|
As homeschoolers we are constantly looking for that "perfect curriculum." Well,
after 15 years of homeschooling, I hate to burst your bubble, but it just
isn't there! However, some meet family needs more than others.
Would you be interested in a curriculum that teaches all levels of social
studies, history, government, science, language arts, geography, writing,
art, and even worldview--and it's based on the Bible? Well, read on, because
I have two great unit studies that will interest you!
The Weaver and Tapestry of Grace have become the standards
in unit studies. Both are tried and true and have the Bible solidly as their
foundation for all of their subjects.
The Weaver
Like so many new homeschoolers, when we began our adventure we were scared,
confused, and on a very tight budget. A friend of mine told me about this
great unit study that had everything I would need for the whole year (except
grammar, spelling, and math), including worksheets, projects, and suggested
field trips--and it was all based on the Bible! As a bonus, it was constructed
in such a way that several grade levels could be taught at the same time
with assignments then being given according to those levels.
The Weaver (available through Alpha Omega) is constructed of six
volumes, including a preschool program. In completing all six volumes you
will have thoroughly examined and learned from the entire Bible. The
Weaver Interlock is the preschool program. This study sets the pace
for the rest of The Weaver by taking the entire school year to
cover Genesis 1-10. The Scripture lesson for the day is both the biblical
base and springboard for what you will cover in social studies, science,
language arts, beginning arithmetic, art, physical education, health, and
music!
Then your students will move into the regular volumes. It must be noted
here that you will still benefit from all of The Weaver volumes
even if you didn't start out in preschool with the Interlock program. Each
volume is self-sustaining and can completely stand alone. Also, each original
volume you purchase is designed for kindergarten through grade 6. For a substantially
lower price you may purchase supplements for grades 7-12. In that way, if
your students range in grade anywhere from kindergarten through grade 12,
you can teach your lessons once and then give your children assignments at
their own level! Each volume covers a whole year's worth of lessons in Bible,
science, geology, history, geography, language arts, health, and art. Aren't
unit studies great?!
Volume 1 brings us right into some of the most important doctrinal foundations
of the Bible--Genesis 11-50 (all volumes include teacher's notes). In the
process of covering all the base lessons above, in Volume 1 your children
will cover such topics as city, architecture, language (these are tied into
the Tower of Babel--see how that works?), history, transportation, water cycle,
life cycle, character, insects, slavery (connected with the study of the
life of Moses), and others. You will find reproducible and other items included
in each volume.
Volume 2 ushers us into the world of Exodus and the Books of the Law. This
volume covers the areas of royalty, families, deserts, God's sovereignty,
miracles, celebrations, Egyptian civilization, U.S. history (1600-1790),
and more.
Volume 3 follows that up with Joshua, Judges, and Ruth by teaching on the
topics of exploration, espionage, communication, forts, music, thinking skills,
time, ancient civilizations, and U.S. history (1790-1860), to name a few.
Volume 4 brings us into the time of the Old Testament Period of Kings and
People. Your children will love getting involved in learning about giants,
world missions, the Civil War, biology, captivity, Reconstruction, the period
of silence between the Old and New Testaments, and more.
Volume 5 caps off this five-year study or can stand alone. In this study
of Christ's life and ministry, your students will draw closer to our Lord
by learning about covenants, government, ancient Rome, reproduction, solar
system, the human body, miracles, biographies, agriculture, geology, map
skills, and world and U.S. history (1895-present).
As a bonus, to save you countless trips to the library, Alpha Omega has
made so much more available to you by offering resources that can be used
with The Weaver. One of those is the Day by Day, which was one of my favorite
items. This is basically a daily lesson plan book; everything is totally
laid out for you. Wisdom Words was another favorite. This is a step-by-step
grammar and composition program for kindergarten through sixth grade. If
you purchase this with Volume 1, you won't need any other grammar or composition
program until after sixth grade! Please note that this can be used with or
without The Weaver program. Great resources for spelling, penmanship, and
reading are provided, as well as other teacher's helps. The program is very
thorough.
