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A Young Historian’s Introduction to Worldview, third edition (2004)

A Young Historian’s
Introduction to Worldview

A Young Historian's Introduction to Worldview might well be the most practical and creative tool for teaching the concept of worldview to students in grades 5 through 8. While there are other products targeting this audience, this one is presented in only four lessons. And those lessons are engagingly presented through stories, hands-on activities, and discussion.

In addition, the course is written without any particular denominational perspective, and without even an overt pitch for Christianity in general. However, the key questions raised and the general presentation subtly tilt toward Christianity, even though the lessons open the door for discussion of worldviews other than Christianity as part of the search for truth.

While the course might work in a classroom, it really is designed for family use.

It includes an 86-page book plus a zip lock bag with instructions and materials for a number of hands-on activities used in the course.

The first lesson begins with a brief introduction of the concept of worldview as "the lens through which people see and understand the world in which they live." To reinforce the concept of seeing through different lenses, students are directed to the computer to view a geodesic picture on the publisher's website. They complete an observation sheet viewing the geodesic picture with the naked eye, through sunglasses, and through 3-D glasses (provided in the bag). Next, students either read or listen to the story of Lensland that demonstrates how conflicting perceptions can have significant consequences. Lensland's citizens divide into three groups: Twoeyes, Multieyes, and Thickeyes. As one might guess from their names, each group has different eyes and, consequently, views things differently. Their conflicting visual perceptions lead toward a clash that threatens the peace and tranquility of Lensland. The lesson then transitions back to the real world with two examples of authors' writing about DNA demonstrating how different "lenses" influence how people might interpret the same information. Discussion questions are interspersed through the lesson, and it ends with Table Talk: Family Discussions Facilitated by Parents. This section might be used by the entire family even if they are not all involved in the rest of the lesson. It reviews key ideas from the lesson and raises questions for family discussion.

The rest of the lessons follow similarly creative formats. The second lesson teaches what all worldviews have in common—the important questions about the meaning of life and existence of God. The third lesson introduces a simple way to divide worldviews into four categories, using some very creative hands-on activities. The fourth lesson primarily uses stories and discussion to demonstrate the impact of beliefs in selected historical settings.

I particularly like the discovery approach used to lead students into worldview concepts. By raising questions and working through activities, students are led to explore their own beliefs and recognize the important questions they need to ponder. Because younger students are particularly susceptible to the influence of teachers, it makes the most sense to use this course within the family so there is opportunity to identify and discuss the family's religious beliefs. Each family can then decide how far they wish to go in exploring alternative worldviews.

Brimwood Press has also published a series of four historical novels that can be used with students in this age group as a springboard for worldview discussions. The novels are set in different time periods—ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern--and feature characters with different worldviews: polytheism, monotheism, naturalism and pantheism. Titles are: Secret of the Scribe, The Jeweled Astrolobe, Beneath the Cat's Claw, and Rebel on the Path. Brimwood should soon have available (by 2009) the Christian Readers Guide for Engaging Thinkers, a discussion guide for all four books.

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