Simply Charlotte Mason
Christian Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum for preschool through 12th grade. Families study history, Bible, geography, art and music together, then each child works at their own level in math, language arts and science, using short lessons and living books.
What is Simply Charlotte Mason?
Simply Charlotte Mason, often called SCM, is a Christian homeschool curriculum and publisher built entirely around the Charlotte Mason method. Charlotte Mason was a British educator in the late 1800s and early 1900s who taught with living books, narration, short lessons, nature study and good habits.
SCM turns that philosophy into open-and-go plans for preschool through 12th grade. Its core idea is family-style learning. Subjects taught by topic, like history, geography, Bible, art and music, are done with all your children together. Skill subjects, like math and language arts, are done one-on-one at each child's pace.
How it works
SCM splits the day into family lessons and individual lessons. In its third-grade sample schedule, a full day takes about two hours. Family subjects include Scripture memory, poetry, history, Bible history, geography, picture study, music study, nature study, handicrafts and foreign language. Individual subjects include math, reading, handwriting, grammar and spelling, literature, Bible study and science.
History comes from A Pageant of History, a four-year cycle. Each 20-minute family lesson includes an introduction, a reading schedule, Book of Centuries entries and three levels of narration prompts. Pause points let you split lessons for younger kids. Middle and high schoolers read extra books on their own using Narration Guidebooks.
Math follows Charlotte Mason's hands-on style with everyday manipulatives, mental math and gridded paper.
What it covers
| Stage | Family subjects | Individual subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool and K | Habits, stories, nature | Informal math, reading readiness |
| Grades 1–6 | History, Bible, geography, art, music, poetry | Elementary Arithmetic (plus Practical Geometry in grade 6), Using Language Well, handwriting, science |
| Grades 7–8 | Same, with older-student books | Pre-algebra (7) and Algebra I (8), language arts, science |
| Grades 9–12 | Same, with Narration Guidebooks | Geometry, Algebra II, consumer math or pre-calculus, optional calculus |
SCM's grade pages give a full shopping list for each grade. You can also use the free online planner to build a custom year for several children at once.
Who it's best for
SCM fits Christian families who like the Charlotte Mason approach but do not want to design it from scratch. It is especially helpful with several children, since most subjects are shared.
It is not the right pick for secular families, for parents who want one box per grade, or for kids who thrive on textbooks and worksheets. For a free, book-list version of Charlotte Mason, see Ambleside Online.
Pricing at a glance
You buy by subject. As of October 2026, A Pageant of History: Ancient Times is $29.95 as an e-book or $36.95 printed. Narration Guidebooks cost $12.95–$15.95, and living-book bundles run from $41.90 to $102.65 depending on level. SCM offers 60-day returns and free US shipping over $129.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, as curriculum. Arizona's ESA law allows "curricula and supplementary materials," and Florida's PEP handbook lists curriculum as eligible. Programs may treat purely devotional or Bible-only titles differently, so check before you buy. Read our guide to homeschool scholarships and ESAs or the pages for Arizona and Florida.
Save Simply Charlotte Mason to your wishlist on Edulist, then apply once to programs that may cover it.
How it compares
- Ambleside Online is free and more rigorous, but you assemble and schedule more yourself.
- Heart of Dakota blends Charlotte Mason with hands-on unit study and moves kids toward independence.
- My Father's World mixes Charlotte Mason, classical and unit-study ideas in one grade package.
- Gather 'Round is Charlotte Mason inspired and teaches the whole family through monthly themes.
Browse more Charlotte Mason curriculum and Christian homeschool curriculum, or see our best homeschool curriculum picks.
Who Simply Charlotte Mason is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Christian families teaching several ages together
- Parents new to Charlotte Mason who want daily plans
- Families who want short lessons and living books
- Buyers who prefer to pick and choose by subject
Look elsewhere if
- Secular families
- Parents wanting a single all-in-one grade box
- Students who prefer textbooks and worksheets
Simply Charlotte Mason pros and cons
Pros
- Family-style lessons cut prep and teaching time
- Clear grade pages with sample schedules and shopping lists
- Free planner, placement guide and teaching resources
- Affordable e-book options for most titles
- Three narration levels let siblings share history
Cons
- Many separate pieces to order and organize
- Book bundles add noticeable cost
- Parent-led throughout, especially in the early grades
- Less depth than Ambleside Online, per some reviewers
What’s included
- Family-style lessons for topic subjects: history, Bible, geography, picture study, music, poetry, nature study
- A Pageant of History, a four-year history cycle with three levels of narration prompts
- Individual skill subjects: Elementary Arithmetic, Using Language Well, handwriting, Bible study, science
- Grade-by-grade overview pages with sample weekly schedules and shopping lists
- Free online curriculum planner and placement guide
- CM Organizer online planner (free Basic account or paid subscription)
- Printed books or PDF e-books for most titles
Simply Charlotte Mason levels
SCM offers a placement guide for skill subjects like math and language arts. Topic subjects such as history are chosen for the whole family, not by grade.
