Windows to the World 2

Description

World History through Missionary Biographies

Windows to the World 2 is a highly interactive online course where we travel to Africa, Arabia, South America and then WW2 Germany.

Some biographies are required, and students have a choice (from a book list) for some of the biographies. A detailed list will be provided to enrolled students.

Students write different kinds of short reports to ‘teach’ the rest of the class about the history and culture, explore the culture and the spiritual climates, and work with a timeline and maps through a semester-long project.

You may also be interested in Windows to the World 1, however, it is not a required prerequisite for Windows to the World 2.

Literature From All Time Periods

The literature comes from all time periods (thus the timeline). We learn a lot about:

• missionaries’ lives, the need of the culture for Truth,
• how the culture’s view of God affects what happens in the country and in its people’s lives,
• what is happening historically in the country of study and in other countries around the world,
• and how God is at work through time and place.

Students will fill out a “Book Response Form” which synthesizes the belief systems, culture, history, new vocabulary and a few elements of literary analysis learned through reading and class discussion.

Parents may purchase the books or check them out of the library — a list will be made available to those registered for the class.

What This Class Is Not

It is not a typical curriculum-based, chronological move through world history. We step out of that box and move through different time periods, always with a view to the present country or region.

The assignments include a lot of reading, so the student and parent must commit to reading the books (usually very interesting). If a student has reading issues, it is fine if the parent reads them aloud to the student — but there must be a commitment to do the reading. Other assignments are hands-on and designed to engage the student in the region’s culture, history and spiritual realities. We will include videos, music, foods, and customs. Students will be asked occasionally to prepare a food and serve it to their families.

Grade Levels

• Middle school mostly, though high school students often enroll.