Community School for Creative Education Gardening Program Inspired by Waldorf Education

The Community School  is the first urban multi cultural  charter in the country inspired by Waldorf education.  Following the Waldorf model, at Community School, children experience an education of head (cognitive) heart  (social emotional) and hand (sensory integration) , readying them to lead in college and in life.  The focus of this school inspired by Waldorf education is that all core content is brought through the arts and nature.    Main lessons, the first block of the day, begin with  “circle time”  of singing, recitation, kinetic mental math and other movement exercises.  Songs are often  celebrating the seasons.  Story telling is a distinctive artistic way  the school introduces and deepens core academic content. Stories too are often about our natural enviornment.   Each class does weekly water color,  handwork, a rotation of pottery,  movement,  and drawing, and an end of year play and more.  A high point is the gardening.  In the work with plants and soil, children engage heart and hand for joy and  as springboard for powerful academic learning.  Subjects from mathematics and science to english language arts  are embedded in gardening when children sing their gardenng songs, measure what they plant and study the science of what is growing.