by Lindsey Sodano
At Hearth & Story, we believe stories have the power to transform us. They don’t just entertain—they challenge, inspire, and open up new perspectives. That’s why, when we set out to create our homeschool language arts curriculum, we knew it had to be more than just an assortment of books. We wanted to craft a curriculum that not only deepens a child's love for reading but also helps them make meaningful connections between the stories they read and the world around them. That’s why we offer a thematic series for each year of study.
Why Thematic Series?
When students read books that are connected by a central theme, it unlocks a whole new level of learning. Instead of jumping from one story to the next without a common thread, thematic series allow students to immerse themselves in one powerful idea—exploring it from different angles through multiple characters, settings, and plots. It’s a way to tie their learning together, helping them think more deeply about the subjects they encounter in the novels.
And, of course, it’s fun! Students get to dive into an exciting new theme each year, sparking conversations about how the stories they read relate to their own lives and the world around them.
Here’s a look at the thematic series we’ve created for each grade:
4th Grade: Warmest Welcome
Creating Spaces of Kindness and Compassion
In this series, we invite students to explore the concept of radical hospitality—what it means to extend kindness and create spaces of comfort, even in the most unfamiliar circumstances. Through four novels, students will meet characters who offer help, support, and friendship without expecting anything in return. “Warmest Welcome” encourages students to reflect on how they can bring more compassion into the world through simple acts of kindness.
5th Grade: The Stories We Are Told
Questioning the Narratives Around Us
"The Stories We Are Told" challenges students to think critically about the messages they receive from society about identity, class, and history. In this series, students read about young protagonists who question the status quo and the stories they’ve inherited—whether from their families, communities, or culture. Through these four novels, students will be inspired to think deeply about the stories that shape our world and how they might reimagine them for a better future.
6th Grade: Better Together
More than the Sum of Our Parts
In "Better Together," students will explore stories where teamwork and collaboration are the keys to success. Whether it’s overcoming challenges, embarking on adventures, or building a new society, the characters in these three novels discover that they are stronger together than they ever could be alone. This theme encourages students to reflect on the importance of community, cooperation, and the value of working toward a common goal.
7th-8th Grade: The Power We Hold
Exploring Power and Its Impact
In our combined seventh and eighth-grade thematic series, "The Power We Hold," students will grapple with different forms of power—personal, social, and even the power of storytelling. Through a range of compelling narratives, they’ll see how power is gained, used, and challenged, and they’ll reflect on how they, too, can use their strengths to create positive change in the world. This series asks students to think about how power can unite or divide, inspire or control, and how it evolves over time.
The Impact of Themes in Learning
By focusing on a thematic approach, we aim to help students make meaningful connections between the books they read and the bigger ideas shaping their lives. It’s not just about finishing a novel and moving on—it’s about encouraging deeper thinking, sparking curiosity, and building skills that will stay with them far beyond their language arts class.
Each thematic series at Hearth & Story is crafted with care to foster reflection, growth, and a love of learning. We believe that when students are invited to see literature through the lens of a central theme, it opens the door to exciting discussions, creative thinking, and a richer understanding of themselves and the world around them.
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