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Simply Charlotte Mason Curriculum: Individual Graded Subjects
Math, science, and language arts for each grade
Math, science, and language arts should be taught one-on-one at each student’s individual pace. Below you will find recommendations for what to cover in each grade. Find daily lesson plans in the Individual Studies guides.
Grade 1
Individual Studies for Grade 1 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
Science
- Nature study
- One SCM living science course (We recommend Outdoor Secrets with The Outdoor Secrets Companion, which could be used for all students in grades 1–2 if desired.)
Language Arts
Young students vary widely in readiness for reading and writing, so we offer options. Select the one track (A or B) that best reflects your student’s progress in reading and writing skills.
- Oral narration integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
- Track A (for students who know the letters and the sounds and have done some word building with short vowels, long vowels, and a few blends. They may or may not know how to write the letters.)
- Delightful Reading, Level 3: From Words to Books (for reading instruction; word-building activities gently introduce spelling)
- First Steps, Days Go By, More Days Go By (for reading practice)
- Delightful Handwriting (for writing instruction)
- Track B (for students who can already read many words and short sentences and can print letters but need more practice reading and writing to gain fluency)
- A Child’s Copybook Reader, Books 1–3 (for reading and handwriting practice; gently reinforces spelling)
- Busy Times, More Busy Times (for more reading practice)
Grade 2
Individual Studies for Grade 2 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
Science
- Nature study
- One SCM living science course (We recommend Pond and Stream with The Pond and Stream Companion, which could be used for all students in grades 1–3 if desired.)
Language Arts
Young students vary widely in readiness for reading and writing, so we offer options. Select the one track (A or B) that best reflects your student’s progress in reading and writing skills.
- Oral narration integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
- Track A (for students who can already read many words and short sentences and can print letters but need more practice reading and writing to gain fluency)
- Busy Times, More Busy Times (for more reading practice)
- A Child’s Copybook Reader, Books 1–3 (for reading and handwriting practice; gently reinforces spelling)
- Track B (for students who would benefit from more reading practice and who are ready to learn cursive)
- New Friends, More New Friends (for more reading practice)
- Print to Cursive Proverbs (for cursive instruction)
Grade 3
Individual Studies for Grade 3 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
Science
- Nature study
- One SCM living science course (We recommend Discovering What God Has Made, which could be used for all students in grades 1–3 if desired.)
Language Arts
Young students vary widely in readiness for reading and writing, so we offer options. Select the one track (A or B) that best reflects your student’s progress in reading and writing skills.
- Oral narration integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
- Exercises 1–70 in Spelling Wisdom, Book 1, and Using Language Well, Book 1
- Track A (for students who would benefit from more reading practice and who are ready to learn cursive)
- New Friends, More New Friends (for more reading practice)
- Print to Cursive Proverbs (for cursive instruction)
- Track B (for students who would benefit from more reading practice or guided reading instruction [add the teacher book lessons] and more practice in either printing or cursive)
- Hymns in Prose for Children (for reading instruction or practice)
- Hymns in Prose teacher book (optional; for reading instruction)
- Hymns in Prose copybook (handwriting practice: print or cursive; gently reinforces spelling)
Grade 4
Individual Studies for Grade 4 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
Science
- Nature study
- One SCM living science course (We recommend Learning about Birds with Thornton Burgess, which uses The Burgess Bird Book for Children and Blacky the Crow and could be used for all students in grades 1–6 if desired.)
Language Arts
- Exercises 71–140 in Spelling Wisdom, Book 1 and Using Language Well, Book 1
- Book of Mottoes
- Typing (introduce with a program of your choice)
- Oral and some written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings; evaluated with the rubrics in Using Language Well, Book 1, teacher book
Grade 5
Individual Studies for Grade 5 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
- The Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series, Book 5 (four days per week)
- Charlotte Mason Practical Geometry, Part 1 (one day per week)
Science
- Nature study
- One SCM living science course (We recommend Exploring What God Has Made for students in grades 4–6.)
Language Arts
- Exercises 1–70 in Spelling Wisdom, Book 2, and Using Language Well, Book 2
- Book of Mottoes
- Typing (practice with a program of your choice)
- Oral and some written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings; evaluated with the rubrics in Using Language Well, Book 2, teacher book
Grade 6
Individual Studies for Grade 6 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum (such as Right Start or Math-U-See). You might also add Your Business Math for variety if you didn’t in grade 5.)
Science
- Nature study
- One SCM living science course (We recommend Jack’s Insects with Jack’s Insects Narration & Nature Study Notebook for students in grades 4–6.)
Language Arts
- Exercises 71–140 in Spelling Wisdom, Book 2, and Using Language Well, Book 2
- Optional: Analytical Grammar (Only needed if you would like your student to learn sentence diagramming. Using Language Well teaches sentence analysis with a different method.)
- Book of Mottoes
- Typing (practice)
- Oral and some written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings; evaluated with the rubrics in Using Language Well, Book 2, teacher book
Grade 7
Individual Studies for Grade 7 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum. (We recommend Math-U-See Pre-Algebra.)
