The yearlong program is taught in three parts: Part One in the Fall Semester (13 weeks); Part Two in the Spring Semester (13 weeks); and a short Part Three in May, 2021 (4 weeks). Sign your children up for all three parts, to create a complete year of learning.

The “Flipped Classroom”

The Grade School Unit Study Program uses a “flipped classroom” approach in a four-day-week course of study: families watch teacher-created videos and work together on interactive lessons (guided materials and instruction). In addition to home learning, the once-a-week LIVE online class “becomes the place to work through problems, advance concepts, and engage in collaborative learning” (The Flipped Classroom, https://www.educationnext.org/the-flipped-classroom/).

Daily Activities

Families are provided with daily lessons, checklists, videos, and other resources and learning materials. Each week starts with a LIVE, twenty-five-minute online class meeting for parents and students together with the instructor.

Class Recordings

During each weekly class meeting, students discuss the past week’s readings, play games to reinforce the week’s learning, and have the opportunity to share project work and poetry recitation on camera.

The same texts are used for all three parts of the series.

● New or used copies of the texts will work for use in this course. See BookFinder.com for the best prices.
● Choosing Prices: The price range after each title reflects the lowest price (Kindle edition or used edition) to the highest price range (new and/or hardback edition).
● Total Price: The low-cost options for these books can total approximately $79 and the highest cost options (all new/hardback) would cost approximately $200.
● Text and Year Overlap: Some of the Medieval books will also be used in Year Three (Making of the Modern World).

Your Book List

Purchase the following books for the school year:

1. The Story of Civilization (TSoC), Volume 2: The Medieval World by Phillip Campbell, (ISBN-10: 1505105749; ISBN-13: 978-1505105742) (All Year) ($10-$22)
Note: Supplementary TSoC Student and Teacher texts and Audio/Video products are optional. We recommend you consider adding supplementary texts (as well as audio and video materials) as tools for further engagement.
2. The Story Book of Science by Jean Henri Fabre. (ISBN-10: 1599150255; ISBN-13: 978-1599150253) (All Year) ($0 (Kindle) to $15)
3. Insect Adventures by Jean Henri Fabre. (ISBN-10: 1500196452; ISBN-13: 978-1500196455) (All Year) ($2-$12)
Note: For an advanced reader in the family, consider adding Fabre’s Book of Insects to the family reading. However, this book will not be on the schedule.
4. Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki (ISBN-10: 1883937159; ISBN-13: 978-1883937) (All Year) ($5-$12)
5. More Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki (ISBN-10: 1883937345; ISBN-13: 978-1883937348) (All Year) ($5-$12)
6. English from the Roots Up, Volume 2 by Joegil Lundquist. (ASIN: B00E322V94). Any new or used volume works. You will need to buy or make the study flashcards for this book. (All Year) ($15+)
7. Saint Benedict by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (ISBN-10: 0895554275; ISBN-13: 978-0895554277) (Fall 2020) ($6-$12)
8. If All the Swords in England: A Story of Thomas Becket, by Barbara Willard (ISBN-10: 1883937493; ISBN-13: 978-1883937492) (Spring 2021) ($6-$15)
9. Son of Charlemagne, by Barbara Willard. (ISBN: 9781883937300;ISBN-10:1883937302 (Fall 2020) ($5-$15)
10. Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Story of “The Dumb Ox” by Mary Fabyan Windeatt. (ISBN: 9780895554208). (Spring 2021-Part 3) ($5-$9)
11. Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi by Helen Walker Homan. (ISBN-10: 0898705177 ISBN-13: 978-0898705171) (Spring 2021) ($2-$9)

Pictorial Encyclopedias

Families will need access to pictorial encyclopedias that include plants, animals, and insects.

These books need to be at a reading level above 6th grade. We recommend the following three books, for low cost and high interest.
12. Reader’s Digest North American Wildlife (ISBN-13: 978-0895771025; ISBN-10: 9780895771025). (All Year) ($5-$35)
13. Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia (ISBN-10: 0756691702; ISBN-13: 978-0756691707) Any used volume will work. (All Year) ($6-$16)
14. Smithsonian Handbooks: Insects ISBN-10: 0789493926; ISBN-13: 978-0789493927) Any used volume will work. (All Year) ($6-$16)

What role does the parent play?

In this unit study program, the parent’s role is to:
1. Schedule and implement the course material for your student into the daily school life in the home.
2. Schedule and engage in read–aloud time.
3. Grade some of the materials and work (approximately 30–60 minutes per week, depending on family choice of enrichment activities).
4. Attend one live class session with your student(s) each week.

What’s included in the course?

Enrolled families will receive…
1. A weekly checklist of activities and assignments and a timeline template
2. A suggested daily schedule for the four–day school week
3. Short instructional videos to enrich the study of history, science, creative
writing, art, and literature
4. A list of optional supplementary books for solo reading for multiple grade levels
5. The weekly submission and grading of 1–2 assignments
6. A LIVE class meeting each week with the instructor to discuss material studied and to offer students an opportunity to share work or recitations on camera (off–recording)

What assignments are graded by the teacher?

Enrolled students will have one to two assignments per week that are submitted for a grade. The assignment type alternates between project work (various subjects), auto–graded quizzes, and Language Arts assignments