High School complement to the groundwork in the Nursery and Primary Schools

What is done in the High School is a natural complement to the groundwork in the Nursery and Primary Schools. It represents the fruit of all the growth, nourishment and care fostered on the younger child. Waldorf Education is conceived of as a whole, as an organic process. The child's living imagination, so carefully nurtured in the Primary School, grows organically into the realm of conceptual thought.

Themes that are handled in the Primary Main Lessons are recapitulated more consciously in the High School where the development of judgement and the challenges and changes of puberty and adolescence can be met with all the richness of the Waldorf approach.
The various aspects of the curriculum provide a stiff challenge to the individual pupil who has to display a larger measure of independence and originality of thinking than is normally the case at secondary school level. There is much project work in which individual research and creative presentation is required.
Pupils are continually encouraged to take their own initiatives in all their activities, to develop their own interest areas and to express the originality of their own discoveries and insights.
In these ways, self-confidence is nurtured as are social and communication skills. In addition, of course, the content of the Main Lessons is specifically designed to meet the needs of the growing personality.
Waldorf High School tuition covers the basic State syllabus but offers a richer depth of learning. Regular tests and reports form part of the continuous assessment of the progress of each pupil.
Our goal is to develop each pupil's faculties of social, artistic, critical and creative abilities as much as the academic. Such a person, we believe, will be more widely prepared for life and for a contribution to society.

Class Eight

Class Nine

Class Ten

From Class 11 to Matric

SENIOR SCHOOL

Class 8
Age 13-14

ENGLISH: Topics from the era of the Industrial Revolution and its consequences. Epic poetry and drama. Intonation, meter and quality of sounds. Simile and metaphor in composition and poetry. Further grammar.
MATHEMATICS: Formal introduction to Algebra: integers (negative numbers); first degree equations and problemsolving; roots; simple factorising; basic laws of exponents; ratio and proportion. Geometry: derivation of area formulae and the discovery of n; application of formulae; properties of triangles; exploration of other polygons; Theorem of Pythagoras; volumes of solids; Platonic solids; figure transformations (change of form with preservation of area); parallel lines.
HISTORY: The Industrial Revolution in Europe and South Africa.
GEOGRAPHY: Mountains, rivers and rocks. An introduction to Geology. Continental Drift. Structure and functions of principal economic areas in South Africa. Resources, economics and conservation.
PHYSICS: Basic mechanics. Heat and power.
CHEMISTRY: The metals. Carbohydrates, sugar, protein and fats.
BIOLOGY: Skeletal anatomy of man. Biochemistry as related to human body with emphasis on sugar, carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGES : Afrikaans and Xhosa continued with detailed exercises in grammar.
ARTS : History : The origin of Art. Prehistoric forms. The elements and terminology of Art. Practical: Black and white drawing. Perspective drawing. Clay modelling. Platonic forms and transformations. Eurythmy, singing and music.
TECHNOLOGY: Woodwork: Elementary joinery. Sewing : designing and making a piece of clothing using machine. Metalwork.. Copper beating. Basket weaving elementary exercises.
GYMNASTICS: Continue developing skills.

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Class 9
Age 14-15

ENGLISH : Classics with focus on Shakespeare and production of a Shakespeare play. Continuation of grammar. Literary aspects of romanticism, rationalism and sentimentalism. Humour. Presentations and declamation.
MATHEMATICS : Special products and factorising; more complex first degree equations and problem-solving; irrational numbers; scientific notation; consolidation of Class 8 Algebra; the Cartesian co-ordinate system; introduction to concept of infinity; projective generation of forms; duality; conic sections (circle, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola) as related to infinity; properties of quadrilaterals; parallel lines; congruency of triangles (leading to formal geometry).
HISTORY : History of Nationalism. The French and American Revolutions. Biographies of historical personalities in context. Nationalism in SA.
GEOGRAPHY : Geology and geomorphology. The forces shaping the earth tectonic and denudational forces.. Economic relations in Africa.
PHYSICS: Electricity and magnetism.
CHEMISTRY: Organic chemistry.
BIOLOGY: Anatomy and physiology of blood circulation and respiration.
SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGES : Revision of grammar. Study setwork. Recitation and developing use of idiomatic expressions.
ARTS : History : Comparisons of differences between Greek and Roman, Northern and Southern Renaissance - the Fathers of modern Art. Practical: More black and white and basic exercises in free form colour compositions. Clay modelling. Concave/convex forms. Eurythmy, singing and music.
TECHNOLOGY : Woodwork : more advanced constructions. Metalwork : Iron forging. Basket weaving : more advanced constructions.
GYMNASTICS: Continued

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Class 10 Age 15-16

ENGLISH: Classic sagas and epics. Medieval lyrics. Renaissance. Etymology. Poetry and declamation.
MATHEMATICS : Factorising leading to complex algebraic fractions and equations: literal equations; inequalities; simultaneous equations and problem- solving; functions: linear, quadratic (parabola), circle and hyperbola; expansion of the laws of exponents; permutations and combinations; probability; use of scientific calculator; formal geometry; trigonometry and land-surveying.
HISTORY: Ancient civilisations. Archaeology and the rise of cities. Early African cultures. Developments from nomadic to settled existence.
GEOGRAPHY : Climatology, world pressure systems, principles of Meteorology. The 'living' qualities of the Earth. Sea currents. Crustal structure.
PHYSICS: Movement Mechanics of motion.
CHEMISTRY: Inorganic chemistry. Acid-base and oxidation-reduction reactions.
BIOLOGY: Nervous, excretory, endocrine and digestive systems. Explore threefold activity of thinking, feeling and willing.
SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGES : Further development of competency.
ARTS : History : Explorations of periods from Gothic to Modem Art. The study of aesthetics. Practical : Figure drawing. Portraits. More advanced Perspective Drawing. Modelling. Exercises in metamorphosis. Eurythmy, singing and music.
TECHNOLOGY: Woodwork: fine joinery. Spinning and weaving. Production of yam and basic fabrics. Metalwork : relief work, and copper raising.
GYMNASTICS: Continued..

