Create the Perfect Charlotte Mason Morning Basket
The morning basket has become an essential part of our homeschool routine. It’s a simple yet effective way to start our day with focused and shared learning. My kids love it because it includes their favorite subjects, and I appreciate how it brings necessary structure to our mornings.
This Charlotte Mason-inspired practice involves gathering a collection of materials – books, art prints, nature study items, scripture, etc – to explore together as a family. It’s the perfect fit for your Charlotte Mason homeschool because it allows for covering multiple subjects in a cohesive, enjoyable way.
In this post, I’ll explain what a morning basket is, why it’s valuable in a Charlotte Mason homeschool, and how you can implement one in your own routine. I’ll share what’s worked for us, as well as practical tips for getting started.
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What is a Morning Basket?
A morning basket also referred to as “morning time” (in my homeschool) or “circle time,” as well, is an intentional collection of resources and activities that a family explores together at the start of their homeschool day. It typically includes a variety of subjects and materials, all chosen to develop your children’s curiosity and moral development. The main pieces of morning baskets often include literature, nature study, Bible study, Hymn Study, as well as Music and Artist appreciation.
It is what Charlotte Mason referred to as a “feast of ideas” taught “family style”. Your morning basket might include:
My favorite part is how flexible a morning basket can be. You can tailor it to your family’s needs, interests, as well as the ages of your children.
One of my favorite advantages of a morning basket, especially for large homeschooling families like mine, is its ability to bring multiple ages together for shared learning. This approach allows you to teach many subjects together, saving time and while creating a sense of family unity in your homeschool. Older children often benefit from revisiting foundational concepts, while younger ones are exposed to advanced ideas that can challenge and inspire them.
It’s a beautiful way to make the most of your homeschool time while meeting your whole family’s learning needs.
A Charlotte Mason Morning Basket: Why is it Valuable in Your Homeschool?
Charlotte Mason emphasized the importance of presenting children with a rich variety of knowledge, ideas, and experiences. A morning basket aligns perfectly with these principles:
Components of a Charlotte Mason-Inspired Morning Basket
A well-structured morning basket, aligned with Charlotte Mason’s principles, typically includes several key components. Let’s explore each of these elements and how they contribute to a rich, varied learning experience:
Foreign Language
Charlotte Mason advocated for early exposure to foreign languages. While not every family includes foreign language study in their morning baskets, I have found that it is the best fit for my own homeschool. By including foreign language study in my morning basket it ensures consistent, short lessons for my children.
It’s not necessary to include all these elements every day. Instead, rotate through different subjects to ensure variety while maintaining consistency. This approach keeps your morning basket interesting yet structured.
Poetry
In my Charlotte Mason homeschool, poetry is a daily staple. Typically, you’ll focus on one poet per year, allowing children to deeply connect with the poet’s style and themes. This year we are studying Robert Frost, which has been very enjoyable for my children. In our morning basket, we read a new poem weekly, often revisiting the same poem throughout the week for familiarity and potential memorization.
Art and Music Appreciation
Charlotte Mason advocated for consistent exposure to classic art and music. Typically, this means studying one artist and one composer per term. During our morning basket time, we will usually spend some time studying a painting by our selected artist (often called “picture study”) or listening to a piece of classical music by our chosen composer (known as “composer study”). This consistent exposure builds familiarity and appreciation over time.
Nature Study
Bringing the outside into your studies is an important aspect of a Charlotte Mason education. Our morning basket often includes reading from a nature book, examining a nature specimen, or discussing seasonal changes. Our morning nature study often inspires our daily nature walk later in the day.
Scripture or Inspirational Reading
Many families include a short Bible reading in their morning basket. This aligns with Mason’s emphasis on character development and spiritual growth. My family really looks forward to our daily Bible readings and we find that it starts our day off on the right foot. We also incorporate a weekly hymn study, where we listen to and learn about the history and meaning behind traditional hymns.
Memory Work
Recitation is a key component in a Charlotte Mason education. Morning basket time is ideal for practicing memorization of poetry, scripture, or pieces from classic literature. We will also sometimes include math facts, too, but we always keep those fun and quick. The key is consistent, gentle exposure rather than rote drilling making it an overall enjoyable experience.
Read-Alouds
Reading quality literature is a very important part of Miss Mason’s philosophy, with a particular emphasis on “living books” – books that bring subjects to life through engaging narratives and rich language. In our morning basket, we always include time for reading aloud from a living book or from classic literature. This might be a chapter from our current historical fiction, a beautifully written nature story, a picture book for younger children, or even classic fairy tales or nursery rhymes that inspire imagination and teach moral lessons. This practice not only educates but also builds a deep love of literature in our children.
If you’re looking for the perfect living books to include in your Charlotte Mason morning basket, be sure to check out my Living Books List page. There, you will find carefully curated lists of living books for all your homeschool needs.
Building Your Morning Basket Routine
Implementing a morning basket routine in your Charlotte Mason homeschool doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By starting small, gradually adding different subjects, and focusing on consistency, you can create a sustainable practice that enriches your family’s homeschool learning.
By following these easy tips, you can build a morning basket routine that is sure to become a favorite part of your children’s homeschool day. This gentle, consistent approach to starting your day aligns perfectly with Charlotte Mason’s principles of providing a rich, varied education in short, engaging lessons.
Sample Morning Basket Schedules
To help you visualize how a morning basket routine might fit into your homeschool day, here are three sample schedules of varying lengths. Remember, these are just examples – feel free to adjust them to suit your family’s needs and preferences.
20-Minute Version
This concise version is ideal for families just starting out or those with very young children:
40-Minute Version
This medium-length version allows for more depth and variety
60-Minute Version
This more comprehensive version is suitable for families with older children or those who prefer a longer morning routine:
Most importantly, these sample schedules are very flexible and very easy to customize to meet your needs.
For more ideas on integrating your morning basket into your overall homeschool day, be sure to check out my post on Creating the Perfect Charlotte Mason Schedule for your Homeschool. This post will help you create a balanced, effective schedule that incorporates your morning basket alongside other important subjects in a Charlotte Mason education.
Resources for Building Your Perfect Morning Basket
Assembling the resources for your morning basket is the most enjoyable part of creating a Charlotte Mason morning basket. Here are some very brief recommendations to help you get started:
Book Recommendations
Remember, that these living books are just starting points. For a more comprehensive list of living books suitable for your morning basket, check out my Living Books List page. It’s a great resource for finding quality books for your morning basket
Printables
“My Mindful Morning Lessons” is designed to simplify your morning basket routine, allowing you to focus on connecting with your children and enjoying your time together. Learn more about “My Mindful Morning Lessons” PDF here*.
