Worldview with Apologia's "What We Believe" Homeschool Curriculum
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 5:00AM 
The biggest part of my job as a homeschooling mom is to disciple my children. They need to know WHAT they believe about the Christian faith, and WHY they hold those beliefs.
Using the Bible as a lens through which they view the world is of utmost importance.
We have been using the What We Believe Worldview Curriculum from Apologia for several years. It started with Anna three years ago, and now Grant is using the books as well.
*We have been using this curriculum for the past three years. I have been compensated to write this post, but I would be endorsing this product whether I was paid or not - we love it!
About What We Believe
The What We Believe curriculum consists of many books and notebooking journals.
*At the end of this post I will be giving away a FULL SET!)
- Vol. 1: Who is God (and Can I Really Know Him?)
- Vol. 2: Who am I (and What am I Doing Here?)
- Vol. 3: Who is My Neighbor (and Why Does He Need Me?)
- Vol. 4: What On Earth Can I Do?
This homeschool curriculum is designed for ages 6-14.
The reading level is more geared towards middle grades, so my son and I are doing this study together. I read aloud while he uses the notebooking journal.
It is non denominational, and references primarily the 1984 NIV Bible translation.
Each book in the series can stand alone, but it is recommended you do them in order. (I agree with this 100%! For review purposes I will be talking about Volume 3, but my son has been through the other volumes first and they naturally lead into each other.)
Each volume has a textbook, notebooking journal, audio CD, and coloring book (for purchase separately).
Apologia has a comprehensive list of FAQs if you want to know more specifics (which I always do when teaching anything having to do with the Bible to my children).
Who Is My Neighbor (and Why Does He Need Me?)
I will be sharing about the main textbook and notebooking journal for Volume 3.
This volume aims to teach our children about developing a servant heart.
The notebooking journal keeps kids engaged and serves as a physical scrabpook for their learning! We love notebooking, so this is right up our alley.
Format/Scheduling of Who Is My Neighbor
There are 8 large lessons in Who Is My Neighbor (and Why Does He Need Me?).
- Does Anyone Really Need Me?
- How Can I Make a Difference?
- Who Is My Neighbor?
- Why Did God Make Families?
- What Can I Do For My Country?
- Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
- Who Is God's Family?
- Why Does the Church Need Me?
As you can see, the 8 sections are critical areas for our children. In uncertain times like ours, it is IMPERATIVE that our children be equipped with truths grounded in the Word of God.
Thank you, Apologia, for this wonderful homeschool resource!
The textbook and notebooking journal give guides for a suggested plan of study, but the lessons can be completely flexible.
We have been completing a lesson in 2 weeks, so at this pace the book will take us 16 weeks to complete.
Three mornings a week we include this study in our routine. It is a wonderful way to start our days!
Apologia has written this book so that is engaging for ALL ages. The stories, real life examples, and cross curricular activities have something that appeals to everyone. The lessons are broken into small sections that allow for even the shortest of attention spans to take part. I could see a family with many children using this study all together, with each child working on a different level.
The Notebooking Journal
The notebooking journal helps keep all hands busy and enhances learning while you are reading the text.
Apologia has intended for this journal to be a true KEEPSAKE, with your child as the author. Our children are taking a great voyage using this curriculum, and their notebooking journal reflects that.
The journal includes comprehension questions. vocabulary words, scripture memory, word puzzles, and (my son's favorite), physical minibooks to be cut, completed, and glued into the journal.
You can view samples of the journal, as well as lesson plans, and more on Apologia's website.
Thoughts on Apologia's Who Is My Neighbor
The busy homeschool mom in me loves that all of the work is done for me! The only supplies necessary for a lesson are the textbook, notebook, our Bible, and basic notebooking supplies.
For a younger participant (like my son, age 8), the notebooking journal keeps him engaged and focused. It serves as a wonderful keepsake and record of this "journey" he is taking!
Apologia's worldview homeschool curriculum is grounded in TRUTH. The Bible is the living and inspired Word of God. Period. I appreciate a curriculum that keeps this central.
