Charlotte Mason curriculum
Without Doors
Bible, History, Geography, Literature, Enrichment, Nature Study
“Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.” Charlotte Mason
Without Doors is a unique Charlotte Mason curriculum that is inspired by Four Square Community. It is simple to implement, yet rich in content. It is designed to streamline the homeschool experience by coordinating all ages around quality living books for family-style learning. It is a great option for new and experienced homeschool families interested in a Charlotte Mason education.
Each path includes the overall framework to successfully implement 28 weeks of lessons for students in 1st-8th grade. The lessons are simple and clearly laid out in a weekly plan.
One printed book per family includes everything you need for the path, except for the items noted on the supply list. Conveniently included in the printed book are artist study paintings, poetry, links to hymns, copywork, a weekly plan, and MORE!
The content in each path is coordinated around a time and place, such as Early America, Modern America, Ancient World, etc., creating a rich, immersive experience and a harmony of lessons.
Without Doors facilitates good habits in narration, nature journaling, map-drawing, keeping a Book of Centuries, copywork, dictation, hymn study, composer study, artist study, poetry and recitation.
A Charlotte Mason education is a rich experience for students and families. Ms. Mason inspires parents to spread a generous educational feast before their children.
Without Doors provides step-by-step guidance and valuable resources as you embrace Charlotte Mason principles in your home. This effortless curriculum will bring joy and freedom to your family!
"The aim in education is to give a full life."
Charlotte Mason
28
Weeks
8
Subjects
1
Timeline Song
Reviews
Preschool Guide
(Recommended) Printed Book $29
Digital Download $19
Sample Weekly Plan
Bible includes a weekly scripture passage and a coordinating song to help implant God’s Word into your child’s heart.
The literature selections will ignite imagination and inspire a foundation of oral narration. The selections include: Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik, Frog and Toad, by Arnold Lobel, and Grasshopper on the Road, by Arnold Lobel.
Charlotte Mason encourages parents to focus on training children in a single habit for 6-8 weeks before adding a new habit. Without Doors includes inspiration to develop the habits of Attention, Obedience, Truthfulness, and Observation.
Introduce the alphabet to your child with our unique Charlotte Mason-inspired lessons.
Download the free printable resource to supplement your weekly lessons at www.withoutdoorscurriculum.com/preschool.
Introduce your child to numbers and counting with sensory activities and object-based lessons.
The weekly art project is designed for parent and child to create together using common household items. Each art lesson corresponds with the letter of the week.
Introduce your child to poetry using a weekly selection from Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes.
The weekly sensory activity is designed for parent and child to experience together using common household items and coordinates with the nursery rhyme.
Enjoy spending time out-of-doors with your child. The weekly nature prompt will inspire a love for God’s creation.
Bible
Steve Green Hide ‘Em In Your Heart, Two For One (Volume 1 & 2)
Mother Goose Treasury: A Beautiful Collection of Favorite Nursery Rhymes for Children
Frog and Toad: A Complete Reading Collection, by Arnold Lobel
Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik
Grasshopper on the Road, by Arnold Lobel
Personal Chalk Board
Plastic Magnet Alphabet Letters and Numbers
Metal Cookie Sheet with edge
Play Sand
Dice
Deck of Playing Cards
Marbles or Small Rocks
Buttons
Plastic Craft Beads
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The Apple Pie Tree, by Zoe Hall
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
Little Cloud, by Eric Carle
Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey
On Eagle Cove, by Jane Yolen
The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister
A Giraffe and a Half, by Shel Silverstein
The Little House, by Virginia Lee Burton
Should I Share my Ice Cream?, by Mo Willems
Mela and the Elephant, by Dow Phumiruk
Curious George Flies a Kite, by Margaret Rey
The Lion and The Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown
Bird Builds a Nest, by Martin Jenkins
Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen Waiting, by Kevin Henkes
The Quilt, by Ann Jonas
Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky, by Blair Lent
The Foolish Tortoise, by Eric Carle
Singing in the Rain, by Tim Hopgood
Who Broke the Vase, by Jeffrey Turner
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, by Kadir Nelson
Xavier Ox’s Xylophone Experiment, by Barbara DeRubertis
Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett
Habu and the Lost Zebra, by Beth Solomon
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Kindergarten Guide
(Recommended) Printed Book $39
Digital Download $29
Sample Weekly Plan
Bible includes a weekly Scripture passage and a coordinating song to help implant God’s Word into your child’s heart. Your child will also read through a beautiful narrative of the Bible called The Storybook Bible.
