WLR varies/rotates the schedule based on available resources and interests of our participating families.
Classes marked with * are offered in the current/upcoming session: 2019 Winter-Srping. Check the Schedules page for the days/times these classes are offered.
Art* ~ Thursdays in Sacramento Mr. Huff will lead students through a variety of art experiences including drawing, wet-on-wet watercoloring painting. Lower grades students will also experience beeswax modeling; upper grades students may also experience other mediums such as charcoal and/or pastel drawing.
Handwork* ~ Tuesdays in Davis Explore a variety of fiber arts through stories and songs. Children will learn the arts of plant-dyeing, wool felting, weaving, spinning, knitting and crochet. Supplies will be provided for use during class time. Handwork tools will be available for purchase for families who would like to continue to explore fiber arts at home. All materials are handmade with natural and organic materials, and wool is sourced from local sheep. Children who have taken this class before will learn at a higher level.
Woodworking* ~ Tuesdays in Davis Woodworking is a way to experience the process of shaping the world. The exertion of the child's feeling, thinking, and willing self, through the wood, has a lasting impression on the life of the growing child. The goal of the class is for the students to get an overall experience of the craft of woodworking by engaging them in different ways that wood is used as a material that can be transformed. They may rasp, sand, file, assemble, glue, stain and finish wood projects. The types of projects completed may include the following: weaving loom, flower press, coasters, wood blocks, pencil holder, percussive instrument and others.
WLR varies/rotates the schedule based on available resources and interests of our participating families.
Classes marked with * are offered in the current/upcoming session: FALL 2018. Check the Schedules page for the days/times these classes are offered.
Beeswax Modeling In this hands-on class, students experience the sight, touch and smell of natural beeswax to create forms inspired by the teacher’s story. The warmth of the child’s hands softens the beeswax and makes it malleable. As the students become more familiar with the modeling beeswax, the process helps to develop the will and their figures may become more intricate.
Beginning Knitting Beginners who need extra fine motor practice will be able to first learn finger-knitting. Students will make their own wooden knitting needles and learn casting on and basic knitting; based on progress, some students will go on to purling. Student will create simple projects such as stuff animals, washcloths and scarves. Excellent for fine motor development as a support to academic learning, including left-to-right eye movement required in reading.
Blacksmithing Crafting metals moves between utility and art, and utilizes the core elements of our planet. We use earth both in the form of iron as well as coal (for heat), fire to make that metal malleable, air to make the fire hot and the power of water to cool the heat-treated metals. As with many other manual crafts, blacksmithing forges connections between hand and mind, enhancing the learning experience on multiple levels. In this class, students will make useful items such as a wall hook, fire poker or candle holder. Skill level and individual progress will determine the number of projects completed. In addition, blacksmithing's important role in history will be presented. Limited enrollment. (Note:SSCS will not cover the cost of this class.)
Celtic Knot Braids & Designs From simple, two-stranded braids to complex spirals and fantastic animal forms, Celtic knots have long been admired for their intricacy and beauty. But did you know that even the most complicated of these forms are built up from simple principles? In this class students will learn not only how to draw these forms, but also how to decorate them in a variety of ways. By working with Celtic knot and braid designs, students experience the dimensionality of form as they explore the concepts of "over" and "under." Introduction of the "disappearing line" helps develop the ability to "follow a line of thought." In addition, drawing these forms helps to advance focus and concentration as the drawing process itself organically brings students to an attentive, alert state.
Drawing & Story Time In this special class for our younger students, Mr. Huff will begin each lesson by telling a story to engage the students' imaginations. Inspired by what they have heard, Mr. Huff will then lead the students through the art of drawing with beeswax crayons. These outstanding crayons foster and lend themselves particularly well to wide-stroke drawing which encourages inner relaxation. The addition of pure beeswax enhances the brilliant pigment and creates a high degree of opacity similar to that of watercolor. (Materials provided by WLR.)
Gardening & Carpentry In this multi-disciplined class, students will work in the garden at our Sacramento location, learning about plants, the weather, and basic carpentry skills. They will also construct their own seed starting tray (to take home) and plant seeds. Plants will be introduced and started in pots which they will take home at the end of the session. Light carpentry skills will be covered such as using a hammer, hand saw, file, rasp and sandpaper. In addition to the above, upper grades students will also be introduced to different types of propagation such as mint. Students will take home their propagated plants at the end of the semester.
Handiworks Traditional life skills such as sewing, hammering, sawing, filing, spinning and knitting were once a part of everyday life. In previous generations, nearly all children learned these skills and along with them, developed important inner capacities, such as:
Building perseverance
Developing problem solving skills
Developing a sense of rhythm, calm and grounding through hands-on activities
At the core of the Handiworks class is the development of these capacities as well as skill development and enjoyment of the practical arts. In our fast-paced, instant information, instant gratification-oriented society, practical skill development is more important than ever to facilitate and preserve the development of patience, perseverance and appreciation. This class is designed to meet each student at his/her current skill level, offering a variety of possible projects such as spinning and dying wool, while also challenging the students with learning new skills, building upon those they already possess. For instance, younger children may be able to make a beginning start into spinning, but the instructor will provide an alternative project if the child is not quite ready for the spinning. Possible projects include:
jump ropes
play-horsey reins
pillow covers
hats
trivets for the kitchen
Small toys
Pincushions
Tools used in this class may include: file, rasp, handsaw, coping saw, vice, hammer, sandpaper, miter box, hand drill, sewing needles, crochet hook, knitting needles.
