Starter Level (ages 6 to 7)
Normally this course will be taken over one school year:
Grade 1 in the US and Year 2 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.
Before beginning be sure to read our General Introduction to Charlotte Mason’s method, and the subject introductions for language arts, geography and nature study.
The curriculum is designed to fit into thirty-six 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.
At this level most lessons should last around 20 minutes.
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+RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Note: The workload for Term 1 is slightly lighter to allow time for extra Advent reading. If Advent does not fall during the first 12 weeks of your school year, you will need to adjust your schedule to allow time during Advent.
(1) New Testament (Twice weekly)
(N)* New Catholic Picture Bible by Rev. Laurence G.Lovasik
- Term 1: Ch.1 to 24 (The Annunciation to The Penitent Woman)
- Term 2: Ch.25 to 51 (The Widow’s Son to Zacchaeus the Publican) – a little extra to fit in this term, but less catechism lessons required
- Term 3: Ch.52 to 74 (Entry into Jerusalem to Descent of the Holy Spirit)
Recommended Reference Materials:
Any children’s Bible encyclopedia (or similar), for background information, maps, and pictures of houses, clothing, every day items and locations. Collins Bible Handbook is a recommended resource. It is out of print but available through various used booksellers online.
(2) Catechism (Weekly)
(N)* Faith and Life 1: Our Heavenly Father Read, narrate and discuss one lesson each week.
- Term 1: Lessons 1 to 10 (God is Our Father to The Savior is Born)
- Term 2: Lessons 11 to 18 (Three Wise Men Arrive to Jesus Dies for Us)
- Term 3: Lessons 19 to 28 (Jesus Goes Back to Heaven to Jesus Will Come Again), and We Go to Mass
Optional Extra
Faith and Life 1 Activity Book for children who like workbooks.
Printable Curriculum Outline: An overview by chapter of the Topics, Aims, Proclamation and more. (a pdf file)
(3) Saints (Weekly)
(N)* Once Upon a Time Saints and * More Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Marbach Pochocki.
One story to be read aloud and narrated each week.
- Term 1: St. Alice to St. Comgall
- Term 2: St. David of Wales to St. Longinus
- Term 3: St. Martha to St. Adauctus
*MAPWORK – find the location of each story on a world or European map. Mark it with a numbered sticker. Prepare a key matching each saint to his or her number.
(4) Advent (Twice weekly)
Tomie de Paola has written and illustrated a number of lovely children’s picture books with themes suitable for Advent.
Choose any three from:
Country Angel Christmas
Jingle, the Christmas Clown
Mary, The Mother of Jesus
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
The Clown of God
The Legend of the Poinsettia
The Lady of Guadalupe
Use one lesson to read the book, and the second for any follow up activity of your choice. For example: a piece of artwork based on the style of the book; a narration typed for the child and illustrated; learning something about a subject related to the book. If you would like to spend more time on Advent related activities, try this literature unit based on the Tomie de Paola books.
Alternative / Additional Resource (Highly recommended)
Catholic Mosaic by Cay Gibson – gives suggestions for picture books to read during each month of the year, along with a selection of activities to go with each book. Catholic Mosaic could stand on its own as a religious education curriculum, or could be used alongside Bible readings and / or readings from Faith and Life.
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+MATHEMATICS
(1) 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.
(2) Five minutes of daily drill in math(s) facts.
Further Resources
Math-drills.com – over 6000 free math worksheets with answer keys
Lesson Corner’s Math Worksheets
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+ ENGLISH
(1) Reading (Daily)
Children learn to read at different ages and at their own pace. Also, reading schemes that work wonders for one child may not be at all helpful for another.
British Option
Read With Phonics by Mona McNee
Story Chest reading scheme
Alternative Resources
Ladybird Key Words Series (1a to 12b, Peter and Jane)
Ladybird Read With Me Series (1 to 16, Tom and Kate)
(2) Writing (10 minutes daily)
- (a) Handwriting scheme of your choice. Schemes we can recommend personally are D’nelian & Getty-Dubay Italic
- (b) Copywork and Dictation (Daily)
Optional Extras
The Child on His Knees by Mary Dixon Thayer – short, interesting but simple poems and prayers
Suggested Activity
Copy a little from 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.
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+ LITERATURE
(1) Tales (Weekly)
(N) Read aloud one tale each week from any book(s) of your choice from the following list:
- English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs
- American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne
- The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
- The Orchard Book of the Unicorn and Other Magical Animals by Margaret Mayo (and other books in the same series)
(2) Fables (Weekly)
(N)* Aesop’s Fables with pictures by Milo Winter. Two fables weekly. Read aloud and narrate. These lend themselves particularly well to narration by drawing or by acting out the fable.
3) Classic Children’s Literature (Ad. lib.)
Choose at least one book from the selection below for each term to read aloud. Not for narration, just read and enjoy!
