God’s Great Covenant New Testament 1 is our newest review, and one of the newest items from Classical Academic Press. True to their tagline, the presentation for this curriculum is creative. The Gospels are presented in an engaging way – as a single story rather than four separate ones. Each lesson’s “Story Time” is a telling of the gospels as the exciting, grand story that it is. Full Scriptural notation is given so you can follow the action right in your own Bible. This is not your typical Bible story lesson. From the website:
Teaching the Bible to young children can be a large task, and is often divided up into many small stories. However, if you would like to teach your students the truly big picture of the Bible, and show them how God has been at work in his people since before creation, you will find God’s Great Covenant to be a unique, surprising, and excellent Bible curriculum. The Bible, taught chronologically, by means of simple and direct stories, chants, and meditation on God’s character define God’s Great Covenant. Even many adults find themselves learning new facts, making surprising connections, and being blessed by reminder of God’s faithfulness, and how he always keeps his promises. Taught from a covenantal and reformed theological perspective, and rooted in Scripture, you will find this series to be a blessing to your classroom or family.
The “Story Time” part of each lesson is also available in audio as downloadable mp3 files. We enjoyed listening to this part together then working on the worksheets independently (for my older girls) while I orally went through some of the items with the younger children. Before starting the next day’s lesson, we would go over the worksheet (various activities such as crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blank, drawing, short answers and more) together. These worksheets are not the typical “busy work” type my children bring home from Sunday school, but more in depth, thought provoking activities. These always end with a “Think About It” section where your child can apply what they are learning.
There are thirty-six lessons (a typical “school year”) divided into four units. Eight lessons and one review for each unit. At the end of the unit there is review for the Memory Passages, a Devotional Guide and a story with Simon – a peak into a boy’s life during the time of the gospels. Each lesson has a memory passage and theme. The theme for the lesson is related to the theme for the unit. Each unit looks at a different “name” that Jesus is called: “The Son of Man”, “God’s Servant”, “The Messiah”, and “The Son of God”. Throughout the lessons we see how Jesus alone served as Prophet, Priest and King and how prophecy is fulfilled in Him.
Aside from the fact that I can do this with all of my children together (always a big plus in my book), I love how this is looking at Scripture itself — not simplified Bible stories. Yes, there is a story, but that is tying it all together — not dumbing it down. There is great background information prior to the first unit – historical, geographical, political – to give better understanding of the gospels. There are maps throughout the lessons and maps and quizzes in the appendices. A Bible is all you need to add to jump right into a thorough study of the Gospels and who Jesus is.
The series begins in the Old Testament with two volumes. They are recommended for 2nd grade and up (OT 1) and 3rd grade and up (OT 2). This third volume in the series (NT 1) is recommended for 4th grade and up. I did have to do a lot of adapting and skimming for the younger children. My girls working at 3rd grade and higher levels did well with this as is. The Teacher’s Edition takes the pages of the student book shrunk to 3/4 size with the remainder of the page filled with additional information, helpful background and other tips. Any leftover space is lined to add your own notes. Helpful and very interesting but not completely necessary in my opinion (I’ve enjoyed it but not needed it) if you are pinching pennies.
The bundle of student book, teacher’s edition and audio book download for $56.95, a 15% savings. The individual prices are student book $26.95, teacher’s edition $29.95 and mp3 audio files $9.95. There are two volumes covering the Old Testament. They, along with additional resources, are available on the Classical Academic Press website as well. This is our second product reviewed from Classical Academic Press, another rave review. We really like what they offer and will be looking to them for future curricula needs.
We are not the only ones who reviewed God’s Great Covenant: New Testament 1 from Classical Academic Press. Other families’ reviews are accessible from the Crew blog.
Disclaimer: as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received this curriculum free of charge for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review; all opinions are my own.
