Curriculum

Ninth Grade

The character of the content and “gesture” of teaching in each of the high school years is different and is designed to meet developmental needs. Ninth grade offerings are characterized by seeking the answer to the question “What?” “What is the world like?” As the ninth graders begin to experience their own thinking and individuality, and as their former certainties are called into question by the powerful chaotic buffeting of puberty, they need to have confidence in the physical ground of their existence. In this year, we find courses such as the study of revolutions, of thermodynamics and of human anatomy. Through observing Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art, ninth graders become grounded in evolving architecture, evolving depictions of nature, and evolving portrayals of the human form.

Tenth Grade

By tenth grade a more harmonious inner situation is reached that is appropriate to the question “How?” "How do the processes of the world bring contrasts into balance?" The tenth graders study mechanics, with its lawfulness of balanced forces and motions. Students study the elements of poetry as they evolve historically in the English language, becoming conscious of how music and image bear meaning in poetry. Historically, tenth graders turn their attention back to ancient culture, culminating in ancient Greece, the epitome of harmony and form.

Eleventh Grade

Between tenth and eleventh grade an important change occurs. The student turns inward to his or her own world within. This is again a time of turmoil. The central question that informs the course offerings in this year is that of “Why?” In a sense the student embarks on a lifelong quest for knowledge of self and others. In this year the student encounters the Parsival story and that of Hamlet. In the sciences the physics of electromagnetic fields is studied as an outer example of the possibility of knowing that which is not directly sense-perceptible.

Twelfth Grade

Finally, in the twelfth grade the characterizing question is that of “Who?”, “Who am I?” and “Who are you?” Seniors explore a range of ontological concerns through such disparate sources as American Transcendentalism, Russian Literature, evolutionary theory and modern history. Optional internships and independent senior projects reflect the emerging individuality.

To learn more about the High School, please contact the Admissions Office.

 High School Profile

Green Meadow Waldorf School is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools, registered by the  Board of Regents of New York State, and is a member of the  Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.  Because our high school curriculum is reading and writing enriched, and substantially meets the state requirements, the New York State Department of Education has granted Green Meadow a variance from the Regents Action Plan, exempted us from state testing, and allowed us to issue our own diplomas.  Our students must achieve a minimum SAT score as a graduation requirement. 

 

The following is an outline of our high school curriculum.  For a more detailed description, please click here.

 

English

Ninth Grade

History of Drama
The Novel: Moby Dick
Skills Course: twenty-four weeks of work with literature, expository and creative writing, journal writing, and poetry

Tenth Grade

The Art of Poetry
Dramatic Production
Skills Course: in twenty-four weeks students
focus on literature, including The Odyssey, short stories, and full-length story-writing

Eleventh Grade

Parzival
Dante
Shakespeare
Skills Course: twenty-four weeks include the study
of literature reflecting the ideas of “the journey of the hero,” including The Canterbury Tales and Romantic poetry

Twelfth Grade

The Birth of American Literature
The Birth and Growth of Russian Literature
Dramatic Production
Skills Course: sixteen weeks include the study of literature and modern poetry reflecting the idea of “man, the world-maker.” Nine-week electives may include Goethe and Orwell.

History

Ninth Grade

American History, 1607-1865
American History, 1865-1940
American Government and Recent U.S. History
History through Art

Tenth Grade

Ancient Cultures
Greek History
Law and Civil Rights

Eleventh Grade

Rome and the Middle Ages
Western Civilization: 1500-1850
World Geography

Twelfth Grade

China and the West
Twentieth Century History
World Geography

Mathematics

Ninth Grade

Numbers and Codes
Skills Course: Algebra  I

Tenth Grade

Euclidean Geometry
Descriptive Geometry
Skills Course: Geometry

Eleventh Grade

Projective Geometry
Skills course: Algebra II/Trigonometry

Twelfth Grade

Astronomy
Skills Courses: Calculus or Topics in Mathematics

Modern Foreign Languages

German, Spanish and French
(required sequence in one)
Level I
Level II
Intermediate Levels III, IV
Advanced Level III and IV

Music

Chorus includes all high school students.
String Orchestra & Concert Band meet from September to June.
The Full Orchestra performs pieces in Spring.


Private music lessons are required of all students throughout the four years of high school. A staff of private teachers is available for lessons during the school day.

 

Science | Physics

Ninth Grade

Physics of Warmth

Tenth Grade

Physics of Motion

Eleventh Grade

Physics of Electricity and Magnetism

Twelfth Grade

Visual Physics

Chemistry

Ninth Grade

Introduction to Inorganic and Organic Chemistry

Tenth Grade

Inorganic Chemistry

Eleventh Grade

Inorganic Chemistry II

Twelfth Grade

Modern Theoretical and Structural Chemistry

Earth Science

Ninth Grade

Geology

Tenth Grade

Climatology: the factors affecting local weather and global climates; the water cycle, dynamics of high and low pressure systems, solstice and equinox, the Coriolis force.

Biology

Ninth Grade

Human Anatomy

Tenth Grade

Human Physiology

Eleventh Grade

Human Embryology

Botany

Twelfth Grade

Zoology

Visual Arts

Ninth Grade

Fine Arts: Emphasis on composition, working primarily in black and white
Applied Arts: Copper and metalwork

Tenth Grade

Fine Arts: Drawing from observation of the interplay of light and shadow
Applied Arts: Geometrically-designed painted floorcloths

Eleventh Grade

Fine Arts: Emphasis on painting
Applied Arts: Bookcraft

Twelfth Grade

Fine Arts: Work in pastel, watercolor, prints and sculpture
Applied Arts: Bookbinding

Physical Education / Eurythmy / Sports

Physical education and movement classes include Bothmer gymnastics and Spacial Dynamics® exercises and a variety of indoor and outdoor sports and movement activities, including dance, fencing, and eurythmy, a form of artistic movement set to music and verse.

Interscholastic tennis, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, cross-country and track are offered in season as extra-curricular activities.


Go to Curriculum in Action to read more about the High School.

DESIGN BY JAN M DESIGN | ASP.NET CMS BY TRAKKWARE | © 2010 GMWS