Waldorf Block: G4: Fourth Grade Local Geography

• Journeying Outwards: The block begins with the familiar – the student's desk, classroom, and the route from home to school – gradually expanding to encompass the neighborhood, town/city, county, and ultimately, their state or province. This "whole to part" approach resonates with the child's evolving developmental understanding.
• Mapmaking & Orienteering: A significant focus is placed on mapmaking and map reading. Students create their own maps, developing a "bird's eye view" perspective that is appropriate for their age. Basic orienteering skills may also be introduced.
• Local History & Culture: Students delve into the history and culture of their locality. This includes learning about:
  • Indigenous peoples who inhabited the land.
  • Early settlers and their stories.
  • The lay of the land, its flora, fauna, and terrain.
  • The rise of local industries.
• Integrating with Other Subjects: The geography block seamlessly integrates with other fourth-grade subjects. Students may utilize language arts to write compositions about their explorations, and math skills by learning fractions and long division to better understand scale and measurement in mapmaking. The stories and legends of the locality can inspire artistic work.
• Developing a Sense of Place: The block fosters a deep sense of place and belonging in the world, helping students understand their connection to their environment and the people who have shaped it.

• Fosters a Connection to the Environment: By exploring their local surroundings, students develop a stronger connection to the natural world.
• Encourages Observation Skills: Detailed observations of their environment, like in the study of animals in the complementary Zoology block, hone the child's observation skills.
• Develops Spatial Reasoning: Mapmaking and understanding the relationship between different locations enhance spatial reasoning skills.
• Provides a Foundation for Future Studies: This initial exploration of geography provides a foundation for more expansive studies in later grades.

In essence, the Earthschooling Waldorf fourth grade local geography block is a rich and engaging main lesson experience that connects students to their immediate world and equips them with essential skills for navigating both their local environment and the broader geographical landscape. It's an experience that encourages exploration, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the unique place they inhabit.

Join Waldorf teacher Nichole Martinez on a wonderful adventure through fourth grade local geography. Each video includes a main lesson book drawing and chalk board drawing along with some extras. This is a complete block for fourth grade. Each Living Lesson set is a complete video course for the block and includes chalkboard drawings, teacher instruction, main lesson book drawings, verses, and more. The exact contents of the block can be found below in the description.

Living Lessons are video lessons where a teacher leads the class through the main lessons for this grade. You can use these lessons as examples to follow for your own teaching or can use them as supplements to your own teaching (we all need a break now and then. I would have loved to have these available on days I was ill or was taking care of my fussy baby). Scroll down to the class listings below to see the full syllabus and to view some free samples!

Do you want a FULL Waldorf Curriculum with Music, Handwork, Eurythmy, and extra Art Lessons?

Visit our fourth-grade Bundle HERE