Me:
Why are you trying to go cheap on the most important subject your children will
ever learn?
Me
2: I don’t know. Because this home schooling stuff can get expensive quickly.
Me:
Is it more important that your children know math or that they know the word of
God?
Me
2: Point taken.
Sometimes I do not like myself. She can get a
little blunt and testy.
So I went with the Bible curriculum I’d been
dreaming about owning one day. And I have never regretted it. The best part is
that it’s not expensive either.
I want to share with all of you my review of Bible
Study Guide for All Ages (BSGFAA).
BSGFAA is set up to cycle through the entire Bible
in four years if you do two lessons a week each year. We do a lesson every day.
*****UPDATE***** I went through and put all of the lessons into chronological order so that if you want to study straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, you now have that option. My schedule is based on doing one lesson a day based on a four-day a week school schedule. If you do a five-day a week schedule, I suggest using the fifth day as a review of what you learned that week. If you follow this schedule you will study through the entire Bible in three years (based on a 36 week school year) with some free weeks at the end of each year for deeper study of a topic or review of the year. Here is a link to the file: Bible Study Guide for All Ages Chronological Order ******UPDATE********
All children are studying the same Bible passage at the same time, but doing different student worksheets based on their level.
*****UPDATE***** I went through and put all of the lessons into chronological order so that if you want to study straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, you now have that option. My schedule is based on doing one lesson a day based on a four-day a week school schedule. If you do a five-day a week schedule, I suggest using the fifth day as a review of what you learned that week. If you follow this schedule you will study through the entire Bible in three years (based on a 36 week school year) with some free weeks at the end of each year for deeper study of a topic or review of the year. Here is a link to the file: Bible Study Guide for All Ages Chronological Order ******UPDATE********
All children are studying the same Bible passage at the same time, but doing different student worksheets based on their level.
The program takes you through the Bible, but not
chronologically. Rather you will do some Old Testament, then some New Testament
and vice versa showing how the entire Bible is interwoven and points to Jesus.
At first I was worried that this would be confusing to my kids, but they seem
to have no problem with it.
The Lesson
We do the review section from each girl’s
worksheet which asks questions from previous lessons. Usually the questions are
the same, but sometimes they are different.
Chipette:
Magpie:
Next, we do the memory work section which usually
has us working on memorizing books of the Bible, lists from the Bible, and
Bible summary cards or timeline cards.
Now it’s time for the Bible lesson. I read the
Bible chapter or verses that the day’s lesson is from. I use my daughter’s ESV
Bible, but the lesson questions are written using the NIV. Using two different
versions is not usually a problem. As I’m reading Magpie colors the picture on
the front of her worksheet, while Chipette just listens.
Once we’ve finished the Bible reading, we flip the
worksheets over to the comic strip looking section. There are instructions to help
review and cement the story in their heads. I read Magpie’s sheet to her while
Chipette follows the instructions on her own asking for my help if she needs
clarification about what to do. The best
part is that if she gets stuck on an answer the verse citation where the answer
is found is in each frame of the comic strip so she gets the extra practice of
looking up verses!
This is what their finished worksheet pages look
like:
Chipette:
Magpie:
Now we turn the sheets back over and do the Apply
It section. This is my favorite part! You take the Bible story and apply it to
situations in the child’s own life. I do Magpie’s first, then Chipette’s.
Usually the point of the story is the same for both girls, but the scenarios
presented are different which is good for them to understand applying scripture
in many different circumstances. We finish by saying a prayer about what we
learned today.
At this point Magpie can leave the table while
Chipette and I finish her extras on the front page (timeline, maps, lesson
review).
The Setup
I wanted to share some pictures of the actual
materials so you could get an idea of how the program is set up.
Timeline section from Chipette's sheet.
Map section from Chipette's sheet. Map and timeline are not on the same day.
The lesson part of Chipette's sheet.
Coloring page on the front of Magpie's sheet. This ties into the Apply It! Section.
The lesson part of Magpie's worksheet.
The Extras
Just this year, I discovered a new product (new to
me anyway) that the folks at Bible Study Guide sell. They are called Bible Book
Summary Cards and they are AMAZING!!!!
The girls and I are focusing on learning
one card each week of school. What makes these so great is that anybody of any
age would benefit from learning the information on these cards. Plus the cards
are not tied specifically to this Bible study, so if you wanted to use these
cards with your current Bible program they would be extremely useful.
The front of the card is a picture that symbolizes
what the book of the Bible is about.
On the back is a quick synopsis of the book that
explains what the picture is referencing.
At the bottom of the back, under the synopsis, are
review questions to ask your children until they learn all of the information.
We’ve already learned the card for the book of
Genesis and are currently working on the book of Exodus which is pictured
above. I am looking forward to using these cards so much for increasing my own
Bible knowledge.
I think this is the perfect setup for any family
(even non-homeschoolers!) to all study the Bible together. And in case you are
curious there is absolutely no doctrine taught. These are just the Bible
stories so families can add in their own beliefs.
The final analysis this Friday about Bible Study Guide for All Ages is that we are using this program for the long haul. For our
family, this is a perfect 10!
Knowing and loving the Bible is the number one
goal in the tree house,
Chelli
I'd like the student pages for ages 3-K and the summary cards. Curious to check them out!
ReplyDeleteThis would be perfect for a close friend of mine!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awesome! Would love to win. Either for age 6 or 11 and the summary cards. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMichelle M.