Science
- Nature study
- Science in the Atomic Age by Dr. Jay L. Wile.
- (optional) A Piece of the Mountain by Joyce McPherson for an interesting supplemental read
Language Arts
- Exercises 1–70 in Using Language Well, Book 3, and Spelling Wisdom, Book 3
- Optional: Analytical Grammar (Only needed if you would like your student to learn sentence diagramming. Using Language Well teaches sentence analysis with a different method.)
- Book of Mottoes
- Oral and written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
Latin
- Getting Started in Latin, Lessons 1–71
Personal Development
- First half of Self-Knowledge by Charlotte Mason
Grade 8
Individual Studies for Grade 8 will give you day-by-day plans using the resources below.
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum. (We recommend Math-U-See Algebra I.)
Science
- Nature study
- Discovering Design with Earth Science by Dr. Jay L. Wile
- (optional) Johannes Kepler by John Hudson Tiner for an interesting supplemental read
Language Arts
- Exercises 71–140 in Using Language Well, Book 3, and Spelling Wisdom, Book 3
- Optional: Analytical Grammar (Only needed if you would like your student to learn sentence diagramming. Using Language Well teaches sentence analysis with a different method.)
- Book of Mottoes
- Oral and written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
Latin
- Getting Started in Latin, Lessons 72–134
Personal Development
- Last half of Self-Knowledge by Charlotte Mason
Grade 9
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum. (We recommend Math-U-See Geometry.)
Science
- Nature study
- Discovering Design with Biology by Dr. Paul Madtes, Jr. and Dr. Jay L. Wile
- (optional) Galen and the Gateway to Medicine by Jeanne Bendick for an interesting supplemental read
Language Arts
- Spelling Wisdom, Book 4, Exercises 1–70 (with grammar reviews)
- (optional) Analytical Grammar’s Research Paper and Essay course (now included in Beyond the Book Report #3)
- Book of Mottoes
- Oral and written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
Latin
- Keep Going with Latin, Lessons 1–72
Personal Development
- First half of Self-Direction, by Charlotte Mason
Current Events
- Read and discuss selected articles from World magazine, The World and Everything In It podcast, or The Pour Over.
Grade 10
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum. (We recommend Math-U-See Algebra II.)
Science
- Nature study
- Discovering Design with Chemistry by Dr. Jay L. Wile
- (optional) The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Jeanne Bendick for an interesting supplemental read
Language Arts
- Spelling Wisdom, Book 4, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
- Book of Mottoes
- Oral and written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
Latin
- Keep Going with Latin, Lessons 73–154
Personal Development
- Last half of Self-Direction, by Charlotte Mason
Current Events
- Read and discuss selected articles from World magazine, The World and Everything In It podcast, or The Pour Over.
Grade 11
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum elective. (We recommend Math-U-See Stewardship or Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry.)
Science
- Nature study
- Discovering Design with Physics or science elective of your choice
- (optional) The Man Who Changed Everything: The Life of James Clerk Maxwell by Basil Mahon for an interesting supplemental read for Physics
Language Arts
- Spelling Wisdom, Book 5, Exercises 1–70 (with grammar reviews)
- Book of Mottoes
- Oral and written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
Latin
- (optional) Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1
We recommend spreading out each Unit of Cambridge Latin over a full school year. This can be done for Unit 1 by completing 4 stages per term (3 weeks per stage) using one of these schedules:
2 lessons per week = 6 lessons per stage (3–4 pages per lesson)
3 lessons per week = 9 lessons per stage (2–3 pages per lesson)
Personal Development
- The Holy War (in Modern English) by John Bunyan (either this year or next year)
Current Events
- Read and discuss selected articles from World magazine, The World and Everything In It podcast, or The Pour Over.
Grade 12
Math
- Your choice of math curriculum elective. (We recommend mentoring your student in the position of family bookkeeper or Math-U-See Calculus [Pre-Calculus is prerequisite].)
Science
- Nature study
- Science elective of your choice
Language Arts
- Spelling Wisdom, Book 5, Exercises 71–140 (with grammar reviews)
- Book of Mottoes
- Oral and written narrations integrated into history, geography, Bible readings
Latin
- (optional) Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 2
We recommend spreading out each Unit of Cambridge Latin over a full school year. This can be done for Unit 2 by about 2.5 stages per term (4.5 weeks per stage) using one of these schedules:
2 lessons per week = complete about 2.5 pages per lesson
3 lessons per week = complete about 1.5–2 pages per lesson
Personal Development
- The Holy War (in Modern English) by John Bunyan (if not completed in grade 11)
Current Events
- Read and discuss selected articles from World magazine, The World and Everything In It podcast, or The Pour Over.
