Search:

Home > Curriculum > AO for Groups > AmblesideOnline for Groups Form 2B Booklist

AmblesideOnline for Groups Form 2B Booklist

Note: These booklists and curriculum suggestions are incomplete without a thorough understanding of Charlotte Mason's ideas and methods. We cannot emphasize enough that you take time to familiarize yourself with her philosophy by reading her books.

If you're planning to use AmblesideOnline, your first stop should be the the FAQ for some information about the curriculum and basic instructions. Our FAQ answers all the questions that people routinely ask: AO's history scope and sequence, how to schedule your school days, how to do narration, and more.

Key: (What do all those symbols mean?)

Book titles are linked to Project Gutenberg (which offers free etexts in a variety of formats) or other online text when no Project Gutenberg text is available.

Asterisks refer to which term the book is used: * Term 1 ** Term 2 *** Term 3

β - manybooks.net, another free ebook site.
α - free etext at archive.org; newer books can be borrowed for one hour at a time.
(ChrBk) - purchase from Christianbook.com using AO's affiliate link.
K - free Kindle text from amazon.com.
(£amzn) - Living Books Press purchase using AO's amazon.com affiliate link.
($amzn) - book purchase using AO's amazon.com affiliate link.
(K) - Kindle purchase using AO's amazon.com affiliate link.
(£) - Purchase directly from Living Books Press with an affiliate link; save 10% with discount code: AOBooks
Λ - free audiobook at Lit2Go
Ω - free audiobook at Librivox ^[2]
∩ - other free audiobook source
^[0] - Click the bracketed numeral to view any notes about the book near the bottom of the page.
^[0] - red footnotes indicate a heads-up for parents about the title. We cannot foresee every incident that might potentially be an issue to every family, but we have red-flagged those that are commonly a concern.

AO is an affiliate of Living Book Press, which means that when you purchase from our (£) links, we receive a commission which allows us to keep offering AO for free.

AO is an affiliate of Christianbook.com, which means that when you purchase from our (ChrBk) links, we receive a commission that helps with our costs.

AmblesideOnline is part of Amazon.com's Affiliate program. If you use the Amazon links, we receive a small commission which enables us to cover the costs of keeping the website and curriculum. Amazon links are identified like this: ($amzn) or (£amzn) or (K).

AmblesideOnline Form 2B Curriculum

Bible ^[5]

Old Testament - 1 and 2 Kings
New Testament - The ministry of Jesus taken from all four gospels
or OT: 1 and 2 Samuel; NT: The ministry of Jesus taken from all four gospels

History: 1780-1914

Keep a simple timeline. ^[4]

This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall β α (£) (£amzn) (£amzn) ($amzn) K Ω ^[6]
Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle, ch 5-8 ($amzn) (K)
¹ ² Abraham Lincoln's World by Genevieve Foster (ChrBk) ($amzn) ^[7]
³ The Story of the World Volume 4, The Modern Age by Susan Wise Bauer (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) ^[8]

Biography

Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula ($amzn) (K) ^[10]
George Washington Carver: Man's Slave Becomes God's Scientist by David Collins (or other Carver biography) (ChrBk) ($amzn)

Literature

The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch β α α ($amzn) (K) (ChrBk) Ω K Ω ^[28]
¹ Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table by Andrew Lang ($amzn) (K) Ω
² ³ Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) ($amzn) (K) Ω K Λ ^[30]

Shakespeare for the 2023-2024 School Year:
* Twelfth Night
** King Lear
*** Measure for Measure

Poetry ^[27]

¹ Rudyard Kipling
² Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ^[26] Hiawatha (£) (ChrBk) (£amzn) Ω Λ
³ John Greenleaf Whittier and Paul Laurence Dunbar Λ

Purchase AO's Volume 5 poetry collection which includes Kipling, Longfellow, Whittier, and Dunbar in paperback or Kindle ($amzn) (K)

Copywork

A curriculum or program for handwriting is not necessary, but if you want to use one, these are some we've used and can suggest:
A Reason for Writing Level A: ($amzn) Level B: ($amzn)
Getty Dubay Italic Handwriting Series ($earch)

Dictation

Grammar and Composition

Recitation ^[recit]

Term 1
Psalm 11:7; Luke 2:30-32; Psalm 51:10-12
The Children's Song from Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling
If by Rudyard Kipling
A passage from the term's Shakespeare play
Term 2
Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 6:19-21; Hosea 1:7
The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Excelsior by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A passage from the term's Shakespeare play
Term 3
Matthew 18:1-5; Luke 15:3-7; 2 Kings 18:5-7
Forgiveness by John Greenleaf Whittier
Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar
A passage from the term's Shakespeare play

