Ambleside Online Year 1 36-Week Schedule

The week's reading can be divided up in whatever way works best for your family. Some students prefer sticking to one book and finishing a chapter in one sitting. Other students find it hard to focus for too long on one book and need to break up each week's reading over two days or even into five short daily segments. For that reason, we offer suggested reading for a week to allow parents to break that down into a tailored daily plan to fit their individual needs.

To this book schedule should be added daily penmanship, phonics, and math, as well as weekly nature study, art, music, and handicrafts. Foreign language may also be started.

Suggested Additional Books for Free Reading
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
King of the Golden River by John Ruskin
Peter Pan by James M. Barrie
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pocahontas by Ingri D'Aulaire

Note: For The Blue Fairy Book: If your children are sensitive to tragic stories, (and every family's needs will be different because children are unique and have varying levels of tolerance) you may prefer these less violent suggestions (shown in italics). However, you may want to first read Donna-Jean's comments before assuming that such tales are bad for children.

To this book schedule should be added daily penmanship, phonics, math, and foreign language as well as weekly nature study, art, music, and handicrafts.

Week 1
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 1 "The Stories of Albion and Brutus"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Sword of Damocles" (Greek)
Parables from Nature: "A Lesson of Faith"
Aesop's Fables: "The Wolf and the Kid" (pg. 7 in the Milo Winter version) and "Tortoise and the Ducks" (pg. 8 in the Milo Winter version)
Just So Stories: "Whale"
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 1

Week 2
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Damon and Pythias"; and "A Laconic Answer" (Greek)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 1 "Polycarp Witness in the Arena" (69-155 AD)
Aesop's Fables: "Belling the Cat" (pg. 11 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Eagle and the Jackdaw" (pg. 12 in the Milo Winter version)
Burgess's Bird Book: chapter I "Jenny Wren Arrives: Introducing the House Wren" (pictures for each bird)
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 2
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 3 The Bible An Island Story: chapter 2 "The Coming of the Romans"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Brave Three Hundred"
Aesop's Fables: "The Boy and the Filberts" (pg. 12 in the Milo Winter version) and "Hercules and the Wagoner" (pg. 13 in the Milo Winter version)
Blue Fairy Book: "Beauty and the Beast" OR "The Glass Slipper"
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 3

Week 4
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Alexander and Bucephelas"; and "Diogenes" (Greek)
Burgess's Bird Book: chapter II "The Old Orchard Bully - The English or House Sparrow"
Aesop's Fables: "The Kid and the Wolf" (pg. 13 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse" (pg. 14 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "Moses the Kitten"
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 5
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 3 "The Romans Come Again"
Parables from Nature: "Law of Authority and Obedience"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Story of Regulus" (Roman)
Just So Stories "Camel"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 4
Aesop's Fables: "The Fox and the Grapes" (pg. 16 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Bundle of Sticks" (pg. 16 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "Only One Woof"
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 6 The Bible Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Cornelia's Jewels" (Roman)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 5
Aesop's Fables: "The Ass and his Driver" (pg. 18 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Oxen and the Wheels" (pg. 18 in the Milo Winter version)
Blue Fairy Book: "Why the Sea is Salt" (a man tells his brother to go the Dead; a ship sinks and all perish) OR "Felicia and the Pot of Pinks"
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 7
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 4 "How Caligula Conquered Britain, and How Caractacus Refused to be Conquered"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Horatius at the Bridge" (Roman)
Shakespeare: "Midsummer Nights Dream"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 6
Aesop's Fables: "The Lion and the Mouse" (pg. 19 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf" (pg. 20 in the Milo Winter version)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 2 "Blandina Martyr of Lyons" (155-177 AD)
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 8
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Cincinnatus" (Roman)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Gnat and the Bull" (pg. 21 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Plane Tree" (pg. 21 in the Milo Winter version)
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D'Aulaire: take 1-3 weeks as needed
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 9
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 5 "The Story of a Warrior Queen" (Boadicea)
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Androcles and the Lion" (Roman)
Just So Stories: "Rhino"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 7
Shakespeare: "The Tempest"
Aesop's Fables: "The Farmer and the Stork" (pg. 22 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Sheep and the Pig" (pg. 22 in the Milo Winter version)
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D'Aulaire: take 1-3 weeks as needed
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 10
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "King Alfred and the Beggar" (Saxon England)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 8
Aesop's Fables: "The Travelers and the Purse" (pg. 24 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Lion and the Ass" (pg. 24 in the Milo Winter version)
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D'Aulaire: take 1-3 weeks as needed
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 11 The Bible An Island Story: chapter 6 "The Last of the Romans"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Story of William Tell" (Switzerland1300's)
Parables from Nature: "The Unknown Land"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 9
Aesop's Fables: "The Frogs who Wished for a King" (pg. 25 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Oak and the Reeds" (pg. 28 in the Milo Winter version) A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Week 12
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 7 "The Story of St. Alban"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Arnold Winkelried" (1386)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 3 "Constantine Defender of the Church" (272-337 AD)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Just So Stories: "Leopard" (The original version of this story contains an offensive racial epithet near the very end of the chapter that will need to be substituted with another word)
Aesop's Fables: "The Boys and the Frogs" (pg. 29 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Crow and the Pitcher" (pg. 30 in the Milo Winter version)
Blue Fairy Book: "Prince Darling" and "Toads and Diamonds" (a selfish girl dies in the woods); OR "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" (An troll woman bursts with anger)
A Child's Garden of Verses: a poem every day

