THE COTTAGE LEARNING COLLECTION YEAR 4 • THE FAMILY GUIDE

The Cottage Learning Collection — Year 4

The New Republic to the Civil War Era

Bring your family together for a year of living history, beautiful books, faith, nature, and meaningful conversation.

Year 4 of The Cottage Learning Collection is a 36-week, family-style homeschool curriculum designed for families who want to teach multiple ages together without recreating a classroom at home. Inspired by Charlotte Mason principles, Montessori practical life, and Latter-day Saint faith, this gentle guide allows preschoolers through high school students to gather around the same historical story while learning at their own individual levels.

Year 4 follows America from the beginning of the new republic through the Civil War era. Families will explore Washington and the young government, the Bill of Rights, westward exploration, the Industrial Revolution, the War of 1812, the Second Great Awakening, Joseph Smith and the First Vision, the Restoration, Kirtland, Missouri and Liberty Jail, Nauvoo, the pioneers, westward expansion, slavery, Gettysburg, emancipation, and the end of the Civil War.

But American history isn't studied in isolation. “Around the World” connections help children see what was happening elsewhere during the same period, while Biblical and Restoration history are placed alongside the historical timeline. Scripture selections draw from the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, with hymns woven throughout the year.

This is not a workbook-heavy, read-every-page curriculum. Families are encouraged to use living books, narration, Scripture, maps, original documents, nature study, poetry, Shakespeare, art, classical music, handicrafts, and practical life. Lessons are intentionally kept short and flexible so that when attention is gone, you can close the book and move on.

Each week also introduces a character-building habit. Rather than checking off 36 disconnected character lessons, habits are meant to build upon one another gradually, helping children grow in attention, responsibility, diligence, self-government, courage, truth seeking, and conviction.

The guide also includes optional living-book lists from preschool through high school, along with suggestions for nature and science, art and picture study, poetry, and literature—giving families plenty of freedom to use their own shelves, public library, audiobooks, and books their children genuinely enjoy.

Inside Year 4 you'll find: 36 weeks of family history study • three 12-week terms • Biblical, LDS, and world-history timelines • weekly Scripture connections • hymns • Big Ideas • Around the World history notes • important people, dates, inventions, special moments, and map locations • habit training • living-book study • narration • copywork • spelling and dictionary work • preschool suggestions • nature study • poetry • Shakespeare and Greek mythology • classical music • handicrafts • family read-alouds • multi-age book recommendations • art and picture-study ideas • historical and educational sources

The goal is simple:

One family. Beautiful books. Meaningful ideas. Faith in Christ. And an education that leaves room for childhood.

Perfect for families looking for a gentle, flexible, Christ-centered, Charlotte Mason-inspired approach to American and Restoration history—without purchasing a separate history curriculum for every child.