Ancient Literature for Middle Grades

This online course delves into the Ancient and Classical world, exploring its social, political, religious, scientific, economic, and technological aspects through history and literature. Students will investigate how past civilizations understood their world and lived, guided by the principle of loving and understanding our historical neighbors, as inspired by Augustine. The course focuses on reading and discussing several 'great books' of classical literature, fostering active participation in seminar-style discussions. It is aimed at rising 7th-9th graders with proficient reading, writing, and discussion skills. The course may be taken as a standalone literature study or paired with an ancient history course, offering a discount for students taking both.

Assessments include short response papers, essays, quizzes, and participation in discussions. Students are expected to cultivate academic skills such as note-taking, adhering to deadlines, and taking initiative in asking questions. The course aims to provide around 2 hours of homework per week for each class. The faith is integrated organically into discussions, reading charitably while examining texts from a Christian perspective. The course differs from its upper-school counterpart in content overlap, challenge, and assumed student capabilities.