Suggestions for kid's Bible study

[Janasjots]

I am feeling a level of conviction that I really need to get my 10 & 8 year olds reading their own Bibles daily. We do AWANA so they are already doing Scripture memory but I feel they should be forming a pattern for daily devotions on their own.

 

Anyone have some suggestions for some personal Bible study helps for kids? Has anyone used Precept Ministries kids stuff or one from Lamp and Quill? I can't remember if BJU Bible has the kids reading their Bibles daily. What I'm really after is a bit of reading with a few questions to answer. Not so much Bible survey info but actual Bible reading.

 

I really don't want to collect a bunch of stuff that just sits around unused so I'd really appreciate some feedback here.

[NavyWifeandMommy]

My daughter uses the Kay Arthur studies. they are pretty much open and go with the books that are studied written in the back of the book so it can even go on the road.

[Janasjots]

So does the Inductive Study stuff have them actually reading their Bibles? It looked like it did from the few pages I could see online. I've seen a few others that were more a synopsis or overview printed in their book where the kids were supposed to read about the life of Abram and then answer questions.

[5parkers]

We use Explorer's Bible studies- the Discovery level with both my 3rd and 7th grader. They love it, they are reading their bibles, and they can do it together!

[Janasjots]

I was looking at the Explorer's Bible study. I asked for the free samples to be mailed but can't find anything online to give me an idea of what the studies are like. I really liked that they can do multiple levels and I could even study the same things at an adult level. I hope I get to see the sample soon.

[5parkers]

you can see a small sample at http://www.christianbooks.com. All the levels coorelate so that different ages can work at different levels but on the same subject, but I just use the Discovery level for both and let each one have their own workbook.

[Guest Cheryl in SoCal]

I really like VP's elementary Bible series.

[Chris in VA]

I love Positive Action for Christ materials. Dd is in her bible daily, and even does extra reading--for Lent (we are Episcopalian, but conservative), she read the 4 gospels completely on her own. I think it was because the Bible had become familiar territory this year, and she wasn't afraid to branch out on her own. We actually put POC on hold so that she could do this reading. It really is wonderful.

[kgreenaz]

My daughter uses the Kay Arthur studies. they are pretty much open and go with the books that are studied written in the back of the book so it can even go on the road.

 

Jana - I second this. It's called the Discover for Yourself series. You read the entire chapter of the book that you're in before you start if you like. We will read the chapter and then answer the questions. Sometimes our oral reading and question period will go too long so we'll have to write in the book the next day. We also act out anything that we can.

 

I'm a trained Precept leader and can't say enough for this series. Learning inductive Bible study for children is invaluable. I just studied, with my 7 & 8 yos, about the word "wine" in John chapter 2. They learned about Greek, a concordance, a parallel study Bible and Logos software. They saw how the word "wine" was used in other sentences including not to use it for drunkenness and we talked about how the wine Jesus created could not have been just "really strong grape juice" since the same word was used to describe drunkenness. Can you imagine your children leaving your home with such Bible study skills? I love it!!

 

HTH! Kim

[Harriet Vane]

I reviewed several options a couple years ago. I stand by what I have reviewed, with one addition, noted at the end:

 

When I evaluate a Bible curriculum, I look for what percentage of questions require the student to answer from the Bible text itself (I shoot for 2/3--most studies unfortunately only hit 50% or less), how factual versus opinion-based any notes are and to what degree there is denominational bias.

 

I also look for how much a good inductive process is reflected in the study--there should be factual observations, an opportunity to summarize the main point of the passage in one concise statement, and finally, application to real life.

 

I also think that younger children do well with circling the right answer, puzzles, and drawing in response to the text. However, as your child reaches fourth and fifth grades, their Bible study should include more short answer and independent work. (SWB's SOTW reflects this same progression--SOTW 1 has a lot of coloring and multiple choice on tests, whereas SOTW 4 has more short answer and not so many coloring pages.)

 

I have not found one single Bible curriculum or study anywhere, ever, that asks for a one-sentence summary of the main point of the passage. I highly advocate adding this feature in to whatever Bible study you use or teach, in any setting. A good way to do this with kids is to ask a question like, "What did you learn about God in this passage?" or "What do you think is the very most important lesson in this passage?" Keep it to one short sentence--there may be many subpoints that are good to know, but it is very valuable to be able to distinguish the main, most important point.