Optional Exam Week

Week 13
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 8 "Vortigern and King Constans"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Bruce and the Spider" (Britain, 1329)
Aesop's Fables: "The Ants and the Grasshopper" (pg. 30 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Ass Carrying the Image" (pg. 31 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "Bonny's Big Day"
A.A. Milne a poem a day
Blue Fairy Book: "The Glass Slipper" OR "Beauty and the Beast"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 10

Week 14 The Bible An Island Story: chapter 9 "The Story of the Coming of Hengist and Horsa"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Black Douglas" (James Douglas, Britain, d 1330)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season (pictures for each chapter)
Just So Stories: "Elephant's"
Aesop's Fables: "A Raven and a Swan" (pg. 31 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Two Goats" (pg. 32 in the Milo Winter version)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 4 "Athanasius against the World" (296-373 AD)
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 11

Week 15
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Whittington" (Britain, 1423)
Aesop's Fables: "The Ass and the Load of Salt" (pg. 32 in the Milo Winter version)
"The Lion and the Gnat" (pg. 34 in the Milo Winter version)
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Blue Fairy Book: "Master Maid" (Unnecessary cruelty to her suitors. Couldn't she just say no?) OR "Prince Hyacinth"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 12

Week 16
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 10 "Hengist's Treachery"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Inchcape Rock" (1500's)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Shakespeare: "As You Like It"
Aesop's Fables: "The Leap at Rhodes" (pg. 34 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Wild Boar and the Fox" (pg. 36 in the Milo Winter version)
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Just So Stories: "Kangaroo"

Week 17
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Casablanca" (1500's)
Aesop's Fables: "The Ass, the Fox and the Lion" (pg. 36 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Birds, the Beasts and the Bat" (pg. 37 in the Milo Winter version)
Parables from Nature: "Training and Restraining"
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 13

Week 18
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 11 "The Story of How the Giant's Dance was Brought to Britain"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Sir Philip Sidney" (1586) and "The Ungrateful Soldier"
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Lion, the Bear and the Fox" (pg. 37 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Hares and the Frogs" (pg. 39 in the Milo Winter version)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 5 "Ambrose Bishop of Milan" (339-397 AD)
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Blue Fairy Book: "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" (A wicked Magician and his wicked Brother are killed) OR "Why the Sea is Salt" (a greedy man tells his brother to go the Dead; a ship sinks and all perish)
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 14

Week 19
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "George Washington and his Hatchet"; and "Doctor Goldsmith" (1774)
Aesop's Fables: "The Fox and the Stork" (pg. 40 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Travelers and the Sea" (pg. 41 in the Milo Winter version)
George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire: take 1-3 weeks as needed
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Shakespeare: "The Winter's Tale"
Just So Stories: "Armadillos"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 15

Week 20
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 12 "The Coming of Arthur"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Picciola" (1800's)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Stag and his Reflection" (pg. 42 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Peacock" (pg. 42 in the Milo Winter version)
George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire: take 1-3 weeks as needed
A.A. Milne: a poem a day

Week 21
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "How Napoleon Crossed the Alps" (1800's)
Aesop's Fables: "The Mice and the Weasels" (pg. 44 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Wolf and the Lean Dog" (pg. 44 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "Blossom Comes Home"
George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire take: 1-3 weeks as needed
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 16

Week 22
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 13 "The Founding of the Round Table"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Maximillian and the Gooseherd" (King of Bavaria, 1800's)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 6 "Monica and Augustine Christian" Mother and Son (354-430 AD)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Vain Jackdaw and his Borrowed Feathers" (pg. 47 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Monkey and the Cat" (pg. 50 in the Milo Winter version)
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 17

Week 23
The Bible
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "Antonio Canova" (1822)
Parables from Nature: "Waiting"
Aesop's Fables: "The Dogs and the Hides" (pg. 51 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Bear and the Bees" (pg. 52 in the Milo Winter version)
A.A. Milne: a poem a day
Just So Stories: "First Letter"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 18

