Advanced Junior High /Secondary (approx. ages 13-14)
Normally this course will be taken over one school year:
Grade 8 in the US and Year 9 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
Books listed in red are alternatives for home educators in the U.K.
Books listed in blue are alternatives for home educators in Australia
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 an additional history book, a saint’s biography, a “Catholic culture” book and a nature book are to be read outside formal lesson time.
At this level most lessons should last around 30 to 45 minutes.
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+RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The program is designed to work with the liturgical year. You will need to allow six weeks for Lent and six weeks for Easter. During these seasons there will be some changes in the program. You will need to fit the remaining twenty-four weeks around the liturgical seasons according to when you start and finish your academic year.
(1) Bible Study
(a) * Great Adventure Bible Timeline by Jeff Cavins (Three times weekly, for 24 weeks – not during Lent and Easter)
(b) (N) * Ignatius Study Bible: Matthew, Mark or Luke (Weekly)
Study whichever Gospel was not read at Level 3. If using Mater Amabilis for the first time, use whichever Gospel is appropriate for the current liturgical year.
Also: Bible Memory Work – memorize one verse from each week’s lesson
(2) Catechism (Weekly)
(N) * Our Life in the Church – Faith and Life Series 8
Read, narrate and discuss one lesson each week.
Optional Extra:
Our Life in the Church: 8 Grade Activity Book
(3) Saints and Catholic Heroes (ad. lib.)
One biography to be assigned as independent reading each term. Choose books about saints and topics from the following list (or any other twentieth century saints of your choice):
Term 1:
- Blessed Miguel Pro
- Blessed Charles of Austria
- Fatima
Term 2:
- Maximilian Kolbe
- Edith Stein
- Saint Faustina
Term 3:
- Blessed Gianna Molla
- Saint Padre Pio
- Blessed Mother Teresa
- Saint Jóse Maria Escriva
- Pope John Paul II
Note: Most of the available books about these saints were written for adults. We have not been able to pre-read all these books for suitability for this age group, but the following titles may be worth trying:
Blessed Miguel Pro: 20th Century Martyr by Ann Ball
A Heart for Europe by James and Joanna Bogle (story of Blessed Charles of Austria and Empress Zita)
Children of Fatima by Leo Madigan
Edith Stein, Woman of Prayer by Joanne Mosley
The Last Days of Maximilian Kolbe by Sergius C.Lorit
Stories of Padre Pio by Katharina Tangari
Stories of Karol: the Unknown Life of John Paul II by Gian Franco Svidercoschi
Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love by Susan Conroy
(4) Lent (Three times weekly for 6 weeks)
Boys to Men:The Transforming Power of Virtue by Tim Gray and Curtis Martin
Note: Although this book is written primarily for young men, we feel that its message is applicable to both young men and young ladies.
(5) Easter (Three times weekly for 6 weeks)
(N) A Philadelphia Catholic in King James’s Court by Martin de Porres Kennedy
Optional Extra:
A Philadelphia Catholic in King James’s Court: Discussion/Study Guide
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Catholic Culture (independent reading ad.lib.)
Term 1: The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp (alternative title: The Sound of Music)
Term 2: He Leadeth Me by Fr.Walter Ciszek
Term 3: We’re On a Mission From God by Mary Beth Bonacci
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+ MATHEMATICS (Daily)
Continue with your preferred maths program
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+ ENGLISH
(1) Writing and Composition
(a) Copywork (10 minutes daily)
Copy two lines daily from favorite poems, prayers, Bible passages or the Shakespeare play being studied.
Recommended Resources:
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist
Shakespeare quotations suitable for copywork.(b) Composition (Daily)
Regular written narrations from books set for history, religion, geography, literature and science.
(2) Grammar / English Language (Twice weekly)
Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition – Third Course/1982 Franklin Edition
(3) Studied Dictation (Twice weekly)
Passages to be dictated from a section (two or three paragraphs) of a history, literature, geography or religion book that has been studied in advance.
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+ LITERATURE
(1) Classic Twentieth Century Literature
Choose one book each term
Term 1:
- Father Brown Stories by G.K.Chesterton
- Goodbye Mr Chips by James Hilton
Term 2:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Optional: Study questions) – please read this review to decide whether this is appropriate reading for your child.
- The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Term 3:
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkein
(2) Shakespeare (Weekly)
One of the following plays to be studied each term:
See notes on How to Study Shakespeare
Recommended Resources:
Shakespeare Made Easy by Muriel J.Morris
(3) Poetry
Term 1: G.K.Chesterton; World War I poets
Term 2: T. S. Eliot
Term 3: Robert Frost
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist: Logical Stage
UK: The Oxford Treasury of Classic Poems.
Further Reading Suggestions:
Favorite Father Brown Stories by G.K.Chesterton
A Long Way from Welcome by Echo Lewis
The Weka-Feather Cloak by Leo Madigan
The Bank of Infinite Reserves by Leo Madigan
The Rose Round by Meriol Trevor
The Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman
Black as Night by Regina Doman
They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth
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+ TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY (three times weekly; additional reading ad.lib.)
