Mater Amabilis™

Overview of the Curriculum

A general outline of what is to be expected.

Preparatory Level (Ages 4 to 6)

Pre-K/Kindergarten in the US and Year 1 in the UK.

  • New Testament Bible stories, Liturgical Year, Introduction to the Catholic Faith
  • Introduction to letters and numbers.
  • Story time
  • Geography through study of children around the world
  • Learning about God’s world
  • Outdoor time
  • Creative play
Level 1B (Ages 6 to 7)

One year course. Grade 1 in the US and Year 2 in the UK.

  • Focus on acquisition of basic skills of reading, writing, number and oral narration.
  • Begin serious study of religion, including New Testament, Catechism, and stories of saints
  • Study History of child’s own nation
  • Formal study of geography and earth studies begins with study of Rivers and Oceans
  • Tales, fables and classic children’s literature
  • Introductions to picture study and classical music
  • Optional foreign language
  • Nature Study: mammals, tide pool, and ocean life
  • All books read aloud to the child unless he is reading proficiently.
Level 1A (Ages 7 to 9)

Two year course. Grades 2 and 3 in the US and Year 3 and 4 in the UK.

  • Continuing focus on the development of basic skills.
  • Religion studies including New Testament, Catechism, and stories of saints
  • Begin the transition to reading independently and writing some narrations.
  • English Language lessons
  • Continue the studies begun in Level 1B
  • Continue learning the history of the child’s own nation.
  • Begin learning a foreign language.
  • Begin systematic study of ancient history: Ancient Israel and Ancient Egypt
  • Greek mythology, tales and classic children’s literature
  • Geographical focus on Europe and Asia
  • Studies of maps, weather and environments
  • Science of the Natural world: plants, insects, birds in year 1
  • Formal science study in year 2 begins with matter, astronomy, microscopic world
  • Artist and composer studies
Level 2 (Ages 9 to 11)

Two year course. Grades 4 and 5 in the US and Years 5 and 6 in the UK.

  • Lesson books to be read independently.
  • Regular written narrations.
  • Religion includes Acts of the Apostles, the Bible through the mysteries of the Rosary, Catechism, and a focus on saints and Our Lady
  • English Language lessons
  • Study history of another country (Britain or America)
  • Continue study of ancient history: Ancient Greece and Rome
  • Greek and Roman mythology
  • Shakespeare
  • Classic children’s literature
  • Geographical focus: the Americas and Africa
  • Science studies correlate with ancient history and include nature, solar system, simple machines, physics, and human biology
  • Latin begun in second year
  • Artist and composer studies
Level 3 (Ages 11 to 13)

Two year course. Grades 6 and 7 in the US and Years 7 and 8 in the UK.

Level 4 (Ages 13 to 14)

One year course. Grade 8 in the US and Year 9 in the UK.

  • Transitional year into higher level studies
  • Bible study related to Church Year Gospel
  • 20th century saints and prominent Catholics
  • Catechism focus
  • Shakespeare study continues
  • Tales from the Native American and African-American traditions
  • Classic 20th century literature and poetry
  • 20th century focus in history
  • Current events
  • 20th century Exploration 
  • Weather, electricity, magnetism and inventions
  • Continue study of Geology from Level 3
  • Natural History and stories of naturalists
  • Continue modern foreign language and Latin
  • Composers and music of the 20th century 
  • Artists of the 20th century
Level 5 (Ages 14 to 16)

Level 5 Year 1:

  • Ancient History to the End of the Roman Empire
  • British History to the Tudors
  • Church History to the End of the Roman Empire
  • Bible Study
  • Writings of Saints and Doctors of the Church
  • Study of the Creed
  • Papal Encyclicals
  • Classical Epics, British Literature to 1500 
  • Shakespeare
  • Composition
  • Geography of Asia

Level 5 Year 2:

  • Medieval History
  • British and American History to 1815
  • Church History to the End of the Middle Ages
  • Bible Study
  • (Writings of) Saints and Doctors of the Church
  • Study of the Mass
  • Papal Encyclicals
  • Dante, British poetry to 1900
  • Shakespeare
  • Composition
  • Geography of Africa
Level 6 (Ages 16 to 18)

Two year course. Grade 11 – 12 in the US and Year 12+ in the UK

Level 6 Year 1:

  • Modern World 
  • American History to 1815-Present
  • Church History to the End of the Sixth Age
  • Novels, English Poetry, American Literature 
  • Modern novels
  • Shakespeare
  • Composition
  • Bible Study
  • Saints and Doctors of the Church: 16th-18th centuries
  • Spiritual reading
  • Papal Encyclicals
  • Geography of the Americas

Level 6 Year 2:

  • Bible Study
  • Saints and Doctors of the Church: 19th-20th centuries
  • Spiritual reading
  • Papal Encyclicals
  • Independent Research in History
  • Novels, Literary Genre Study
  • Honors option: a year-long Senior Thesis
  • Geography of Europe
  • Further Science Studies

 

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