EXPERIENCE FIRST GRADE

A man wearing sunglasses, a gray hat, and a striped shirt standing outdoors on a grassy area with mountains and construction equipment in the background. There is a sign in front of him that reads 'Hundred Hills School'.

FREE COMMUNITY OFFERING

Join Mr. Wheeler for a day in the first grade!

We welcome families of students entering the first grade next year to experience what a day of school is like with a Waldorf-trained and certified teacher. This free experience is extended to our entire community, and all are welcome.

Space is limited, so be sure to sign up below.

RSVP

Our Day Together

Main Lesson 9:00-10:30
Snack & Recess 10:30-11:00
Handwork 11:00-11:45
Arts 11:45-12:30
Lunch & Games 12:30-1:15

While students are at lunch, parents will gather for a brief discussion with the teacher from 12:30 to 1:00.

Scenic landscape with a large mountain range in the background, a turquoise lake in the middle ground, and grassy plains with sparse trees in the foreground.

Math

Our approach to math in the lower grades is imaginative, rhythmic, and deeply connected to the child’s developmental stage. Rather than beginning with abstract numbers or symbols, math is introduced through stories, movement, art, and nature. Teachers use rhythmical activities—like clapping, stepping, and reciting times tables in verse—to help children internalize mathematical patterns.

Concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are first experienced through imaginative tales and real-life experiences before being represented with numbers and written exercises. This holistic approach nurtures not only mathematical understanding but also joy, confidence, and a living sense of number in the child.

Landscape of a large mountain range with a lake in the foreground and grassy fields with scattered bushes.

Language

Language arts are taught through rich oral tradition, imagination, and artistic expression. Reading and writing grow naturally out of storytelling, poetry, and song—allowing children to develop a deep love for language before focusing on the mechanics. Teachers tell vivid fairy tales, fables, and legends that form the foundation for early literacy lessons. From these stories, children create drawings and write simple sentences, gradually discovering letters and sounds as living symbols with meaning and beauty.

Through recitation, drama, and rhythmic speech, they strengthen memory, vocabulary, and a sense of language’s art. This approach fosters not only literacy skills but also wonder, creativity, and a heartfelt connection to both spoken and written words.

Mountain range with clouds, a large body of water, and grassy land in the foreground.

Main Lesson

In our time during the main lesson, we

“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”

— Squarespace