Essential Living Books and Activities for Home Education
| Recommended Age: 9-12 Click on the title to visit the download page |
| 1. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (free to try) 4 weeks of work provided. 2. Beowulf Living Novel Study | Teaching Resources (£2) 3-4 weeks of work provided. 3. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (£2) 3-4 weeks of work provided. 4. Viking Boy by Tony Bradman (£2) 3-4 weeks of work provided. 5. The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum (£2) 4-7 weeks of work provided including slides for the novel/ theatre production of Wicked. 6. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (£2) 3-4 weeks of work provided. 7. The Horse and His Boy by C.S.Lewis (£2) 3-4 weeks of work provided. 8. Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinger Bilan (£2) 3-4 weeks of work provided. |
Living Books and the Charlotte Mason Method
The concept of Living Books comes from the Charlotte Mason method of education. At its heart, it emphasises exposing children to rich, engaging texts; books written by great authors who bring subjects to life with passion and depth. These aren’t just any books; they are carefully chosen works that ignite curiosity and cultivate a love for learning.
I wholeheartedly believe in this approach. When children are regularly immersed in high-quality writing, they are naturally inspired to become thoughtful readers and expressive writers themselves. That said, what qualifies as “great writing” can vary from person to person. The key is to find books that resonate with your child and stories that are both beautifully written and deeply enjoyable.
In our family, we are avid readers, and audiobooks are a big part of our routine. Whether we’re driving, drawing, or simply relaxing, we often listen to books together. I’ve shared both classic and contemporary literature with my children, along with poetry and nonfiction. Like Charlotte Mason, I believe in the power of exceptional literature, but I also think there’s a place for fun and silly books – especially during free reading time. Any book that enriches vocabulary and brings joy can be a Living Book, in my view.
To help other home educators, I’ve begun compiling a list of Living Books we’ve used successfully, complete with recommended ages and activities to complement each title. You’ll also find blog posts with ideas on how to integrate these books into your home learning journey.
You can find Living Book Studies at tes.com by homeeduk on this link Search Tes Resources. Or you click the book titles below, you will be sent straight to the download page. Each resource comes with a variety of cross-curricular lesson ideas as well as further useful websites and an example Medium Term Plan. Some of my resources have a cost of £2 to help the running of this site.
Living Home Education UK 