Review: GrapeVine Studies

11/10/2015

GrapeVine Studies is a winner in my household. For the last few weeks we been working through Old Testament 1: Level 3 Creation to Jacob. We have had a lot of fun doing this review.

THOUGH I have to admit something. When we started this review my son was not happy. "Making STICK FIGURES! MOM!!! That's what little kids do!!! What if I don't want to do that"? This was his rather vocal complaint. So I said okay.. Let's call them up and see what they have to say. My son talked to the person of the phone himself asking if he HAD to draw stick figures, she was so charming and told him that he could draw the pictures however he wanted. My son's heart was eased and he immediately became a fan of GrapeVine Studies, to the point of asking, "MOM.. are we doing GrapeVine today"?

How Does it Work?

First you need to understand that GrapeVine Studies has a number of studies ready for you to use with your children. Their goal is to help children learn the bible stories, and through drawing them REMEMBER them. Each level adds it's own level of difficulty/level of learning materials used by the students. It is perfect for single child OR multi-child use. I can SO easily see this being used in a multi-level Sunday School just as easily as with a larger family. They study the bible in chronological order rather than jumping from one story to the next.

Since each topic has a number of different levels, you'll want to check out these three links to help you decide which is best for you.

The first lesson you do with your children is a general timeline. Students learn to overarching timeline that they will be working through. From Creation through to Jacob.

This is followed by breaking the story down into bite-sized pieces, working slowly through each story to help the children focus on each and every part.

Coloured pencils are used with this Children's bible study to help them retain the information they are learning. Purple for God, blue for boys, red for girls, and so forth. As you see from the picture above, review questions are included on the sheets to test the student retention of the information. Bible verses to learn are included throughout the study.

I appreciated that the teachers guide followed the students workbook exactly. It would give the bible passage to read along with suggestions about what you should talk about. Suggested images to draw. I remember one section talking about the provision God made for the people and asking my lad to think about what provision God could have made for the people "What does the teacher's book say mom?" I refused to tell him as i wanted him to think it through and he thought of how God sent the Adam and Eve out of the garden so they wouldn't live forever in their sin. I was so pleased with his answer. So he didn't just draw Adam and Eve wearing clothes, but also of them leaving the garden. This varied from what was expected of him, good thinking eh?

A part that my son particularly enjoyed was the Drawing the best of story. (in the lesson is says favourite but I've learned not to say that with my lad as it's too precise and it's not worth the anxiety). I loved this picture he drew of Adam naming the animals and the spiders being ever so helpful. :) Everyone needs some help right?

My son's opinion of GrapeVine Studies

"I like it. I get to draw. It's easy most of the time. Though I don't like the memory work and having to write them out."

My Opinion
It works for our household. Why?
1. I don't have to complete a whole lesson at once, I can take my time with it throughout the week thereby allowing thinking to occur over a longer period of time. Not making the study of the bible onerous but enjoyable with the plan to build that skill into daily bible study/devotional time.
2. The teacher's manual fits with the student manual so nicely.
3. The provision of teachable thoughts in the teachers' manual to emphasize with the student. (helpful in case I or my son blank out)
4. The ability to print off exactly the number of pages I need for the week and the number of people participating.
5. The ability to use whatever bible version suits our household best.
6. My son's enjoyment of doing bible study this way.

Product Details:

Received: Digital Download: teacher's manual, level 3 and level 4 for Old Testament Overview part 1.
Vendor: GrapeVine Studies
Product: Digital Old Testament 1 Creation to Jacob Level 3 (ages 10-12) Teacher's Guide and Student Workbook.
Price: $10-37.50 depending on exactly what you order.
Age range: 10-12

The crew has been reviewing these different programs. Click HERE or on the banner below to read them please. :)
Birth of Jesus: Beginner
Birth of Jesus: Multi-Level
Old Testament 1: Level 1 Creation to Jacob
Old Testament 1: Level 2 Creation to Jacob
Old Testament 1: Level 3 Creation to Jacob
Old Testament 1: Level 4 Creation to Jacob