At Beacon Hill, the Bible is core. We believe it is our duty before God to teach our children to know and love the whole counsel of God.
Kindergarten
In Kindergarten we emphasize the whole Bible as one story. We use the Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm, which does an amazing job of telling the whole story from Genesis to Revelation. Students have this book read and re-read to them repeatedly. They learn to re-tell the story, and practice dictation and copywork to reinforce their understanding.
Grades 1-6
Our emphasis in grammar school is to connect children, as much as possible, with the text of Scripture. God has inspired specific texts, and has said these texts are our food (Matthew 4:4). As parents and teachers, then, we want to feed our children as well as possible. In grades one and two, students are read to from The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos. As soon as possible, however, we read to and have them read the text of Scripture itself. Students read through broad sections of Scripture in a three-year cycle. For the first cycle, they become familiar with the books, the teachings and the stories. They also memorize literary outlines of the book. The second time through, they read chosen portions exhaustively, interacting with the text by journaling answers to the following questions:
1) What date did this happen? What other events were happening around this time?
2) What does this passage teach us about God’s character?
3) Does this passage demonstrate God being faithful to his word?
4) Is there an example in this passage to reject or imitate?
5) What does this passage teach me about God’s plan of redemption?
a. Type or Antitype?
b. Symbol?
c. Promise or Covenant?
Students also complete a mini-book activity, led by their teacher, which summarizes the teaching of the passage and gives the student an artifact that they can use to review at a later date.
Students complete a weekly map chant and sketch, and weekly recite all the events of the Bible in a Genesis-Revelation chant developed along the same lines as the well-known Walk Thru the Bible chants.
Year 1–Genesis through Joshua This section is filled with wonderful stories, but we also strongly emphasize the content of the law. Students construct their own tabernacles, learn all about the different kinds of sacrifices, sit in mock trials as judges using civil laws as their guide, and recreate (as much as possible) all of the Old Covenant feasts that occur during the school year. Students learn, above all, how the law and the sacrificial system prefigured Christ and life in the church.
Year 2–Judges through 2 Kings, Jonah, Isaiah, Jeremiah/Lamentations, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah Students trace the narrative from Judges through the exile and return, placing special emphasis on the diversity of literary structures throughout these books. For instance, students memorize the literary structure of every one of the above books (it’s easier than it looks).
Judges
A Othniel–good wife
B Ehud–war at the Jordan
C Deborah–smash the enemy in the head
D Gideon–turning point because of idolatry
C’ Abimelech–smashed in the head
B’ Jephtheh –civil war at the Jordan
A’ Samson–bad wives
Students who learn this outline will never forget the content of the book. Months after we studied this book, most students are able to easily compose this outline and recall the themes of the book, and how the stories transition from good judges to poor judges.
Since this is the period of Solomon’s temple, students will construct a model temple, and learn all about its worship and significance.
Year 3–The Gospels and Acts There is nothing more important to a Christian disciple (Latin for “student”) than thorough instruction in the words and works of Jesus, their Teacher. Students memorize a chant placing all the works of Christ in chronological order. They also learn the particular style, emphasis and structure of each gospel.
