Education PLUS: Patterning Learning Upon Scripture, Genesis 1-11, Parts I and II and Genesis 12-50, Parts I and II

by Inge and Ronald Jay Cannon

Education PLUS+

This is actually an interdisciplinary study rather than a unit study. The Cannons describe it: “It is true that interdisciplinary study is built from units. Interdisciplinary study, however, enables the ‘whole’ to be greater than the sum of its parts.” In contrast to unit study where activities and learning often relates to the same topic, but rarely to each other, interdisciplinary study includes discussion of the interrelationships between subject areas and activities. There is an underlying theme to the curriculum; volume 1 (presented in two parts) centers around and is titled Genesis 1-11. The second volume is Genesis 12-50 (also presented in two parts).
Proceeding in Scriptural order, each chapter has a title/theme with key concepts for each lesson that serve as foundations for other studies. For example, in volume one, the first chapter’s topic is “The Beginning.” The key concept for the first lesson is “Genesis is foundational—to the rest of Scripture and to the development of faith.”

The parent/teacher prepares and presents lessons using a variety of resources. There is time when the entire family, all age levels, works together, then time when various ages separate to work at their appropriate grade levels. Genesis 1-11 includes orientation information for parents plus supplements for teaching literature and keeping records.

Chapters are outlined for four lessons each. Families may choose to spend whatever time they wish on each chapter, using the curriculum for a full year or even two.

Volumes of The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible (POSB) are used throughout all of the studies and the required volume that coordinates with Genesis 1-11 comes with the purchase of Part I of that volume. In lesson one you begin with Scripture reading and singing the featured hymn. You continue with readings from POSB and other sources as well as discussions about the book of Genesis itself, the author of Genesis, and “prehistoric man.”

Next, you perform research on “how sociologists believe written communication began,” get into Scripture study using a Concordance and other tools. A great deal of information is provided within the curriculum, but you will need to build an extensive library as you use Education PLUS.

Following these foundational lessons are subject area assignments divided into four levels: up through age 7, ages 8-12, ages 13-18, and ages 16 and up. Subject areas covered are language arts/literature, history, sciences, business/economics, government/law, mathematics, and fine arts. All subjects are not covered every day.

Subject area assignments are a variety of textbook readings, reading from other resources, discussions, research, and hands-on activities--most related to the general theme of the lesson or chapter. For example, science studies related to “The Beginning” for ages 8-12 include researching, “What does it mean to evolve? How do the words evolution and evolve relate?” (See Life Science, BJUP, pp. 81-87.) For ages 13-18, one assignment is, “Natural revelation involves those things that we can observe and therefore know. Work through Chapter 1, ‘Science and the Bible’ (Basic Science, BJUP, pp. 1-19) to understand the limitations of science.”

Many assignments from level to level address closely related or identical topics, but at more challenging levels. So your children might be studying the same ideas, simplifying the teacher’s task. Textbook assignments do not necessarily follow the textbook’s order of presentation but are selected as they address specific topics.

Math and language arts need separate, sequential coverage, although language arts does receive a good deal of attention in this program. While there are some hands-on activities, especially at the lowest level, this is primarily book-based study. We can find some resources at the library, but it will be necessary to purchase quite a few. Among those required for all volumes of Education PLUS are the complete sets of BJUP history, science and literature textbooks for high school level; the above mentioned Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible (additional volumes come with each volume of Education PLUS); Strong’s Concordance; Major Bible Themes by Lewis Sperry Chafer; Encyclopedia of Bible Truths for School Subjects; Etiquette PLUS: Polishing Life’s Useful Skills; God, Man, and Law: The Biblical Principles by Herbert W. Titus; The Timetables of History; a hymnbook; a dictionary; a thesaurus; a grammar handbook; and Best Books for Kindergarten through High School. Another list of 22 books, mostly creation-science oriented titles, is required for teaching Volume 1, Genesis 1-11. Still more books are listed as optional for the complete series and for the Genesis 1-11 volume. Although this requires a large financial investment, having a library at your fingertips makes teaching much easier.

Education PLUS combines the benefits of unit study with the convenience of textbooks in an unusual fashion. I expect that the inexperienced home educator might find this a little overwhelming since you still have to make a number of decisions about what to do with each child. But experienced home educators seeking a biblically-based, unified program should check this out. An Orientation Kit ($6) includes orientation pages and the first 37 lesson pages of Genesis 1-11 plus a 60-minute audiocassette with answers to frequently asked questions. I highly recommend that you review the Orientation Kit first to check out the program before purchasing.