 

My number one pick would have to be the Explorer's Bible study, which is available at http://www.explorerbiblestudy.org. Many thanks to Jessica at Trivium Academy for recommending it. I was impressed. It has a good amount of factual observation questions, is very Bible-text focused but still includes some cultural/geographical/historical notes here and there, and has a small proportion of application questions in each unit. Information is presented from an evangelical perspective but seems more factual than opinionated. For those who may be familiar with Bible Study Fellowship or Community Bible Study, this curriculum follows the same pattern. Each unit is also laid out into five days of homework--a decently challenging but not overwhelming amount. Another key feature of this curriculum is the fact that there are corresponding adult studies as well. For a logic stage student either their older elementary OR high school study would be appropriate depending upon reading fluency and maturity.

 

I also, by the way, recommend both BSF and CBS children's programs. I evaluated both. I think the CBS program has slightly more challenging homework, but also really like the way older children and teens are led to do homiletics at the BSF meetings. (Homiletics is a process of generating an outline of the passage with a final, summary statement.) I recommend either program without reservation in addition to the Explorer's curriculum.

 

I also have used and liked Kay Arthur's Bible study series for children. My own dd has used several books in this series successfully this year. However, I would steer away from *How to Study the Bible* as it is unnecessarily wordy and proved to be quite challenging for the 4th-5th grade girls I taught. The material is not hard--the presentation of it in this book was terribly convoluted, though. If you choose to do that book, take two weeks per unit and plan on really holding your child's hand through it. The other books in the series are much easier and quite doable, though--we have been satisfied with several others in the series. These books have five or seven days of homework per unit, include both factual questions and marking things directly in biblical text, and some application.

 

After that, I consider Rod and Staff to be a decent alternative. There is a solid amount of factual questions and some good information on history/geography/culture. However, there is virtually no application, and no summary statement opportunity (none of those I reviewed include this). And, even at the older grades there is virtually no short answer--format is still multiple choice and simpler responses. There is more denominational bias in the notes but can be overcome by careful Bible study. This curriculum would be acceptable even if it's not my favorite.

 

Christian Light was a lot like Rod and Staff but not quite as challenging. I also thought Christian Liberty was middle-range--not the greatest, but not terrible either.

 

I was really NOT impressed in the least with either Abeka or AlphaOmega and would not recommend those at all. They were simplistic, passive, lacked depth and do not require much from the student at any age.

 

One final thought--for high school I would gravitate towards the Explorer's adult series or towards NavPress study guides. I also think teens should be generating their own inductive notes (observation-interpretation statement--application) rather than passively responding to a Bible study guide.

 

There may well be other wonderful resources out there. This is just what I have reviewed. I'd be happy to answer any further questions.

 

ONE ADDITION: I have also reviewed materials from Positive Action for Christ and think they are well done. Unlike Explorer's, these Bible study guides are laid out topically. Each lesson studies many verses relating to that topic or point of doctrine, rather than studying one long passage. Study questions are inductive, and there are good application questions as well. I have not used it personally but feel comfortable recommending these materials.

[HollyDay]

We are using the Apologia bible study. I would say it is not quite enough for my 13 year old, but it is plenty for my 10 year old.

[danybug]

We have been using the Explorer's Bible Study Discovery level. The book I chose was the Words of Wisdom one. I am not sure that it is exactly what I want. And I know that my ds does not enjoy the time spent doing it. I think what I wish was included was more of an application and summarization of what he read.

 

Next year I think that I might just assign readings and work our way around with ds keeping a notebook where he summarizes what he read and any thoughts or feelings he has about what he read. Might save me money ;)

[nancyb]

This is a great thread!

[Janasjots]

I really like VP's elementary Bible series.

I'm a bit lost. What publisher is VP? I'm not pulling one from my thinking cap tonight.

[Janasjots]

We are using the Apologia bible study. I would say it is not quite enough for my 13 year old, but it is plenty for my 10 year old.

What Bible study is this? We are using their science but I didn't know they published a Bible study. I can't seem to find it on their website unless it's the Worldview book.

[Janasjots]

 

I'm a trained Precept leader and can't say enough for this series. Learning inductive Bible study for children is invaluable. I just studied, with my 7 & 8 yos, about the word "wine" in John chapter 2. They learned about Greek, a concordance, a parallel study Bible and Logos software. They saw how the word "wine" was used in other sentences including not to use it for drunkenness and we talked about how the wine Jesus created could not have been just "really strong grape juice" since the same word was used to describe drunkenness. Can you imagine your children leaving your home with such Bible study skills? I love it!!

 

HTH! Kim

 

Kim, is this something that you choose to do together because it works for you that way or is it something that really needs to be taught in a teacher/student format? Is it something that I can hand my children and with a little instruction have them working on their own in their Bibles?

[HollyDay]

http://www.apologia.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42

 

There is only one available currently. I'm enjoying it. It is perfect for my 10 year old. But, like I said, it is not indepth enough for my 13 year old. I've assigned some memorization and other readings to augment the program for the oldest.