Foreign Language

Latin

Geography

¹ ² Of Courage Undaunted: Across the Continent with Lewis and Clark by James Daugherty (ChrBk) ($amzn) ^[11]
² ³ The Story of David Livingstone by Vautier Golding ($amzn) (K) ^[12]
Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Peter Menzel ($amzn) ^[20]
What the World Eats by Faith D'Aluisio and Peter Menzel ($amzn) ^[14]

Ten minutes of map drills each week ^[16]
Locate places from the day's reading on a map

In addition, these geography concepts should be explained and taught this year: ^[18]
Term 1: Animal features (feet, teeth, covering) and their purposes; how we use animals (meat, milk, fur, silk, horns, hooves, labor, pets)
Term 2: Things mined from the earth: minerals and metals such as coal, iron, gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, mercury, salt. Quarried stones: granite, sandstone; limestone (chalk), marble, slate and their uses. Where brick and glass come from; mortar.
Term 3: People around the world live in different dwellings, eat, work, learn and play. Terms: agriculture (farming), stock-raising, mining, lumbering, fishing. Town people: manufacturing, trade/commerce, transportation and other occupations.

Citizenship

Plutarch for the 2023-2024 School Year:
Term 1: Alcibiades (Study Guide with text; Text Only)
Term 2: Coriolanus (Study Guide with text; Text Only)
Term 3: Cato the Younger (Study Guide with text; Text Only)
(Purchase this year's study guides, Vol 9, in one book: ($amzn) (K)
AO's full Plutarch rotation

Nature Study and Science

The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock α (ChrBk) ($amzn) as scheduled in Nature Study.

Supplies for Nature Study:
Nature notebook and pencils or paint for each student
Begin to build a library of regional field guides
Plenty of time to allow Nature Study to be a fun learning experience for all

The Storybook of Science by Jean-Henri Fabre (used over three years) α (£) (£amzn) ($amzn) (K) Ω
Madam How and Lady Why, Volume II, Further Afield by Charles Kingsley, with notes by Anne White ($amzn) (K) ^[20]
Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology by Jeannie Fulbright and Brooke Ryan, M.D., Lessons 1-6 this year (ChrBk) ($amzn) ^[21]
It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence Richards (used over three years; (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thompson Seton (selections) β α (£) (£amzn) ($amzn) K ^[25]

Great Inventors and Their Inventions by Frank P. Bachman (£) (£amzn) (K)
(or The Story of Inventions Michael J. McHugh and Frank P. Bachman) α (£) (ChrBk) ($amzn) Ω ^[22]

Nature Study Topics for the 2023-2024 School Year:
summer/fall: Trees/shrubs/vines
winter: Stars/sky
spring: Amphibians
AO's full Nature Study rotation

Mathematics

Select a program from our page of Math Options.

Art

Artists (Picture Study) for the 2023-2024 School Year:

2023-2024 TERM 1 Tintoretto (1518-1594; Renaissance)
(This term's music: Renaissance)
Self portrait
1. Crucifixion, 1565, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice; study
2. Christ Before Pilate, 1567, also here Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice
3. The Adoration of the Magi, 1582, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice; study
4. Portrait of a Man, 1586-1589, State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
5. Paradise, 1588, Doge's Palace, Venice
6. The Last Supper, 1592-1594, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
Download a pdf file of this term's six prints here ^[NOTE]

2023-2024 TERM 2 Claude Monet (1840-1926; French Impressionist)
(This term's composer: Ravel)
Biography
1. Terrace at St. Adresse, 1866, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
2. Women in the Garden, 1866, Musee d'Orsay, Paris
3. Jean Monet on His Hobby Horse, 1872, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
4. Woman with a Parasol: Madame Monet and Her Son, 1875, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (see also here)
5. Tulip Fields in Holland, 1886, Musee d'Orsay, Paris
6. The Waterlily Pond, 1899, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey (Similar image here)
Download a pdf file of this term's six prints here ^[NOTE]

2023-2024 TERM 3 Georges Seurat (1859-1891; French Post-impressionist)
(This term's music: Opera Overtures)
1. Rock-Breakers, Le Raincy, 1882, also here Norton Simon Art Foundation, Pasadena, CA, USA
2. Man Cleaning His Boat, 1883, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, UK
3. Bathers at Asnieres, 1883-84, National Gallery, London, UK
4. Sunday on La Grande Jatte 1884, Art Institute of Chicago, USA
5. The Eiffel Tower, 1889, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, USA (also here)
6. The Circus, 1891, Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Download a pdf file of this term's six prints here ^[NOTE]

AO's full Artist rotation

Note: PDF files for AO's picture study are being made available for you to download and print yourself from "A Humble Place"; you can access the PDF files of pictures by clicking the "Individual Artworks Only" link by each artist's name. The "Picture Study aid" link is an additional optional resource and may require you to submit your email address or make a purchase, but the "Artworks Only" link is provided with no strings attached.

