Advanced Junior High /Secondary (approx. ages 13-14) ~ Grade 8 in the US. Year 9 in the UK. General Instructions Normally this course will be taken over two school years. Subjects considered to be essential at this level. Other subjects should be included if at all possible to give a broad Charlotte Mason style education. (N) Books/subjects intended for narration. *Key curriculum -books considered to be key parts of the curriculum are shown in bold type and marked with an asterisk. Highly Recommended materials/subjects are shown in bold. These should be included if possible, but are not essential. Optional extras – optional books and suggestions are shown in italics Selections listed in bright blue are alternatives for home educators in the UK History Cycle for Australian students [provided by Ruth Marshall] Before beginning be sure to read our to Charlotte Mason’s method, and the subject introductions for , and . The curriculum is designed to fit into thirty-six weeks, with manysubjects broken down into three blocks of twelve weeks (terms). 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. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (1) (N) * Ignatius Study Bible: , , or (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. Recommended Resource for the Gospel of Matthew: and – A Ten Lesson Audio Bible Study Course Also: Bible Memory Work – memorize one verse from each week’s lesson (2) Catechism (N) 1st or 2nd Edition (3x weekly) (N) * – Faith and Life Series 8 (weekly) Read, narrate and discuss one lesson each week. (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 twentiethcentury 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) 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) by Martin de Porres Kennedy Optional Extra: A Philadelphia Catholic in King James’s Court: Discussion/Study Guide __________________________________________ 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 MATHEMATICS Continue with your preferred math program 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: by Laura Berquist suitable for copywork. (b) Composition (Daily) Regular written narrations from books set for history, religion, geography, literature andscience. (2) Grammar / English Language (Twice weekly) /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. 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: Romeo and Juliet Midsummer Night’s Dream See notes on 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 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 bechosen 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 . CURRENT AFFAIRS Online: 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) * 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. NATURE STUDY (1) Take at least one each week. (2) Keep a . Nature Reading (ad.lib.) Term 1: Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter or MySide 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 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 FOREIGN LANGUAGE (two or three times weekly) Option 1: Spanish Spanish program of your choice Recommended Resource: Living Spanish by R.P. Littlewood provides additional grammar coverage. Option 2: French French program of your choice. Recommended Resource: Living French by T.W. Knight (available from AmazonUK) provides additional grammar coverage. Living German and Living Italian books are also available. 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 by Cheryl Lowe & Paul O’Brien UK Alternative Option 1: Intensive Approach 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 thematerial alongside the child. Option 2: Gentler Approach by J.Paterson and E.Macnaughton (approx.15-20 pages each term) – old fashioned traditional text or by N.R.R.Oulton Beginners: by N.R.R.Oulton Note: This series from Galore Park reaches GCSE level at the end of Book 3. Recommended Additional Resource: by Cheryl Lowe & Paul O’Brien PICTURE STUDY (weekly) One 20th century artist to be studied each term: Term 1: Term 2: Term 3: See also: 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 GustavMahler: 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 ART (Twice weekly) (Highschool Years 7-9) or if this series has not been used at Level 3: (Highschool Years 7-9) MUSIC Continue instrumental study. Singing – hymns or songs of your choice. PRACTICAL WORK Help in house and yard (garden). Work on learning a practical craft or skill of your choice.