You Can Make Your Own Unit Study Using Charlotte Mason Methods - Overview

Session 1 – Introduction to Your Course An overview of what to expect from this course. Print out your handouts so you will have them ready to refer to during each session. Each handout is labeled with the appropriate workshop session number. There are 10 sessions total, including the introduction. For questions, contact

Session 2 – What is the Charlotte Mason Method? Part 1 Background information on Charlotte Mason, who she was and how her philosophy and methods came to be. Overview of the “Living Books” component of her methods. Ideas of how our family has used living books in our studies. Some suggested titles of series of books for reluctant readers.

Session 3 – What is the Charlotte Mason Method? Part 2 Continuation of overview of Charlotte Mason’s main components of her methods. Explanation and implementation ideas for “Narration”, “Copywork”, and “Dictation”. How to incorporate Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Handwriting into these methods to complete your Language Arts study.

Session 4 – What is the Charlotte Mason Method? Part 3 Continuation of overview of more components of the Charlotte Mason methods. Description and implementation ideas for her philosophy for “Handwriting”, “Grammar Study”, “Lesson structure and Habit Training”, “History”, and “Science – Nature Studies”.

Session 5 – What is the Charlotte Mason Method? Part 4 Completion of the overview of the components of the Charlotte Mason methods. Explanation and implementation ideas for “Poetry”, “Bible”, “Shakespeare and Plutarch”, “Foreign Languages”, “Mathematics”, “Music”, “Art”, and “Handicrafts”.

Session 6 – What is a Unit Study? Overview of what constitutes a unit study, ways to plan and implement a unit study, and some examples of unit studies. Description of three types of foundations for unit studies. Extensive examples of types of unit studies and implementing them into your homeschool to suit your family’s needs.

Session 7 – Brainstorming a Unit Study Using Charlotte Mason Methods, Part 1 Begin the step by step process of brainstorming and planning a unit study. A detailed explanation of this process using an example topic Using a “brainstorming sheet” to mind map your ideas Filling out separate “Subject Area Goal Planning Sheets” to assist in lesson planning.

Session 8 – Brainstorming a Unit Study Using Charlotte Mason Methods, Part 2 Continuation of completion of “brainstorming” sheet and specific “Subject Area Goal Planning Sheets” to include all subject areas in the unit study topic example. Tying in and designing the implementation of the Charlotte Mason methods into the unit study and specific subject areas.

Session 9 – Brainstorming a Unit Study Using Charlotte Mason Methods, Part 3 Completion of the “brainstorming sheet” and the corresponding “Subject Area Goal Planning Sheets” for each academic subject to be included in the unit study topic example.

Session 10 – Lesson Planning and Unit Study Culmination Activity Ideas Crossing the bridge from your goal planning sheets to filling in “Lesson Planning” sheets for each week of the school year. How to pull ideas from the “Subject Area Goal Planning Sheets” and integrate them into a weekly lesson plan for a unit study that uses Charlotte Mason methods. A detailed explanation and example for planning the first few weeks of your unit study using our notes from the workshop for our example topic. Overview of ideas for you to develop a culmination or “end of unit” fun activity to tie all of your work together.

Additional Resources and Information from Katie’s Homeschool Cottage Katie’s Homeschool Cottage homeschool-curriculum/ We have the following additional titles available for your use: Make Your Own ABC Book About… The 2012 Presidential Election Make Your Own ABC Book About… Thanksgiving Make Your Own ABC Book About… Christmas Make Your Own ABC Book About… The Middle Ages Make Your Own ABC Book About… The Human Body Make Your Own ABC Book About… The Animal Kingdom Having Fun with Shakespeare for Kids and Teens Summer Nature Study and More Spring Nature Study and More Autumn Nature Study and More Winter Nature Study and More Using Nature Study, Nature Journals, and Poetry Through the Year Insect Unit Study Using Charlotte Mason Methods and More