A Charlotte Mason Afternoon Schedule

If most of the bookwork was done during the morning hours, did the afternoon look? Wouldn’t it be nice if I told you that the afternoons were just time off? Of course, they are to some degree, but there was still a plan.

First, afternoons started at different times for children of different ages. For example, Form I (1-3 grade) finished morning school work at 11:30, Form II (4-6 grade) finished at noon, and everyone else continued until 1:00. This might be tricky if you have a range of ages in your home.

From the time school ended until about 3:45, the children were free to run and play games. Nature walks and drawing in a nature notebook were often done during this time.

Marion Berry says of her time as a student at Scale How,

“If we were not out on organized nature walks, bird walks, Geog trots or playing hockey or netball, we were supposed to go for a walk for at least an hour and a half in the afternoon.” (I Buy A School, pg 25-26)

You will notice that some activities were organized, such as nature walks, and some were free play. Therefore, while much of this time is child-directed, you will likely need to schedule a weekly nature walk, object lesson, or physical geography activity. Also, you will notice that most of the activities listed, organized or not, were outside activities.

Even Charlotte Mason herself included a DAILY “nature walk or ride” in her schedule from 2:15 – 4:00. (Essex Cholmondley, The Story of Charlotte Mason)

Then the hour before tea time (3:45-4:45) was allocated to afternoon occupations, such as handicrafts, singing, painting, picture study, practicing (music lessons,) dancing, sewing, and a certain amount of reading. Notice that most of these activities are indoor activities.

This time is not highly structured like morning lessons are, and therefore is an opportunity for your child to rest his mind and show a little initiative toward the things that interest him most. But you will need to establish the habit of reconvening at 3:45 (or whatever time you set.) It will also help if you assign specific activities to some days. For instance, you might establish Wednesday as handicrafts day. Students may work on it any other day, but maybe that is when you make yourself available to help as needed. You might also require them to practice their instrument daily for a specific period. They might be allowed the liberty to choose when, but it must be done.

Charlotte Mason specified that these occupations would require more time as the student got older:

“Form 1, 5 hours; form 2, 7 ½ hours; form 3 and up, 10 hours a week; at any time of day, in any division of time, to suit family arrangements” (Parent’s Review School Brochure)

Therefore, the single hour devoted to these activities before teatime (or before dinner) will be enough for a Form 1 student. However, a Form 2 student must complete another 30 minutes each day at another time. For example, he might make a nature notebook entry or read his historical fiction. And a Form 3 student would need a full hour beyond the time before tea or dinner. For example, he may spend it at a music lesson, practicing his instrument before school, adding an entry to his Book of Centuries, or reading poetry.

In addition to all of this, Charlotte Mason included optional Sunday and holiday readings on the programs.

This summer you might want to practice your afternoon schedule, so that when you officially start school this year, you will have that part down.

Tomorrow we will talk about the possibility of following a CM schedule in our own home.

Related:
Preparing a CM Schedule Main Page
A Charlotte Mason Morning Schedule
Summer is a Good Time to Practice
The Work and Aims of the Parents’ Union School by Miss O’Ferrall, an ex-student of the House of Education. *Note that towards the bottom of this article she refers to the student teachers as the “students”, and children and “children”.