Charlotte Mason, history and outdoor education and her relevance today

This paper aims to raise awareness of the relevance of the philosophy of Charlotte Mason to primary school education today. First a biography of Mason, tracing her development from an orphaned pupil apprentice to an internationally influential figure, puts her philosophy in context. This is followed by an overview of her philosophy, with a focus on outdoor learning and on learning in history. Then three case studies of outdoor history investigations are analysed to explore the ways in which they reflect both the English National Curriculum and Mason’s philosophy. First, eight-nine-year-old children visit Stone Age sites, then five-to-seven-year-olds visit a medieval castle and finally a group of primary school teachers investigate a seventeenth-century farmhouse during a residential weekend. The paper explores how Mason’s philosophy and practice can enrich the teaching of history within contexts of the English Curriculum.