Music

Composers for the 2023-2024 School Year:

2023-2024 TERM 1 Renaissance Music (This term's artist: Tintoretto)
1. Songs * * * * *
2. Guillaume Dufay * *   Ave Maris Stella ("Hail, star of the sea") * *
3. Dance Music * * * * *
4. Josquin des Prez * * * *
5. Vocal Music of William Byrd * * * * *
6. Claudio Monteverdi * * * *   Monteverdi wrote the earliest opera still regularly performed: "L'Orfeo" *
     CD and mp3 Options:
     -- The Hillard Ensemble: Music for Tudor Kings seems to offer a nice variety of music from the era. ($amzn) ($mp3); also English and Italian Renaissance Madrigals. ($mp3) The Hilliard Ensemble has multiple CD's featuring Renaissance era composers.
     -- Gloriae Dei Cantores: Masters of the Renaissance (choral sacred music) ($amzn) ($mp3)
     -- Oxford Camerata: Renaissance Masterpieces (vocal) ($amzn) ($mp3)
     -- Dances of the Renaissance ($amzn) ($mp3)
     -- Catherine King: Elizabethan Songs and Consort Music (solo voice, instrumental) ($amzn) ($mp3)

2023-2024 TERM 2 Maurice Ravel (1875-1937; Impressionist) (This term's artist: Claude Monet)
1. Daphne et Chloe - selections * *   complete *
2. Bolero * *
3. Mother Goose Suite * *
4. Pavane pour une infante dufunte (no, there really is no dead princess) * *
5. Piano Concerto in D for the Left Hand (composed for a pianist who lost his right arm in WWI) * *
6. Rhapsody Espagnole * *

2023-2024 TERM 3 Opera Selections (This term's artist: Georges Seurat)
1. Giuseppi Verdi: "Triumphal March" from Aida * * and "Vedi! le fosche" (Anvil Chorus) * * from Il Trovatore
2. Giuseppi Verdi "Libiamo Ne'lieti Calici" (Brindisi; drinking song - parents, preview!) from La Traviata * * and "La Donne Il Mobile," from Rigoletto * *
3. Giacomo Puccini: "O Soave Fancuilla" * * and "Quando M'en Vo" * * from La Boheme, and "E Lucevan Le Stelle" * * from Tosca.
4. Giacamo Puccini: "Un Bel Di Vedremo" * * from Madama Butterfly, and "Nessun Dorma" * * from Turandot.
5. Gioacchino Rossini: overture * * and "Largo al factotum" (Figaro Figaro Figaro. . .) from Il Barbiere Di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) * *
6. Gioacchino Rossini: William Tell overture * *
We suggest using a selection of Opera favorites that contains most of these, such as Best Opera Album In The World . . . Ever! ($amzn) and filling in any missing pieces with whatever else is on the CD. Puccini's "O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi, Bizet's "Au fond du temple saint" from The Pearl Fishers, Verdi's "Celeste Aida" from Aida would be worthy substitutes.
One possibility: 25 Opera Favorites CD ($amzn)
1 - track 7. Giuseppi Verdi: "Triumphal March" from Aida; track 17. Gypsies' Chorus from Il Trovatore
2 - track 3. Giuseppi Verdi: "Libiamo Ne'lieti Calici" (Brindisi) from La Traviata; track 9. "La Donne Il Mobile," from Rigoletto
3 - track 21. Giacomo Puccini: "Che Gelida Manina" from La Boheme; track 23. "Quando M'en Vo" from La Boheme; track 18. "Vissi d'Arte" from Tosca
4 - track 6. Giacamo Puccini: "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly, track 5. "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot
5 - track 4. Georges Bizet: "Au Fond du Temple Saint" from the Pearl Fishers; track 2. Gioacchino Rossini: "Largo al factotum" from The Barber of Seville
6 - track 1. Gioacchino Rossini: William Tell overture
     Free Ebook for younger students Verdi: The Little Boy who Loved the Hand Organ by Thomas Tapper
     Classics for Kids Past Shows: Verdi; Puccini; Bizet; Rossini

AO's full Composer rotation

Hymns for the 2023-2024 School Year:

August: The Rock That Is Higher Than I * ∘
September: For All the Saints who from their Labours Rest * ∘
October: For the Beauty of the Earth * * * ∘
November: Anywhere with Jesus * * ∘
December: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow * * ∘
January: My Song is Love Unknown * * ∘
February: This is My Father's World * * ∘
March: Ah, Holy Jesus * * ∘
April: Count Your Blessings * * ∘
May: All Creatures of Our God and King * * *
June: Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending *
July: Holy, Holy, Holy * * *

