We live in a diverse community. A VERY diverse community! Many of the people in our neighborhood have beliefs that are vastly different from our own! I knew that one day I would need to address this diversity with my children, but I did not feel fully ready, nor prepared to do so.
While I completely understand the importance of teaching my children Biblical doctrine, I knew that it was time for them to not only know WHAT the Bible says, but for them to be able to think biblically about the community and ultimately the world they are living in!
I am thrilled to help spread the word about Apologia’s What We Believe Biblical Worldview Series. I received one of each of the four text and journals in the series for review/giveaway purposes and I was financially compensated for my time. All opinions expressed are my own.
Homeschool Resource for Bible & Worldview
A Complete Biblical Worldview Curriculum: I knew all about the amazing science curriculum from Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc, but, did you know that Apologia sells the What We Believe Series? It is a complete curriculum with coordinating text, notebooking journals, coloring books, and audio CDs that teach biblical worldview!
There are four text in the series:
-
Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him)
-
Who Am I? (And What Am I Doing Here?)
-
Who Is My Neighbor? (And Why Does He Need Me?)
Although I received one copy of each of the What We Believe text and journals, I was SO impressed that I purchased additional copies of the Who Is God? notebooking journals so that each of my older three kids could have their own!
We have officially made an addition to our curriculum that I think is very important for this day and age in the world we live in! Finding a homeschool resource that works (and works well) for my family just makes me giddy on the inside! Honestly, I am thrilled! My kids love it. I love it. And it really works great for our family!
Why I Love the What We Believe Series
Teaching Diversity Through a Biblical Lens: I absolutely love that the What We Believe series is holding my hand as I teach my children about the diverse beliefs of our community and our world through a Biblical lens! My kids will not longer simply hear and observe the diversity in oblivion. They will not only be aware of the differences, they will know what the Bible says about the differences. They will know the truth. They will be able to express and defend their own beliefs from a Biblical viewpoint in a world filled with differing ideas and beliefs about everything.
Our children are bombarded on a daily basis with competing messages. Every song, movie, book, TV show, blog, and game is full of ideas—ideas about truth, morality, beauty, identity, faith, and more. Not all of these ideas are true. Some are wrong, some are deceptive, and some are outright destructive. Young children must be equipped to discern among competing ideas and stand in the truth. ~What We Believe
Made for Multiple Learning Styles: Although I have twins (x2), they are very different. In fact, all five of my kids are very different and they each learn differently! I love that the What We Believe series utilizes interactive learning and addresses multiple learning styles! The series features exciting stories, creative notebooking assignments, fun activities, and interactive hands-on exercises.
My auditory learners love listening to me read the engaging stories from the Who Is God? text aloud to them.
My visual learners are stimulated by the colorful pictures and graphics throughout the text and the journal.
My kinesthetic learners really enjoy the hands on activities used to solidify the lessons.
FYI, my kids are waiting for the eggs, oil, water, and brownie mix to make themselves into a plate of brownies. This was a great action lesson about creation. Want to know the correlation? You’ve got to get the Who Is God? book! {grins}
Taking Ownership of Their Education: I believe one of the best parts about the Who Is God? homeschool curriculum series is the notebooking journal. I remember hearing Rachael Carman (author, speaker and Apologia owner) speak at a homeschool convention about the value of notebooking! I specifically remember her emphasizing that the notebook belongs to the child and it is a way for them to show what they have learned.
Essentially the child should be free to express themselves in the notebook. What a freeing activity for the kids and for me! The kids LOVE that the notebook is THEIR book reflecting what THEY learned! I encourage them to draw, color, have fun expressing their thoughts and feelings in their journals.
It includes THEIR prayers.
…THEIR praise reports!
There are lots of blank pages to take notes and share thoughts.
Plus, there are lots of fun activities for the kids in the journal!
Mini Books
Word Puzzles
Additionally, key words are defined…and lots more!
Benefits of the What We Believe Series
A Perfect Balance of Structure & Freedom: For those of us who appreciate having everything planned out (raising my hand high in the air), lesson plans are provided. Therefore, if structure is desired, it’s there!
For those who desire the freedom to go at your own speed, it’s there! You can definitely move through the book and journal at your own pace.
In fact, students could go through the curriculum on their own with minimal help. The text is written directly to the child in a conversational style designed to engage and help them live out the lessons taught.
However, I have found that the series works best for us if we following the lesson plan and go through it together! That way we get to talk through the lessons and how they apply to our daily lives. Plus, I can answer questions right on the spot!