Charlotte Mason encourages parents to focus on training children in a single habit for several weeks before adding a new habit. Without Doors: Kindergarten includes inspiration for your child to develop 7 important habits.
The literature selections will ignite your child’s imagination. The selections include: The Tales of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter, Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne, The Children’s Book of Virtues, by William J. Bennett, and a lovely selection of living picture books.
Your child will be introduced to poems written for children by a variety of revered poets. Students will recite short poems and enjoy poetry tea time!
Your child will create a variety of handicrafts and will be introduced to picture study. The picture study paintings are carefully chosen to delight young children.
Picture Study includes Mary Cassatt, Vincent Van Gogh, and Wassily Kandinsky.
Your child will meet the orchestra! The compositions and hymns are carefully chosen to delight young children. Music includes an introduction to Composer Study and Hymn Study.
Composer Study includes Benjamin Britten and Camille Saint-Saens.
Weekly sensory activities are designed for parent and child to experience together. Sensory activities include outdoor games, geography concepts, an introduction to Swedish Drill and more!
Enjoy spending time out-of-doors with your child. The weekly nature lore and nature study lesson will inspire an interest in God’s creation.
Books
The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd Jones
A Child’s Book of Poems, by Gyo Fujikawa
A Beatrix Potter Treasury, by Beatrix Potter (Frederick Warne Edition)
Winnie-the Pooh, by A. A. Milne
The Children’s Book of Virtues, by William J. Bennett
Seed Babies, by Margaret Warner Morley
Old Mother West Wind, by Thornton Burgess
Meet the Orchestra, by Ann Hayes
General Supplies
Compass
Children’s Classics CD: Prokofiev, Saint-Saens, Britten
Slugs and Bugs: Sing the Bible, by Randall Goodgame (Volume 1)
Slugs and Bugs: Sing the Bible, by Randall Goodgame (Volume 2)
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Early America
(Recommended) Professional Quality Printed Book $49
Digital Download $29
Sample Timeline Song
Sample Weekly Plan
Bible includes a study of the parables of Jesus and scripture memory that coordinates with the parable. In addition to narration, older students are encouraged to transcribe the parables into their Book of Commonplace.
Without Doors: Early America includes history lessons from the explorers through 1860. The living history spine is engaging for families as they navigate through early American history together.
Our original American History Timeline Song will reinforce the timeline of the United States.
Older students will add suggested dates to their Book of Centuries.
Without Doors: Early America includes lessons, reading, map questions, and map-drawing assignments highlighting the Thirteen Colonies, the Mississippi River, and the Oregon Trail.
Students will read six living books that coordinate with the study of early America. Without Doors: Early America also includes one early American poet study per term.
Copywork selections coordinate with weekly lessons, building a strong foundation in spelling and grammar.
Older students will add passages to their Commonplace Book.
Poet Study includes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Henry David Thoreau.
Students develop the habit of narration by responding to literature with oral and written narration. The weekly narration prompt rotates between history, geography, literature, nature study, and enrichment.
Students will respond to the narration prompt in their Narration Notebook, a notebook with lines for writing and a blank space for drawing.
Narration expectations (amount of words and/or paragraphs) should be different for younger vs. older students.
A Narration Notebook is a keepsake!
The nature lore readings delight families while grounding students in scientific knowledge of insects and birds. Out-of-door nature walks and nature journaling prompts inspire an interest in God’s beautiful creation.
Each week, the students will focus on a rotating enrichment activities including: Composer Study, Artist Study, Hymn Study, and Handicrafts. The two composers, four artists, four hymns, and four handicrafts are all carefully chosen to coordinate with Early America.
Composer Study includes Stephen Foster and Louis Moreau Gottschalk.
Artist Study includes Gilbert Stuart, John Trumbull, Edward Hicks, and Thomas Cole.
