Foundations
Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Year 1
Children in Pre-Preparatory, Preparatory and Year One will begin the Early School level in Foundations and will remain at this level for three years or until each student has been deemed ready to move on to Lower School B. This foundation level does not fit within the historical divisions laid out for the remaining levels. Only when your student has moved to Lower School B, will students begin to work through the programs according to historical time period divisions. At that time, your students may then move into the Program # which corresponds to the time period your family will study for the year, but in the Lower School B level.
For children in Years 2 +, please see the program guide of your choice.
For more information about the programs, please see the notes and sequences which can be found on the Curriculum by Programs page.
Step 1: Lesson Guide
Preparatory [when available] and Year One levels only. Purchase these here or at the Shop.
Download and save or print the outline guide for the Pre-Preparatory level -FREE with the purchase of any guide for this level. This outline guide will be sent as an automated second email with purchase.
Foundations: Lesson Guide for Early School -Preparatory
Foundations: Lesson Guide for Early School -Preparatory contains the lessons which accompany this level; this level is comparable to Kindergarten. This lesson guide has not been published yet.
Foundations: Lesson Guide for Early School -Year One
Foundations: Lesson Guide for Early School -Year One contains the lessons which accompany Year One. This guide will include pre-reading notes, teaching notes, narration prompts, natural history investigations and much more.
This guide will include all three guides for natural history for this level: Seed Dispersion, Weather and Woods, Fields & Forests. You will not need to purchase any of these guides individually if you plan to purchase or have purchased this guide.
To access FREE teaching notes which accompany the guide, then go on to Step 2.
Step 2: Teaching Notes
Download and save or print the teaching notes for this level -Free with the purchase of any program guide for this level. These notes will be sent as an automated second email with purchase. These notes were specifically meant to augment and accompany A Mind in the Light curriculum guides.
If you would like to add supportive resources to accompany your level, then go on to Step 3.
Step 3: Supportive Resources
Foundations Year One
Fairy Tales
A Mind in the Light introduces the new Finding Faerie series with two separate volumes of fairy tales.
Spinning Straw: Tales to Elicit Enchantment (Vol. 1) compiles the best versions of fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen, Andrew Lang and the Brothers Grimm. This volume is used in Foundations Year One.
Send an email for a Free copy after purchase of the lesson guide.
Into the Forest: Enchanted Explorations (Vol. 2) continues the compilation and is used in all of the Lower School B programs.
Transcription
Coming Soon! Transcription or copywork selections based on Year One Books.
The Arts
Students may choose from two options with regard to music appreciation.
Option 1: Use Introduction to Music. which is based off of the Classics for Children CD and coordinating picture books.
Option 2: Families who prefer may go on to individual composer study. A different composer should be studied each term.
Art appreciation is designed so that families may choose a different artist each term. Click the image to the right to see more mini-guides for picture study and music appreciation.
Highly Recommended: Introduction to Music [Counts for 3; Already Included]
Recommended Artists: Cassatt, Renoir, Degas or Landseer[Choose 3]