Elementary/ Primary Level (approx. ages 7 to 9)
Normally this course will be taken over two school years:
Grades 2 and 3 in the US and Year 3 and 4 in the UK.
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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
* Key curriculum those books considered to be key parts of the curriculum are shown in bold type and marked with an asterisk.
Highly Recommended books are shown in bold. These should be included if possible, but are not essential.
Optional extras - optional books and suggestions are shown in italics
+ Indicates subjects we consider to be essential at this level. Other subjects should be included if at all possible to give a broad Charlotte Mason style education.
(N) Denotes books intended for narration
Selections listed in blue are alternatives for home educators in the U.K.
History Cycle for Australian students [provided by Ruth Marshall]
Before beginning be sure to read our General Introduction to Charlotte Mason’s method, and the subject introductions for language arts,and geography.
The curriculum is designed to fit into 36 weeks, with many subjects broken down into three blocks of twelve weeks (terms). The approximate number of lessons required each week for each subject is shown in italics. Often the lessons can be covered in ten or eleven weeks, allowing a little leeway in the schedule.
Each term one classic children’s book and the recommended additional history book should be read aloud outside formal lesson time. By Year 2 the child should reading their own books (if able) and sometimes writing narrations.
At this level most lessons should last around 20 minutes.
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+RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
(1) Bible History – see Ancient History
(2) New Testament (Weekly, except during Advent)
(N) * A Life of Our Lord for Children by Marigold Hunt. Approximately three pages to be read (aloud in the first year, independently if possible in the second year) and narrated for each lesson. The schedule is lighter in the first terms to allow a break for Advent.
Year 1: *A Life of Our Lord for Children
- Term 1: pp.3-18
- Term 2: pp.21-49
- Term 3: pp.49-79
Year 2:* A Life of Our Lord for Children
- Term 1: pp.81-109
- Term 2: pp.109-150
- Term 3: pp.153-188
Recommended Reference Materials:
Any children’s Bible encyclopedia (or similar), for background information, maps and pictures of houses,clothing, every day items and locations.
(3) Catechism (Weekly)
(N) * Faith and Life Series Read, narrate and discuss one lesson each week.
Year 1: * Faith and Life 2
- Term 1: Lessons 1 to 11
- Term 2: Lessons 12 to 22
- Term 3: Lessons 23 to 34
Year 2 : * Faith and Life 3
- Term 1: Lessons 1 to 9
- Term 2: Lessons 10 to 20
- Term 3: Lessons 21 to 30
Optional Extras: Faith and Life Activity Books 2 and 3 – for children who like workbooks
UK: Abbreviated Catechism with Explanations by Canon F.Drinkwater– uses penny catechism, which has simpler and clearer language than the catechism questions in Faith and Life; UK: 250 Catechism Stories by Canon F.Drinkwater
(4) Saints (twice weekly, once for UK alternatives)
(N) * A Catholic Child’s Illustrated Lives of the Saints by L.E.McCullough
OR (N) * Saints for Young Readers for Everyday, Volume 1 and Volume 2 by Susan Helen Wallace
Read and narrate the saint of the day twice a week.
British Alternatives
(N) The Lion Treasury of Saints by David Self. Note: From an Anglican publisher, but almost all the saints covered are Catholic. Note that the section on Mary does not give the full Catholic perspective.
OR (N) * The Childs Book of Saints by Hugh Ross Williamson. Read and narrate one saint each week. (Out of print)
(5) Advent (Three times weekly)
* The Way To Bethlehem by Inos Biffi
* The Life of Mary by Inos Biffi
(6) Lent (Twice weekly) One story to be read each lesson. Not for narration.
- Year 1: * Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander
- Year 2: * More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander
(7) Easter (Twice weekly)
- (N) Year 1: * The Way of the Cross: A Story of Padre Pio by Clare Jordan Mohan
- (N) Year 2: * The Young Life of St. Faustina by Clare Jordan Mohan
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+ MATHEMATICS (Daily)
- Work through any math(s) scheme of your choice at a pace appropriate for your child. Short daily lessons lasting 20 minutes (including drill) should be enough.
- Five minutes of daily drill in math(s) facts.
Further Resources: Basic Facts Worksheet Factory – free downloadable software for creating worksheets to practice basic arithmetic facts. You might like to vary your week by making Friday a fun maths day, doing activities and mathematical reading instead of your usual maths scheme.
Recommended Resources: G Is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David Schwarz
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+ ENGLISH
(1) Reading (Daily)
Continue using the reading program of your choice. Daily reading practice
Year 2: Books set for religion, history and geography to be read independently or read aloud by the child. When making the transition to independent reading “buddy reading”, alternating paragraphs or pages between parent (or older sibling) and child can be helpful.
