Overview

Family School lessons are designed to help students learn with purpose, confidence, and consistency. Each lesson follows a predictable structure so families always know what to expect, regardless of the subject.

This article explains the main parts of a lesson and the learning methods used throughout Family School courses.

1. Preparation Page

Most lessons begin with a Preparation page.

This page helps families get ready before starting the lesson and may include:

• A list of required materials
  
  

• Downloadable files and handouts
  
  

• Helpful links
  
  

• Videos or resources used during the lesson
  
  

Preparing materials in advance helps students stay focused and confident.

2. Desired Result Page

The Desired Result page explains:

• The academic concepts students will learn
  
  

• The gospel principles taught in the lesson
  
  

Think of this page as the big-picture goal for the lesson—what students should understand and apply by the end.

3. Learning Through the 4-R Method

Character Core lessons follow the 4-R Method, Family School’s adaptation of the Principle Approach.

The 4-R Method helps students go beyond memorization and develop a deeper understanding.

The 4-R Method Includes:

• Research
  Students explore the topic, text, or truth being taught.
  
  

• Reason
  Students ask questions, discuss ideas, and think critically about what they are learning.
  
  

• Relate
  Students connect the lesson to real-life experiences and personal understanding.
  
  

• Record
  Students write, draw, or document what they have learned, creating a personal learning record.
  
  

This method strengthens comprehension and builds lifelong learning habits.

4. Additional Learning Methods Used in Lessons

Beyond the 4-R Method, Family School lessons include several additional approaches to support meaningful learning.

Notebooking

Notebooking allows students to:

• Write or draw key ideas
  
  

• Reflect on what they learned
  
  

• Create a personal record of learning
  
  

Language Arts Note:
Students will need a 2-inch, three-ring binder to store handouts and assignments for the year.

Project-Based Learning

Some lessons include hands-on projects that enable students to apply what they’ve learned.

Projects may include:

• Building something
  
  

• Creating artwork
  
  

• Designing a presentation
  
  

• Completing a creative assignment
  
  

These projects are especially common in Character and Skills Core courses.

Celebrating & Gathering

Family School values community and celebration.

Some units include celebration ideas, which are suggestions for gathering. Gathering may include:

• Sharing projects with other families
  
  

• Gathering at a park
  
  

• Joining a family video call
  
  

• Celebrating learning milestones
  
  

Families enrolled in Virtual School may also have additional virtual or in-person gathering opportunities.

Memorizations

Memorization is used to help students retain important ideas and truths.

• Common in Language Arts courses
  
  

• Found in the Resources tab for each level
  
  

• Designed to support both academic and spiritual growth
  
  

T-Charts

A T-Chart helps students compare and contrast ideas. For example, a student may use a Character T-chart to:

• Identify internal and external character traits
  
  

• Find examples of those traits in texts or stories
  
  

This tool is used in both Character Core and Academic Core courses.

Timelines & “His-Story”

Timelines help students:

• Visualize events across time
  
  

• Understand how events connect
  
  

• Recognize God’s hand in history
  
  

This approach reinforces the idea that history is truly “His-Story.”