Week 24 The Bible An Island Story: chapter 14 "The Story of Gregory and the Pretty Children"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold "Grace Darling" (1842)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Fox and the Leopard" (pg. 52 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Heron" (pg. 54 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "The Market Square Dog"
A.A. Milne: a poem a day

Optional Exam Week

Week 25
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 15 "How King Alfred Learned to Read"
Fifty Famous Stories Retold: "The Kingdoms" (Frederick William, King of Prussia)
Parables from Nature: "Law of the Wood"
Aesop's Fables: "The Fox and the Goat" (pg. 58 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Cat, the Cock and the Young Mouse" (pg. 59 in the Milo Winter version)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Just So Stories: "Alphabet"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 19

Week 26
The Bible
Viking Tales: "The Baby"
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season (pictures for each chapter)
Aesop's Fables: "The Wolf and The Shepherd" (pg. 59 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Farmer and His Sons" (pg. 61 in the Milo Winter version)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Blue Fairy Book: "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" OR "Snow-white and Rose red" (a bear kills an evil gnome)
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 20

Week 27
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 16 "King Alfred in the Cowherd's Cottage"
Viking Tales: "The Tooth-thrall"
Aesop's Fables: "The Goose and the Golden Egg" (pg. 62 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Astrologer" (pg. 65 in the Milo Winter version)
Trial and Triumph: chapter 7 "Patrick Missionary to the Irish" (389-461 AD)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 21

Week 28
The Bible
Viking Tales: "Olaf's Farm" [image of a ship's head like the one described in this chapter here
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "Three Bullocks and a Lion" (pg. 66 in the Milo Winter version) and "Mercury and the Woodman" (pg. 66 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "Oscar, Cat-About-Town"
Buffalo Bill: by Ingri D'Aulaire take 1-3 weeks as needed
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day

Week 29
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 17 "More About Alfred the Great"
Viking Tales: "Olaf's Fight with Havard"
Aesop's Fables: "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" (pg. 69 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Milkmaid and her Pail" (pg. 74 in the Milo Winter version)
Buffalo Bill by Ingri D'Aulaire: take 1-3 weeks as needed
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Shakespeare: "King Lear"
Just So Stories: "Crab"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 22

Week 30
The Bible
Viking Tales: "Foes' - Fear"
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Goatherd and the Goat" (pg. 75 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Wolf and the Housedog" (pg. 77 in the Milo Winter version)
Buffalo Bill: by Ingri D'Aulaire take 1-3 weeks as needed
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 23

Week 31
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 18 "Ethelred the Unready"
Viking Tales: "Harald is King"
Parables from Nature: "Daily Bread"
Aesop's Fables: "The Quack Toad" (pg. 78 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Cat and the Fox" (pg. 82 in the Milo Winter version)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Blue Fairy Book: "The Forty Thieves" OR "Prince Darling"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 24

Week 32
The Bible
Viking Tales: "Harald's Battle"
Trial and Triumph: chapter 8 "Pope Gregory I Servant of the Servants of God" (540-604 AD)
Aesop's Fables: "Two Travelers and a Bear" (pg. 83 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Dog and His Reflection" (pg. 84 in the Milo Winter version)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season

Week 33
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 19 "How Edmund Ironside Fought for the Crown"
Viking Tales: "Gyda's Saucy Message"
Aesop's Fables: "The Hare and the Tortoise" (pg. 84 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Fox and the Crow" (pg. 87 in the Milo Winter version)
James Herriot's Treasury: "Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb"
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Just So Stories: "Cat"
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 25

Week 34
The Bible
Viking Tales: "The Sea Fight"
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Lions Share" (pg. 90 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Northwind and the Sun" (pg. 91 in the Milo Winter version)
Shakespeare: "Twelfth Night; Or, "What You Will"
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 26

Week 35
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 20 "Canute and the Waves"
Viking Tales: "King Harald's Wedding"
Parables from Nature: "Cobwebs"
Aesop's Fables: "The Ass in the Lion's Skin" (pg. 93 in the Milo Winter version) and "The Bees, and Wasps and the Hornet" (pg. 94 in the Milo Winter version)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Paddle to the Sea: chapter 27

Week 36
The Bible
An Island Story: chapter 21 "Edward the Confessor"
Viking Tales: "King Harald Goes West-Over-Seas"
Trial and Triumph: chapter 9 "Boniface Missionary to the Germans" (680-754 AD)
Burgess's Bird Book: choose one chapter based on geographic region and season
Aesop's Fables: "The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle" (pg. 96 in the Milo Winter version)
Oxford Book of Children's Verse: a poem a day
Blue Fairy Book: "White Cat" (The white cat is killed and the princess appears) OR "Princess and the Glass Hill"
Just So Stories: "Butterfly"