AO's full Hymn rotation

Folksongs for the 2023-2024 School Year:

AO's Intro to 2023-2024's Folksongs
August (Bonus): God Bless America ∘
September: Aiken Drum * * ∘   Scottish version: * *
October: The Ash Grove * * * * ∘
November: The Lion Sleeps Tonight * * ∘
Over Christmas break, try learning a less familiar carol: Sleep, Sleep, Sleep My Little Child ∘ and/or O Little Town Of Bethlehem
January: The Water is Wide (Oh Waly, Waly) * * * * ∘
February: Now is the Hour * * * ∘
March: Log Driver's Waltz * * * ∘
April: A Man's A Man for A'That ("Should'a been Scotland's national anthem...") * * * ∘
May: Simple Gifts * * *
June: Click Go the Shears * *

AO's full Folksong rotation

Physical Education

One option is Swedish Drill Revisited by Dawn Duran purchase

Additional Books for Free Reading ^[32]

Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter by Miriam Huffman Rockness There is much focus on this book right now, with the movie/DVD associated with it, and there is a great need for such a hero of the faith, who worked with Muslims. Students should read the first half; the second half is optional. ($amzn) (K)

Biography of Alexander Graham Bell, like Always Inventing by Tom L. Matthews ($amzn), or Talking Wire by O.J. Stevenson (£) OR biography of Marie Curie

Kim by Rudyard Kipling β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω
The Courage and Character of Theodore Roosevelt by George Grant (ChrBk) ($amzn) Also called Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of Teddy Roosevelt ($amzn) (K)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω Λ
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) Ω K Λ ∩
Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling β α (£) (ChrBk) (£amzn) ($amzn) (K) Ω K
Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) Ω K
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω K Λ
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω Ω K Λ
Lad: A Dog (or another book in the Lad series) by Albert Payson Terhune α ($amzn)
The Treasure Seekers by Edith Nesbit β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω K
The Wouldbegoods by Edith Nesbit; sequel to The Treasure-Seekers β α ($amzn) Ω K
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) ($eries) (K) Ω Λ
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) 9-book series: (ChrBk) ($amzn) Paperback: ($amzn) (K)
Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω K
Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge β α (£) (£amzn) Ω K
Michael Faraday, Father of Electronics by Charles Ludwig (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) (Contains some violence pertaining to war.)
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Falcons of France by Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall ($amzn) (K)
Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton ($amzn) (K)
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller β (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) Ω K
Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery; shows WWI effects on a community. Eighth book in the Anne of Avonlea series; those who like these books might enjoy Rilla more if they read some of the earlier ones first. β α (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K) 8-vol set (ChrBk) ($et) Ω

If you would like some easier, but still excellent, living books, for a Form 2 student to read independently for free reading, consider choosing from this list:

Sarah Plain and Tall series by Patricia MacLachlan
Sarah Plain and Tall ($amzn) (K)
Skylark ($amzn) (K)
Caleb's Story ($amzn) (K)
More Perfect than the Moon ($amzn) (K)
Grandfather's Dance ($amzn) (K)

The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen by Lloyd Alexander ($amzn)
Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop ($amzn)
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson ($amzn)
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois($amzn) (K)
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George ($amzn) (K)

Kate Seredy books, including:
The Good Master (ChrBk) ($amzn)
The White Stag ($amzn)
The Singing Tree (ChrBk) ($amzn)
The Chestry Oak ($amzn)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien (ChrBk) ($amzn)
The Rescuers by Margery Sharp ($amzn) (K) (and others in the series)
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald; particularly interesting to boys; skip (or preview) the last chapter, ch 8, "The Great Brain's Reformation," as it's a light-hearted tale told in a frivolous manner about a boy's attempts to do himself in after his father disparages his disability. ($amzn) (K)

Noel Streatfeild books (appealing to girls in particular)
Ballet Shoes (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Skating Shoes ($amzn) (K)
Dancing Shoes (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)
Theater Shoes (ChrBk) ($amzn) (K)