Student Supplies
Watercolor Paper 9X12
Thin Sharpie
Travel Watercolor Set
Nature Journal
Narration Notebook
Book of Centuries (ages 10+)
Commonplace Book (ages 10+)
Family Book List
Bible
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan
A Child’s First Book of American History, by Earl Schenck Miers
Minn of the Mississippi, by Holling C. Holling
The Light and the Glory for Young Readers, by Marshall and Manuel
The Oregon Trail, by Karen Bush Gibson
Nature Anatomy, by Julia Rothman
Eyes and No Eyes “Birds of the Air,” by Arabella Buckley
Eyes and No Eyes “Insect Life,” by Arabella Buckley
Elementary Book List
A Lion to Guard Us, by Clyde Robert Bulla
Squanto, Friend of Pilgrims, by Clyde Robert Bulla
Ben and Me, by Robert Lawson
The Cabin Faced West, by Jean Fritz
Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin, by Marguerite Henry
A Nest for Celeste, by Henry Cole
Copywork Notebook
Middle Book List
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
The Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare
Streams to the River, River to the Sea, by Scott O’Dell
By the Great Horn Spoon, by Sid Fleischman
Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman, by Dorothy Sterling
Copywork Notebook
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Is there not some need for ‘mother culture’? But how is the state of things to be altered? So many mothers say, ‘I simply have not time for myself!’ ‘I never read a book!’ Or else, ‘I don’t think it is right to think of myself!’ They not only starve their minds, but they do it deliberately, and with a sense of self-sacrifice which seems to supply ample justification. -Charlotte Mason
The United States Constitution
The Declaration of Independence
The Founders’ Bible (NASB), by David Barton
1776, by David McCullough
The Summer of 1787, by David O. Stewart
How to Read the Constitution & the Declaration of Independence, by Paul B. Skousen
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Modern America
(Recommended) Professional Quality Printed Book $49
Digital Download $29
Sample Timeline Song
Sample Weekly Plan
Bible includes a study of the teachings of Jesus and scripture memory that coordinates with the teaching. In addition to narration, older students are encouraged to transcribe the parables into their Book of Commonplace.
Without Doors: Modern America includes history lessons from the Civil War through September 11, 2001. The living history spine is engaging for families as they navigate through modern American history together.
Our original American History Timeline Song will reinforce the timeline of the United States.
Older students also add suggested dates to their Book of Centuries.
Without Doors: Modern America includes lessons, reading, map questions, and map-drawing assignments highlighting the 50 States & Capitals, State Birds & Flowers, and the geography of the United States National Parks.
Students will read six living books that coordinate with the study of modern America.
Without Doors: Modern America includes one modern American poet study per term.
Copywork selections coordinate with weekly lessons, building a strong foundation in spelling and grammar.
Older students will add passages to their Commonplace Book.
Poet Study includes Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost.
Students develop the habit of narration by responding to literature with oral and written narration. The weekly narration prompt rotates between history, geography, literature, nature study, and enrichment.
Students will respond to the narration prompt in their Narration Notebook, a notebook with lines for writing and a blank space for drawing.
Narration expectations (amount of words and/or paragraphs) should be different for younger vs. older students.
A Narration Notebook is a keepsake!
The nature lore readings delight families while grounding students in scientific knowledge of tide pools and deserts. Out-of-door nature walks and nature journaling prompts inspire an interest in God’s beautiful creation. Students will look closely at how farm life is important in America.
Without Doors: Modern America includes rotating enrichment activities including: Composer Study, Artist Study, Hymn Study, Handicrafts. The two composers, four artists, four hymns, and four handicrafts are all carefully chosen and coordinate with modern America.
Composer Study includes Duke Ellington and Aaron Copland.
Artist Study includes Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Norman Rockwell.
Student Supplies
9X12 Watercolor Paper
Thin Sharpie
Travel Watercolor Set
Nature Journal
Narration Notebook
The Book of Centuries (age 10+)
Commonplace Book (age 10+)
Family Book List
Bible
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan
Stories of America, Volume 2, by Simply Charlotte Mason
National Parks of the U.S.A., by Katie Siber
Snow Den at Yellowstone, by Mary Morgan
Twisted Tales in Grand Canyon, by Mary Morgan
Farm Anatomy, by Julia Rothman
Desert Neighbors, by Edith M. Patch and Caroll Lane Fenton
Pagoo, by Holling C. Holling
Elementary Book List
Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
All-of-a-Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor
Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey
Stuart Little, by E.B. White
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates
Copywork Notebook
Middle Book List
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt
Little Britches, by Ralph Moody
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
Copywork Notebook
The Young Citizen’s Reader, by Paul Reinsch
Ancient World
(Recommended) Professional Quality Printed Book $49
Digital Download $29
Sample Timeline Song
Sample Weekly Plan
Without Doors: Ancient World highlights Bible stories that coordinate with the study of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The weekly scripture memory coordinates with the Bible stories.