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Classes 11 to Matric
The children leave MIchael Oak at the end of class 10. Although our children are equipped to enter any High School and make the transition very successfully, we strongly recommend that they should continue with the same educational aims and ideals at the Constantia Waldolf High School. There the curriculum takes into full consideration the further development of the adolescent, as well as the achievement of a high standard in respect of matriculation requirements.

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Class Eight	Class Nine
Class Ten	From Class 11 to Matric


SENIOR SCHOOL
Class 8	Age 13-14
	ENGLISH: Topics from the era of the Industrial Revolution and its consequences. Epic poetry and drama. Intonation, meter and quality of sounds. Simile and metaphor in composition and poetry. Further grammar. MATHEMATICS: Formal introduction to Algebra: integers (negative numbers); first degree equations and problemsolving; roots; simple factorising; basic laws of exponents; ratio and proportion. Geometry: derivation of area formulae and the discovery of n; application of formulae; properties of triangles; exploration of other polygons; Theorem of Pythagoras; volumes of solids; Platonic solids; figure transformations (change of form with preservation of area); parallel lines. HISTORY: The Industrial Revolution in Europe and South Africa. GEOGRAPHY: Mountains, rivers and rocks. An introduction to Geology. Continental Drift. Structure and functions of principal economic areas in South Africa. Resources, economics and conservation. PHYSICS: Basic mechanics. Heat and power. CHEMISTRY: The metals. Carbohydrates, sugar, protein and fats. BIOLOGY: Skeletal anatomy of man. Biochemistry as related to human body with emphasis on sugar, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGES : Afrikaans and Xhosa continued with detailed exercises in grammar. ARTS : History : The origin of Art. Prehistoric forms. The elements and terminology of Art. Practical: Black and white drawing. Perspective drawing. Clay modelling. Platonic forms and transformations. Eurythmy, singing and music. TECHNOLOGY: Woodwork: Elementary joinery. Sewing : designing and making a piece of clothing using machine. Metalwork.. Copper beating. Basket weaving elementary exercises. GYMNASTICS: Continue developing skills.
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Class 9	Age 14-15
	ENGLISH : Classics with focus on Shakespeare and production of a Shakespeare play. Continuation of grammar. Literary aspects of romanticism, rationalism and sentimentalism. Humour. Presentations and declamation. MATHEMATICS : Special products and factorising; more complex first degree equations and problem-solving; irrational numbers; scientific notation; consolidation of Class 8 Algebra; the Cartesian co-ordinate system; introduction to concept of infinity; projective generation of forms; duality; conic sections (circle, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola) as related to infinity; properties of quadrilaterals; parallel lines; congruency of triangles (leading to formal geometry). HISTORY : History of Nationalism. The French and American Revolutions. Biographies of historical personalities in context. Nationalism in SA. GEOGRAPHY : Geology and geomorphology. The forces shaping the earth tectonic and denudational forces.. Economic relations in Africa. PHYSICS: Electricity and magnetism. CHEMISTRY: Organic chemistry. BIOLOGY: Anatomy and physiology of blood circulation and respiration. SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGES : Revision of grammar. Study setwork. Recitation and developing use of idiomatic expressions. ARTS : History : Comparisons of differences between Greek and Roman, Northern and Southern Renaissance - the Fathers of modern Art. Practical: More black and white and basic exercises in free form colour compositions. Clay modelling. Concave/convex forms. Eurythmy, singing and music. TECHNOLOGY : Woodwork : more advanced constructions. Metalwork : Iron forging. Basket weaving : more advanced constructions. GYMNASTICS: Continued
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Class 10	Age 15-16
	ENGLISH: Classic sagas and epics. Medieval lyrics. Renaissance. Etymology. Poetry and declamation. MATHEMATICS : Factorising leading to complex algebraic fractions and equations: literal equations; inequalities; simultaneous equations and problem- solving; functions: linear, quadratic (parabola), circle and hyperbola; expansion of the laws of exponents; permutations and combinations; probability; use of scientific calculator; formal geometry; trigonometry and land-surveying. HISTORY: Ancient civilisations. Archaeology and the rise of cities. Early African cultures. Developments from nomadic to settled existence. GEOGRAPHY : Climatology, world pressure systems, principles of Meteorology. The 'living' qualities of the Earth. Sea currents. Crustal structure. PHYSICS: Movement Mechanics of motion. CHEMISTRY: Inorganic chemistry. Acid-base and oxidation-reduction reactions. BIOLOGY: Nervous, excretory, endocrine and digestive systems. Explore threefold activity of thinking, feeling and willing. SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGES : Further development of competency. ARTS : History : Explorations of periods from Gothic to Modem Art. The study of aesthetics. Practical : Figure drawing. Portraits. More advanced Perspective Drawing. Modelling. Exercises in metamorphosis. Eurythmy, singing and music. TECHNOLOGY: Woodwork: fine joinery. Spinning and weaving. Production of yam and basic fabrics. Metalwork : relief work, and copper raising. GYMNASTICS: Continued..
back to top Classes 11 to Matric The children leave MIchael Oak at the end of class 10. Although our children are equipped to enter any High School and make the transition very successfully, we strongly recommend that they should continue with the same educational aims and ideals at the Constantia Waldolf High School. There the curriculum takes into full consideration the further development of the adolescent, as well as the achievement of a high standard in respect of matriculation requirements.
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