I've shared several times before that one of the resources we use for the "Redemption" part of our homeschool day is Grapevine Bible Studies, but I've never fully explained what it is and why we love it. Today I am!
First, an overview. Grapevine Studies is a small business that creates topical and "overview" Bible studies for all ages, from age four-ish through fourteen, but I think even adults can enjoy them. The idea behind the studies is to have students "stick figure" their way through the Bible by learning simple drawings and symbols that represent the major events and people of the Scriptures, both in a Timeline format and with more detailed events.
They have four levels: Beginner (ages 5-7); Level 1 (ages 6-8); Level 2 (ages 8-10); Level 3 (ages 10-12); and Level 4 (ages 12-14). There is also a "Traceable" level for ages 3 and 4, with the drawings already included in a light gray for children to trace. Teacher books come with specific instructions and cover two levels (Levels 1-2 and Levels 3-4 are combined), which helps with cost. The Old and New Testament Overviews are comprised of four books each, and they also have a number of stand-alone "topical" studies such as Esther, Biblical Feasts, and the Resurrection.
They have four levels: Beginner (ages 5-7); Level 1 (ages 6-8); Level 2 (ages 8-10); Level 3 (ages 10-12); and Level 4 (ages 12-14). There is also a "Traceable" level for ages 3 and 4, with the drawings already included in a light gray for children to trace. Teacher books come with specific instructions and cover two levels (Levels 1-2 and Levels 3-4 are combined), which helps with cost. The Old and New Testament Overviews are comprised of four books each, and they also have a number of stand-alone "topical" studies such as Esther, Biblical Feasts, and the Resurrection.
Now - what I love!
We can do one study together as a family. Especially when you homeschool multiple grades, this is key. I have another curriculum that I do like for teaching different aspects of theology and Bible information, but there is a different book for each grade. Next year for the first time, my son will be done with preschool and will be homeschooling as well. He can use the Traceable books while my fourth grader uses Level 2. For next year at least, I can even use the same Teacher Book, with some adjustments (there is a different Teacher book for the Beginner/Traceable Level, but I will probably make do with the one for my daughter's level). One lesson for both of them.
They provide a foundation in the "grammar" of the Bible. If you have been following my blog for long, you know we are a "classical" homeschool family. We believe the best approach for our children is to spend their elementary or "grammar" years building a foundation of basic skills in reading, writing and math, and basic facts in the areas of math, history, geography, science, and language, all of which can be drawn on later in their "dialectic" years (ages 12-13) when they are beginning to make the "why and how" connections among those subject areas, leading eventually to their "rhetoric" years (ages 14-18), when they will take all they know and begin expressing their own knowledge and understanding of it and using that knowledge and understanding to lead and persuade others in the truth. The same is true in their study of the Bible. Right now, they need a foundation in their Bible basics - the major events, people, and ideas of the Scriptures. That is what this series offers.
We can do one study together as a family. Especially when you homeschool multiple grades, this is key. I have another curriculum that I do like for teaching different aspects of theology and Bible information, but there is a different book for each grade. Next year for the first time, my son will be done with preschool and will be homeschooling as well. He can use the Traceable books while my fourth grader uses Level 2. For next year at least, I can even use the same Teacher Book, with some adjustments (there is a different Teacher book for the Beginner/Traceable Level, but I will probably make do with the one for my daughter's level). One lesson for both of them.
They provide a foundation in the "grammar" of the Bible. If you have been following my blog for long, you know we are a "classical" homeschool family. We believe the best approach for our children is to spend their elementary or "grammar" years building a foundation of basic skills in reading, writing and math, and basic facts in the areas of math, history, geography, science, and language, all of which can be drawn on later in their "dialectic" years (ages 12-13) when they are beginning to make the "why and how" connections among those subject areas, leading eventually to their "rhetoric" years (ages 14-18), when they will take all they know and begin expressing their own knowledge and understanding of it and using that knowledge and understanding to lead and persuade others in the truth. The same is true in their study of the Bible. Right now, they need a foundation in their Bible basics - the major events, people, and ideas of the Scriptures. That is what this series offers.
The studies get more challenging with age. The Beginner level focuses on main events and stories in the Bible. In Level 1 (ages 6-7), students begin learning the timeline, with two drawings per page. In Level 2 (ages 8-10), students draw four drawings per page and memorize both memory verses and Bible facts, including the books of the Bible and other important lists. In Level 3 (ages 10-13), biblical geography is added, and the stick figures are more detailed and include names of people and cities. And at Level 4 (ages 14 and up), lessons include how to use Bible study tools like a concordance, Bible dictionary, and a topical Bible, in addition to mastering the Bible timeline. One of the greatest aspects of this is that even if my elementary daughter "finishes" the Old Testament next year, she can do it again in a few years with a deeper understanding.
The teacher guide is user-friendly. Each Teacher Guide covers two levels (levels 1-2 and levels 3-4), which helps to keep the costs down. The teacher/parent is given exact instructions, including how to do the stick figures (honest, so easy that any non-artist can do them) and what information to share. Yes, you need to look ahead and do your own advance planning and praying, but most of the work is already done for you.
The format is flexible. Grapevine offers both traditional paper books and e-books, depending on your needs. The e-books are less expensive. You need to print them yourself, but are allowed to make as many copies as you need for your family or classroom setting (classes receive a one-year license, families can use them indefinitely). Paper copies are a bit more, but you don't have the costs and hassle of printing them yourself and they come three-hole punched for a binder. You can also choose to do a daily lesson or weekly, whichever fits best in your family schedule, which makes it ideal for both homeschooling families looking for daily lessons or families who want to include Bible learning alongside a traditional school schedule.
The teacher guide is user-friendly. Each Teacher Guide covers two levels (levels 1-2 and levels 3-4), which helps to keep the costs down. The teacher/parent is given exact instructions, including how to do the stick figures (honest, so easy that any non-artist can do them) and what information to share. Yes, you need to look ahead and do your own advance planning and praying, but most of the work is already done for you.
The format is flexible. Grapevine offers both traditional paper books and e-books, depending on your needs. The e-books are less expensive. You need to print them yourself, but are allowed to make as many copies as you need for your family or classroom setting (classes receive a one-year license, families can use them indefinitely). Paper copies are a bit more, but you don't have the costs and hassle of printing them yourself and they come three-hole punched for a binder. You can also choose to do a daily lesson or weekly, whichever fits best in your family schedule, which makes it ideal for both homeschooling families looking for daily lessons or families who want to include Bible learning alongside a traditional school schedule.
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