(2) Writing (10 minutes daily)
(a) Handwriting Continue with handwriting scheme of your choice. Schemes we can recommend personally are D’nelian cursive and Getty-Dubay Italic
(b) Copywork and Studied Dictation Short selections taken from the literature, history and religion selections, or from * The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist. The Faith and Life books contain a number of Bible quotations suitable for copywork.
(c) Written Narration Depending on your child’s writing ability, you may want to start making the transition to written narration in the second year of Level 1A. If so, then start with shorter, simpler narrations. Saints for Every Day for Young Readers may be a good choice for this.
Optional Extras:
The Child on His Knees by Mary Dixon Thayer –short, interesting but simple poems and prayers
Suggested Activity: Copy two or three lines of a prayer or poem daily. When the whole thing is done illustrate it, decorate it, cover it with contact paper and use it as a placemat.
(3) Grammar / English Language (Three times weekly)
* Primary Language Lessons by Emma Serl Year 1:
- Term 1: Lessons 1-27, pp.1-19
- Term 2: Lessons 28-55, pp. 20-43
- Term 3: Lessons 56-82, pp. 45-71
Year 2:
- Term 1: Lessons 83-108, pp.73-95
- Term 2: Lessons 109-136, pp. 96-119
- Term 3: Lessons 137-164, pp.120-147
British Alternative
Year 1: Grammar Skills 1 or 2 (Learners Publishing, Singapore)
Year 2: Grammar Skills 2 or 3(Learners Publishing, Singapore)
Note: These books use British English and spellings. Singapore schools start using this series at age 6. As the series provides considerably more grammar coverage than would be usual in British schools, you may prefer to start at age 7. You can see samples here to decide which book would be the best fit for your child.
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+ LITERATURE
(1) Tales (Twice Weekly)
(N) * Classic Myths to Read Aloud by William F.Russell
- Year 1: Listening Level 1 (22 stories)
- Year 2: Listening Level 2 (17 stories)
(N) Stories taken from books of your choice from the following list:
- English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs
- Favorite North American Indian Legends and other collections published by Dover Books
- Old Peter’s Russian Tales by Arthur Ransome
- The Green Fairy Book and other collections by Andrew Lang
- Of Swords and Sorcerers by Margaret Hodges
(2) Classic Children’s Literature (ad.lib.)
Choose at least one book each term from the selection to read aloud. Not for narration, just read and enjoy!
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis
- All-of-a-kind Family by Sydney Taylor
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L.Baum
- Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
- Little House in the Big Woods and other books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The Story of the Treasure Seekers and other books by E.Nesbit
- The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
- Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
- The Princess and Curdie and The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
- The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner
- Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
- Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie
- Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
(3) Poetry * The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist.
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+ NATIONAL HISTORY (twice weekly; additional book ad.lib.)
Continue with a three-year course in the history of your own nation. If your child has not done Level 1B then start with Year 1 of this course. Otherwise, continue with Years 2 and 3.
Option 1: Introduction to American History
(N) * This Country Of Ours by H.E.Marshall. ( Also available free here)
(N) * The Catholic Faith Comes to the Americas by Illeen Reninger
Recommended additional book each term, to be read aloud at your own pace.
See additional schedule and suggestions for further reading.
Option 2: Introduction to British History
(N) * Our Island Story by H.E.Marshall (Also titled An Island Story)
(N)* Our Lady’s Dowry by Kathryn Faulkner. (In preparation. Chapters are being made available to Mater Amabilis users through the Teacher Training Forum as they are written.)
Recommended additional book each term, to be read aloud at your own pace.
See additional schedule and suggestions for further reading.
Option 3: History Cycle for Australian Students
See Australian history outline. Two year study of British history recommended for this Level.
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+ ANCIENT HISTORY (twice weekly, during Ordinary time only)
Year 1: Bible History (N) * New Catholic Picture Bible by Rev. Laurence G.Lovasik.
Read aloud and narrate one chapter each lesson. (43 lessons)
Recommended Reference Materials:
Ancient Israel Timeline (Our Father’s House)
The Ancient World of the Bible by Malcolm Day
UK Alternative: Great Events of Bible Times: Stories and History from the Old Testament – this book supplies a broad range of background material, including pictures of everyday objects, maps, and reconstructions.
Year 2: Ancient Egypt
(N) * The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne.
Read aloud and narrate according to the schedule (40 lessons).
Recommended Reference Materials:
Ancient Egypt Timeline (Our Father’ House)
The Usborne Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
Optional Extras:
Pharaohs and Pyramids (Time Traveler Series)
The Orchard Book of Egyptian Gods and Pharaohs by Robert Swindells. Further reading according to interest – a booklist is included at the end of the schedule.
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+ GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH STUDIES (three times weekly, plus map work)
Each term you should cover 36 lessons and also spend a short time each week on map study. How you want to schedule these lessons is up to you: you could take one lesson from each section each week, or you may prefer to work in blocks of lessons from one section at a time. Please read our introduction to geography in a Charlotte Mason education.
