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History Question
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Okay, I have a history question but first let me say…
I have wanted to keep things simple for history but have also desperatly wanted to see the connection in history with Gods involvement, etc. I’ve used Truthquest in the past because I’ve loved the commentaries that show Gods hand revealed throughout history.
This year I have added another history “curriculum” into our history studies called History Alive by Diana Waring. The reason I was drawn to it is because of the way she shows all of history through a biblical worldview. I never learned this growing up in the public school system and was wanting to learn history this way.. along with my dc.
However, I’m finding myself overwhelmed with the curriculum. I want to just let go and simply read the books suggested in the SCM modules here but I’m afraid I won’t see (and therefore my dc won’t see) the connection of Gods hand in history without some sort of commentary guiding me.
I’m considering going back to Truthquest but am not sure how to combine those commentaries with the modules here. Do you have any suggestions or experiences to share regarding this issue?
Thanking the Lord for all of you here 🙂
Heather
The easiest connection for Ancient Rome is that Jesus lived during that time period. So the customs and culture that you learn about in Rome books should help the dc understand the backdrop for Jesus’ comments and parables.
Anybody have experience with the Ancient Rome TruthQuest book? Does it include any of the books listed in the SCM module?
Hi There!
We are in the middle of our study of Ancient Rome with Truthquest history. For our “spine” we use Guerber’s Story of the Romans, along with Hillyer’s Child’s History of the World. Many of the extras that I have on my list are in the SCM module. What has been so helpful for me is the TQ commentary guiding us through this history with Biblical thought. IT has helped us not just read about the Romans but understand their world view and see how influential this culture was on our history. Some of the historical fiction like the G.A. Henty books (Young Carthaginian is the one we’re listening to on CD now to go with our study), and Bronze Bow help you see how the study of the Romans dovetails into the New Testament. IT’s neat.
I will say that another thing that has helped me immensely is a while back I had purchased Heart Of Wisdom from Adam to Messiah unit study. It’s a big binder and I purchased it because I wanted to add even more Biblical tie ins with our study. Well, it is not set up like TQ at all but more like a unit study that you have to put together. I am not in the time or place in my life that I can do this, but what is so helpful is that she has different timelines or charts in her book that detail the timeline of Greece or Rome and has a timeline on that same time period of the Jewish people and what’s going on right now.
We are just entering the Punic Wars, for example, which is during the time period of Alexander the Great whom we read about when we studied the Greeks. At this time period, Nehemiah and Ezra are trying to set up some reforms in Israel. This is so helpful. I do wish there was a book that really gave us more details about the timing of different events in history with Biblical events. We do have a BIG timeline that we got from Barnes & Noble that does this. I just have to remember to pull it out!
Hope this helps!
There is a really useful resource called The Timetables of History by Bernard Grun which really nails down all those “parallel events”
But I think it’s really important to stress that we can help our children see connections without lots of extra curricula. Heather, you might consider reading a little yourself in the curriculum you already have, and then sharing as appropriate with the children. I’ve seen the Waring materials, I’ve had and used Truthquest at times, and I did love it. But I discovered as I went that I didn’t need to read tons and tons OR be an expert to begin to see the hand of God as we read.
The parallel information on what is going on in, say, Greece and Rome at certain times in Biblical history is interesting. But if you just have a few basic principles, and then ask questions (of yourself and of the dc) as you read, be prepared for amazing things to happen!
Basic principles I try to keep in mind at all times:
1) There is no coincidence. Our Sovereign God has all things in His hand, and He can use both believers and even non-believers to bring about His perfect and righteous purposes.
2) Look to the Scriptures in all things, even history. We keep scriptures right by us as we read. When we read about someone selfish, for example, or who lied–out come the scriptures to find out what God has said about this.
3) God wants your children educated to see His hand even more than you do, and He is willing and able to help. I petition the Lord frequently to ask Him to open my eyes to see things He wants my children to know about. Then, with a few thoughtful questions, the children begin thinking, and in time, and especially if they also pray, they can see these things for themselves, which is so much more powerful than reading it in a book or even me “telling them” what to think. One question I was lead to ask once when studying Rome was—Do you think the Lord deliberately prepared this kingdom to be in control of this area of the world during the Savior’s life? Why? How might the spread of the Gospel been different if there was no Roman Empire? We just asked these questions, thought a moment, then went on. Some days later, a child came to me with all kinds of interesting insights and all of our appreciation for the way the Lord works His purposes out was deepened. Yikes. Awkward sentence, but I don’t have time to rewrite it now! LOL Anyway, some food for thought. God knows more about how He arranged things than even the best homeschool writer. Ask HIM! 🙂
Michelle D
Thanks, anabetica, for sharing your experience and giving me some practical suggestions! I do have some of Robin Sampsons materials and have loved them!
Michelle, thanks so much for giving me such “food for thought” and for reminding me that the Lord will reveal Himself to us as we simply ASK Him. Why do I make everything so difficult sometimes? lol 🙂
Thanking Him for all of you ~ once again…..
Hugs!
Heather
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