athelas

This is the template I use for designing literature-based curriculum for the kids. Some years are more formal, some less so.

• 4-6 literature choices (yes, the kids read more than that but it just gives me a place to start)
• 1 biography
• 1 saints’ life or collection.
• 1 worldview/civics book
• 1 science book or topic
• 1 history book or topic
• art focus (I will admit I almost never get to this but my intentions continue to be good)
• music focus — (1 composer or musical genre) — we tend to do this informally
• sundry movies and video games — these occur naturally.
• 1 life skill
• 1 habit or character trait to think about (this is actually more for me than for them — I try to work on something myself and it usually trickles down to them)
• Some kind of language arts focus — depending on need.
• New — some kind of community activity focus.
• 1 geography-related book.

We have ongoing:

• Math
• Latin
• Outdoor time
• Reading (of course!)
• Responsibilities around the house.

And basically that’s about it. I think I’ve forgotten something — but this is a start. I work through the template and figure out what to put in and what’s lacking.

Oh, yes, and history has always tended to be strands — like in Core Knowledge or ABC’s of Christian Culture. Categories:

• Ancient
• Medieval
• Modern/(post revolution)
• US History