Official Simply Charlotte Mason placement test ↗How much does Simply Charlotte Mason cost?
As of October 2026, SCM sells each subject separately rather than as one grade box. A Pageant of History: Ancient Times costs $29.95 as an e-book or $36.95 printed, including a Pictures and Maps book. Middle and high school Narration Guidebooks are $12.95–$15.95. Living-book bundles for that history year run $41.90 (family) to $102.65 (high school). Spelling Wisdom Book 1 is $18.95–$23.95. A full year's cost depends on how many subjects and children you buy for.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Pageant of History: Ancient Times, e-book | $29.95 | One-time | — |
| A Pageant of History: Ancient Times, printed | $36.95 | One-time | — |
| Ancient Times Family Books Bundle | $41.90 | One-time | — |
| Middle or high school Narration Guidebook (printed) | $15.95 | One-time | — |
| CM Organizer planner subscription | $7.95/mo | Monthly | $7.95/mo |
Free trial: No trial. Many products offer downloadable sample pages, and the CM Organizer has a free Basic account.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Families who have used SCM describe it as the most open-and-go of the major Charlotte Mason options, with strong free planning tools and real time savings from family-style lessons. The main criticism is that it feels more like a packaged curriculum and less deep than Ambleside Online.
Common praise
- Family-style learning reduces daily prep
- Excellent free planning tools
- Clear daily guidance
Common complaints
- Not as deep as Ambleside Online
- Feels more packaged than pure Charlotte Mason
Sources: homeschoolpicks.com · simply charlotte mason review · howdoihomeschool.com · simply charlotte mason curriculum review
Simply Charlotte Mason family reviews
Be the first to review
Loading…
Simply Charlotte Mason FAQs
Is Simply Charlotte Mason Christian?
Yes. SCM describes its curriculum as a wholesome, biblical approach with books that align with Christian values. Bible history, Scripture memory and hymn study are part of the family lessons.
Is Simply Charlotte Mason a complete curriculum?
It covers every subject, but you buy it subject by subject. SCM's grade pages list everything a child needs, including its own math (the Elementary Arithmetic series), language arts and science, plus family subjects shared by all.
How long does a Simply Charlotte Mason day take?
SCM's sample schedule for third grade, combining family and individual lessons, takes about two hours a day. Lessons are short by design, often 5 to 20 minutes per subject.
What is A Pageant of History?
It is SCM's four-year history cycle, meant to be repeated up to three times over 12 years. Families read together in 20-minute lessons, then older students read extra books with Narration Guidebooks.
How is SCM different from Ambleside Online?
Ambleside Online is a free, volunteer-run book list. SCM is a paid, more polished set of teacher guides and plans that teaches more subjects family-style. Reviewers call SCM more open-and-go and Ambleside deeper.
Is there a free version of Simply Charlotte Mason?
The curriculum itself is paid, but SCM offers a free online planner, a free Basic CM Organizer account, a free getting-started e-book and sample pages for many products.
Can an ESA pay for Simply Charlotte Mason?
Curriculum is commonly allowed, including under Arizona's ESA law and Florida's PEP rules. Programs may treat Bible-only books differently, so check yours. Save SCM to your Edulist wishlist and see which programs serve your state.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- simplycharlottemason.com
- simplycharlottemason.com · curriculum guide
- simplycharlottemason.com · 3rd grade homeschool
- simplycharlottemason.com · charlotte mason math
- simplycharlottemason.com · a pageant of history ancient times
- simplycharlottemason.com · spelling wisdom book 1
- simplycharlottemason.com · cm organizer
- homeschoolpicks.com · simply charlotte mason review
- howdoihomeschool.com · simply charlotte mason curriculum review
- azleg.gov · 02402.htm
- stepupforstudents.org · pep family handbook