Time in nature, and movement inside and outside the classroom, are integral components of the Waldorf curriculum. Our academic learning environment is made stronger because of the synergy between the natural world and the emphasis on learning through movement. Movement is part of every child’s day at Seattle Waldorf School as they study mathematics, language arts, science, history, dance, and sports.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Waldorf education this school year, we can’t help but look to the future and the research that supports what we already know to be true. When we educate the whole child, we build future capacities. When children spend time in nature, their anxiety levels go down. When students have the opportunity to move their bodies in play and in the classroom, their natural acuity for learning increases.
Author of more than 10 books, including Brain Rules for Baby and Attack of the Teenage Brain!, Dr. Medina, is Affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine as well as Founding Director of the Talaris Research Institute.As one of the leading brain researchers, Dr. Medina’s expertise in brain science, as well as his personable approach to speaking to parents, will engage both our community and the public in envisioning the future of education for our children.