Footnotes

2. Note on Audiobooks: While links to audio books are added as a courtesy, Miss Mason's approach to grammar and composition is heavily dependent upon the children receiving an immense amount of visual exposure to the written word over many years, so parents should exercise extreme caution in how many audiobooks they use each year. Our brains just work differently when we see the words. (Cindy Rollins did a Circe Mason Jar podcast that included the role of audiobooks with difficult books.) For children who have difficulty reading, one solution is to have them follow the audio version along in a written text
Librivox free audio is done by volunteers, and some are better than others. Forgotten ClassicsHeidi Nash has a list of some favorite Librivox readers. Be aware that apps, including Librivox, that have clickable ads can open a browser and allow children unfiltered access to the internet, even when browsers have been disabled by the parent. There are options: either download mp3 files from Librivox and listen without the app, or only install the app on a parent-controlled device. Librivox has a pay option to turn off ads. (Back)

4. Timeline: Students who are ready for more timeline work than they have done before, but who are not quite advanced enough to begin a Book of Centuries (recommended for ages 10 and up), may like to begin a slightly more detailed chart, which Laurie Bestvater has named a "Stream of History" (The Living Page, p. 47-50). However, such a chart must still be kept quite simple, with a focus more towards general time periods and centuries rather than single years: "[it should be] conveniently visible as a whole, say within the compass of at most a yard in length" (p. 48). (This chart will continue to be used even after the Book of Centuries has been begun.)

Those who are ready may add the Book of Centuries, a lovely and important notebook which has been described elsewhere. Two Book of Centuries options: ($amzn).

Resources: Read an Advisory member's blog post about early timelines at Wendi Wanders. Instructions for timelines and charts are included in these Parents' Review articles: Book of the Centuries; Teaching Chronology; The Correlation of Lessons. For more details about the why, when, and how of keeping CM timelines (and other notebooks), we strongly recommend reading The Living Page by Laurie Bestvater ($amzn). We have more links on our history page here. (Back)

5. AO's Bible plan can be viewed here. It is a good idea for children to become accustomed to the language and flow of the King James Version of the Bible, as a familiarity with King James English will make other literature more accessible. For more about this, read Lynn Bruce's article on the King James Version.
Optional Bible Resources: Bible Gateway has many versions of the Bible online. Timeline; Study questions with maps. (Back)

6. This Country of Ours: Washington-Wilson this year.
Term 1: ch 64-72 (Washington-Adams, 1783-1828)
Term 2: ch 73-82 (Jackson-Buchanan, 1829-1861) ch 83-91 are skipped
Term 3: ch 92-99 (Johnson-Wilson, 1865-1919)
This Country of Ours is our first choice for this term's US history book, and is used in all terms. The 'OR' options are world history selections; they are not an adequate substitute for this book. This year uses the chapters that cover the time period between 1783-1919. Be aware that the edition for sale from Wilder Publications has no Table of Contents or chapter numbers. Public domain texts are available for anyone to copy, paste and publish, and many new companies are springing up publishing and selling these texts without editing for typos.
For planning purposes, there is a table of contents with dates for This Country of Ours. (Back)

7. Abraham Lincoln's World: This book has several different editions with slightly different page numbers and section headings. Weekly schedules use the Beautiful Feet reprint; adjust the schedule to fit the copy you have. (Back)

8. Story of the World: The historical books that were recommend for Forms I and II such as An Island Story, A Child's History of the World, Abraham Lincoln's World, The Story of Mankind were carefully selected based on literary quality and availability for those historical periods and we believe that Susan Wise Bauer's Story of the World Volume 4 is the best book for the twentieth century that meets that same criteria. The book is not used until Term 3. To help with your planning, a table of contents for this book, with loose dates.
Term 3: ch 1-22 (Back)

10. Trial and Triumph: Descriptions of some trials of the Christians may be intense; preview chapters to determine suitability based on their student's sensitivities. If you prefer, you can skip this book and cover church history in Form 3 with a different book, Saints and Heroes by George Hodges.
This book tells church history from a definite Protestant perspective; some may wish to skip this book or find an alternative. (Back)

Recitation: Charlotte Mason's PNEU schools expected children to be able to recite two Bible verses and a poem for their term exams. We have listed suggestions, but students should be allowed to have some input into what is memorized for recitation. Some students will gravitate towards a specific poem, or want to memorize all of a Psalm, and that should be encouraged. There are some possible suggestions for Shakespeare passages on our Shakespeare recitations page. (Back)

11. Of Courage Undaunted: pg 56 has a typo which appears to be in all editions. The heading "Winter Quarters at Fort Mandan, November 8, 1904" should be 1804. (Back)

12. Livingstone's journeys were selected for their geography of Africa, so map work is vital. The map link goes to a Map created by Livingstone himself. (Back)