Recommended Reference Material
Atlas suitable for the child to use independently.
Map Work
Spend a short time each week locating places mentioned in reading for other subjects. You will also be focusing particularly on the map of Europe in the 1st Year and the map of Asia in the 2nd Year.
Year 1: [Themes: Europe; Maps and Plans; Weather]
(1) Peoples and Places [Europe] (12 lessons each term)
Choose one book each term from the list below to read aloud (not for narration) over the course of a term. Before each lesson, spend five minutes studying the map of the region. Aim to be able to quickly name and locate countries, capital and other major cities, important rivers and mountain ranges.
- Vendela in Venice by Christina Bjork [Italy]
- The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren [Sweden]
- The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson [France]
- Red Sails to Capri by Ann Weil [Italy]
- The Wheel on the School by Meinhart de Jong [Netherlands]
Note: We have not been able to find suitable literary non-fiction books for this Level, so have had to rely on fiction set in European locations.
(2) Maps and Plans (36 lessons)
* The Earth: the Geography of Our World by Barbara Taylor (ISBN: 0753454254). Note: Do not confuse this with other similar-titled books by the same author.
OR Maps and Mapping by Barbara Taylor (one of four separate books included in The Earth)
(3) Weather (36 lessons)
* The Earth: the Geography of Our World by Barbara Taylor (ISBN: 0753454254)
OR Weather and Climate by Barbara Taylor (one of four separate books included in The Earth)
**Schedule of lessons, including practical and outdoor activities
Year 2 [Themes: Asia; Extreme Environments; Mountains and Volcanoes]
(1) Peoples and Places [Asia] (12 lessons each term)
Choose one book each term from the list below to read (or read aloud) over the course of a term. Before each lesson, spend five minutes studying the map of the region. Aim to be able to quickly name and locate countries, capital and other major cities, important rivers and mountain ranges.
- A Little Tiger in the Chinese Night by Song Nan Zhang [China]
- The Children of China: An Artist’s Journey by Song Nan Zhang [China]
- Sovietrek: A Journey by Bicycle Across Russia by Dan Buettner (read narrative before studying pictures and captions)
- Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam by Quang Nhuong Huynh [Vietnam]
- Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden [Japan] –fiction
- Daughter of the Mountains by Louise Rankin [Tibet / India] –fiction Note: This book includes references to Buddhist prayers and practices and also to the use of astrology that you would need to discuss with your child. For background information on the position of the Church with regard to other religions see EWTN Link 1 and Link 2
(2) Earth Studies – Extreme Environments (36 lessons)
- Term 1: Deserts * 52 Days by Camel: My Sahara Adventure by Lawrie Raskin
- Term 2: Jungles * Jungle Islands: My South Sea Adventure by Maria Coffey
- Term 3: Arctic / Antarctic * By Truck to the North: My Arctic Adventure by Andy Turnbull
Most children should be able to read these books independently. Read and narrate the main text for each chapter, then explore the photographs, captions and supplementary text after the narration.
Optional Extras
Arctic and Antarctic (DK Eyewitness Guides) (Dorling Kindersley)
Race to the Pole by Meredith Hooper
Antarctic Journal: Four Months at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Owings Dewey
(3) Earth Studies – Mountains and Volcanoes (36 lessons)
* The Earth: the Geography of Our World by Barbara Taylor (ISBN: 0753454254)
OR Mountains and Volcanoes by Barbara Taylor (one of four separate books included in The Earth)
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* NATURE STUDY (Weekly)
- Take at least one nature walk each week.
- Keep a nature journal.
Recommended Resources:
- Keeping a Nature Journal by Claire Walker Leslie and Charles E.Roth
- Wild Days: Creating Discovery Journals, by Karen Rackliffe
- Introduction to Nature Study and Backyard Nature by MacBeth Derham (websites)
- Wild Monthly online nature study newsletter, also by MacBeth Derham
Optional Extra Reading
Secrets of the Animal World, by Eulalia Garcia (series)
Natural Partnerships: The Story of Symbiosis, by Dorothy Shuttlesworth
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+ SCIENCE (twice weekly)
Science study at this level will focus on nature study in Year 1, and on a study of magnitude in Year 2.
Year 1: A year’s study of the natural world, concentrating on plants, birds and insects.
Key Resources
- Science With Plants (Usborne Science Activities)
- The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess
- UK Alternative: Wayland Book of Common British Birds: a Photographic Guide by Nick Williams
- The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery
- Home Science Adventures: Discovering Birds
- Home Science Adventures: Discovering Insects
Schedule of lessons and activities
Year 2: This year’s study will help your child to get a sense of the order of the universe. Your child will learn to classify everything within creation by magnitude, and will set up a binder which will also be used in future years.
