2nd Grade
Where fables, heroes, and big feelings find their place
Second grade is a rich, colorful year. Children are learning how to be part of a class community while also exploring their growing independence and strong emotions.
At Camellia Waldorf School, our 2nd Grade program meets this stage with lively stories, meaningful work, and a warm, structured rhythm. Through fables, legends of saints and heroes, nature study, art, and movement, children deepen their skills while building a strong inner picture of goodness, courage, and responsibility.
“In second grade, we watched our child become more confident, more thoughtful, and more engaged with the world around them.”
Why Families Love 2nd Grade at Camellia
The second grade year builds naturally on the foundations of 1st Grade, while honoring the “duality” in eight-year-olds: they can be generous and kind one minute, mischievous and impulsive the next. The curriculum speaks directly to that inner landscape.
What makes our 2nd Grade special:
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In-Depth Main Lesson Blocks
Each morning begins with a focused two-hour main lesson block in one subject—math, language arts, science, history, or geography—allowing children time to really live into each topic over 3–4 weeks. -
Balanced Day with Nature & Recess
Academic focus is balanced with recess and outdoor time, so students can move, breathe, and integrate what they’ve learned. -
Age-Appropriate Homework
Homework supports learning while still keeping evenings open for family life and free play. -
Long-Term Relationship with the Class Teacher
The class teacher often stays with the same group of students for multiple years, creating deep trust, consistency, and an environment where each child is truly known.
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A Bit About 2nd Grade: Stories That Mirror the Child
In second grade, children continue to strengthen classroom habits—respecting others, taking turns, listening carefully, and caring for their materials and space.
The heart of the year is the story life:
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Fables bring animals with very human tendencies—clever, selfish, proud, or foolish—offering humorous, honest mirrors for the children’s own behavior.
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Legends of saints and sages introduce human beings who strive toward courage, kindness, and selflessness—figures such as St. George, Saint Lucia, or Mother Teresa.
Together, these stories help children make sense of their own inner duality: the pull between impulse and ideal, mischief and nobility.
Through regular recall, discussion, and writing or drawing from the stories, students deepen comprehension, moral imagination, and language skills.
2nd Grade Learning Objectives
Main Lesson Skills
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Participating in class circle and small group work
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Listening to and exploring the themes and outcomes of stories
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Practicing respectful speech, turn-taking, and attentive posture in class
Language Arts
Second graders strengthen the foundational skills begun in 1st Grade:
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Learning and practicing lowercase letters
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Introduction to cursive writing
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Rhyming words and letter/sound patterns
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Writing simple sentences based on stories
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Speech work and class plays
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Reading from their own Main Lesson books and simple first readers
Literature
The literature of 2nd Grade is full of rich imagery and meaning:
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Fables (Aesop’s, Celtic, and others)
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Legends of saints and heroes
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Folk tales and traditional stories that nourish moral imagination
Mathematics
Math work continues with increasing complexity and confidence:
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Continued practice with the four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
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Times tables and number patterns
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Working with time and money
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Whole numbers and column addition and subtraction
Science (Nature Studies)
Science in 2nd Grade is rooted in nature study:
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Observing and discussing the qualities of animals
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Spending time outdoors to notice behavior, habitats, and seasonal changes
Foreign Language
Spanish is brought in a joyful, accessible way:
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Songs, circle games, and dancing
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Poetry and simple verses
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Crafts and hands-on activities
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Introduction to the Spanish alphabet and numbers
Form Drawing
Form drawing supports coordination, focus, and pre-writing/geometry skills:
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Linear forms
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Mirrored forms that develop spatial awareness and symmetry
Art
Artistic work continues to deepen:
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Introduction of secondary colors
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Watercolor painting with animals emerging from the colors
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Beeswax modeling
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Drawing with block and stick beeswax crayons
Music
Music is woven through the day:
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Pentatonic flute songs that echo the stories and fables
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Singing, folk songs, and musical games that nurture listening and rhythm
Handwork
Handwork builds patience, coordination, and quiet confidence:
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Knitting and crochet with simple stitches
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Creating potholders and small animals from their work
Physical Education & Movement
Movement supports healthy growth and social development:
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Jump rope and hopscotch
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Rhythmic and cooperative games
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Movement class with group activities that build balance, coordination, and teamwork
FESTIVALS
Life in the Wider School Community -
1st Grade students are part of Camellia’s vibrant festival life and community traditions, giving them a sense of belonging and connection beyond their own classroom. Families are invited into seasonal celebrations and school events that mark the turning of the year.
👉 You can learn more about our seasonal festivals on our Festivals page.
More about the 2nd Grade
