Students in grades seven through nine, most of whom are too young most other worldview courses, can be introduced to the study of worldviews through Summit's junior-high-level, video-based program. This is either a semester or full-year course that incorporates Susan Schaeffer Macaulay's How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig as the primary student textbook. Lightbearers works through the areas of theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics, and history, all from a biblical Christian perspective.
The Teacher Manual contains detailed instructional guidelines. There's also a student manual that has some reading assignments as well as pages for fill-in-the-blanks notetaking as students watch each video.
The course itself uses a variety of online video presentations such as short films, media clips, lectures, and documentaries as students discuss, write, role-play, read, and research each topic. I was surprised to find that you can actually watch these online videos without registration or cost at summit.org/curriculum/middle-school/home-school/videos/. This might be a great way to get an idea of what the course is like before buying.
The variety of activities should make the course appealing to most junior high students, although it is challenging and requires a good deal of work. Scripture memory is also integrated throughout the course. Field trips to see or apply worldviews in action are encouraged throughout the school year. Each section ends with a quiz, and answers are provided in the teacher manual.
The entire course consists of the Teacher Manual, a Student Manual, How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig, and access to the videos. The course must be taught and requires teacher planning and preparation. It works best in a group but you can use it one-on-one if that's your only option.