Tapestry of Grace
In the few short years that Tapestry of Grace (TOG) from Lampstand
Press has been available, it has quickly become a favorite with many. As
you know, it seems that the longer many of us homeschool the more eclectic
we become. Some of us have favorite methods that we rely on or return to
over and over again. If you love the classical model of learning but you
also love the convenience and ease of using unit studies with your multiple
ages of children, then you will feel that Tapestry of
Grace was written just
for you! And, indeed, it was written by homeschooling mom Marsha Somerville
for her own children. After years of success with her own fine family, she
decided to publish it for the rest of us.
As in all classical education, TOG follows the levels of lower grammar (from
kindergarten to around third grade), upper grammar (from around fourth grade
to about sixth grade), dialectic (roughly junior high level), and rhetoric
(senior high level). Jam-packed with teaching notes, reproducibles, and lessons
notes, Tapestry of Grace leaves hardly anything out.
As with The Weaver, TOG is designed to cover the entire Bible
in a multi-age/grade format; however, TOG covers all of this in four years.
Each well-notated, well-researched unit is laid out in "Threads." Contained
within each Thread is a basic lesson plan divided up by historical, geographical,
literary, law and government,
fine arts/hands-on, writing, church history and Bible survey, and worldview
studies. Each of these topics is covered thoroughly. Students, especially
older students, need to know not only what the Bible (Truth) says about what
we believe, but they also need to know at least a working knowledge of what
false faiths and cults believe. For example, TOG, year one, covers the History
of Redemption; part of Unit 2 is a section titled "All Governments Are Established
by God." As part of this study it must be understood that between Creation
and around 960 BC, God called one nation out of a pagan existence unto Himself.
As part of the process of learning about those ancient civilizations, your
students will also learn about past and present pagan religions in order
not only to understand the falsehood of what they believe but also to impress
upon our students just how much the world needs Jesus as their Savior.
TOG is replete with sidebar notes, tables, worksheets, reading lists, and
suggested resources. If you have been homeschooling for long, many of these
will already be on your shelves. If not, TOG offers outstanding savings on
complete or partial resource packages. So all of us "whole book" learning
lovers can get excited about this unit study!
Now I know what you're asking, so I'll tell you more about what each yearly
unit consists of. As mentioned above, Year 1 is History of Redemption, covering
the units "The Books of Moses," "All Governments Are Established by God," "Preparing
the World for Its Savior," and "In the Fullness of Time."
Year 2 is titled "From Ancient to Modern" and contains "Middle Ages," "Renaissance
and Reformation," "Colonial America," and "Age of Revolutions."
Year 3 introduces the 1800s. This busy and interesting year covers "Napoleon's
World," "The Birth of the Modern," "Nations Uniting and Dividing," and "The
Gilded Age." Very exciting.
Year 4 brings us into the twentieth century. Your students will be amazed
at how full that century was! This year covers "The Century Opens--World War
I," "The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression," "The World War II Era," "The
Post-World War--the '50s and '60s," and "The '70s, '80s and '90s and a Look
Ahead." This is a fun one to do with our kids, because we get to cover some
of the craziness--and fashion faux pas--that we lived through!
And, just like The Weaver, if you wish, you may start the study over and
redo the entire study from the viewpoint of your children's higher grade
levels. If you wish, once you have bought these studies, they may well be
all you will ever need for your children's entire school careers!
Contact Information
The Weaver is available through Alpha Omega Publications at 1-800-622-3070
or www.aophomeschooling.com.
Tapestry of Grace can be located at www.tapestryofgrace.com/tog_fast/index.htm or
by contacting Lampstand Press at 1-800-705-7487.
Kim Wolf loves living in a small Ohio town with her husband of twenty-one
years and their two teen daughters. They have homeschooled since 1993 and
are very active in the music ministry of their church. She is a Miami County
homeschool coordinator, a freelance writer, speaker, and Ohio coordinator
for The Old Schoolhouse. She can be found at: www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/BuckeyeBlog
|
