here are my girls, playing in the sunflower patch in the Summer of 2006:
Curriculum Units
The lesson plan pages are set up with the following eight subjects:
Music & Movement, Art, Nature, Cooking, Play, Handwork,
Helping,
and Stories.
Each FREE six-week unit includes 15 essential stories in keeping with the theme, specific Art, Nature, and Handwork activities for each week, and additional suggestions for Music & Movement and Play materials.
Note: Please feel free to make substitutions for similar picture books. I wrote these units for my own
family and, naturally, used what we had on the shelf already. You can certainly do the same!
Preschool Newsletter Topics
The idea for this newsletter came about when my husband was complaining that he had no idea what to do with our kids on the weekends. He suggested I put together some activities that could be used by non-homeschooling parents, grandparents, babysitters, etc. The newsletter is written in a way that is consistent with the Waldorf method but does not assume prior experience.
These activities are intended for ages 3 - 5.
Each weekly installment contains ONE DOZEN suggestions for the upcoming Saturday. You can expect to see ideas such as (but not limited to) the following:
- opening verse
- songs & music activities
- recommended books
- games
- art activities
- nature activities
- handwork & gift making ideas
- closing verse
Use the weekly newsletter topics
as a mini-unit, perfect for youth groups, summer camps, day care, etc. This is a fun, easy, and economical way to build up a portfolio of new ideas or to learn more about the Waldorf approach to learning.
You will need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the FREE preschool units.
My old preschool program is divided into three years -- the first two are curriculum for your three and four year old children,
starting from the age of 40 months. If your child is under 40 months, please click here.
The cumulative unit for this period is Rhythms. For your 5 year old child, we recommend a Kindergarten curriculum (see below).
This program is very flexible and is intended to support the homeschooling family who is new to Waldorf. From the very first unit, Families,
we assume no Waldorf background and help you with the transition, including setting up the home environment, giving your child new play things, and gathering a library
of Waldorf books. If you are new to Waldorf we do recommend that you start with the First Year program regardless of the exact age of your child. The newsletter topics
listed below are used to supplement our main six-week units. Feel free to mix and match topics to customize the program to your family.
All curriculum topics are listed both in chronological order and by season. Please always use a curriculum topic which is appropriate to the current season for your child.
The First Year - Preschool age 3
The Second Year - Preschool age 4
The Third Year - Kindergarten age 5
You will need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view our FREE preschool units.
Spring:
Summer:
Autumn:
Winter:
Important Note
Having been doing Waldorf for over four years, I have new and different ideas
about how to go about it from the way I began; however, I am keeping my old curriculum on
the site as well as many families find it useful in their transition to Waldorf.
You can find my old lesson
plans, including 6 week units and newsletter topics, on this page. For my
new list of the essential books & supplies and how to go about "homeschooling" with Waldorf for
ages 2 and up, please click here: New Preschool Program.
I have also created a new
Kindergarten Curriculum Booklist,
a list of a dozen books which builds upon the
"New Preschool
Program" above and will give you an excellent Early Childhood library!
If your child is six years old, we recommend the Bridge curriculum, a homeschool program for 6 year olds preparing to enter First Grade.
Click here for more information.
You will need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these back issues of the newsletter.
If you appreciate having this curriculum available online for free, please consider making a donation.
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
May 2006
October 2006
You will need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these back issues of the newsletter.
If you appreciate having this curriculum available online for free, please consider making a donation.
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
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