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Inside Stories, Books 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Inside Stories

Each of these books offers in-depth study of ten different novels. Higher level thinking skills are brought into play, but not so obviously as in some other books of this type. Study must be teacher-directed (one-on-one). There are no workbook pages to complete.

Books are read and studied in groups of chapters. (I had trouble keeping my children from reading ahead if the book was good, so this approach might be challenging unless you have children go back and re-read for the study.) Vocabulary and discussion questions accompany each group of chapters. At the end, there are conclusion and summary questions followed by optional activities. Activities deal with characters, themes, motivations, comparison and contrast, as well as other reading skills and literary knowledge.

The activities really stretch students' creativity beyond the bounds of the story. For instance, an activity for Little House in the Big Woods has the student research pioneer recipes, choose and prepare one, then give an oral report about pioneer food preparation. Book 1 for grades 3-4 includes such titles as Little House in the Big Woods; Sarah, Plain and Tall; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Charlotte's Web; and Soup and Me. Book 2 for grades 4-5 includes Caddie Woodlawn; Ben and Me; The Door in the Wall; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Island of the Blue Dolphins; and others. Book 3 for grades 5-6 studies Sounder, The Cay, The Pushcart War, Rabbit Hill, The Railway Children, and Tuck Everlasting plus others. Book 4 for grades 6-7 includes such books as Johnny Tremain, Bridge to Terabithia, Sing Down the Moon, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and A Wrinkle in Time. Book 5 for grades 7-8 covers The Incredible Journey, Across Five Aprils, A Christmas Carol, The Westing Game, and others. While most of the novels are recognized as excellent books from a literary standpoint, you need to discern which of these books are appropriate for Christian children to study.