Virtue in Story: Forming the Moral Imagination (Grades 3–6, Spring '26)

A note from the teacher:

Stories are among our first, and most effective, teachers. While an instructional text primarily appeals to reason, stories engage the imagination, the heart, and pieces of ourselves that almost nothing else can reach. Christ Himself often taught through stories, using simple narratives to illuminate complex and eternal truths.

Stories offer us multiple points of view, shaping character in the process. The very best stories for children help them to recognize and love what is good, beautiful, and true. They also reveal which behaviors, character traits, and consequences ought to be avoided. As J. R. R. Tolkien described in his famous essay “On Fairy Stories,” great stories can also provide joyous, unexpected glimpses of redemption and eternity. As Christians, we can view a journey towards virtue (and away from vice) as an eternal part of our story, and as preparation for the Greater Story. 

My goal for this class is to engage your child’s moral imagination as we explore timeless tales with an eye toward virtue formation. Our readings and discussions will mainly be guided by the four cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—and related traits. As students encounter characters whose choices illuminate both the beauty of virtue and the cost of its absence, they will be challenged to think about virtue and vice in their own lives as well.

Course Overview

Together in class, we will read and discuss a carefully selected collection of fairy tales, fables, and classic works of children’s literature. Through guided conversation, narration, and reflection, we will explore how stories reveal the virtues and vices that shape character. Weekly homework assignments will prompt students to reflect more deeply on the stories and class discussions. They will have assignments on each story to bring back and share with the class the following week.

Our discussions will also examine what Scripture teaches about the virtues and vices encountered in our literary journeys. By placing great stories alongside the wisdom of the Bible, students are encouraged to see how moral truth is revealed across literature and ultimately in Scripture, helping them grow in discernment and understanding.

This literature course for grades 3–6 centers on virtue formation through story, with particular attention to the four classical virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Rooted in the classical tradition, the course emphasizes shared reading, discussion, narration, memory work, and reflection. Some light writing and creative responses will also be a part of homework.

*Most reading will take place in class, but a booklist for home can also be provided at the start of class should parents like to extend learning at home.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:

• Become familiar with the four classical virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, and their corresponding vices as they appear in literature

• Develop the moral imagination through sustained engagement with fairy tales, fables, and classic children’s literature

• Learn to recognize how character, choice, and consequence reveal moral truth within stories

• Practice thoughtful listening, speaking, and participation in guided literary discussion

• Strengthen reading comprehension and expression through shared reading, oral narration, and reflection

• Explore how the virtues and vices encountered in literature are illuminated and clarified by Scripture

• Cultivate a lasting appreciation for literature through a Christian worldview as a source of wisdom, imagination, and moral formation.

Class Schedule

Class will meet once weekly for 1 hour on Fridays from 3:15–4:15 p.m., running for 13 weeks from 2/6/26 to 5/1/26.

Class Price

While the regular price for a class at Tyndale Classical Institute is $650 per term, the institute is offering an 80% Scholarship for the Spring 2026 term to allow families to “test the waters” and see what Tyndale Classical Institute is all about.

So, the price for a class in the Spring 2026 term is $130.