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White
- Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A.Milne
- The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
- Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton
- James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Heriot
- Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
(4) Poetry (Weekly)
- * The Harp and the Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist
- When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne
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+ HISTORY
This will be the first year of a three year long course in the history of your own nation.
Option 1- Introduction to American History (Twice weekly)
(N) * This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall, (Also available free online)
* 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 (Twice weekly)
* Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall
* Catholic history book by Kathryn Faulkner (in preparation). Chapters will be 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.
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+ GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH STUDIES
(1) Family Geography (48 lessons)
(a) Draw a family tree, going back to your child’s great-grandparents (or further if you wish). Include on the family tree the place of birth and main places of residence of each member. Look at family photos showing these places. Locate and mark them on maps. (4 lessons)
Choose three of these places for further study. Some suggested activities: look at maps of each area; read about and look at pictures of the area or country; find out about nearby towns, cities and any important geographical or historical sites; discuss any special features of the area and any aspects of its history which have had an impact on family members; learn something about any local saints; sample local foods. Allow six to eight lessons for each place. Talk to older relatives about places they have been and historical events they have lived through. (20 lessons)
Optional Extra
My Family Tree Workbook: Genealogy for Beginners by Rosemary A.Chorzempa. This workbook includes space for information about immigrant ancestors, ancestral homelands and personal geography pages as well as for basic genealogical information. Useful for those who would find some written structure helpful or for older children joining this study. Aimed at an older age group, so if used with a Level 1B child expect to do the writing for the child.
(b) Choose six places you and your husband (or wife) have visited. For each place: locate and mark on a map; plot your journey on a map; look at photos and souvenirs; look at pictures in a guidebook or other book about the area; discuss geographical features of the area (hills, mountains, islands, rivers, lakes, sea, woodland, forest, marshes and so on). You could also try special foods from each area. Allow four lessons for each place. (24 lessons)
(2) Earth Studies – Rivers and Seas (24 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 Rivers and Oceans: Geography Facts and Experiments by Barbara Taylor (one of four separate books included in The Earth)
See full list of lessons , most of which involve practical and outdoor activities.
Recommended Reference Material:
Any suitable atlas.
(Recommended UK option: The Oxford Junior Atlas )
(or in the U.S. The Oxford Junior Atlas )
(3) Map Work
Mark locations for each of the saints read about this year on a map. Find places mentioned in history studies.
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* NATURE STUDY (Weekly)
(1) Take at least one nature walk each week.
(2) Begin a nature notebook
Nature Reading (Weekly, 2nd and 3rd terms only)
(N) * Pagoo by Holling C. Holling. Read and narrate in sections of approximately three pages.
Term 2: pp. 8-46 (10 lessons)
Term 3: pp. 48-87 (10 lessons)
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE (Optional)
Option 1 – Spanish
* Learn Spanish With Grace by Miriam Alvarez Gallaher could be used alongside older siblings if desired.
Option 2 – French
* Skoldo French Elementary Book (introduction to basic French vocabulary)
If you decide to start French at this stage you will find that all the vocabulary and songs in the Elementary Book are repeated in Book 1. This makes it ideal if a child wants to work alongside a sibling who is using Book 1. It also provides a jumpstart into French for young children.
Optional Extra Resources
Simple bilingual books can often be found at the library. Familiar pre-school books work well for this.
DVDs often have French as a language option – watch a favorite DVD in French.
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MUSIC APPRECIATION (Weekly)
Use this year to introduce your child to classical music. Choose from the suggestions for suitable music below, or feel free to add any family favorites.
Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten
Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens
Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas
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PICTURE STUDY (Weekly)
* Come Look With Me Series by Gladys Blizzard – choose any three books
These books include some background information together with some points to look for in each picture.
Study one picture each week.
See also: How to Approach Picture Study
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ART (Twice weekly)
Art activities suggested by the Parents Union School for children of this age included painting and drawing with watercolors, chalks and pastels. Suggested subjects included drawing from nature (autumn leaves, berries, wild animals) and illustrations of stories from the set reading.
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.
Usborne Activities: What Shall I Draw? and What Shall I Paint? by Ray Gibson
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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 CD and Tape Set
American Song Treasury: 100 Favorites
(2) Instrumental (optional)
The Parents Union School recommended starting piano at this age. If you have a piano or keyboard available, a good beginners piano program that can be used independently is the Bastien Piano Series, starting with Bastien Piano for the Young Beginner Primers A and B. Another (Catholic) option is Alan Jemison’s Beginning at the Piano books.
A simpler alternative is to start learning to play the recorder. A good starting point is Do It! Recorder Book and CD set available from Our Father’s House
Optional Extras
Usborne Book of Easy Recorder Tunes
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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 modeling; making simple toys.
British Resource
Optec sells a wide range of reasonably priced craft kits, projects and hobby materials.