Key Resources
- The Universe in My Hands by Mary Daly Note: You will require both the booklet and the set of dividers. We advise you to read through the booklet before starting the lessons with your child. [UK: As the dividers are intended for American sized 3 ring binders, and there is no UK source for them, you may prefer to make your own set. They will not be as good as the real thing, but will save on postage and on the frustration of having dividers the wrong size for your file and paper!]
- Home Science Adventures: Microscopic Explorations
- Home Science Adventures: The Astronomy Adventure
- Adventures With Atoms and Molecules: Chemistry Experiments for Young People (Adventures With Science, No 1)
by Robert Mebane and Thomas Rybolt
See schedule of lessons and activities
Recommended Resources
Heaven and Earth : Unseen by the Naked Eye by Katherine Roucoux
OR Power of Ten: A Flipbook by Charles and Ray Eames
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE (Optional)
Option 1 – Spanish
* Learn Spanish with Grace! The Catholic Approach to Learning Spanish
by Miriam Alvarez Gallaher
Option 2 – French
Year 1:
- Term 1: pp.1-9
- Term 2: pp.10-18
- Term 3: pp.19-27
Year 2:
- Term 1: pp.28-36
- Term 2: pp.37-45
- Term 3: pp.46-53
**Children need to be reading and writing fairly well to use Skoldo Book 1. If you think your child might not be ready for this you can start with the Elementary Book. The vocabulary covered is the same in both books, but Book 1 adds in conversation and begins simple French grammar. Children who have used the Elementary Book (either in Level 1B or Level 1A) are likely to be able to complete Book 1 in one year because of the overlap. We have scheduled the Skoldo books at a slow pace to allow time for extra French books and activities, and to prevent children being overburdened by the grammar element.
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PICTURE STUDY (weekly)
Year 1: Impressionists
- Term 1: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- Term 2: Edgar Degas
- Term 3: Claude Monet
Year 2: Post-Impressionists
- Term 1: Paul Cezanne
- Term 2: Vincent Van Gogh
- Term 3: Henri Rousseau and Georges Seurat
See notes on picture study for suggested pictures, recommended reading, other resources and instructions for picture study.
Optional Extra
A Child’s Book of Prayer in Art by Sister Wendy Beckett
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MUSIC APPRECIATION (weekly)
* Music Masters Set 1 (Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann/Greig, Mendelssohn, Schubert).
CDs can also be bought separately as The Story of Bach etc. Study one composer each term. Follow up each Music Masters CD by listening to complete works by the featured composer.
Note: Other Music Masters CDs can be substituted so that all children in a family can study the same composer.
Recommended Resource
Masters of Classical Music (Box Set) – economical set of 10 CDs, each featuring works by a different composer. Ideal as follow up listening to the Music Masters CDs (includes Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Schubert).
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ART (twice weekly)
The resources below provide ideas for a wide range of art projects.
Recommended Resources
Discovering Great Artists by Mary Ann Kohl and Kim Solga -lots of art projects in the style of great artists. All projects are given a rating for both difficulty and the amount of preparation required.
Oxford First Book of Art by Gillian Wolfe – looks at many different aspects of art, with each double page spread having a different theme. For each theme there are pictures of various works of art, questions to help children focus on the pictures and a suggested art activity.
The Usborne Book of Art Skills by Fiona Watt – lots of simple but effective projects, using a variety of media.
[UK] Artists Workshop Series by Penny King and Clare Roundhill – pictures of different works of art and styles are used as the inspiration for art activities for children.
If you would prefer more formal art instruction I Can Do All Things from How Great Thou Art provides three years worth of lessons, covering drawing, colouring, painting and art study.
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MUSIC (1) Singing
- Learn two new songs and two new hymns of your choice each term.
Optional Resources
Wee Sing America
The American Song Treasury: 100 Favorites
(2) Instrumental (Daily practice)
If you have a piano or keyboard available, either start or continue learning to play it. Two beginners’ piano programs that can be used independently are:
Beginning at the Piano books, by Alan Jemison (Catholic)
Bastien Piano Series.
Alternatively either continue or start learning to play the recorder. A good starting point is the The NEW Nine-Note Recorder Method: Easy Music for Beginners by Penny Gardner.
Optional Extras:
The Usborne Book of Easy Recorder Tunes
Easy Duets for Catholics: A Nine-Note Recorder Book by Penny Gardner
Easy Christmas Duets: A Nine-Note Recorder Book by Penny Gardner
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PRACTICAL WORK
- Help in house and yard (garden).
- Work on learning a practical craft or skill of your choice. Ideas for this level could include simple sewing or knitting; clay modelling; making simple toys.
British Resource: Opitec sells a wide range of reasonably priced craft kits, projects and hobby materials.