How fun! We just purchased this same curriculum at the homeschool conference this summer and are loving it as well. I just bought one set of intermediate and one set of advanced sheets for the first two quarters to "try it out". If I won, I would choose a set of the beginners (we're currently having littles work with older siblings instead of having their own sheet) and the Bible Summary Cards look great!
ReplyDeleteThe cd is fun too--my kiddos enjoy listening to it even just "any old time" and it's a great way for us all to learn all the songs.
Thanks for the review and affirmation on this one. :)
This is a great program!! My boys LOVE it. I would like the Primary Pages for Unit 1, Quarter 3 and the Bible Summary Cards. We have the Beginner Time Line and have it all memorized! :)
DeleteThanks!
This sounds great! I love the ability to combine kids in any subject:)
ReplyDeleteWe'd love this Bible book summary cards and Primary sheets! They look great!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great! I'd like the 6-11 packet and (tough decision here) the timeline cards.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post, Chelli!
The congregation we attend while visiting my husband's parents use this in their children's class. I would love to try it out at home.
ReplyDeleteWe love these, Chelli. Have used them since our oldest were little and still use them with our youngest. Off and on, probably 20 years now. We are also using them in our Sunday School class. Thanks for sharing it here. They are written by members of the church, but you are right, no doctrine taught, only Bible :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great program! I really want to get this for my boys. The Beginner student pages and the Bible summary cards would be PERFECT for us! Thanks for a great review!
ReplyDeleteI would love the Intermediate student pages and the Bible summary cards!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great review! I recently purchased a few pieces of the is program and am sharing them between two kiddos. The intermediate pack and the timeline would really be a blessing to us! Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteI would love the intermediate student pages and the Bible summary cards! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have looked at this study guide and think we would love it. I would be getting student sheets for K and the beginner timeline.
ReplyDeleteHave thought of getting these for awhile now. Would love to have the intermediate pages and the timeline. Thanks for posting this review!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing. Comprehensive yet appropriate for all ages
ReplyDeleteThe Bible cards look awesome! They would be perfect for my very visual 12 yo.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like it could be a good supplement for the Bible Study we currently use. I would like the beginner's set and the Bible cards look really helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis has been on my wishlist for awhile. It would really cool to have the time line to use with it.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this curriculum. I'd want the intermediate sheets, and the bible summary cards if I win.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, thanks!!! We absolutely love this program! I would love the year 3 intermediate student pages and the Bible Summary cards. Thanks!
ReplyDeletewould love it!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from WTMF. I was just looking at this Bible program on Friday. I would love to win this, thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI would love the intermediate student pages and the Bible summary cards! These look great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHannahPTL@yahoo.com
The Bible summary cards look amazing! This would be a great addition to our daily Bible study. We use the beginner and intermediate pages. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I've used BSGFAG in the past and you've motivated me to start up again.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to buy this!
ReplyDeleteI love this product!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking at this for a while and would love the Intermediate student pack to start!!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about this myself. Looks like you're very pleased with it. I'd love the intermediate pages and the Bible Summary cards.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting this curriculum! I would love to have the Intermediate Student Pages if I won! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review Chelli! I'd love to win the 6-11 pages:)
ReplyDeleteI've been looking at these for a long time now, would love to win them! The 3 to kindergarten pages and summary cards :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win the beginner pages & the summary cards! I've wanted this curriculum for several years now.
ReplyDeleteWe love Bible Study Guide for All Ages! I really think it is the best Bible curriculum out there. We are slowly working through unit 1. It would be awesome if we could win the Intermediate pages for Unit 2! We don't have the summary cards, and those would be so nice to have and would be my choice to win. I have the timeline on my wishlist as well :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting such a generous giveaway!
I liked BSGFAA on Facebook :)
ReplyDeleteI also liked The Planted Trees on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the intermediate pages and the bible book cards. Thanks for a great giveaway, Chelli!
ReplyDeleteWow this looks awesome. Thanks for sharing! I would love to win the Teen Bible Study and the summary cards. Sherry
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning the giveaway to me on the Church of Christ Homeschoolers fb page!! I'd love to get the beginner pages and the timeline! =) ~Kelly
ReplyDeleteI have kicked myself for not purchasing this for my daughter this year. Would love the intermediate (3rd-4th)set with the summary cards!
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Fun giveaway! We'd love the beginner with the summary cards! Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway! We're almost through year 3 of BSG, so I'd love to get some of the advanced and/or intermediate worksheets for year 4. I have the summary cards already, but I'd love to get the Beginner timeline for my Bible class room at church!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the intermediate set with the summary cards!!
ReplyDeleteWe'd appreciate the Intermediate Pages and the Summary Cards =). Thanks Chelli!
ReplyDeleteI would want the Primary student pages and the Summary cards. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLol! My other self can be blunt too! Thank you for such a thorough explanation of curriculum!
ReplyDeleteFantastic your idea:) We love Bible Study Guide for All Ages!We had the opportunity to audit Bible Study Guide For All Ages with every one of the three of our youngsters ages 7, 5, and 3. For our survey we got the Beginner Student Pages (1 set for every kid), Beginner Time Line, and Children's Songs CD set. The prescribed ages for the Beginner level is age 3 – Kindergarten. In spite of the fact that our 5 and 7 year old are both scholastically at the first Grade level I knew this would be a decent fit for our family in light of the fact that they are still both starting perusers and each of the three kids would have the capacity to learn togethe
ReplyDelete