Answers in Genesis History Revealed Series

by Diana Waring

Answers in Genesis

Popular convention speaker and storyteller extraordinaire Diana Waring is the author of Answers Genesis’s history program. This three-volume history series for students in grades 6 through 12 has a number of features that make it unique. The most prominent feature is that it is a thoroughly Christian approach to history that relies on Scripture almost as much as secular sources for information. Informed by a biblical Christian worldview, it follows a timeline based on Archbishop Ussher’s chronology as found in his book Annals of the World, which supports a young earth.

Other features that distinguish this series are the incorporation of four learning style approaches within every lesson, audio CDs as a core component, and the presentation of history integrated with other subject areas in a chronological fashion.

The three volumes in the series are titled:

Ancient Civilizations and the Bible
Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries
World Empires, World Missions, World Wars

More than just a history curriculum, each course might well serve as a unit study with its coverage of history, geography, cultures, Bible, Bible history, and the fine arts coupled with plenty of work in language arts and even some science. Each course requires a student text, teacher manual, three sets of audio CDs, and a test packet. While the curriculum might be used in a conventional classroom, it is ideally suited to families with children of various ages. Many of the suggested activities lend themselves to participation by the entire family. However, an optional Elementary Activity Book for each volume provides activities specifically for children in the elementary grades so the entire family can regularly be working together on the same topics to some extent. Supplemental books and videos described in lists of "Resources for Digging Deeper" in each chapter (a mix of secular and Christian resources) can be used to reach a broader age range in the family and to extend lessons. You will definitely want to use one or more of these resources with each unit.

Each course is presented in nine units with four, weeklong lessons or “phases” per unit. Each of the four phases reflects one of four learning style preferences (based on Myers Briggs learning styles). The first week’s activities best suit the “Feeler” learning style with listening to history stories on CDs, discussion, and activities that help the student get the “people perspective.” The second week appeals to the “Thinker” with more traditional learning methods such as vocabulary drill, timeline, researching, and reporting. Week three provides lots of hands on work for the “Sensor” learning style with activities such as mapmaking, art projects, cooking, and music appreciation. The fourth week offers many opportunities for creative expression such as creative writing, drama, sculpting, music performance, and conceptual design for the “Intuitor” learning style. On top of learning styles, the curriculum incorporates methods that teach to the three learning modalities: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (movement or hands-on learning). Obviously, students will each enjoy some activities more than others. However, working through all the learning style activities and having options for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning means that all children will have opportunities to learn in ways they learn best at least part of the time.

Following this structure of nine units/four weeks per unit, it will take one school year to complete each volume. It would be almost impossible to complete every suggested activity so you need to select activities most appropriate for your students and your situation. However, some families might choose to use more of the activities and take longer than one year to complete each course.

In terms of subject equivalence, these courses should be comprehensive for history/social studies (although not reflecting state or national standards!), the fine arts, and possibly English, depending upon the activities selected. It might be sufficient for Bible/Religion, depending upon both the selection of activities and the grade level of the student.

Coverage of other subjects will require additional resources. Research and reporting activities can easily stretch to challenge older learners in many subject areas besides history. History coverage is primarily World History. The third volume ventures into U.S. History, so you will be able to satisfy World History and at least part of U.S. History requirements.

Diana’s background in and enthusiasm for Protestant missionary efforts is evident throughout the books--most strongly in the third volume. However, especially in Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries, she takes a fairly evenhanded approach that might even work for Catholics, Orthodox, and others as long as they add a few resource books (e.g., on church history) reflecting other viewpoints. Diana addresses early church history, the Church Fathers, Councils, and early missionary efforts. She devotes attention to Eastern Orthodoxy, a subject breezed over in most history texts. She raises key questions in regard to church history that are likely to instigate some thought-provoking research and reporting.

Course components deserve a little more attention. Student books are hefty, 8.5 x 11” soft cover books with well over 300 pages each. Although printed in black-and-white, they include some illustrations (primarily photographs), and professional graphics and layout. Each phase concludes with a “Student Self-Evaluation” that serves as an accountability tool while also reinforcing the week’s lesson. These books are consumable since students will complete maps and timelines as well as write in them. So each student needs his or her own book.

Hardcover teacher manuals are absolutely essential. Reduced student pages are surrounded by instructions and additional material for presenting lessons. These courses require a parent/teacher to direct discussions, determine assignments, evaluate student work, and generally be involved in much that goes on. Some lesson material is presented in the student books, but students are expected to glean significant amounts of information from listening to the CDs, internet research, and supplemental reading. All of this is outlined in the teacher manuals.

Three sets of audio CDs are essential for each course. What in the World?, True Tales, and Digging Deeper CD sets present essential content for the courses. The CDs are so good that I would recommend apart from the curriculum. On all of the CDs, Diane Waring tells intriguing stories about people and events from each time period. For example on one of the True Tales CDs, Diana tells about Attila the Hun, Heinrich Schliemann who discovered the ancient city of Troy, the great Byzantine emperor Justinian, and many other fascinating characters. These are great both for the historical content and for entertainment.

As you can probably tell, Answers in Genesis History isn’t your typical program. It isn’t about memorizing names, dates, and events. Rather, it’s about seeing the hand of God through history, the shaping of cultures and people. The emphasis is on learning in ways that engage the student’s interest so that they grasp the big picture and broad outlines of history. Students will certainly learn some of the details, especially those from stories they most enjoy or topics they research for themselves. They will work with names and dates as they create their timelines.

To reinforce both a grasp of the key concepts and names of people, places, and events, a Test Kit is available for each course. It includes a reproducible test for each unit that requires both essay/brief paragraph answers and identification/matching. Answer keys are included in the Test Kit.

This series was originally published by Diana Waring History Alive! Answers in Genesis began publishing it in 2008. The first two courses are available in the revised version described above as of the end of 2009. The third course will be available Spring 2010. Changes from previous editions to the Answers in Genesis editions are not huge, but they are helpful. Layout is improved; teacher manuals include reproductions of all student pages; some revisions and updates have been made to the text; Student Self-Evaluations were added; and the Test Kit was added. World Empires, World Missions, World Wars remains available at www.dianawaring.com in the earlier edition until the Answers in Genesis edition becomes available.