14. Material World/What the World Eats - How to use these books:
Leave them out, preferably near a globe or world map, and browse through them together from time to time.
Leave them out, browse through them and maybe once a month pick a country of interest. Look it up (briefly) on Wikipedia or in a good Atlas. Read a little bit more about it. Find it on a map or globe.
If a child is interested, he can pursue additional research in his free time and learn more about countries that particularly interest him, but this should be his own delight directed study or hobby.
How not to use these books: as the basis of a unit study or a burdensome checklist of additional tasks to fulfill.
Note: Material World: pg 16 and pg 70 have some National Geographic types of photos that may need screening.
Hungry Planet: What the World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio looks similar to What the World Eats; we think it could be used interchangeably. ($amzn) (Back)

16: Geography: SeterraOnline offers Free Map Quiz Games. If you have an iPad or iPhone, TapQuiz is a free map quiz app. (Back)

18: Geography: The Following geography concepts should be explained and taught this year; a book is not necessary as these can be explained informally during walks and outings. AO's complete list of geography topics.
Term 1: Animal features (feet, teeth, covering) and their purposes; how we use animals (meat, milk, fur, silk, horns, hooves, labor, pets)
These topics are covered in these chapters:
Long's Home Geography α (£) (£amzn) 37. The Parts of Animals
Long's Home Geography α 38. The Covering of Animals
Long's Home Geography α 39. Uses of Animals
Term 2: Things mined from the earth: minerals and metals such as coal, iron, gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, mercury, salt. Quarried stones: granite, sandstone; limestone (chalk), marble, slate and their uses. Where brick and glass come from; mortar.
These topics are covered in these chapters:
Long's Home Geography α 41. Things Found in the Earth
Long's Home Geography α 42. More About Things Found in the Earth
Term 3: People around the world live in different dwellings, eat, work, learn and play. Terms: agriculture (farming), stock-raising, mining, lumbering, fishing. Town people: manufacturing, trade/commerce, transportation and other occupations.
These topics are covered in these chapters:
Long's Home Geography α 43. How People Live, and What They Are Doing
Long's Home Geography α 44. More About What People Are Doing
Long's Home Geography α 45. A Review Lesson (Back)

Plutarch: Charlotte Mason recommended Thomas North's "inimitable translation." (Back)

20. Madam How and Lady Why: This year, the second half of the book is covered:
Term 1: The Chalk Carts, Madam How's Two Grandsons, The Coral Reef
Term 2: Field and Wild, The World's End
Term 3: Homeward Bound
Anne White has formatted the text with her study notes into separate volumes. Volume 1, "A Walk Through the Glen," is scheduled in Form 2a (last year). Volume 2, "Further Afield," is scheduled this year, in 2b.
Just the Further Afield text with a few edits (mostly for comments that would be considered racist by today's standards) for your student to read along.
The text with Anne White's study guide which is linked above is recommended but not required. If you prefer just the original book without the study guide or edits, it is available at these links: Project Gutenberg β α (£) ($amzn) (£amzn) Ω K There's a schedule for the original book. Groups 2B lines up with Year 5 on that schedule.
Madam How and Lady Why is scheduled slowly over two years. This is an earth science book; if you use the study guide, you'll see that it takes time to adequately cover the subject matter. Researching the topics is what makes this useful as a science book.

Of what value is an old science book like Madam How and Lady Why? Apart from the superior writing quality, the best thing you can get out of old science books is a strong sense that science is a constantly changing thing, and that the "scientific evidence/theory/conclusion" of today can be debunked in a year, or two, or ten. Children should learn to take the words "Scientists think . . ." for exactly what they are worth (always worth considering, but never to be considered the final word). Reading older books will help you develop that sense.
Note on Kingsley's "old earth" comments: During the era when Madam How and Lady Why was written, there was no "young earth" discussion out there: evidence seemed to show an old earth, and the Church of England (Charles Kingsley was a clergyman), by and large, accepted a kind of theistic evolution.
This book is invaluable for understanding the deeper ideas of how to approach science. If you do nothing else with this book, at the very least, read the preface and chapter 8 (Madam How's Two Sons) -- that's the bare minimum, but, really, this whole book is truly worthwhile. Some parents are hesitant to use this book because of outdated science information; keep in mind that whatever is current, accurate and up to date changes all the time. Even if you buy a current science book today, there is material in it that is already out of date and will be defunct next year. Some science teachers complain that in some areas what is currently held as true changes so fast that they think science would be best taught using science journals as the text, and even then, in some topics, over half of what is published in journals ends up being retracted later. But that's data, and it's easy to correct outdated data. The ideas in this book are the foundation of a CM philosophy. This is a book to read together with your kids, to discuss, to research together. Some of the style of the writing can be off-putting, but that is also something that could become an advantage: use it as a writing or narration project, asking your student to 'retell what the author is getting at, but in current terms.' (Back)

21. Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy is used over two years of Form II -- the first six lessons are scheduled in IIB, and the eight remaining lessons are scheduled in IIC. We suggest your students read and narrate rather than do the discussion questions at the end of the chapters, and be selective about Projects and "Try This!" activities, choosing only those that illustrate the concept being learned. We hope to compile a list of which projects and activities we think should be done. The Notebooking Journal that goes with this book is not necessary, although projects and activities done from the textbook would be appropriate for your student's regular Nature Journal. (Back)

The Child's Book of Nature, Book II, Animals, by W. Hooker, or Christian Liberty Nature Reader, Book 5, by W. Hooker, ed. by Michael J. McHugh (£) (£amzn) ($amzn) was previously used in Year IIB and IIC; if you prefer to use it this year in place of Fulbright's Anatomy, here is how it was scheduled across IIB:

Term 1
Wk 1 ch 1 What is Made from the Blood, first half [in 2002 edition: 1 What is Made from Blood part a]
Wk 2 ch 1 What is Made from the Blood, second half [in 2002 edition: 1 What is Made from Blood part a]
Wk 3 ch 2 How the Blood is Made, first half [in 2002 edition: How the Blood is Made]
Wk 4 ch 2 How the Blood is Made, second half [in 2002 edition: How the Blood is Made]
Wk 5 ch 3 Mother Earth, first half [in 2002 edition: 1 The Dust of the Earth]
Wk 6 ch 3 Mother Earth, second half [in 2002 edition: 1 The Dust of the Earth]
Wk 7 ch 4 The Stomach and the Teeth, first half [in 2002 edition: 2 The Stomach and the Teeth]
Wk 8 ch 4 The Stomach and the Teeth, second half [in 2002 edition: 2 The Stomach and the Teeth]
Wk 9 ch 5 More About the Teeth, first half [in 2002 edition: 2 More About Teeth]
Wk 10 ch 5 More About the Teeth, second half [in 2002 edition: 2 More About Teeth]
Wk 11 ch 6 The Circulation of the Blood, first half [in 2002 edition: 3 The Circulation of Blood]
Wk 12 ch 6 The Circulation of the Blood, second half [in 2002 edition: 3 The Circulation of Blood]
Term 2
Wk 13 ch 7 Breathing, first half [in 2002 edition: 3 Breathing]
Wk 14 ch 7 Breathing, second half [in 2002 edition: 3 Breathing]
Wk 15 none
Wk 16 ch 8 Brain and Nerves, first half [in 2002 edition: 3 The Brain and Nerves]
Wk 17 ch 8 Brain and Nerves, second half [in 2002 edition: 3 The Brain and Nerves]
Wk 18 ch 9 How the Mind Gets Knowledge, first half [in 2002 edition: skip this week]
Wk 19 ch 9 How the Mind Gets Knowledge, second half [in 2002 edition: skip this week]
Wk 20 none
Wk 21 ch 10 Seeing, first half [in 2002 edition: 4 Seeing]
Wk 22 ch 10 Seeing, second half [in 2002 edition: 4 Seeing]
Wk 23 ch 11 How the Eye is Guarded, first half [in 2002 edition: 4 How the Eye is Guarded]
Wk 24 ch 11 How the Eye is Guarded, second half [in 2002 edition: 4 How the Eye is Guarded]
Term 3
Wk 25 none
Wk 26 ch 12 Hearing, first half [in 2002 edition: 4 Hearing]
Wk 27 ch 12 Hearing, second half [in 2002 edition: 4 Hearing]
Wk 28 ch 13 The Smell, the Taste and the Touch, first half [in 2002 edition: 4 Smell, Taste and Touch]
Wk 29 ch 13 The Smell, the Taste and the Touch, second half [in 2002 edition: 4 Smell, Taste and Touch]
Wk 30 ch 14 The Bones, first half [in 2002 edition: 5 Bones]
Wk 31 ch 14 The Bones, second half [in 2002 edition: 5 Bones]
Wk 32 ch 15 More About Bones, first half [in 2002 edition: 5 More About Bones]
Wk 33 ch 15 More About Bones, second half [in 2002 edition: 5 More About Bones]
Wk 34 ch 16 The Muscles, first half [in 2002 edition: 5 Muscles]
Wk 35 ch 16 The Muscles, second half [in 2002 edition: 5 Muscles]
Wk 36 none

22. 'The Story of Inventions' is online, except for the last 2 chapters, which were a later addition and still copyrighted. The online edition does not have the two later chapters. If you have the second edition, the chapter order may not match the AO schedule. AO member Amy H. posted a revised list on her blog. Great Inventors and Their Inventions by Frank P. Bachman (£) (£amzn) is an earlier version of the same book. If you have a copy, you can substitute. Or, boys might enjoy War Inventions by Charles R. Gibson (the Advisory hasn't read this yet.) All About Famous Inventors and Their Inventions α by Fletcher Pratt is similar; The Story of Great Inventions by Elmer Ellsworth Burns α might be another option. Chapter 10: Watch 6 min video on Medieval Manuscripts (Back)

