A FREE CLASSIC CHILDREN’S LITERATURE COURSE
I am currently taking a college course on my own time. It is not taken for university credit, but for the knowledge that I’ll obtain from it and because the subject is interesting to me. Our four are nearly grown, but I have happily discovered that the love of literature I received from educating them in a literature-based manner has resulted in me continuing to read and to enjoy great literature. They do as well, but I am surprised to find how much I kept going even when reading on my own.
I will share what I learn with our teen daughter, who could take the course as well, but she is in a phase of reading Beowulf and the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe. Those are a bit serious and dark for me, though on the occasions when we read the poems aloud over tea, we have such a good time laughing over how awful the situation is in Poe’s poem. Back to Children’s Literature ….
Hillsdale College, which we have highlighted in the past, is offering another college course. This one is called Classic Children’s Literature. Here is the course description:
Classic children’s literature teaches audiences of all ages to see more clearly the truth about the world and human nature. Through beautiful narratives and vivid characters, these stories prepare young minds to receive the truth and encourage them to fall in love with virtue.
Hillsdale College
how you’ll learn in this children’s literature course
Through a series of nine lectures that are around 25-30 minutes each, Hillsdale speaks on the following works of classic children’s literature:
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Snow Queen
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
- Aesop’s Fables
- The Stories of Beatrix Potter and A.A. Milne (ie. Peter Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh)
- Treasure Island
- The Wind in the Willows
There are 8 quizzes to take, and one final quiz. As previously mentioned, this course is not for college credit (that’s why it is free), so all assessment and credit is up to you, the homeschooling teacher or individual.
HOW TO TEACH THIS COURSE AS A HOMESCHOOLER
If I was using this course with my middle school or high school homeschooled students, I would teach it much as they do in college: read the book, then view the lecture.
With seven literature selections, the course could easily be completed in one school year.
If you wanted to complete the course in less time, I suggest choosing selections from each literature and assigning those to the student.
WHERE TO VIEW THE FREE COLLEGE CLASSIC CHILDREN’S LITERATURE COURSE
View and take the Classic Children’s Literature course for free at Hillsdale College at this link.
Other free literature courses from Hillsdale (that are also free) have been highlighted by me:
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