Optional Exam Week

For future reference: Fairy Tale list
Recommended List (with possible problematic events in parentheses for parents whose children may have specific issues with certain elements of stories)
Term 1 (37 pages total)
Beauty and the Beast; -Familiar (20 pages)
Why the Sea is Salt (a man tells his brother to go the Dead; a ship sinks and all perish) (5 pages)
Prince Darling (12 pages)
Term 2 (38 pages total)
The Glass Slipper; - Familiar (8 pages)
Master Maid (Unnecessary cruelty to her suitors. Couldn't she just say no?), (16 pages)
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp -Familiar (A wicked Magician and his wicked Brother are killed) (14 pages)
Term 3 (37 pages total)
East of the Sun, West of the Moon; (11 pages)
The Forty Thieves (9 pages)
White Cat (The white cat is killed and the princess appears) (17 pages)
Some Good Alternatives
Princess and the Glass Hill; (10 pages)
Blue Beard (6 pages)
Prince Hyacinth (7 pages)
Toads and Diamonds (a selfish girl dies in the woods) - familiar (4 pages)
Snow-white and Rose red (a bear kills an evil gnome) - Familiar (7 pages)
Hansel and Gretel - Familiar (the witch dies) (8 pages)
Rumpelstiltskin (however, Rumpelstiltskin tears himself in half at the end); - Familiar (4 pages)

If your children are sensitive to tragic stories, (and every family's needs will be different because children are unique and have varying levels of tolerance) you may prefer these less violent suggestions. However, you may want to first read Donna-Jean's comments before assuming that such tales are bad for children.

Term 1 (32 pages total)
The Glass Slipper; - common (8 pages)
Felicia and the Pot of Pinks; (9 pages)
Toads and Diamonds (a selfish girl dies in the woods) - familiar (4 pages)
East of the Sun, West of the Moon; (An troll woman bursts with anger) (11 pages)
Term 2 (32 pages total)
Beauty and the Beast; -Familiar (20 pages)
Prince Hyacinth (7 pages)
Why the Sea is Salt (a greedy man tells his brother to go the Dead; a ship sinks and all perish) (5 pgs)
Term 3 (29 pages total)
Snow-white and Rose red (a bear kills an evil gnome) - Familiar (7 pages)
Prince Darling (12 pages)
Princess and the Glass Hill; (10 pages)
Some Good Alternatives
Hansel and Gretel - Familiar (the witch dies) (8 pages)
Rumpelstiltskin (however, Rumpelstiltskin tears himself in half at the end); - Familiar (4 pages)

50 Famous Stories Retold
week 01 The Sword of Damocles (Greek)
week 02 *Damon and Pythias; and A Laconic Answer (Greek)
week 03 *The Brave Three Hundred
week 04 *Alexander and Bucephelas; and *Diogenes (Greek)
week 05 The Story of Regulus (Roman)
week 06 *Cornelia's Jewels (Roman)
week 07 *Horatius at the Bridge (Roman)
week 08 Cincinnatus (Roman)
week 09 Androclus and the Lion (Roman)
week 10 *King Alfred and the Beggar (Saxon England)
week 11 *The Story of William Tell (Switzerland 1300's)
week 12 Arnold Winkelried; (1386)
week 13 *Bruce and the Spider (Britain, 1329)
week 14 *The Black Douglas (James Douglas, Britain, d 1330)
week 15 Whittington (Britain, 1423)
week 16 The *Inchcape Rock (1500's)
week 17 Casablanca (1500's)
week 18 *Sir Philip Sidney (1586) and *The Ungrateful Soldier
week 19 *George Washington and his Hatchet;.5 page and *Doctor Goldsmith (1774)
week 20 *Picciola (1800's)
week 21 *How Napoleon Crossed the Alps (1800's)
week 22 Maximillian and the Gooseherd (King of Bavaria, 1800's)
week 23 Antonio Canova (1822)
week 24 Grace Darling (1842)
week 25 The Kingdoms (Frederick William, King of Prussia)

Viking Takes by Jennie Hall
week 26 The Baby
week 27 The Tooth-thrall
week 28 Olaf's farm
week 29 Olaf's Fight with Havard
week 30 Foes'-fear
week 31 Harald is King
week 32 Harald's Battle
week 33 Gyda's Saucy Message
week 34 The Sea Fight
week 35 King Harald's Wedding
week 36 King Harald Goes West-Over-Seas

Last update Mar. 16, 2007 (previous schedule with Tree in Trail and Seabird here.)