25. Wild Animals I Have Known chapters are scheduled as followed:
Term 1. The Pacing Mustang; Silverspot (about crows)
Term 2. Raggylug (rabbits)
Term 3. Bingo (a dog) (Back)

26. Longfellow's longer poems are historically appropriate for this year; try breaking up longer poems and reading them over a few days. (Back)

27. Poetry: How do you "do" poetry? Simply read it and enjoy it, re-read it, read it again and listen to the sound of the phrases, let them paint a word picture in your mind. Do you feel like you need more direction? How to Read a Poem: Based on the Billy Collins Poem "Introduction to Poetry" by Tania Runyan is "less as an instructional book and more of an invitation." This is a suggested optional parent resource that encourages you read poetry for enjoyment. (Back)

28. Age of Fable, used over three years, is a book about Greek mythology, and some editions use illustrations of nudes, which some might find objectionable. This year: ch 15 (Graeae) - ch 28 (Troy)
Term 1: ch 15 (The Graeae, Perseus and Medusa, Perseus and Atlas) to ch 20 (Theseus)
Term 2: ch 20 (Olympic and other games, Daedalus, Castor and Pollux) to ch 24 (Amphion-Muusaeus)
Term 3: ch 25 (Arion) to ch 28 (Agamemnon-Troy) (Back)

30. Oliver Twist: Yes, the language in this book is a challenge, but the challenging books are the ones that will slowly scaffold children to comprehend the nuances and meanings of longer sentences and more complex sentence structure so that they'll be able to read anything by high school with ease.
Note that there is one Jewish character in Oliver Twist, Fagin, and he is depicted as a vile and despicable person. Throughout the book, Fagin is repeatedly referred to as "the Jew." Dickens based the character on a real-life Jewish man who was at the center of a highly-publicized trial at the time. But Eliza Davis, a Jewish mother of ten and the wife of a man who had purchased Dickens' home, wrote Charles Dickens and challenged him on this. As a result of their correspondence, Dickens changed the next printing of Oliver Twist so that many references to "the Jew" were changed to Fagin's name. He also wrote a subsequent book, Our Mutual Friend, in which the main Jewish character was depicted in a positive light. There is a picture book that tells the story of the correspondence between Dickens and Davis called Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin and Bethany Stancliffe. ($amzn) (K) Parents can follow Dickens' own example and use Fagin's name rather than any other word.
Additional note: Some parents have asked whether this book, which contains a murder and anti-Semitic labeling of a villian, is appropriate for sensitive students. There is a thread discussing this on the AO Forum. It's a private forum; you must be a member to read it. This is a post from that thread written by Advisory member Wendi Capehart:
"My most sensitive child, and she is and was very sensitive, was horrified and broken hearted by Nancy's death, but I think it was good for her to read the book anyway. So much literature romanticizes the bad boy relationship, and makes much of the seductive idea that the bad boy's one true love can make him abandon his wicked ways and put him on the right path, when in fact, he is more likely just to add his one true love to his long list of victims. Nancy loved him with all her heart but she couldn't love Bill Sykes enough to make him not be a murderous thug. A girl could benefit a lot from this instructive example, read just before she's reached that romantic stage where girls are apt to crush on bad boys.
This is the same child who was sure for a very long time that the Artful Dodger and Fagin were really good people and good friends to Oliver. Even when it began to be more and more obvious, she didn't want to accept it and came to me wringing her hands several times, asking for reassurance that Dodger really was a very good friend, right? I kept saying she needed to keep reading and see what she thought. It was a hard lesson in discernment, but I am so glad she got her first exposure to these hard ideas in a book rather than in real life.
The anti-Semitism is jarring, at best, and mostly deeply disturbing, but as others have mentioned, it can be very instructive for children to see where we've come from in order to understand where we are. One could ask a reader, 'Is the real problem here that Fagin is Jewish, or that he is a manipulative thief who exploits children for gain?'" (Back)

32. Free Reading books are books that no child should miss, but rather than overloading school time, these can be read during free time. No narrations need be required from these books. Advisory member Wendi C. suggests, "How you handle these is up to you . . ." (more) Students should understand that historical fiction, while often well-researched, is still fiction, and contains the author's ideas of how things might have happened. Books with asterisks pertain to that term's historical studies. (Back)

Last updated March 31, 2023 (to update Bible and Science)