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Highland Hall News
Acids & Bases in the High School
During their recent Chemistry block titled "Acids, Bases, and Salts," the 10th grade learned all about inorganic chemicals, and in this lab, they were able to visualize a neutralization reaction! This titration lab allows students to determine the concentration of an acid, using a base of known concentration and an indicator that turns hot pink once the neutralization has been achieved. This lab blends hands-on, visual work with mathematical analysis.
The 5th Grade Studies Egypt
During their study of Ancient Civilizations, the 5th Grade “journeyed” to Egypt where they created hieroglyphics and made a Mediterranean salad for lunch! The children studied the timeline and geography of ancient Egypt, learning about the history and design of the pyramids, the lives of the people, and their religion and mythology. They also created pyramids from […]
7th Grade Inorganic Chemistry Hands-on Learning
In 7th grade Inorganic Chemistry, they took their classroom to the garden to observe the Lime Cycle. They prepared the lime kiln for firing the marble or calcium carbonate. Next, the students layered charcoal and marble, and they fired up the kiln. At the end of the day, they revisited the kiln to observe the firing and the transformation of calcium […]
5th Grade Music Class
The 5th grade has successfully learned the basic mechanics of each of their wind instruments and is now learning to expand their range, learning new fingerings, and growing in strength and support. They are learning articulations and control of their volume and tone while working toward blending their sounds in ensemble playing.
4th Grade Woodworking Class
The 4th grade has been working on carving fish sculptures. The students are shaping basswood blocks into their visions of fish using a variety of tools such as carving knives, rasps, and files. The students first use the carving knives to shape their blocks into the basic form and then further refine them using rasps and files. This project is […]
1st Grade Class Play
The Water of Life, is a play adaptation of a Grimms' fairy tale that was written by Shivani Burrows-Goodwill and edited by the teacher to fit her first grade class. It follows individual journeys of three royal brothers who long to cure their father with the "Water of Life." Along the way, three dwarves who know the path discover what lies within each of the brothers' hearts.
No Ordinary Class Trip
The eighth grade spent 5 days in Washington D.C. on their class trip. The students experienced the living history of the United States through visits to the monuments and sights in and around the Capitol Mall. The group went on a tour of the Capitol building and visited several Smithsonian Museum locations. Another excursion brought them to the reenactment town of Historic Williamsburg. It will be an experience that will stay with these students for a lifetime!
End-of-Year Assembly
The final assembly honored the seniors graduating that evening and had performances that included dancing, singing, recitation, flutes, and recorders. All grades participated with unique and beautiful contributions.
8th Grade End-of-Year Projects
The 8th graders presented their culminating projects. This was a year-long process that involved researching a self-selected topic, preparing a creative component, and presenting their work to the community. The eighth grader is in the process of self-discovery. They are learning about themselves and the world. This project is an opportunity for them to share a topic that is important to them with their class and the community.
Senior Class Field Trip
The Senior class went to the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Students learned about the roles played in our federal justice system by U.S. judges, prosecuting and defense attorneys, probation officers, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other support staff. They also witnessed the beginning of a trial, including seating of the jury and […]
6th Grade Class Trip
Mineralogy and Astronomy are two of the main topics in the 6th grade curriculum. Their visit to Death Valley National Park offered examples of many landforms such as, mountains, sand dunes, salt flats, colorful rocks, smooth marble, and rough sandstone. At night, Death Valley’s dark skies at provided students with the opportunity to “map the […]
7th Grade Eurythmy Performance
The word eurythmy comes from the Greek and means beautiful or harmonious movement. It is an expressive art form, also called visible song and visible speech. This expressive movement art was originated by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century. The seventh grade worked diligently perfecting the various copper rod exercises that they learned in Eurythmy […]
9th Grade Anatomy Block
Anatomy in the Waldorf High School is comprised of three main topic areas: Health and the Human Body, Nutrition and Physiology, and Muscles and Bones. Anatomy focuses on the structure of the body, muscles and bones, while physiology focuses on how those structures support life. Above we see a sampling of 9th grade students’ main lesson books during their study of the skeletal system.
Elementary Students Learn Mandarin
At Highland Hall, Mandarin is taught from first grade, along with Spanish. In the lower grades, students learn poems & songs. By the 4th grade, they learn writing, pinyin, and the contexts in which to use them. Every year, there is a Lunar New Year celebration so students also learn about the culture & customs.
Early Grades Form Drawing
Form drawing is a key part of Waldorf education because it is develops a child's cognitive, physical, and emotional abilities through drawing specific shapes and patterns; it fosters spatial awareness, fine motor skills, concentration, and a sense of rhythm and balance, all while integrating sensory experiences and promoting a deeper connection to the world around them; essentially, it's a practice that aims to educate the whole child through artistic expression. It provides foundations for reading and writing in the earliest grades, cultivates the imagination and feeling of symmetry, and later challenges children as they work with transformations