The lessons are broken up into small chunks that are manageable. Stories about famous Christians, quotes from figures our children will know (my son loved that the book mentioned Roberto Clemente!), and references to things children like (such as NASCAR!) make the book engaging and meaningful.
We loved the What We Believe books when my daughter started them three years ago, and now we love them again the second time around with another child.
The Specifics of Who Is My Neighbor
View the product page to find out about each of these wonderful resources!
Who is My Neighbor? - $39
Notebooking Journal - $24
Coloring Book - $8
Audio CD - $29
Connect with Apologia
Apologia offers so many wonderful homeschool resources. If you aren't familiar with them, I suggest you follow them through these social media outlets. They are always very generous with giveaways, discounts, and more.
The Giveaway!
Apologia is graciously giving away 4 FULL SETS to my readers.
This means I will be giving away:
1 set Who Is God? Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
1 set Who Am I? Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
1 set Who Is My Neighbor Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
1 set What On Earth Can I Do? Text book, Notebooking Journal, coloring book, and audio CD
Follow the Rafflecopter widget instructions to enter! Good luck!
Reader Comments (95)
A Christian worldview means teaching our children that they are here for a purpose: to know, love and serve God. It is difficult to keep this focus in our distracting world of ME, ME, ME...and any tool that can help families see their bigger purpose would be welcome in this house! Thanks for sharing.
A world view is the lens through which people interpret circumstances and the world around them. A world view that is not biblical will be one that is distorted, and conclusions based upon those distorted perceptions will be erroneous and deadly. If we want our children to know the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the best gift we can give them is a biblical world view.
I would LOVE to win this set. What a gold mine of Biblical truths and information!
We just discovered Apologia Science, and I wish I had found it sooner! I've looked through their Bible curriculum and would love the chance to win a set!
World view, as I tell my children, means we aren't mindful about the heavenlies. Our focus and concern, who we believe we are, and what we do with our lives are all focused on the things of this world that will someday vanish. A biblical world view, especially in times now, ensures we keep our eyes on Jesus and not get distracted by the world.
Thanks for this opportunity!
We love these!
It's the way we react to our world. It's important to my children because it will affect how they live their lives, for God or for not.
Worldview= the lens that we view the world. I want my children to understand the importance of filtering the world through God's Word.
Worldview is the lens through which we perceive, understand and make decisions about the world.
Ahhh!!! I totally skipped a heart beat when I saw you were giving this away! I really want this to try this out! We have been struggling to find something to gets a clear message to the kids. I almost go this but regrettably when with something different.
Thanks, Mary, for the wonderful review! Just a note: The textbook is only $39, not $49.
I have a good bible curriculum but would love this great program! I would love my kids to dive deeper into the word!
What a wonderful resource, I would love to work through these with my 11 year old.
Worldview is how you look at everything that has happened or is happening in the world. It is important to teach our kids about worldview because if we don't, the world will.
Worldview is what we fundamentally believe about the world - who is God? Why am I here? A Biblical worldview answers those questions from the Bible. We need to look there for our answers and teach our children where to find answers to life's fundamental questions.
This looks like engaging material that focuses on truth. We'd love to try out a set!
I love Apologia and was really excited when I recently saw that they have this series out in addition to the Creation- Science studies. Sometimes, honestly, Sunday School can maybe be a bit repetitive when we simply go over Bible stories- and of course we shouldn't do it simply, they aren't simply, boring stories.... but sometimes I think it can get away from us, right?.... and I'm excited to hopefully use this series either as a Sunday school option for our small fellowship or in our homeschool curriculum. Super excited to see it all!
Thanks for this review and chance to win. I want my kids to have a biblical world-view so that they will be able to discern right and wrong based on God's Word.
I think it is important to teach to teach our children how to see the world from God's point of view not the worlds.
I was just looking at this set yesterday and considering it as I gear up to homeschool my 3rd grader next year when we head into missions. I would be amazing to win a copy!! Thanks.