Focus Guides

Focus Guides center on specific character traits and/or writing skills. Some use extensive scripture. All take approximately 3 weeks to complete. The lessons do not include vocabulary or spelling worksheets; neither do they list optional activities such as field trips or hands-on suggestions found in our regular study guides. The listed titles are not available as study guides; these are Focus Guides only. An * by the writing description indicates the guide includes detailed writing instruction.

 

Animal Farm

Grades: high school (British literature)

Focus: discernment

Writing: opinion essays, character analysis, critical thinking

Author’s skills: point of view, symbolism

Ben and Me

Grades: 4th – 6th

Focus: imagination

Writing: paragraphs, expressing opinions

Author’s skills: creativity

Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Grades: 6th – 8th

Focus: descriptive writing; identity

Writing: strong words, thesaurus

 

The Door in the Wall

Grades: 6th – 8th

Focus: perseverance

*Writing: report (step-by-step)

Scripture: memorization regarding perseverance and trials

Dragon’s Blood

Grades: 7th – 9th

Focus: creating a story-world; redemption

Writing: similes, metaphors, and strong verbs

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Grades: 4th – 6th

Focus: letter writing

*Writing: business, friendly letters, and envelopes

 

The Good Earth

Grades: 9th – 12th

Focus: Ecclesiastes

Writing: critical thinking, character analysis

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Grades: 5th – 8th

Focus: survival

*Writing: essays using 5-step approach; similes, metaphors; descriptions

Scripture: memorization of short proverbs

Out of the Dust

Grades: 6th – 8th

Focus: understanding poetry

*Writing: poetry, literary devices such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, etc.

 

The Phantom Tollbooth

Grades: 6th – 8th

Focus: “Rhyme and Reason”

*Writing: essays using 5-step approach

Author’s skills: humor

Scripture: memorization of short proverbs

The Screwtape Letters

Grades: 10th – 12th

Focus: Christian apologetics

*Writing: theology, critical thinking, persuasive writing