Each of lessons in the Who Is God? text contain several key components including:
-
The Big Idea
-
What You Will Do
-
Short Story
-
Think About It
-
Words You Need to Know
-
Hide It in Your Heart
-
Integrated Learning
-
What Should I Do?
-
Prayer
-
Worldview study
-
House of Truth
Just in case I didn’t make myself clear, we are LOVING Who Is God?!
More Info About What We Believe
If you would like more information, be sure to check out what others have to say about the What We Believe Biblical Worldview Series from Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. Have more questions? Take a peek at the list of Frequently Asked Questions.
-
Are you missionary, ministry, or military family? Be sure to call Apologia toll-free 1-888-524-4724 for discounted orders.
Win a What We Believe Curriculum Set
Would you like to win one of the sets from Apologia’s What We Believe series? I am thrilled to be giving away one set of EACH title in the series! Each set includes the text, notebooking journal, coloring book, and audio CD. Yes, there will be four winners! (Don’t worry! If you win a set that you already own, you will receive another set in the series.)
You can enter to win using Rafflecopter below. (If you are reading this post via email or via a reader and the giveaway widget does not appear below, visit the actual blog post or click the link below to enter.) Giveaway is open to US residents, age 18 and over only. Giveaway ends on 10/28/13. The winner will be emailed and announced on the giveaway widget. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be selected.
Operation Christmas Child Challenge
Mama Jenn
Hi April!
The directions for the fish bowl activity were a bit unclear to me as well. We tried to follow the instructions and then ultimately ended up cutting out the fishbowl, gluing the fish inside it, and simply attaching it to the page.
Tracey M.
I am super excited about winning the “Who is God” set! Thank you so much! I look forward to sharing this special time with my daughter. My husband is also interested in joining us so this may become a family activity. YAH! I immediately sent you an e-mail response after finding out I won – I hope you received it.
Mama Jenn
Hi Tracey! Yes, I received your email response. I apologize for the delay in responding. I am in the middle of moving and things have been kind of hectic. I did, however, forward your contact information as well as the other three winners info along so that Apologia can mail out your the book set. Thank you again for entering the giveaway and congratulations on winning
Charis Chapman
I’d love to win the Who is God? series.
Danielle C
I am interested in Who is my Neighbor!
Patti
I would love the “Who is God?” series! This is our first year homeschooling(2nd grade) and I would love to add this into our curriculum!
Dinah Ely
Apologia is a great teaching curriculum! I would love to use it:)
Mama Jenn
No worries! You could definitely use the What We Believe series as your Bible curriculum. However, I am using Who Is God? along with the Bible portion of our curriculum (My Father’s World).
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome Tracey!
Kristi Horn
Would love any of these as my kids are coming to understand and question what God, faith, and community mean!
NextGen Homeschool
I have three daughters with different learning styles too, and we just started “Who is God?” — everyone loves it! Can’t wait to continue with this series.
jwach02
Who is God? But any of them would be a huge blessing!
Mama Jenn
Thanks Cathy! Glad the review was helpful for you!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!!
Mama Jenn
Hi Angie! Can you clarify your questions a bit? I’m sorry, but I’m not quite sure what you are asking.
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!
Mama Jenn
Yes, the journals is great! My kids are loving theirs!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome Julie!
Mama Jenn
Yes, I am using Who Is God? along with the Bible lessons included in our MFW curriculum. We just started Who Is God? this school year, but I do plan to go through the entire series. Once we go through the entire series, I think I will go back through it again, and I would opt to purchase new journals. Hope that helps!
Megan C
We would just be starting out so Who is God.
Leah Rogers Fiandt
I’ve been considering this curriculum, and I loved your review! Thanks!
Mama Jenn
Thanks Leah!
Kristi R.
I would LOVE to start with Who is God?, but would take ANY of them as we don’t currently have any and I want them all! LOL! We <3 Apologia!!!
Candice Forte
Really would love this series! We have some AIG stuff, but I want to get into Apologia. I think it looks amazing!
Lina Hayes
I would love to win Who is God. I am new to homeschooling and not sure where I’m headed, but any little bit would be loads of help.
Sandi Sanderford Wray
I think I would like to start with Who is God?
laura
I’m most interested in the first one because we’ll be starting at the beginning.
Candy Van Norman
I love this concept. We are homeschooling our daughter, cause we wanted to keep God in her schooling. This is a great and wonderful way to show her God is always around.
Nicole M.
We would like the Who Is God set for our preschool/early elementary children.
Amanda Greer
Who is God ? Sounds great
Melissa Hoffman
This looks awesome. We would be interested in who is God?