Our original Books of the Bible Song is fun for the entire family!
The weekly history lessons begin with the 7 Days of Creation account in Genesis to the fall of Ancient Rome. The living history spines are engaging for families as they navigate through the ancient world together.
Older students add suggested dates to their Book of Centuries.
Without Doors: Ancient World includes weekly lessons, reading, map questions, and map-drawing assignments that highlight the geography of the ancient world.
Students will read six living books that coordinate with Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Without Doors: Ancient World also includes one ancient poet study per term including King David’s Psalms and King Solomon’s Proverbs.
Copywork selections coordinate with weekly lessons, building a strong foundation in spelling and grammar.
Older students will add passages to their Commonplace Book.
Students develop the habit of narration by responding to literature with narration.
The weekly narration prompt rotates between history, geography, literature, nature study, and enrichment topics.
Students will respond to the narration prompt in their Narration Notebook, a notebook with lines for writing and a blank space for drawing. Narration expectations (amount of words and/or paragraphs) should be different for younger vs. older students.
Without Doors: Ancient World includes rotating enrichment activities including: Composer Study, Artist Study, Hymn Study, and Handicrafts. The two composers, four artists, four hymns, and four handicrafts are all carefully chosen and coordinate with the study of the ancient world.
Composer Study includes George Frideric Handel and Hildegard von Bingen.
Artist Study includes Rembrandt, Qian Xuan, Giotto di Bondone, and Giovanni Paola Panini.
The nature lore readings delight families while grounding students in scientific knowledge of wildflowers and ocean life.
Out-of-door nature walks and nature journaling prompts inspire an interest in God’s beautiful creation.
Students will also look closely at the importance of herbs in the ancient world and brush-draw them into their Nature Journal.
Student Supplies
Watercolor Paper 9X12
Thin Sharpie
Travel Watercolor Set
Nature Journal
Narration Notebook
Elementary Copywork Notebook
Middle Copywork Notebook
The Book of Centuries (ages 10+)
Commonplace Book (ages 10+)
World Map or Globe
Family Supplies
Bible
A Bunch of Wildflowers for the Children, by Ida Prentice Whitcomb
A Child’s History of the World, by V.M. Hillyer
Aesop’s Fables, illustrated by Milo Winter
Ancient Egypt and Her Neighbors, by Lorene Lambert
City, by David Macaulay
Herbal Handbook, by Rachel Federman (Clarkson Potter Publishers)
Herodotus and the Road to History, by Jeanne Bendick
Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan
The Student Bible Atlas, by Tim Dowley
Elementary
The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls: The Great Escape (Book 3), by M.J. Thomas
The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls: The Shepherd’s Stone (Book 5), by M.J. Thomas
Boy of the Pyramids, by Ruth Fosdick Jones
Our Little Athenian Cousin of Long Ago, by Julia Cowles
Our Little Spartan Cousin of Long Ago, by Julia Cowles
Our Little Roman Cousin of Long Ago, by Julia Cowles
Middle
Adara, by Beatrice Gormley
The Cat of Bubastes, by G.A. Henty
God King, by Joanne Williamson
Glaucia the Greek Slave, by Emma Leslie
The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare
Joel… a Boy of Galilee, edited by Mark Hamby
Plutarch’s Lives for Boys and Girls, by W.H. Weston
Optional Resources
Archimedes and the Door of Science, by Jeanne Bendick
Bible (Tree of Life Version)
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine, by Jeanne Bendick
Pages of History: Secrets of the Ancients (Volume One), by Bruce Etter and Alexia Detweiler
Pyramid, by David Macaulay
Rose Chronological Guide to the Bible
Stories from the History of Rome, by Mrs. Beesly
Medieval & Renaissance
(Coming 2024)
Modern World
(Coming 2024)
Canada
(Coming Soon)
United Kingdom
(Recommended) Professional Quality Printed Book $49
Digital Download $29
Sample Timeline Song
Sample Weekly Plan
Without Doors: United Kingdom includes Charlotte Mason’s lessons on geography, Charlotte Mason’s map questions, a peek into National Parks in Great Britain, and map-drawing assignments highlighting the United Kingdom.
