Academic
Four Square Academic is a Christian community that meets on Wednesdays for two 12 week terms in Byron Center, MI. It is a drop-off program and parents are not required to volunteer. We welcome and encourage families to join us for hymn-sing chapel at 8:45am.
We offer a variety of classes designed to meet the different needs of preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students.
Beginning at 9am, first through eighth grade students rotate through five classes taught in a unique environment integrating the effective Finland model, Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, and movement-based learning. Parents will gain community, accountability, feedback, and support while preserving the home education experience for their student. Students will have lessons covering Geography, History, Literature, Science, Nature, and Grammar + Composition.
Four Square Academic is designed to complement Four Square Enrichment or stand on its own, based on parent preferences. If you are unable to join our in-person classes, we encourage you to check out Without Doors – a Bible, Geography, History, Literature, Enrichment, and Nature Study curriculum for 1st-8th grade inspired by Four Square Academic.
Finland Model
Finland is world-renowned for their successful students. They counterintuitively school for shorter days and give less homework. They are efficient with class time and maintain high academic standards for students. Finnish schools do not put an emphasis on regularly testing students, rather, on each student gaining a full understanding of the concepts and content.
Lessons are 15-45 minutes and are followed with a 5-15 minute movement break. Physical activity and play have been confirmed to aid students in processing information and reinforcing lessons.
Four Square Academic implements this effective model as a framework for lessons on Wednesdays.
Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason was a classical English educational reformer at the turn of the twentieth century. She wrote volumes of material and trained educators in her unique educational philosophy, a philosophy so rich that we continue to pursue it today. Her motto for students was
"I am, I can, I ought, I will."
Charlotte Mason emphasizes oral narration to demonstrate comprehension in the early years, while making a smooth transition into written narration for older students. Living literature, copywork, object study, recitation, character development, keeping a Book of Centuries, habit training, and nature study are some of the highlights of a Charlotte Mason education that are integrated into the lessons at Four Square Academic.
Movement based learning
Students thrive when they experience purposeful movement during learning. We integrate movement-based activities that activate memorization and enhance understanding. Four Square Academic provides a variety of opportunities for students to sit, stand, jump, clap, walk, etc during lessons.
Four Square Academic offers a rest from our high-tech world. Students rely on classic learning tools such as physical books, physical maps, pencils, paper, etc instead of engaging heavily with technology. There is some integration of technology as a helpful tool, but it is minimal to avoid it becoming a hindrance or distraction.
Academic Classes
2025-2026
9am-2pm
$975/year
*Preschool is 9am-noon* $675
Letters Letter of the Week + Storytime + Poetry
Numbers Games + Songs
Nature Nature Walks + Nature Art + Object Study (Bugs, Rocks, Flowers, etc.)
Sensory Engaging the 5 Senses
History Bible Stories + Songs
Geography Introduction to Geography
Science Nature Walks + Nature Journaling + Object Study (Insects, Birds, Rocks, Flowers, etc.)
Literature Living Books + Nature Lore + Copywork
Recitation Scripture + Poetry
Geography Introduction to Geography
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation
Spelling Copywork from Literature
Science Wildflower, Bird, Tree, and Reptile Study
Nature Study Nature Walks + Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
History Modern America
Geography United States National Parks
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation
Spelling Copywork from Literature
Science Wildflower, Bird, Tree, and Reptile Study
Nature Study Nature Walks + Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
History Modern America
Geography US National Parks + US Map Questions
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation
Grammar & Spelling Introduction to Grammar + Written Narration + Copywork
Science Marine Biology
Nature Study Nature Walks + Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
Geography US National Parks + US Map Questions
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation
Grammar, Composition & Spelling Introduction to Grammar + Written Narration + Copywork
Nature Study Nature Walks + Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
History Modern America
Geography US National Parks + US Map Questions
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation
Grammar, Composition & Spelling Grammar Lessons + Written Narration + Dictation
Science Marine Biology
Nature Study Nature Walks + Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
History Modern America
Geography US National Parks + US Map Questions
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation
Grammar, Composition & Spelling Grammar Lessons + Written Narration + Dictation
Science Marine Biology
Nature Study Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
History Modern America
Geography US National Parks + US Map Questions
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation + Commonplace Book
Grammar, Composition & Spelling Grammar Lessons + Written Narration + Dictation
Science Anatomy & Physiology
Nature Study Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
History Modern America
Geography US National Parks + US Map Questions
Literature Living Books + Poetry Recitation + Commonplace Book
Grammar & Composition Grammar Lessons + Written Narration + Dictation
Science Anatomy & Physiology
Nature Study Nature Lore + Nature Journaling
Wednesdays from Noon-2pm
4-6 year olds
$525/year
Students will be outdoors in all weather and need high quality winter/rain gear. Students will be exploring God’s creation, hiking, identifying trees, looking at ecosystems, searching for critters, playing nature games, looking at the patterns of leaves and tree bark, finding animal tracks, and other hands-on nature activities.