LaCosta
I would love to win set 3 or 4 because we have the first 2 and love them!
angela_thebilingualhomeschool
I am most interested in the Who is God and can I know Him – everything from apologia is great!
Andrea Staunton Balderrama
I love Apologia science and this looks like a great great addition to what they offer.
Kristina Stevens Uptegrove
I would like to try the Who Am I book.
hannah
I would like the Who is God? series. My daughter is almost 4 and she has been asking a lot of questions lately.
Sarah Good
I did not know APologia offered this curriculum. I’m definitely going to check it out.
Rebecca Brandt
This is an excellent series. We are working through book 4 this year and will start again next year.
Giggly Girls
I’d like the Who is God or What Can I Do? We’ve done the other two and are super excited to do the rest.
Jaci
I would love the Who is God series!
CarloRoxanne Feliciano-Bornill
I am interested actually in all. I hope to win them.
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome Deana!
Mama Jenn
Glad I could help! 😉 We are excited to use Apologia Science this year as well!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!
Mama Jenn
Hi Genyne! The curriculum is designed for ages 6-14 and it written at a 5th to 6th grade reading level. However, the series is very adaptable to both younger and older students. You can read more about it here: http://apologia.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/WWB_FAQ.pdf Hope that helps! Thank you for your kind words!
Audria Story
I’ve been considering this curriculum for a while now…thank you for such an excellent and detailed review!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome Audria!
Tracy Workman
this looks really neat!
Jennifer Blake
I would love all of them! But would really love the “who is my neighbor” to start with. Looks at an amazing curriculum
nikked
What a great resource as we venture forth into home schooling!
Emily Copeland
I’ve been looking for something like this. It looks perfect!
Abbie Blevins
We are finishing the last chapter of book one this week. My four children have loved it! I’d be most interested in winning book three because I’ll have to purchase the second book before Monday!
Mama Jenn
Abbie! I’m so glad to hear that your kids are loving the series!
kelly
I am most interested in the “who am I” one.
Kelly
I would love to win the Who is God set.
Kris Tutte
I think starting at the beginning with Who Is God sounds great! I’d never heard of this, it looks interesting.
Michelle W.
I would like to win the Who is God? I think this would be great to add to my Kindergartener’s curriculum.
chantae
We just got who is God…excited to start! So we would like who am I?…thanks for the review!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!!
Chiana Sanderson
Who am I? For my 7 and 10 year old.
Jenny
I have heard about this set and really appreciate your thorough review. I agree that this would be an excellent addition to our homeschool as well! Thanks for the opportunity.
Mama Jenn
Thanks Jenny. Hopefully my review was helpful for you!!
Dee
I would love to win the first book “Who is God?”
Kela
I’d choose “Who Is My Neighbor?” Conversation has been circulating about this very thing in our home lately!
Catherine Owens
I would love to win Who is God? as well. Do you think the books could be done out of order or do you really need to start with the first?
Mama Jenn
Hi Catherine. You could definitely do the series in the order of your choice, but it’s more ideal to do the books in order. You can read more about it on the FAQ list: http://apologia.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/WWB_FAQ.pdf
Amy Rohrer
I’m torn between “Who is God?)
and “What Can I Do”…..Since I have littles I’d probably go with Who is God, though.
LLTwinsMama
I think starting at the beginnng with Who is God? would be a good place to start! :~) Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Mama Jenn
You are very welcome!!!
Brandy
Who Is God is the one I’d want to start with.
kimberly
Who is God- I have been wanting that for some time now 🙂
JuRita
Jen, I would love to win each one! Our older kids would each have one of their own. lol
Miss you guys.. think of you often. Hugs.
Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life
Who Am I?
Sarah Cates
This has been on my wishlist for a while now! We will be adopting a child from a very broken family and would love to have this resource to help teach him (& our other 3 children!) a biblical worldview!
Kelly Burgess
I would like to win the Who Is God? set for my 9 and 5 year old kids. Thanks!
Sonya Hicks
I would love to win the Who is God. This sounds like a great curriculum that we can do together as a family.
Mama Jenn
Sonya, this could definitely be done together as a family!!
Jennifer Moye
I would love to win the first book Who is God 🙂
Jennifer Story
I’ve looked at this curriculum a million times but we just haven’t had the funds to dive in… I’d probably start with Who is God? to really emphasize the foundation of our faith. Great giveaway—thanks for hosting!
Jennifer
This looks good. I am always looking for different ways to teach our daughter about Christ, the Christian life, and His commandments.
Sara Klasing
I like the Who is God? series. We have preschool aged children who would really benefit from this.