Explorer’s Bible Study was originally developed as an alternative to Bible Study Fellowship for communities where that program was not offered. Nellie Constance wanted the women in her small town to have the same in-depth Bible study opportunities that women in larger metro areas had, so she wrote her own.
The program moved from being only a church Bible study to including Bible study curriculum for use with children, particularly in a home school setting. This series follows the same general pattern of the preceding material, but from a self-directed workbook approach.
How Do These Work?
There are four courses for home school students. Beginnings I is for preschool-grade one, Beginnings II covers grades 2-3, Discovery is for grades 3-6, and Quest is for junior high and high school. The approach is chronological, so each level covers both Old and New Testaments, starting with Genesis.
Beginnings I consists of two teacher’s guides, one for the Old and one for the New Testament. Beginnings II is covered in two student workbooks each with an accompanying answer key. Discovery is five workbook/answer keys, and Quest is six. Each workbook covers one school year. Exercises range from crossword puzzles to short and essay answer questions.
With the exception of Beginnings I, each level is student-directed: kids read text and complete written exercises and their work is graded by the teacher/parent. The format of Beginnings I is similar, except that the teacher leads students directly through each lesson, and there is no written work.
The authors write from a traditional orthodox Christian perspective, without getting into denominational issues for the most part. This isn’t so much about doctrine as about knowing what the Bible says, understanding the context in which it was written, and using it to improve one’s relationship with Christ.
In the Beginnings I course, students memorize verses, discuss stories with the teacher, learn how to pray, etc. The later levels are all student-directed, and are much more information heavy. This is one of those programs that allows you to hand your kids a book and have them do it all on their own, though when it comes to Bible study any direct supervision you can afford will be worthwhile for them and for you.
Our Honest Opinion:
Unlike many Bible curricula claiming the same thing, this one appears to really be largely non-denominational. If you’re looking for something to ingrain your particular doctrinal beliefs into your kids you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. If you simply want them to have a good grasp of the overall narrative of Scripture and what it says to them about living a Christian lifestyle, this is a good choice.
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Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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