Charlotte Mason’s Formidable List of Attainments…

….for summer.

This morning I saw this thread at the 4Real boards, and I almost skipped over it.  I figured, none of my children are of the age (6) to do that list.  But then something made me click the post and as I read over it, it dawned on me that with a few adjustments, that formidable list would  make wonderful summer work for my children.

My kids on the other hand, relish their summer vacation.  They enjoy their school work, but, like any other child, they would rather spend their days playing and doing what “they” want to do.  I, however, like to keep them busy, because usually what they want to do  is whine about being bored.

Here’s the list (I’ll give the link for a wonderful checklist that Jen from Wildflowers and Marbles created) with the adjustments I made (indicated by an *):

• To recite, beautifully, 6 easy poems and hymns.
• To recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm.
• To memorize math facts (addition/subtraction/multiplicaton.)*
• To read–what and how much will depend on the child.
• To copy in neat, careful cursive from a favorite book.*
• To know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, wehre the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows.
• To describe the boundaries of their own home.
• To describe any lake, river, pond, island, etc. within easy reach.
• To tell quite accurately (however shortly) 3 stories from Bible history, 3 from Early American history and 3 from world history.*
• To be able to describe 3 walks and 3 views.
• To mount in a scrapbook a dozen common wildflowers, with leaves to name these, describe them in their own words and say where they found them.
• To do the same with leaves and flowers of 6 forest trees.
• To know 6 birds by song, color and shape
• To learn an new craft or type of art.*
• To tell three stories about their own pets.
• To recite the Table Prayer and Hail Mary in Latin.
• To name 20 common objects in Spanish and say a dozen little sentences.
• To sing on hymn, one Spanish (or French) song and one English song.
• To keep a caterpillar and tell the life-story of a butterfly from his own observations.

CM Formidable List

Right now I’d like to keep this rather informal (being summer and all) but at the same time I’d like to make sure these things happen.  Annie became very excited as we read down the list (she loves all things Charlotte Mason) but the boys were less than thrilled.  While I think they’ll enjoy the nature study aspect…the memorization and other “schooly” sorts of things are just not their cup of tea.

I’m thinking this could be notebooked…but I haven’t worked it all out yet.  I’m envisioning them hand copying the poems and songs they memorize and illustrated them, but I have a feeling that they won’t want to do that.  Maybe we could scrapbook their learning?  I don’t know yet…but I do want to keep a record of it beyond just the checklist.  When I figure it all out, I’ll post about it.