Handwork The Handwork program strives to place tasks before the students that encourage them to develop basic skills for manipulating natural materials in many ways. Learning to knit is often a beginning skill that is taught for new students and they can make simple projects such as scarves, potholders or stuffed animals. More advanced students can learn 4-needle knitting to create socks or other more challenging projects.
Handwork: Farm to Fiber Students will develop an appreciation and understanding of natural fibers and their sources, including biodynamic sheep fleece, silk worm cocoons and organic cotton bolls. Students will learn about sheep and the process of breaking down fleece. Although the class emphasizes fiber sources and processes rather than projects, students will experience several hands-on projects such as making a small piece of felt and making yarn from wool, cotton and silk. Mythical tales may be woven into the program to elaborate upon and extend the fiber lessons.
Native American Storytelling & Crafts In this creative, experiential class, students will explore Native American culture through stories and crafts. Students will learn about practices such as grinding corn and acorns, using a mortar and pestle as well as make simple crafts such as medicine bags. Instructor will further customize the crafts and stories according to the developmental needs and interests of the students enrolled.
Nature Stories & Crafts In this lively class, students will engage the imagination through storytelling and crafts. Stories will focus on the seasons, Native American tales and the natural environment. Each story will be paired with a craft such as making seed balls for birds, stringing “Indian Corn,” and making an ornament out of wheat. Although not ingested, crafts will include exposure to flour, oats, millet, birdseed, honey and corn. Class integrates language arts, science, arts and crafts.
Patterns in Nature Numbers and patterns are all around us. From the smallest grain of sand to the stars and galaxies, these patterns express the order and wonder of the universe. Join us as we explore these patterns through microscopes, drawing, measurement and models.
Printmaking Learning to make prints is fun, educational, and can be used creatively for many school and home projects. In this class, students will learn several kinds of printmaking, including: potato prints, leaf prints, mono prints, and stamping of different kinds. High quality paints, inks and beeswax crayons will be incorporated in the process. Our creative themes will come from nature and world cultures such as Japan, India, and Africa which have used printmaking processes for many centuries. Each student works at his/her own skill level. No experience is necessary.
Renaissance Arts, Culture & History, Grades 5-8 Students will explore a variety of Renaissance period arts and crafts through lecture, discussion and hands-on projects. Students may experience of variety of crafts including paper-making, printing or pewter casting. In addition, students will learn about Renaissance culture and history to enliven and deepen their understanding of this rich historical era.
The Use of Perspective, Grades 5 - 8 Perspective adds another layer of depth to our art pieces. In this class we will work with color perspective, along with one- and two-point perspective constructions. Media will include pencil, crayon, and watercolor. Prerequisites: Students should be comfortable working independently with watercolors and drawing tools and have the ability to measure with a ruler to the nearest ⅛”. Supplies: Students bring pencils, colored pencils, small pencil sharpener and ruler to class.
Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting Painting is one of the essential arts in Waldorf education. The process of painting itself is very important to the development of the child’s artistic sensibility. This process is an end in itself, not merely a means of achieving the finished product (the painting). In particular, "wet-on-wet" painting helps children develop an understanding of colors and especially the relationship between colors, form, and mood. The children, through painting and appreciation of colors, are able to more deeply experience the feelings in their surroundings: nature, the seasons, festivals.
Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting, Grades 1 - 3 For younger children, we emphasize the colors much more than any specific forms. The students’ imaginations live through the color, using the three primary colors (red, yellow and blue). The children are able to experience the mood and movement of each color, without restrictions such as pre-drawn outlines. We slowly introduce secondary colors (orange, green, purple) by mixing the primary colors.
Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting, Grades 4 - 8 As the children get older, we slowly introduce more form into their experience. Children mix the colors on the paper, painting to create the mixed hues instead of pre-mixing them on the palette. In this way all kinds of shapes appear in the color because of light and shadow, and the creation of form is discovered and gently encouraged -- taking inspiration from nature, literature or history, accordingly.
Woodworking* Woodworking is a way to experience the process of shaping the world. The exertion of the child's feeling, thinking, and willing self, through the wood, has a lasting impression on the life of the growing child. The goal of the class is for the students to get an overall experience of the craft of woodworking by engaging them in different ways that wood is used as a material that can be transformed. They may rasp, sand, file, assemble, glue, stain and finish wood projects. The types of projects completed may include the following: weaving loom, flower press, coasters, wood blocks, pencil holder, percussive instrument and others.