A tool in building the most important foundation....the Grapevine Studies Old Testament overview

As a family, we take on a multi-faceted group identity comprised of the varied interests and experiences of five people. While those interests and experiences will vary and intensify and wane and bring us together and pull us apart in our cycles of involvement, there is one constant that is our foundation and our destination, our peace and our hope. Of course, I'm referring to our faith in God, our hope of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Even our journey in homeschooling is centered in this. This is the core of our identity and what matters most. So I am very pleased to share our experience and thoughts concerning both the Level 1 Old Testament and New Testament Overviews from Grapevine Studies. These are two distinct studies and, as such, warrant two reviews. In this one I will focus on the Old Testament overview.

Bible study has been part of our children's lives from the beginning. We have read and prayed together and tried to point to the presence and work of God in our lives from those infant days. However, in the past few months, I have begun to realize that they're ready to dig deeper in our studies. So, how excited I was to receive the word that the TOS Crew would have an opportunity to review the curricula offered through Grapevine studies. As I have spent time with the Level 1 Old Testament Overview curriculum, I can see that our use of this as part of our Bible curriculum will lead to more retention of the specifics and the ability to take the stories and comprehend them in their correct place in the chronology of God's Word.

The creator of this series, Dianna Wiebe, begins with the "inspiration", two scriptures which remind parents of their role in teaching their children about God.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command
you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall
talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and
when you rise up.

Psalm 78:4b-7

…Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His
wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed
a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to
their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be
born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in
God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

As the Old Testament Overview curriculum moves forward, then, the admonition within those scriptures is the motivation.

In a nutshell, this curriculum is summed up by the way Dianna's own catch phrase, "Serving Him through stick figures". The first several days are spent building a timeline of the highlights of the Old Testament, using simple symbols and stick figures. From that point, the students back up and study each event in greater detail. Once again, for the most part, they are using simple picture symbols and stick figures to illustrate the main points within each event. When words are needed, they are to be kept as concise as possible. Before moving on, each lesson is reviewed and done so in the context of its place in the timeline. Each lesson also includes scripture memorization. You can check out a sample of this curriculum and how it's set up here.

Teachers are encouraged not to rush through the material, but rather to take one lesson per week, allowing plenty of time to really focus on each part. Within each lesson, students will create a timeline of main events, work on scripture memorization, review the lesson in terms of its place in the overall Old Testament time line, and spend time in review of previous lessons and other scriptures memorized.

What do I think about the Level 1 Old Testament Overview from Grapevine Studies? Understanding the Old Testament is a key to appreciating and understanding and reverencing the God who spans both Testaments. I truly can say I love how this curriculum is set up, constantly reviewing as it moves forward, constantly reinforcing real learning of the material. As the kids participate in each lesson, they do so in a multisensory manner, with their eyes, ears, and hands involved. The use of words, lines, symbols, and color all together enhance retention in each lesson. The slower pace encouraged in this curriculum is great, and I think it allows time to really focus on each component of the lessons, maximizing learning potential. And teachers are encouraged and admonished to be diligent in their own study and preparation and prayer, and to customize each lesson to the ages, abilities, and needs are their individual students.

This curriculum is available in either an e-book format ($24.95) or good old fashioned paper format, and right now the paper version is on sale for $20.95, both the 3-hole and softbound versions. Click here to check out all versions. Click here to check out the deals on the teacher book, the paper version of which is also on sale right now for $28.95, with the e-book listed for $22.95.

You can also learn more about the products offered by Grapevine Studies at the TOS Crew blog.

One more thing! Grapevine Studies has very graciously and generously shared this offer with the TOS Crew and our blog readers. You can use the code CREWS to get 30% off all their books until September 15!

While I can only offer reviews of the Old and New Testament Overviews, I do encourage you to spend some time on the Grapevine Studies website. There is no more important subject in the education of our children than instruction in God's Word, and I encourage you above all else to seek His guidance and wisdom every day in this.