What’s on My Bookshelf: Challenge B Resources

In the Classical Conversations programs, Challenge B would be equivalent to the 8th grade, however any student (I'm talking about myself here) could have a rich year of study in the materials assigned.  There were so many new things to learn like formal Logic, the history of astronomy, and Mock Trial.  Much like Challenge A, the curriculum is complete and doesn't need any supplementing.

Here's a list of other books we utilized while implementing the program.  Again, they are simply resources, not supplements.  Everything in the program can be implemented without any of these options.  I'm not listing the required materials...for that list, click here.

LATIN: 

• Henle Latin I Study Guide Units I-V by Memoria Press (I love the answer key in the back)
• Cassell's Latin Dictionary
• 501 Latin Verbs
• Latin with Andy - a video resource that connects the skills learned in Essentials to Learning Latin. If you feel confident at the first of the year in repeating, then you probably don't need extra help until Lesson 17 when you hit passive verb forms. That trips us up every time!
• YouTube Vocabulary Videos- if you want a little help learning and reviewing that Latin vocabulary, check out Andy's YouTube channel which features vocabulary videos that correlate with the Henle Latin vocabulary.

American Experience/Mock Trial:  

I'm looking forward to the new Great Tales of Heroism in U.S. History. There might be certain characters we want to dig into more, and I love the Heroes of History series for that:

• George Washington: True Patriot
• Harriet Tubman: Freedombound

MATH:

• Nicole the Math Lady videos. She was actually the inspiration for our Latin with Andy videos! They are short and sweet and really easy to follow.
• Using John Saxon's Math - Written by Art Reed, this little book is a great resource for tips and tricks in utilizing Saxon Math.
• Everything you need to know about Math homework
• Understanding Math
• Classical Conversations Math Trivium Table

SCIENCE: In Challenge B the research seminar covers four studies of focus over the year:  History of Astronomy,  Defeating Darwinism, and Discovering Atomos (or intro to Chemistry)

History of Science resources:

• The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way by Joy Hakim  (features Archimedes, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein)
• The Story of Science: Newton at the Center by Joy Hakim (features Archimedes, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein)
• The Story of Science: Einstein Adds a New Dimension by Joy Hakim (features Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Laevitt, and Einstein)
• Men of Science Men of God - Written from a Biblical worldview
• The Usborne Book of Scientists From Archimedes to Einstein (also includes Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton)
• Champions of Science by John Hudson Tiner (Biblical Worldview) (features Archimedes, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton)
• The Great Scientists: From Euclid to Stephen Hawking (features Archimedes, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, and Einstein)
• Archimedes and the Door of Science
• Copernicus' Secret
• Johannes Kepler: Giant of Faith and Science (Biblical Worldview)
• Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist, Teacher (Biblical Worldview)

• Maria Mitchell: The Soul of an Astronomer

• Maria Mitchell (Great Women in History)

• Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer

Defeating Darwinism -

• Inherit the Wind - DVD The play is referenced when you read Defeating Darwinism, so it's fun to watch the movie.
• Scopes: Creation on Trial

• Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed - DVD The themes expressed in this documentary are relevant to what you read.  It is a great resource.

Discovering Atomos (Intro to Chemistry)

• The Elements
• Scholastic Discover More: The Elements
• The Illustrated Dictionary of Chemistry
• The Visual Dictionary of Chemistry
• How to Make a Universe with 92 Ingredients
• The Disappearing Spoon
• Also check out this fun way to memorize the periodic table.

EXPOSITION/COMPOSITION:

• The Little Britches Series - we listened to this series on a road trip and it just kept getting better! I highly recommend this whole series.
• Summer of the Monkeys - After you read Where the Red Fern Grows, you might want to read something from the same author that isn't so sad!  This book kept us laughing with the antics of a crazy monkey.
• The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth - fun insights into the author and stories.

RHETORIC:

• Introductory Logic DVDs - these are an awesome resource!
• Intermediate Logic DVDs - I couldn't have made it through the course without these!

MOM HELPS:

• The Question by Leigh Bortins - This book is about the dialectic stage and discusses many of the books and topics studied in Challenge B.
• The Soul of Science: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy - by Nancy Pearcey.  This book is a great companion to the History of Science.

Challenge B is a fantastic year that lays the groundwork in self-discipline that is required for any man to develop virtue and wisdom.  I loved studying with 13-14 year-olds as I saw them mature in amazing ways over the course of the year.  While I may never come back to tutor Challenge B, I am truly thankful for the ways in which my thinking was challenged!

Looking for resources from another level?

Challenge A

Challenge B

Challenge I

Challenge II

Challenge III

Challenge IV

Betsy

Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.