Without Doors: United Kingdom includes history lessons from Roman Britain through the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The living history spines are engaging for families as they navigate through the history of Great Britain together.
The original “History of Great Britain Timeline Song” will reinforce the timeline of Great Britain.
Older students will add suggested dates to their Book of Centuries.
The nature lore readings delight families while grounding students in scientific knowledge of plants, trees, and shrubs.
Out-of-door nature walks and nature journaling prompts inspire an interest in God’s beautiful creation.
Studying The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady will inspire families to keep a nature diary.
Students will read six living books that coordinate with the study of the United Kingdom. Without Doors: United Kingdom also includes one British poet study per term.
Copywork selections coordinate with weekly lessons, building a strong foundation in spelling and grammar.
Older students will add passages to their Commonplace Book.
Poet Study includes William Blake and Robert Louis Stevenson.
A Child’s Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Bantry Bay Series, by Hilda van Stockum
In Freedom’s Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce, by G. A. Henty
Tales from Shakespeare, by Charles & Mary Lamb
The Big Book of the UK, by Imogen Russell Williams
The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan
The weekly Bible lessons highlight Kings in the Bible – including Jesus, King of Kings! There is a scripture memory that coordinates with each Bible reading. In addition to narration, older students are encouraged to transcribe the verses into their Commonplace Book.
Students develop the habit of narration by responding to literature with oral and written narration. The weekly narration prompt rotates between history, geography, literature, nature study, and enrichment.
Students will respond to the narration prompt in their Narration Notebook, a notebook with lines for writing and a blank space for drawing.
Narration expectations (amount of words and/or paragraphs) should be different for younger vs. older students.
A Narration Notebook is a keepsake!
Students focus on rotating enrichment topics including: Composer Study, Artist Study, Hymn Study, and Handicrafts. The two composers, four artists, four hymns, and four handicrafts are all carefully chosen to coordinate with the study of the United Kingdom.
Composer Study includes Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughn Williams.
Artist Study includes George Stubbs, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, and James Guthrie.
“Is there not some need for ‘mother culture’? But how is the state of things to be altered? So many mothers say, ‘I simply have not time for myself!’ ‘I never read a book!’ Or else, ‘I don’t think it is right to think of myself!’ They not only starve their minds, but they do it deliberately, and with a sense of self-sacrifice which seems to supply ample justification.” -Charlotte Mason
COMING SOON
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Student Supplies
Watercolor Paper 9X12
Thin Sharpie
Travel Watercolor Set
Nature Journal
Narration Notebook
Book of Centuries (ages 10+)
Commonplace Book (ages 10+)
Family Book List
The Usborne History of Britain
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden
Elementary Geography, by Charlotte Mason
The British Empire and the Great Divisions of the Globe, by Charlotte M. Mason (public domain)
Eyes and No Eyes: Plant Life in Field and Garden (Book 3), by Arabella Buckley
Eyes and No Eyes: Trees and Shrubs (Book 5), by Arabella Buckley
Our Island Story, by H.E. Marshall
Elementary Book List
A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children, with illustrations by Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett
Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson
The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
The Story of Doctor Doolittle, by Hugh Lofting
Middle Book List
Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel, by Deborah Hopkinson
The Railway Children, by Edith Nesbit
The Reb and the Redcoats, by Constance Savery
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Life of Jesus
(Recommended) Printed Book $25
Digital Download $15
Sample Study Plan
Without Doors: Life of Jesus gives an overview of the life of Jesus from the perspective of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It includes a weekly Bible reading and corresponding narration prompt.
The Study Plan for each topic includes specific prophecies fulfilled by Jesus in that area of His life.
Without Doors: Life of Jesus includes Names of God that correspond with each topic in the life of Jesus.
The copywork verses highlight each topic in the life of Jesus. To include young children in the study, download the copywork resource found on www.withoutdoorscurriculum.com/bible-study.
Without Doors: Life of Jesus includes a full page color picture representing each topic in the life of Jesus.
Without Doors: Life of Jesus includes a full page map of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus. The Study Plan includes map directions and questions corresponding to each topic in the life of Jesus.
Be blessed by the musical selections that coordinate with each topic in the life of Jesus.
Without Doors: Life of Jesus includes a practical application for each topic in the life of Jesus.