The Century Book, or Book of Centuries, is a timeline tool for students to record historical events and figures across centuries. It helps connect different periods, showing how they relate to one another.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024).
What is the century book?
The Century Book started as a "Museum Notebook" for Charlotte Mason students. They sketched items from the British Museum. In 1894, Gertrude Bernau, a principal who studied under Mason, turned it into a timeline tool for the PNEU curriculum in 1915. It's simple: a bound notebook where each two-page spread covers one hundred years. As students learn about history, literature, science, and art, they add sketches, dates, and names to the right century. Over time, this book becomes a personal reference. It shows connections, like how Abraham Lincoln lived during Tchaikovsky's time.
How to create a century book
Charlotte Mason recommended a 96-page A4 hardcover book with sewn binding. This makes it strong enough for years of use. Each two-page spread is labeled by century: BC centuries count backward (like 1000 BC) and AD centuries move forward (like 100 AD). The left side is for sketches, while the right side holds dates and notes. Save the last ten pages for maps and extra materials.
You can find pre-made books from publishers like Simply Charlotte Mason or Living Book Press, or use printable templates to make your own. A simple hardcover composition book works too—just label the pages yourself.
What to include in the century book
The Century Book is personal and accumulative. Students add entries as they study different subjects: leaders, inventors, and explorers in history; artists in art studies; composers in music; and poets in literature. Hand-drawn sketches and small illustrations make the entries more engaging.
Charlotte Mason stressed simplicity. Each century should be clear at a glance. Avoid adding extra pages for interesting periods. Every century is equally important, whether it's filled with events or not.
When to start using the century book
Mason suggested starting the Century Book around ages 10 or 11. Younger kids (about age 8) can use a simpler Century Chart that covers just one hundred years. Some families create a shared Family Book of Centuries before kids start their own. This tool needs around 30 minutes a week, and it requires little parental help once set up. Students can work independently, connecting historical periods on their own.
The value of the century book
The Century Book turns history into a connected story that students build themselves. As they add new entries, they can see previous ones on the same spread. This reinforces the relationships between different times. The more they use it, the more valuable it becomes. For families following Charlotte Mason's methods, the Century Book is a great way to keep a timeline.
