Waldorf Education: Seventh Grade Physics — Sound

In trying to decide what to cover for seventh grade Physics, I perused the Main Lesson Book (MLB) of a friend of mine, who used to be a Waldorf teacher. I also looked over Eugene Schwartz's site to see what he prescribes for the block. So much to cover...what to choose? I chose Sound, Light, and Heat.

I decided to start with Sound, using books from the library to find appropriate experiments. My goals were to cove : What is Sound? What is Silence? How does Sound Effect Us? What Actions Cause Sound? What Effects the Quality of Sound? How Does Sound Travel?

I also took the opportunity to teach the Boy how to write out the process of the experiment using Question (Hypothesis), Procedure, Observation, and Conclusion. A format that was used when I was a kid. It may be obsolete due to new teaching methods, but my point was to get him to follow a process and be able to get that on paper.

Below are some photos of the Boy's MLB and some photos of our sound experiments. 

 

We filled bottles with varying amounts of water, then tried to determine what pitch each one registered.

Waldorf Homeschool: Seventh Grade Algebra

Today we started our Algebra/Geometry block. With the school year just beginning, we are usually ready to dive in. So I thought I'd put the toughest subject (for me to teach) right at the beginning, while I have the will and energy. Kind of like scheduling the most academic subjects in the morning, when the Boy's will is the strongest.

I have come a long, long way from my grammar school days of hating math. I never understood "why?" so it never made sense to me. By teaching math through a Waldorf perspective, I've learned to appreciate algebra and geometry. 

We've studied the history of math through our studies of ancient history, and the "why's" have become so much more evident. The concept of equations makes sense when you understand some of the history.

That is the approach I've decided to take with the Boy. In sixth grade we read "String, Straightedge, and Shadow," a book I would recommend to any math teacher or history teacher as a supplement to their curriculum.

It is not my goal to have the Boy be an algebraic wizard by the end of the year, but instead, to have a good understanding of what algebra is, why it came about, and how it can be used. Plus a basic understanding of formulas and proofs, and an understanding of how to solve equations. (process).

The Boy is like me in so many ways, and how he approaches math is one of them. He likes to know why things are done the way they are, why does he need to know this, how does it apply to real life? If I can give him some of those answers as we work our way through this block, he will have a much better foundation for increasingly difficult work. I want him to feel like he CAN do algebra rather than the way I felt all through school...that I stunk at it.

The Curriculum we are using is from Jamie York Press, Making Math Meaningful.  What I like about this curriculum is that I have to have a good grasp of the concepts because I am teaching it. He is not reading the book or watching a video...I am the teacher. Yes, that requires some work. But he's going to come to me for questions anyway. I might as well know the subject matter.

What I don't like is that there's no real lesson plan. Just the concepts to cover separated by grade. So I have to figure out how much I want to cover in each lesson. The author assumes the teacher has knowledge of each concept. It's explained in the teacher's book, but only briefly. Thank goodness for Google and Youtube. (Jamie York has several Youtube vids that are really helpful.)

Waldorf Homeschooling: Preparing for Eighth Grade

Summer Nights Spent Reading

The public school kids are back to school already; it's only the middle of August. Our district decided to start earlier this year to make sure they could get in all of the required 180 days without deducting from the teacher in-service days. I am so glad we homeschool! It still feels like summer....hot sun; sticky air; the cicadas buzz sawing; I would HATE to have to be in school. 

Even though we are not ready to start yet, I have been preparing. I think about the upcoming year all summer long. And I usually try to read as much as possible about the potential subject matter before I dig and plan. This summer I did not. I took a much needed break and decided to give myself a start date of August 1. I could think about things....but  NO PLANNING. I just needed to breathe a little.

As the Boy advances toward high school, our subjects get "meatier." Which means more preparation on my part...getting a real understanding of the subjects so I can present the main ideas at a deeper level. It is no longer enough to present everything through story. The Boy wants to know about things: how they work, why events ocurred, how things affect his life.  I spend much of my time looking for resources that i can use to articulate what I think is really important for him to know and understand. Thank goodness for the public library!

This year I need to concentrate on math. We are still a bit behind; I wanted to introduce Algebra last year but didn't get to it. So, along with Geometry in Art and Nature and regular Mathematics, I will be introducing Algebra. It will be a big math year for us. Ive decided to start the year off with Geometry and Algebra.

Some of the other subjects we will tackle include:

Latin III using the Cambridge Latin series, taught at Lancaster Center for Classical Studies

Dissection, taught at Lancaster County Parks

Algebra, using Jamie York Press's Making Math Meaningful

Geometry, also using JYP

Physics: electricity, incline plane, levers, aerodynamics, hydraulics

Anatomy and Physiology: digestion, circulation, reproduction,
                                          skeletal and muscular systems, eye, ear

History: Reformation, Revolution (including French, Russian, American, and Industrial)

Meteorology: Weather systems

Geography: South America, Africa, Eurasia, Asia

Language Arts: Short stories
Drawing: continue black and white drawing
Handwork: sewing
Piano and Voice: Tina Davidson
Drama/Speech: various plays through local theater