Your investment in Four Square Academic includes activities best experienced in community, support, feedback, and student accountability. Students will be given assignments to complete throughout the week in their homeschool setting. Four Square Academic will issue feedback for elementary and middle school, and formal grades for high school. Four Square is designed to be an extension of home education, preserving the parent as educator. The classes are designed to enhance, not replace, instruction at home. There is a required, non-refundable, non-transferable registration fee of $50 per student. The Preschool enrollment rate of $675/student includes 24 weeks of classes from 9am-noon. The K-8th grade enrollment rate of $975/student includes 24 weeks of classes from 9am-2pm.
All students are responsible for bringing classic school supplies and will need access to literature for follow-up reading at home.
Four Square Academic complies with Michigan law regarding home education, according to section 380.1561.
Academic Supply List
2025-2026
The supply list includes links to suggested literature and supplies. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra expense to you. The HSB, Inc. is our recommended resource for new/used literature.
Please have your student wear:
Four Square Apparel
Tennis Shoes
Please have your student bring:
Backpack
Water Bottle
Sack Lunch
Snack
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan
1. Battle Hymn of the Republic (1861)
2. It is Well With My Soul (1873)
3. I Surrender All (1896)
4. Great is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
Semester 1: Emily Dickinson
Semester 2: Robert Frost
Pencils
Pencil Box
24 Crayons
Safety Scissors
Glue Stick
Ziplock bag with extra pants, underwear, socks
Outdoor Gear (coat, boots, etc.)
Without Doors: Preschool (optional for at home)
Pencils
Pencil Box
24 Crayons
Washable Markers
Basic Watercolor Set
Safety Scissors
3 Glue Sticks
Ziplock bag with extra pants, underwear, socks
Outdoor Gear (coat, boots, etc.)
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Journal (wide lines for easy penmanship)
Seed Babies, by Margaret W. Morley
Old Mother West Wind, by Thornton Burgess
Without Doors: Kindergarten (optional for at home)
Pencils
Pencil Box
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Journal (wide lines for easy penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor (one per family)
Among the Farmyard People, by Clara Dillingham Pierson
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one per family)
Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey (one per family)
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson (one per family)
Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
*See the History Living Picture Book List.
Pencils
Pencil Box
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Journal (wide lines for easy penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor (one per family)
Among the Farmyard People, by Clara Dillingham Pierson
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one per family)
Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey (one per family)
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson (one per family)
Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
*See the History Living Picture Book List.
Pencils
Pencil Box
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Basic Washable Marker Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Notebook
Folder
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Notebook (lined for clear penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Grammar Lessons: Part 1 and Part 2, from A Delectable Education
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor (one per family)
Among the Farmyard People, by Clara Dillingham Pierson
Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A., by Craig From an
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one per family)
Heart and Soul, by Kadir Nelson (one per family)
Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey (one per family)
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson (one per family)
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 2, 2nd Edition (one per family)
*See the History Living Picture Book List.
Pencils
Pencil Box
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Basic Washable Marker Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Notebook
Folder
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Notebook (lined for clear penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Grammar Lessons: Part 1 and Part 2, from A Delectable Education
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor (one per family)
Among the Farmyard People, by Clara Dillingham Pierson
Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A., by Craig From an
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one per family)
Heart and Soul, by Kadir Nelson (one per family)
Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey (one per family)
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson (one per family)
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 2, 2nd Edition (one per family)
*See the History Living Picture Book List.