Individual Studies Overview
Subject | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math | Elementary Arithmetic | Elementary Arithmetic | Elementary Arithmetic | Elementary Arithmetic | Elementary Arithmetic Practical Geometry | Elementary Arithmetic Practical Geometry | Pre-Algebra | Algebra I | Geometry | Algebra II | Consumer Math or Pre-calculus elective | Calculus elective |
| Science | Nature Study Living Science Course | Nature Study Living Science Course | Nature Study Living Science Course | Nature Study Living Science Course | Nature Study Living Science Course | Nature Study Living Science Course | Nature Study General Science Course | Nature Study Earth Science Course | Nature Study Biology Course | Nature Study Chemistry Course | Nature Study Physics Course, or elective | Nature Study Advanced Science elective |
| Reading | Learn to read | Reading practice | Reading practice | Read some of own school books | Read more of own school books | Read more of own school books | Read more of own school books | Read more of own school books | Read most of own school books | Read most of own school books | Read own school books | Read own school books |
| Handwriting | Learn to print Print copywork | Print copywork Learn cursive | Print or cursive transcription | Print or cursive in school assignments Learn typing | Print or cursive in school assignments Practice typing | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book | Print, cursive, or typing in school assignments Book of Mottoes/Commonplace Book |
| Spelling | Incorporated into reading and handwriting lessons | Incorporated into reading and handwriting lessons | Write some words from transcription exercises by memory | Studied Dictation, up to 1–2 sentences | Studied Dictation, up to 2–3 sentences | Studied Dictation, up to 3–4 sentences | Studied Dictation, up to 1 paragraph | Studied Dictation, up to 1 paragraph | Studied Dictation, up to 2 paragraphs | Studied Dictation, up to 2 paragraphs | Studied Dictation, up to 3 paragraphs | Studied Dictation, up to 3 paragraphs |
| English Grammar & Usage | Hear good use of language in books read aloud | Hear good use of language in books read aloud | Guided discovery of English usage Capitalization Punctuation | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech Sentence analysis | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech Sentence analysis | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech Sentence analysis Word studies | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech Sentence analysis Word studies | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech Sentence analysis Word studies | English usage Capitalization Punctuation Parts of speech Sentence analysis Word studies |
| Composition | Oral narration (narrative style) | Oral narration (narrative style) | Oral narration (narrative style) | Oral narration 1 written narration per week (narrative or expository style) | Oral narration 2 written narrations per week (narrative or expository style) | Oral narration 2 written narrations per week (narrative or expository style) | Oral narration 3 written narrations per week (narrative, expository, or descriptive style) | Oral narration 3 written narrations per week (narrative, expository, or descriptive style) | Oral narration 4 written narrations per week (narrative, expository, or descriptive style) Composition lessons | Oral narration
4 written narrations per week (narrative, expository, descriptive, or persuasive style) Composition lessons | Oral narration 5 written narrations per week (narrative, expository, descriptive, or persuasive style) Composition lessons | Oral narration 5 written narrations per week (narrative, expository, descriptive, or persuasive style) Composition lessons |
Notes on Math, Science, and Language Arts
Math
Charlotte Mason used manipulatives to teach math. She emphasized the importance of “things” before “symbols.” She also wanted the children to have a good understanding of why they would perform a certain math function, not just how to perform it. The book Mathematics: An Instrument for Living Teaching will give you all the details on how Charlotte approached math. You can also see live demonstrations of her methods for elementary arithmetic on the video series, Charlotte Mason’s Living Math: A Guided Journey.
So choose a math curriculum that uses manipulatives and includes the Why behind the How. Word problems are a great way to explore the Why. Keep lessons short; you can do two shorter lessons at separate times throughout the day if you need to.
Not all children need advanced mathematics, such as Calculus. If your child finds math fascinating and wants to pursue it, feel free to do the advanced math courses. If your child is not math-inclined and doesn’t need an advanced course for college requirements, do the Stewardship course and give him practical experience as the family bookkeeper.
Science
Grades 1–3: You can combine your students in grades 1–3 for science if you would like to. The grade-level suggestions give recommendations for living science courses that will help you do that.
Grades 4–6: You can combine your students in grades 4–6 for science if you would like to. The grade-level suggestions give recommendations for living science courses that will help you do that.
Grades 7–12: We recommend that students in the upper grades use the conversational science textbooks listed in the grade-level suggestions. While living books might be more interesting, at this level of study it is difficult to find such books that present current, accurate information. We have also found that many living science books on the advanced science topics teach about the science rather than teaching the science itself. So we list one optional living science book per course as a supplemental read to the conversational textbook. If your child is planning to take college courses, we recommend he or she complete the high school science courses listed.
Language Arts
Language Arts includes everything you do to help your student hear, speak, read, and write. Many educators break down those four areas into lots of individual skills; however, Charlotte Mason combined and integrated many of the skills in her wonderful, language-rich methods. For example, she did not teach vocabulary as a separate subject, but the children’s vocabulary was enlarged as they heard and read quality living books. Other components that are normally classified as Language Arts are included in the Family Enrichment studies and the History studies (poetry, literature, Shakespeare, narration/composition material). You’ll find all the details in the book Hearing and Reading, Telling and Writing: A Charlotte Mason Language Arts Handbook.