Step Into the Modern Era with This Charlotte Mason Homeschool Curriculum

Explore the Changes that Shaped the Modern Era with this Homeschool Curriculum

The 50s and 60s brought sweeping changes that ushered in a new era of culture and technology. From the brave struggles and victories of the Civil Rights leaders to the trailblazing scientists and astronauts of the Space Race, discover how this age shaped life as we know it, changing the trajectory of history! Through exciting, hands-on activities like arts, crafts, and recipes paired with gentle lessons found in the pages of living books and biographies, explore this era the Charlotte Mason way!

Each day of this 6-week curriculum is already planned out with a suggested schedule and all of the resources already collected, so all you have to do is gather your family and enjoy! With art, music, literature, poetry, and nature studies, your children will explore not only the events that shaped the modern era, but the creativity and cultural advancements of the period, painting a fuller picture of history. More than just dry facts, Charlotte Mason techniques will help the information your children learn “stick” and create lasting memories for you and your family! Want to find out more about what’s included? Check out a small sample below!

Modern Era Tea Time Recipes & Reading

In some of our favorite activities for this curriculum, we prepared six different recipes from the modern era for you and your family to enjoy! With simple, easy-to-follow instructions and delicious results, these quirky 50s and 60s era desserts may just end up being one of the highlights of the curriculum. Check out the recipes we have in store for you below!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Tunnel of Fudge Cake
Cherry Applesauce Jello Salad
Ambrosia
Baked Alaska

Create a new recipe together as a family each week, then enjoy the results alongside a tea time reading selection we paired with each dessert! Depending on the age of your children, you may choose whether to read aloud the selection yourself, have your kids take turns, or even read silently together. Whatever you choose, these homeschool tea times are sure to be a cozy learning opportunity- and might even become one of your favorite traditions!

Add a Historical Poem to Your Tea Time:

Our featured poet for this session is Ogden Nash, a famous 20th century American writer beloved for his satirical, witty humor. We picked out eight of his poems to feature in the curriculum, and paired six of these selections with copywork sheets for deeper study. Check out a sample of one of these poems below:

Morning Prayer
by Ogden Nash

Now another day is breaking,

Sleep was sweet and so is waking.

Dear Lord, I promised you last night

Never again to sulk or fight.

Such vows are easier to keep

When a child is sound asleep.

Today, O Lord, for your dear sake,

I’ll try to keep them when awake.

Explore the Road to the Modern Era with the 220+ page “Modern Age Morning Time Session”!

Uncover the changes that led to the modern era with this Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum! This 220+ page guide has everything you need to unpack the modern age through creative, hands-on learning activities, living books, and more!

Inside, you’ll find:

6-week Calendar with each subject scheduled on it
Prayer and scripture memorization
Copywork selections from The Sinner’s Prayer, Romans 10:9-10, The Octopus, The Ant, The Fly, A Flea and a Fly in a Flue, Morning Prayer, The People Upstairs, Excerpt from J.F.K.’s Inaguration Address, and Excerpt from M.L.K. Jr’s “I Have a Dream” Speechin primary, elementary, cursive, and a notebook sheet for high school students (and moms)
Memory Work: Prayer, scripture memory, and poetry memorization
Living Books recommended reading list
Artist & Picture Study: Alma Thomas
Music Study: Leonard Bernstein
Poet & Poetry Study: Ogden Nash, with the poems, The Octopus, The Ant, The Fly, A Flea and a Fly in a Flue, Further Reflections on Parsley, Morning Prayer, The People Upstairs, and The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Hymn Study: “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” with sheet music and listening links
Folk Song Study: “This Land Is Your Land,” with sheet music and listening links
Modern Era Recipes: Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Tunnel of Fudge Cake, Strawberry Jello Poke Cake, Ambrosia, Cherry Applesauce Jello Salad, and Baked Alaska
Tea Time Readings: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Ch. II, “The Council with the Munchkins,” by L. Frank Baum, The Secret of the Old Clock, Ch. I, “The Lost Will,” by Caroline Keene, Peter and Wendy, Ch. I, “Peter Breaks Through,” by J.M. Barrie, Winnie the Pooh, Ch. V, “In Which Piglet Meets a Heffalump,” by A.A. Milne, The Wind in the Willows, Ch. IV, “Mr. Badger,” by Kenneth Grahame, and Aesop’s Fables, “The Moon and Her Mother”
History: History of the Modern Era, links to Modern Era documentaries and videos on the 50s-60s, the Space Race, the Civil Rights movement, and more!
Handicraft: Aluminum Foil Embossing
Art Lesson: Moon Landing
Nature Study: Endangered Animals Nature Study
Plutarch: The Children’s Plutarch: Stories of the Romans, “Caesar’s Fortune”
And more!

Ready to explore history in your homeschool? Get your guide today and let your adventure begin!

Purchase the Modern Era Morning Time Session for Only $47

Moon Landing Art Lesson

The moon landing was one of history’s most remarkable achievements, and one of the most significant events of the modern era. Famous photographs from the Apollo 11 mission captured the quiet, dusty landscape of the Moon and the wonder of seeing Earth from afar.

In this art lesson found in the curriculum, we create our own moon landing-inspired painting using acrylic paints, reimagining the historic scene with brighter, more expressive colors. Drawing a touch of inspiration from The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, your children will add movement, texture, and swirling sky effects to give this iconic moment a fresh artistic twist while still honoring the spirit of exploration and discovery. See an example of the results below!

Want more art lessons for homeschoolers? Grab these colorful space-themed lessons from the Masterpiece Society to keep the fun going!

Space Explorers: Mixed Media Art for Kids K-2

Art Escapades

Homeschool Living Books for Exploring the Modern Era

Want more ways to dive deeper into your study of the modern era? These books for primary, elementary, middle, and high school are some of the most enduring classics of the period. From Madeline, Charlotte’s Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Outsiders, to historical books on subjects like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges, there is something for each age range to enjoy! Check them out from your local library, or purchase your own copies below.

Discover History with the Modern Era Morning Time Curriculum

Though the changes brought during the 1950s through 1960s can feel overwhelming to cover in your homeschool, this curriculum makes it simple for you, breaking down the changing culture, events, and key figures of this period in easily-digestible ways. And combined with engaging, hands-on activities, it is sure to be an experience the whole family will never forget!

So for all of you looking to explore the modern era through Charlotte Mason methods, I hope this curriculum becomes an opportunity for discussion, learning, and connection in your homeschool days.