A Gentle Start: The Charlotte Mason Form I Timetable

In the early years of homeschooling, it can be easy to wonder “Am I doing enough?” or “How do I structure our days in a way that honors my child’s natural curiosity?” If I’m being honest, the jump from “just read and play” to compensatory schooling can feel like a large and dramatic shift.
So how to se feel comfortable that we’re doing enough while also not worrying that we’re doing too much? Well, Charlotte Mason gives us a beautiful answer, short, varied lessons, a rich feast of subjects, and generous time outdoors.

If you're homeschooling a child in Form I (ages 6–9), here's a practical breakdown of how Charlotte Mason envisioned a day of learning. This simple, life-giving rhythm can help you begin your days with peace and purpose.

The Principles Behind the Timetable

Before looking at the schedule itself, let’s ground ourselves in a few key important notes from Charlotte Mason’s philosophy:

• Short Lessons – Keep lessons between 10–20 minutes, especially for younger children. This builds the habit of attention and prevents fatigue. Science tells us children can hold their attention on a single task for approximately their age plus 3-5 minutes.

• Morning Lessons Only – If you are able, academic work is done by lunchtime, leaving afternoons free. Typically this is when the child is freshest.

• A Wide and Generous Curriculum – Children encounter the best in literature, art, music, math, geography, and more.

• Time Outdoors – Mason famously said, “Never be indoors when you can rightly be without.” Just because we’ve entered the world of compulsory schooling doesn’t mean we are giving up our outdoor hours.

A Sample Daily Timetable for Form I

This is a sample that reflects the type of rhythm Charlotte Mason used in her PNEU schools. Lessons are short, purposeful, and diverse and vary every day.

| Time | Subject

| 9:00–9:15 | Bible

| 9:15–9:35 | Reading (or Reading Practice)

| 9:35–9:55 | Copywork

| 9:55–10:10 | Math

| 10:10–10:30 | Nature Walk, Nature Study, Science Reading (ie Burgess Bird Book)

| 10:30–10:50 | History or Geography

| 10:50–11:10 | Picture Study or Composer Study

| 11:10–11:30 | French, Singing , Recitation

| 11:30–12:00 | Poetry, Fairy Tale, or Literature

You might noticed some subjects like drill have been omitted. These can be filled in on a different day.

Now the other part of a Charlotte Mason Form 1 understand is how often to teach each thing. This helps guide and direct what and how many books we would consider scheduling in for the year.

Weekly Subjects in Form I

Over the course of a week, your child might engage in:

• Bible – 2–3x/week (old and new testament)

• Math – 4–5x/week

• Reading & Copywork – Daily

• Recitation – 2–3x/week

• Nature Study (including a nature read aloud)– Weekly (but observe nature daily!)

• Picture Study & Composer Study – 1x/week each

• Singing & Foreign Language – 2–3x/week

• Singing (hymns and folksongs)-1x/week

• History & Geography – 2x/week each

• Poetry & Literature – Daily or every other day

• Fairy Tales, Fables, or Myths – Weekly

• Handicrafts – 1x/week

• Swedish Drill- 1x/week

• Drawing- 1x/week

• Oral Narrations- Daily

What About the Afternoons?

Children need the ability to have a “quiet letting alone” and a chance to ruminate on the ideas that have come before them. Afternoons are where wonder takes root. During these gentle hours Charlotte Mason encouraged:

• Hours outdoors: Walking, playing, exploring

• Handicrafts: Simple, useful, skill-building work

• Free reading: A rich home library invites delight

• Chores: Contributing meaningfully to the household

• Quiet time: Drawing, journaling, or rest

Form I is not about rushing through academics but laying down habits of attention, observation, and delight. Mason reminded us:

“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.” — Charlotte Mason

Your homeschool doesn’t need to be complex or crammed, in fact, the complex and crammed is going to quickly lead to burn out. However, it does require faithfulness and diligence as well as an understanding of the method in order to do comfortable. A simple, ordered, and beautiful day is enough. As the mother, you are able to become equipped in this method.