Pencils
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Notebook
Folder
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Notebook (lined for clear penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Grammar Lessons: Part 3 and Part 4, from A Delectable Education
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
The Book of Centuries
Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A., by Craig From an
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (one per family)
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule, by Harriette Gillem Robinet (one per family)
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody (one per family)
Heart and Soul, by Kadir Nelson (one per family)
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Nearer Nature, by Jim Arnosky (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson (one per family)
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
The Young Citizen’s Reader, by Paul Reinsch (one per family)
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 2, 2nd Edition (one per family)
Pencils
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Notebook
Folder
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Copywork Notebook (lined for clear penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Short Grammar of the English Tongue: Year One, from A Delectable Education
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
The Book of Centuries
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt (one per family)
Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A., by Craig From an
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule, by Harriette Gillem Robinet (one per family)
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody (one per family)
Heart and Soul, by Kadir Nelson (one per family)
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Nearer Nature, by Jim Arnosky (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor (one per family)
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
The Young Citizen’s Reader, by Paul Reinsch (one per family)
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 2, 2nd Edition (one per family)
Pencils
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Notebook
Folder
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Commonplace Book (hardcover, lined for clear penmanship)
Copywork Notebook (lined for clear penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Short Grammar of the English Tongue: Year One, from A Delectable Education
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
The Book of Centuries
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt (one per family)
Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A., by Craig From an
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule, by Harriette Gillem Robinet (one per family)
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody (one per family)
Heart and Soul, by Kadir Nelson (one per family)
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Nearer Nature, by Jim Arnosky (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor (one per family)
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
The Young Citizen’s Reader, by Paul Reinsch (one per family)
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Apologia Exploring Creation with Anatomy & Physiology
Pencils
Basic Colored Pencil Set
Basic Watercolor Set
Scissors
Glue Stick
Nottebook
Folder
Nature Journal (spiral or hardcover with watercolor paper)
Commonplace Book (hardcover, lined for clear penmanship)
Narration Notebook (lined and blank notebook)
Short Grammar of the English Tongue: Year One, from A Delectable Education
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan (one per family)
The Book of Centuries
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt (one per family)
Children’s Atlas of the U.S.A., by Craig From an
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman (one per family)
Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule, by Harriette Gillem Robinet (one per family)
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody (one per family)
Heart and Soul, by Kadir Nelson (one per family)
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber (one per family)
Nearer Nature, by Jim Arnosky (one per family)
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling (one per family)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor (one per family)
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
The Young Citizen’s Reader, by Paul Reinsch (one per family)
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Apologia Exploring Creation with Anatomy & Physiology
Bonus Living Books
Ben Carson: A Chance at Life, by Janet & Geoff Benge
Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Blue Willow, by Doris Gates
Miracles on Maple Hill, by Virginia Sorenson
One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia
Sounder, by William H. Armstrong
Optional Complementary Resources
Gladiola Garden, by Effie Lee Newsome
National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, Ninth Edition
National Geographic Kids United States Atlas
Smithsonian Natural History
State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book, by Annika Bernhard
The Burgess Bird Book, by Thornton W. Burgess
Challenge Book List
Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson
Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse
Rifles for Watie, by Harold Keith
The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller
ALL WEATHER
Backpack
Water Bottle
Extra Clothes
Orienteering Compass
SUNSHINE
Sunscreen
Bug Repellent
Hat (to protect from sun)
Sunglasses
RAIN
Tuffo Rain Suit or Frog Togg (two-piece rain gear)
Rain Boots
Bug Repellent
SNOW
Winter Jacket
Snow Pants
Winter Hat
2 Pairs of Gloves (waterproof)
Neck Gater
Waterproof Winter Boots
Wool Socks
Base Layers – Long Johns
Academic Calendar
2024-2025
Open House
August 19 @10-11am
Classes
September 11, 18, 25
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20
December 4
January 22, 29
February 5, 12, 19
March 5, 12, 19, 26
April 2, 16, 23
*Snow Make-Up Dates (only if needed) – December 11 + April 30
Poetry Celebration
April 23 @2pm
High School Science Extra Classes
December 11 + April 30
High School Graduation Ceremony
May 9 @7pm