The third grader has a new-found independence and is curious about the world and their role in it. Students experience a new sense of self where they begin to ask “Who am I in relation to others and to the world?” Waldorf School’s refer to this stage of development as the 9-year change.
The third grade curriculum helps students navigate this pivotal developmental year of identity formation. The academic expectations increase as students become more independent in their (cursive) writing and reading. Mastery of math tables and facts allow students to begin more complex tasks such as long-division and graphing. The study of creation stories from a variety of cultures mirror an awakening to the human condition. Students spend time doing meaningful work in their world through farming/gardening, cooking, weaving and shelter building. A wide range of solutions to human questions: measuring, telling time, and caring for animals, all help the third grader discover a new sense of self-reliance. A gentle introduction to homework begins in third grade, with the daily practice of a chosen string instrument (violin, viola or cello).