Alveary Foundations - History Update
Our Foundations course got a huge update recently. We're thrilled to share that a brand new History section has been added to Relational Methods.
Charlotte Mason believed that “Next in order to religious knowledge, history is the pivot upon which our curriculum turns” (Vol. 6, 273). This new section will help you understand what that means in practice and it will give insight to the way History is approached in the Alveary curriculum.
What you'll find inside:
- History Cycles explained: A clear breakdown of how the four cycles work, why all students study the same cycle together, and what that means for combining grades. (A reminder: we're in Cycle 3 for 2026-27)
- A progression chart: This shows how history study deepens from Grade 1 all the way through high school, from story-based learning to primary source documents.
- Video resources: Including videos from Dr. Shannon Whiteside and history professor Dr. Tracy McKenzie on why history matters and how to teach it well.
- Reflection questions and a rich further reading list to dig deeper.
- Timelines, Books of Centuries, and History Charts: You’ll find guidance on which tools to use at which ages.Take a look at this short video on the Book of Centuries:
In Mason’s Own Words:
“To sum up, to know as much as they may about even one short period, is far better for the children than to know the 'outlines' of all history. And in the second place, children are quite able to take in intelligent ideas in intelligent language, and should by no means be excluded from the best that is written on the period they are about.” (Vol 1, p. 287)
We hope you are as excited about these updates as we are. As you are planning and preparing for a new school year this is the perfect time to dig into the Alveary Foundations Course and explore the new History section in Relational Methods. We hope it is encouraging and we look forward to sharing more updates with you in the coming weeks. So stay tuned!
Spotlight: As a reminder, all 2025–26 memberships will end on June 30. To maintain uninterrupted access to all resources, please plan to renew before that date. If you will not finish your lessons by June 30, you may download your lesson plans before your membership expires. Any downloaded lesson plan links will remain active.
Notes:
- Grade 1-2 Natural History: Our 26-27 lesson plans feature our new living nature readers for grades 1-2. If you prefer to continue using your CLNR, be sure to download your 25-26 lesson plans!
- High School Biology: The 2026-27 high school biology plans use the 2nd edition of Novare Biology, but the 1st edition will still work well. Content changes are minimal, though chapters are organized differently. If you're using the 1st edition, be sure to save your 2025-26 lesson plans for chapter alignment. Lab books are compatible with both editions.
- Mother Culture Booklist: Looking for a summer read? Explore the new In the Company of Ideas book list, now included in the updated Reflective Practice Plan Book.
- Friends & Fellow Labourers: Nurturing the Early Years at Home: Before Age Six Saturday 13 June 2026 | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm Join CMI staff members and homeschooling mothers Sarah Stabenow and Kimberly Somarriba for a conversation about applying Charlotte Mason’s principles before formal lessons begin. Learn more here.
- Reviews: We know that finding the right curriculum can be a challenge. Consider leaving a review on the LivingWithCharlotte website, where many families go to research and compare curriculum options. We appreciate your support and are grateful for any feedback you are willing to share.
Have a wonderful weekend!
