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Ngā ākonga aumangea me te

Increasingly resilient & resourceful students

Kura tuatahi

Primary School Classes 1–7 (Year 2–8)

“What a privilege it is to support our students in finding their unique place in the world.”

How to Enrol

Michael Park runs a full Primary School. Students enter Class One (equivalent to Year Two) and meet their Class Teacher, who will become a very well-loved and respected person in their school life. We practice the Steiner school principle of having the same teacher stay with the students throughout their Primary School journey; as it creates stability, trust and a familiar learning environment.

As students progress through Primary School, they become more active participants in assessment through their developing capacity for reflection and goal setting. The students are expected to be able to generate their own ideas in narrative, descriptive and artistic forms. They are also encouraged to individualise their work, particularly through research and projects relating to Main Lesson topics. Students will develop an increased capacity for critical thinking, as well as the skills to reason and argue both sides of a problem, and the capacity for empathy and in-depth inquiry.

As students transition into High school, they become increasingly resilient and resourceful. They are encouraged to be self-managing, responsible and upright in both their class community and across the school. 

The Primary School Curriculum is split into:

  • Main Lessons – held daily, students explore a topic in depth for a few weeks
  • Subject Lessons – traditional school subjects which develop in difficulty over the year
  • Block Lessons – in Handwork, Woodwork, Gardening and Outdoor Classroom
  • Other Projects and Events
  • Class 1
  • Class 2
  • Class 3
  • Class 4
  • Class 5
  • Class 6
  • Class 7

Te Akomanga Tuatahi

Class One

Blossoming of the imagination

While in kindergarten the focus is on learning through play, in Class One we engage students in a more formal learning environment through the use of stories.

The fairy tale is a fundamental part of Class One for the children, particularly in Main Lesson, as they listen to fairy tales from New Zealand and around the world. Essentially, the fairy tale illustrates the trials undergone by the hero or heroine. Listening to and recounting these stories is an important component in the development of core skills in literacy across the curriculum. Through their work in Main Lesson and subject lessons, children are introduced to the letters of the alphabet which they begin to use in writing. This allows children to experience the development of language in a concrete and creative way.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
English – Stories and Myths Fairy Tales

Maori Myths

Meeting the Alphabet

Christmas Stories

Science Home Surroundings

Nature Stories

Mathematics Form Drawing

Introduction of Numbers

Rhythmic Counting

Four Mathematical Processes

Writing and Reading Numbers


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Movement / Games

Eurythmy

Visual Art

Music

Form Drawing

Wellbeing Stories

Handwork

Outdoor Classroom / Gardening

Class Concert

Nativity Play

Dragon Play

Te Akomanga Tuarua

Class Two

Making the inner connections

In Class Two we work through Pacific, Irish and Celtic folk tales, followed by animal fables and the stories of saints.

The children still carry with them much of the imaginative consciousness of early childhood, but they are also starting to develop a greater awareness of themselves and others, and an alertness to what happens around them. This shift in awareness reflects a growing recognition in the children that they have their own distinct personality and emotions, some of which are positive and some negative. This mood of contrast is reflected in the Main Lessons through the telling of animal fables through which the unique characteristics of animals are experienced, and in the stories of the saints which provide the children with examples of overcoming adversity and standing up for what they believe in.

Considerable attention is given to the ongoing development of fundamental skills in writing and reading. The children’s first reading experience comes through reading what they have written themselves in their Main Lesson books and, over the course of the year, students move on to other fiction texts at an appropriate level. In mathematics, children are developing their recall of times tables through rhythmic counting, as well as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing simple numbers.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
English – Stories and Myths Irish Folk Tales – The Epic of Finn McCool

Irish Folk Tales – The King of Ireland’s Son

Stories of Saintly People

Christmas Stories

Science Animal Fables – AESOPS

Animal Fables from New Zealand

Mathematics Symmetry

Place Value (2 Main Lessons)

Maths Magics


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Health / PE

Eurythmy

Music

Visual Art

Form Drawing

Wellbeing Stories

Handwork

Outdoor Classroom / Gardening

Class Concert

Nativity Play

Dragon Play

Te Akomanga Tuatoru

Class Three

Finding your place in the world

Class Three is a significant year, as there is typically a new emergence of individuality, a differentiation between the self and the world of nature. At this age, parents frequently notice children becoming more critical and beginning to question everything. The curriculum aims to address this through providing balance in learning, strengthening and enriching the imagination of the child while fostering a positive relationship with the outside world.