This year’s history study will focus on the twentieth century. The first term should be spent on a study of the student’s own country using one of the following books:
US: * The Century for Young People by Peter Jennings
UK: * Young Oxford History of Britain and Ireland, Section 5: A Century of Change
Australia: Either (1) choose six separate six-week studies; (2) study 20th century Britain or America; or (3) spend twelve weeks studying 20th century Australia.
During the second and third terms four six-week studies are to be chosen from a range of topics including the First and Second World Wars, Russia, China and the Middle East.
For booklists and details of these studies see our history schedule.
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+ CURRENT AFFAIRS
Online:
Catholic World News
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+ GEOGRAPHY AND EARTH STUDIES (twice weekly; plus map work)
(1) Twentieth Century Exploration (Weekly)
Term 1: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Note: Some paperback editions have less pictures than the hardback edition
Term 2: Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
Term 3: The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
(2) National Geographic (Weekly)
* National Geographic magazine
Read and narrate one article each week. While a subscription to current issues would be ideal, used copies from recent years would be acceptable.
(3) Map Work (Weekly)
Locate places mentioned in the week’s reading and places in the news.
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+ NATURE STUDY
- Take at least one nature walk each week.
- Keep a nature journal
Nature Reading (ad.lib.)
Term 1: Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter or My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Term 2: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Term 3: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
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+ SCIENCE (twice weekly)
Relativity and Quantum Mechanics: Principles of Modern Physics by Paul Fleisher
(also included in Secrets of the Universe [out of print])
The Time and Space of Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
The Chain Reaction: Pioneers of Nuclear Science by Karen Fox
Eyewitness: Electronics by Steve Parker (pub.Dorling Kindersley)
Fun With Electronics Kit by Conn Mcquinn
Fun With Computer Electronics Kit by Becker & Mayer Ltd.
The Code Book for Young People: How to Make It, Break It, Hack It, Crack It by Simon Singh
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE (two or three times weekly)
Option 1: Spanish
Spanish program of your choice
Recommended Resource:
Living Spanish by R.P.Littlewood (available from Amazon UK) provides additional grammar coverage.
Option 2: French
French program of your choice.
Recommended Resource
Living French by T.W.Knight (available from Amazon UK) provides additional grammar coverage.
Living German and Living Italian books are also available.
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LATIN (twice weekly)
Option 1: Intensive Approach
Henle Latin 1 by Robert Henle: Units 11 to 14
Henle Latin 2 by Robert Henle: Lessons 1 to 20
Option 2: Gentler Approach
Henle Latin 1: Progress at student’s own pace
Recommended Additional Resources:
Henle Latin Grammar by Robert Henle
Used all 4 years of Henle Latin
Lingua Angelica Christian Latin Reading Course by Cheryl Lowe & Paul O’Brien
UK Alternative
Option 1: Intensive Approach
The Approach to Latin, Part 2 by J.Paterson and E.Macnaughton – pp.1-88
Note: This is the schedule used by the Parents’ Union Schools in the 1960s. O Level Latin was taken at the end of Approach to Latin Part 2. The standard achieved was roughly equivalent to the current A level standard. This option is recommended for academically oriented children requiring a challenge and will enable children to read Latin texts in the original. It requires a teacher familiar with Latin, or who is prepared to commit time and effort to master the material alongside the child.Option 2: Gentler Approach
The Approach to Latin, First Part by J.Paterson and E.Macnaughton (approx.15-20 pages each term) – old fashioned traditional text
or So You Really Want to Learn Latin: Book 2 by N.R.R.Oulton
Beginners: So You Really Want to Learn Latin: Book 1 by N.R.R.Oulton
Note: This series from Galore Park reaches GCSE level at the end of Book 3.Recommended Additional Resource:
Lingua Angelica: Christian Latin Reading Course by Cheryl Lowe & Paul O’Brien
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PICTURE STUDY (weekly)
One 20th century artist to be studied each term:
Term 1: Henri Matisse
Term 2: Pablo Picasso
Term 3: Marc Chagall
See notes on picture study for details, resources and instructions for picture study.
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MUSIC APPRECIATION (weekly)
Term 1: 20th Century British Composers
Suggested Works:
- Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Cello Concerto in E minor, Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma), Serenade for Strings
- Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958): Fantasia on Greensleeves, The Lark Ascending
- Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): War Requiem
- William Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast
Term 2: 20th Century European Composers
Suggested Works:
- Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943): Piano Concerto No.2
- Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): The Rite of Spring
- Gustav Holst: The Planets
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No.1
- Sergei Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
- Joaquin Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra
Term 3: 20th Century American Composers
Suggested Works:
- George Gershwin (1898-1937): Rhapsody in Blue
- Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Fanfare for the Common Man
- Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Adagio for Strings
- Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): Chichester Psalms
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ART (Twice weekly)
Artistic Pursuits: Color and Composition (Highschool Years 7-9)
or if this series has not been used at Level 3:
Artistic Pursuits: The Elements of Art and Composition (Highschool Years 7-9)
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MUSIC
- Continue instrumental study.
- Singing – hymns or songs of your choice.
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PRACTICAL WORK
- Help in house and yard (garden).
- Work on learning a practical craft or skill of your choice.
