Madu Waldorf School

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

In May 2026, I had the pleasure of teaching a chemistry block to a mixed 6th and 7th grade class at Madu waldorf school. It was the last block of the school year, and the students were eager to discover a new subject. The study of combustion, highly relevant for the pre-adolescent, led us to experimentation with acids and bases using locally available materials. The students were able to conduct or assist in experiments, observe phenomena, write descriptive reports, and come to meaningful conclusions. We discussed topics such as excessive combustion of fossil fuels, global warming and acid rain; drew parallels to their study of physiology and the combustion in our bodies; and talked about chemistry in the social realm. It was a lively block filled with wonder for the natural world.