Children in Class Three need to have a strong leader as a role model and they look to the Class Teacher for this.

Class Three students enter a new phase and the Main Lesson curriculum becomes very practical. Themes such as time, measurement and money, as well as farming, house / shelter building and crafts become exciting adventures for the children to learn “hands on” about the world around them. In English, the fundamentals of grammar are introduced and regular reading practice is now an established part of the class rhythm. In mathematics there is an emphasis on measurement while place value knowledge is consolidated ahead of the introduction of fractions in Class 4.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
English – Stories and Myths The Old Testament Stories
Science & Technology Shelter/ House Building

Farming and Gardening

The Work that People Do

Mathematics Measuring Length and Weight

Measuring Time

History of Mathematics

Trade and Money

 


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Health / PE

Eurythmy

Music

Visual Art

Form Drawing

Wellbeing Stories

Handwork

Outdoor Classroom / Gardening

Class Concert

Nativity Play

Dragon Play

Camp: Shelter Building/ Farming

Te Akomanga Tuawhā

Class Four

Relating to others in the world

Children of this age need a picture of the world which illustrates the complexity of relationships between individuals and the contrasts of the individual working against or for the community.

The aim is still that the knowledge and understanding of the physical world is brought imaginatively to the students, but gone is the dreamy fairy tale world of early childhood. Class Four children are becoming more assertive, characterised by greater self-reliance and independence. A sense of solidarity and friendship with their peers is important.

In Class Four, we begin with the study of the human being in relation to the animal kingdom, because children naturally love animals and are extremely interested in them. Through the study of local geography, students learn how to make maps and give directions in relation to the four points of the compass. The children are now writing increasingly independently, and using more complex sentences in their written work. In mathematics, fractions are introduced, drawing on a sound understanding of place value and instant recall of basic multiplication facts, including common factors and multiples.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
English & Social Sciences Norse Mythology (2 Main Lessons)

Early Settlers*

English

Science Zoology – Human & Animal*

Local Geography

Mathematics Geometry

Fractions (2 Main Lessons)

Arithmetic

*Individual response / project is part of Main Lesson


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Health / PE

Eurythmy

Music

Visual Art

Form Drawing

Handwork

Outdoor Classroom / Gardening

Drama – Norse Myths

Nativity Play

Dragon Play

Camp: Bush Camp (links to Early Settlers Main Lesson)

Te Akomanga Tuarima

Class Five

The balance of inner and outer worlds

During Class Five, children are increasingly aware of community and their place within it. This stage of development, situated between early childhood and adolescence, is reflected in the exploration of major cultural epochs. Through learning about other people, their stories and culture, students develop an appreciation of the unique and varied tapestry of human experience. English and Maths continue to be developed, the latter focusing on fractional numbers and the fundamentals of proportional thinking. New Zealand Geography and Botany are introduced in a way that appeals to this age group.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
 Ancient Civilizations India

Persia

Mesopotamia

Egypt*

Greece*

Science Botany – Archetypal plants*

New Zealand Geography*

Mathematics Geometry

Fractions & Decimals

History of Mathematics*

*Individual response / project is part of Main Lesson


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Health / PE

Eurythmy

Music

Visual Art

Form Drawing

Handwork

Outdoor Classroom / Gardening

Drama – Epoch Play

Inter-class Sports Tournament

Trees for Survival

Camp: Inter-school Greek Olympics

Te Akomanga Tuaono

Class Six

Establishing order and structure in the outer world

Children in Class Six often begin to experience a stronger connection to the wider world around them and they begin the journey of finding their place in it. They may experience a growing interest and compassion for those less fortunate than themselves, while on the other hand they may become drawn to popular idols and what is “cool”. At this beginning of the adolescent developmental phase, the students’ thinking tends to become more intellectual, and their observational skills are cultivated through the Arts and Sciences to enhance their thinking capacity. Democratic values are explored and developed across the curriculum as individuals learn about their place in the class community and society.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
Social Science / History History – Ancient Rome*

