a Meaningful Middle School
At Marin Waldorf School, the middle school curriculum is designed to be experiential, inspiring, personally challenging, and meaningful to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Through a curriculum rich in languages, science, math, and the arts, we teach students to think critically, guide them in building strong social bonds and an ethical worldview, and prepare them with the skills, knowledge, and imagination they need to excel in high school and beyond.
Whether they are whittling in the woodshop, trekking to the top of a snowy mountain peak, or puzzling over a word problem in math class, Marin Waldorf School students are encouraged to meet life's challenges with curiosity and courage.
Strong in STEM
In our middle school classrooms, science instruction begins with observation, using what is known as a phenomenological approach. In a phenomenological approach, students aren’t introduced to scientific principles through lectures and reading. Instead, a lesson begins with experimentation, observation, and hypothesis—teaching students to think like scientists do. Learn more about our approach to science instruction.
Stewardship of the Earth
Outdoor and Environmental Education are an integral aspect of middle school program. Environmental Education is focused on stewardship of our beautiful 10-acre campus and developing an understanding of the environmental impacts of our water, waste, and recycling systems. Students take a series of memorable class trips to locations around California, as well as a capstone trip in the 8th grade year. Read about a recent 7th grade trip to the Shasta Wilderness.
Extraordinary Teaching
At the heart of the middle school program is our dedicated middle school faculty, who bring experience, depth, and genuine care to their teaching. Together, we are committed to providing a curriculum that challenges the intellect, nurtures the emotional life, and supports the development of capable, creative, and socially conscious individuals. Our goal is to help these students meet this ever-shifting world with confidence, adaptability, and a strong sense of inner purpose.
A Human Approach to Tech
Technology and Digital Literacy are thoughtfully incorporated into the middle school curriculum. In addition to developing keyboarding proficiency, students receive explicit instruction in online research skills for use in research projects in 7th and 8th grades. Lessons emphasize critical evaluation of sources and appropriate use of technology in academic work. Learn more about our school’s thoughtful and age-appropriate approach to technology.
“These relationships will last forever if you nurture them. You will make friends in high school, college, and beyond, but your MWS classmates will forever be sacred, their loyalty and love for you will always there. Keep it with you. ”
The Middle School Curriculum
5th Grade
Language Arts & Literacy: Greek myths; descriptive writing; self-editing and peer editing compositions; spelling and vocabulary; plot, character development, traits and roles and setting
Math: Decimals, ratios, four operations, place value, measurement, rounding, fractions, and word problems; freehand geometric drawing with straight edge and compass
Social Studies: Ancient civilizations, including India, Persia, Egypt, and Greece
Science: Botany
World Languages: Spanish and Mandarin
Arts, Crafts, and Music: Strings, singing in parts, recorder, knitting (four needles), woodwork, watercolor, geometric drawing, drama and presentation
Movement: Track and field events, including javelin, discus, long jump, sprints; Pentathlon, an inter-school athletic event in the style of the Ancient Greek games.
6th Grade
Language Arts & Literacy: Developing a point of view or argument; compound and complex sentences, independent and subordinate clauses; self-editing, vocabulary, and spelling; character, plot, and themes in reading; summarizing and recall; book reports
Math: Beginning in sixth grade, a middle school math specialist complements the work of the class teacher. Business math and economics is the focus of 6th grade math.
Social Studies: The rise and fall of the Roman Empire; the Middle Ages; world geography
Science: Geology and mineralogy, astronomy, and physics (with lab)
World Languages: Spanish and Mandarin
Arts, Crafts, and Music: Strings, singing in parts, recorder, knitting (four needles), woodwork, watercolor, geometric drawing, drama and presentation
Movement: Javelin, archery, unicycle
7th Grade
Language Arts & Literature: complex sentence structure, organization and development of paragraphs, transitions, and sequencing; plot summarization, character development, and theme analysis; note taking, preparing outlines, and paraphrasing; poetry, meter, and rhyme
Math: Pre-algebra and irrational numbers; Euclidean geometry (proof and calculation); The Pythagorean Theorem; the Golden Mean and the Fibonacci Sequence; the metric system
Social Studies: The European Renaissance, the Reformation, and world exploration
Science: Lab sciences in chemistry (combustion) and physics; expository writing for science
World Languages: Spanish and Mandarin
Arts, Crafts, and Music: Chamber orchestra, choir/singing in parts, knitting (four needles), woodwork, watercolor, geometric drawing, speech and drama, perspective drawing
Movement: Track and field, team sports
8th Grade
Language Arts & Literature: Shakespeare and epic poetry; textual detail, hypothesizing, theme and character analysis, and literary style; outlining, note taking, writing a research paper (citing sources and making a bibliography), paraphrasing, summarizing, the essay, and newspaper and business writing; creative writing; oral presentation
Math: Algebra (linear and quadratic polynomial equations), Platonic solids, three-dimensional geometry (Pythagorean theorem, surface area, volume)
Social Studies: Revolutions, Civil Rights
Science: Lab sciences in organic chemistry, physics, aerodynamics, and mechanics; human physiology and anatomy
World Languages: Spanish and Mandarin
Arts, Crafts, and Music: Chamber orchestra, choir/singing in parts, knitting (four needles), woodwork, watercolor, geometric drawing, speech and drama
Movement: Track and field, team sports
Where do our graduates go?
Marin Waldorf School graduates attend both public and independent high schools in the Bay Area and beyond. Most go on to study at a four-year university. Below is a list of recent high school and college attendance.
High Schools Acceptances & Attendance
Archie Williams High School
The Branson School
Credo High School
The Bay School
Interlochen Arts Academy
Marin Academy
Marin School of the Arts
Marin Catholic High School
Redwood High School
Saint Ignatius
San Domenico School
San Francisco Waldorf High School
San Rafael High School
Sonoma Academy
Tamalpais High School
Terra Linda High School
Select Colleges & Universities Attended By Our Graduates
Amherst College
Bennington College
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
CU Boulder
Colorado State
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Elon University
Humboldt State University
Pfitzer College
New York University
Occidental College
San Diego State
Santa Clara University
Sonoma State
Temple University
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UC Davis
UC Santa Cruz
University of Oregon
University of Wyoming
University of Denver
University of Vermont
University of Miami
University of Nevada
University of Utah
University of Mississippi
Vanderbilt University
Villa Nova
Whitman College
Wellesley College
Willamette University
This video was created during the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects the safety protocols we used at that time.