Parents are encouraged to read along with their children and use the story as a springboard for discussions about courage, virtue, and living a faithful life.

This class can be taken alongside another LIVE Spring 2027 grade school class, The Enchanted Players: Performing King Arthur and His Knights. In The Enchanted Players, students will learn the drama skills they need to act out the stories and virtues they learn in Knights of Faith. This makes a wonderful literature-drama unit study! 

Note to Parents: Due to the young ages of grade school students, we expect that you will accompany your child at all times while he or she is online, which includes attending live classes alongside your student. This will also help you assist your student with homework where necessary or help your student contact the teacher with questions. If you miss a live class, make sure to watch the recording with your student as well. Thank you for your support!

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Course Outline:

Class 1: The Birth of a Legend – Introduction and Arthur's Origins

Reading Assignment (before class): Chapters 1-2 ("The Coming of Arthur" and "The Sword in the Stone").

Virtues Explored: Faith (trusting God's plan, like Arthur's unexpected kingship) and Humility (Arthur starts as an unknown boy). Tie to Bible: Joseph's rise in Genesis.

Class 2: Claiming the Throne – Excalibur and the Round Table

Reading Assignment: Chapters 3-4 ("The Sword from the Lake" and "The Round Table").

Virtues Explored: Courage (facing challenges like Arthur claiming Excalibur) and Justice (the Round Table's equality). Tie to Bible: David's bravery against Goliath.

Class 3: Mystical Quests – Tests of Honor and Magic

Reading Assignment: Chapter 5 ("The Ship, the Mantle and the Hawthorn Tree").

Virtues Explored: Charity (helping others in peril) and Temperance (resisting temptations). Tie to Bible: The Good Samaritan.

Class 4: Legendary Heroes – Lancelot's Arrival and Gawain's Challenge

Reading Assignment: Chapters 6-7 ("Sir Lancelot of the Lake" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight").

Virtues Explored: Loyalty (knights' bonds) and Fortitude (enduring trials like Gawain's beheading game). Tie to Bible: Ruth's loyalty.

Class 5: Tales of Love and Valor – Kitchen Knights and Forbidden Romances

Reading Assignment: Chapters 8-9 ("Beaumains, the Kitchen Knight" and "Lancelot and Elaine").

Virtues Explored: Humility (Beaumains' hidden nobility) and Chastity (navigating love honorably). Tie to Bible: Mary's purity and humility.

Class 6: Epic Romances – Tristan, Iseult, Geraint, and Enid

Reading Assignment: Chapters 10-11 ("Tristan and Iseult" and "Geraint and Enid").

Virtues Explored: Prudence (wise choices in love) and Hope (trusting in good outcomes). Tie to Bible: Proverbs on wisdom.

Class 7: Unlikely Heroes – Ugly Ladies and Noble Vows

Reading Assignment: Chapter 12 ("Gawain and the Loathly Lady").

Virtues Explored: Mercy (showing kindness to the "loathly") and Obedience (keeping promises). Tie to Bible: Jesus' mercy to outcasts.

Class 8: The New Generation – Percival's Arrival and Grand Review

Reading Assignment: Chapter 13 ("The Coming of Percival"). Review favorite parts from the book.

Virtues Explored: All virtues wrap-up, with emphasis on Perseverance (Percival's journey). Tie to Bible: Saints' lives as "quests."

Class 9: Share Final Projects

Final Project: "Virtue Quest Map" of the book, marking where virtues appear.

• The Sword and the Circle by Rosemary Sutcliff; ISBN: 0-14-037149-4

• Bible (for tying virtues to Scripture, e.g., stories of David or the Apostles).

• Basic art supplies (paper, crayons/markers) for homework.

• Optional: Knight-themed props like a toy sword or shield for show-and-tell.

This 8-week literature course for 3rd–6th graders combines 1–2 hours of weekly reading, reflection, and creative activities that build a love of stories and reinforce Catholic virtues. Family-friendly assignments include read-aloud chapters, brief discussions or drawings on virtues, hands-on projects, and a final “Virtue Quest Map,” with participation, reflections, and creativity forming the grading.

Fee: For all 9 classes: $127 if you register on or before November 15; $147 if you register after Nov. 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registrations are not guaranteed. There is a $25 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)