The Lives of the Great Composers*

History – The Late Roman Empire

Science Physics – Acoustics

Physics – Light and Colour

Geography of the Southwest Pacific*

Geomorphology: Rocks and Minerals*

Life Cycles (1)*

Mathematics Geometry – Regular 2 dimensional polygons*

Algebra

Commercial Maths*

*Individual response / project is part of Main Lesson


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading – group study of novel, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Health / PE

Eurythmy

Music

Handwork

Woodwork

Visual Art

Form Drawing

Inter-class Sports Tournament

Camp: Waitomo Caves (Links to Geomorphology Main Lesson)

Te Akomanga Tuawhitu

Class Seven

Reaching for new horizons

Students of this age may become very focused on the wider world, wanting to understand phenomena more deeply. They tend to experience feelings of wanting to belong but also wanting to be different. Their search for identity can cause inner tensions. This developmental theme is reflected in the Main Lesson exploration of contributions of key figures from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. The liberating power of scientific enquiry is explored and compared to dogma and servitude. This helps develop critical thinking and, through language and visual arts, students develop a feeling for metaphor.

 

Overview of Main Lesson Programme

All Main Lessons are compulsory

Main Lessons  Topics Covered
English / Drama Wish, wonder, surprise (Creative Writing)
Social Science History – The Middle Ages and Crusades*

History – The Renaissance*

History – Voyages of Discovery*

Whakapapa*

Science Life Cycles (2)*

Physics – Magnetism and Electricity

Chemistry – Combustion

Astronomy – our Solar System, the Seasons and Lunar Phases*

Mathematics Algebra

Statistics and the Statistical Enquiry Cycle

Geometry – Constructions of Platonic Solids and other Polyhedra

*Individual response / project is part of Main Lesson


Subject Lessons, Block Lessons & Other Projects/Events

All Lessons are compulsory

Subject Lessons Block Lessons Other Projects & Events
English (Reading – study of novel and short stories, Writing, Oral Language, Information Skills)

Mathematics

Te Reo Maori

Health / PE

Eurythmy

Music

Handwork

Woodwork

Visual Art and Clay

Whakapapa Study

Inter-class Sports Tournament

Ngā Rōpū Tautoko

Support Networks

The Class Teacher is supported by a range of specialist subject teachers and takes responsibility for your child’s academic education, as well as for their physical and social development.

The relationship that develops between Class Teacher and student over the years fosters increasing self-assurance and confidence. Class Teachers work in partnership with parents to guide, motivate, protect and encourage the student, and to enhance understanding of the ways in which you can support your child’s education at home.

 

Ngā Pūrongo Paetae

Progress Reports

Class Teachers report to parents in a way that reflects the unique needs of each child and is focused on their growth and development. One of the reasons we find the Class Teacher model so effective, is that teachers can identify and monitor, in considerable depth, both student achievements and challenges over an extended period of time. This means that you, as a parent, receive a much more detailed level of reporting about your child’s progress, than if teachers worked with each student for just a single year.

He Pātai?

Questions?

If there is something more you would like to know about our Waldorf / Steiner school approach to learning and what daily class life looks like for Primary School students, please don’t hesitate to give our friendly staff a call. We are always happy to talk to you about your child and their unique learning needs.

“At Michael Park School we create the space where your child will form purposeful and lifelong relationships, and where inspiration is fostered to enable them to be the best that they can be.”

Desmond Pemerika – Principal

Contact Us

  • +64 9 579 3083
  • [email protected]
  • 55 Amy Street, Ellerslie, Auckland
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  • Our School
    • Welcome
    • Our Story
    • Student Wellbeing
    • An acknowledgement to the people of the land
    • Facilities
    • Employment
    • Back
  • Education
    • The Steiner Difference
    • Kindergarten
    • Primary School
    • High School
    • Academic Results
    • Learning Experiences
    • Back
  • Enrolment
    • How to Enrol
    • Open Days
    • Fees
    • International Students
    • Student Exchanges
    • Back
  • Community
    • Our People
    • Summer Fair
    • Get Involved
    • Gallery
    • Community Perspective
    • Back
  • News & Events
    • Calendar
    • Newsletters
    • Event Information
    • Back
  • Key Information
    • Term Dates
    • Starting School
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Annual Plan
    • BYOD
    • FAQ’s
    • Contact Us
    • Back
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