Ancient History - Story of Abraham

Despite much searching I couldn't find a skit to do this week and I couldn't find any additional illustrated books about Abraham to read to the boys.  However, in a way I was pleased because the boys voiced missing having more books, which means they are developing a true love of reading.  

However, we did find a type of living book for our study "Walking the Bible" by Brad Feiler.  This book is a modern story of one mans journey to walk the bible.

In addition, we really enjoyed the art history component we added.  I found a site called http://freechristimages.org/  This site organizes painting by Bible Verse (among other ways), which allows you to see many different artistic interpretations at once.  The different interpretation were a great opportunity to discuss how they did or did not follow the bible story, thus reinforcing the story.

We also continued our reading of "Cat of Bubastes" by G.A. Henty this week.  We continue to learn and enjoy this piece.

These are two additional resources we used this week.  Both books are well worth the price to keep as resource books on your shelf.:

1884 BC Call of Abram

• REVIEW: Sumer, Map of Mesopotamia and Descendants of Noah
• Sing the “Noah song” again.  This was a request from Jared.
• Read Genesis 11:27-12:9
• Read "Victor Journey Through the Bible" (VJTB) by David Cook pgs.18-19
• Ask students to guess what the city of “Ur” would have been like to live in?  Rural or organized?
• Look at pictures of Ur in “Lost Civilizations” pgs. 196-199
• How do these pictures compare what they though Ur would be like?
• Narrate and read aloud excerpts from “Unveiling Kingsof Israel” by David Down pgs. 18-23
• Mark Timeline 
• Read "Walking the Bible" by Brad Feiler (Children's Edition) pgs. 32-39
• Introduce ART:  Abraham’s Journey from Ur to Canaan by Jozsef Molnar (Painted in 1850.  Jozsef was a Hungarian Painter) http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/abrahams_journey.htm 

1875 God’s Covenant with Abraham

• REVIEW: Students narrate what they remember of the Story of Abraham
• MAP TREK:  Map #5 (Called Out of Ur)
• First have them label everything they can remember
• Next, Start to label Abram’s journey from Ur, Haran, Shechem, Bethel, Memphis, Beer-sheba, Sodom and Gomorrah.  As you read through the story.
• Read Genesis 15 and Discuss 
• Read VJTB pgs. 20-21
• Narrate and read aloud excerpts from “Unveiling Kings of Israel” pgs. 26-28.  Stopping after Lot is rescued.
• Mark Timeline
• Read "Walking the Bible" by Brad Feiler (Children's Edition) pgs. 40-44
• Introduce ART:  The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek by Sir Peter Paul Rubens http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/tinfo_f?object=45357.0&detail=none background on artist http://gardenofpraise.com/art46.htm

1873 BC Hagar and Ishmael

• REVIEW: Students narrate what they remember of the Story of Abraham
• Discuss the story of Hagar, how she came to be Abram’s wife, fled to the desert was visited by God and bore Ishmael.  Also discuss the long-term consequences of Ishmael’s birth on the world.
• Read VJTB pgs. 26-27
• Mark Timeline
• Introduce ART:  Discuss the different artist interpretations of Hagar and Ishmael http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/hagar_and_the_angel.htm

1853 BC Sodom and Gomorrah

• REVIEW: Students narrate what they remember of the Story of Abraham
• Discuss the story of Sodom and Gomorrah
• Read VJTB pgs. 22-23
• Narrate and read aloud excerpts from “Unveiling Kings of Israel” pgs. 28-29
• Mark Timeline
• Read "Walking the Bible" by Brad Feiler (Children's Edition) pgs. 45-49 
• Introduce ART:  Discuss the different artist interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah in light of the biblical story http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/abraham_and_lot.htm  and  http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/sodom_and_gomorrah.htm

1850 BC Birth and Sacrifice of Isaac

• REVIEW:  
• Students narrate what they remember of the Story of Abraham
• Sing Song of Abraham http://gardenofpraise.com/bibsong16.htm
• Discuss the story of Abraham going to sacrifice Issac; point out that sacrificing children was not unusual in Abraham’s time to the people around him; how he must have had faith God would bring him back to life because of his promise.
• Read VJTB pgs. 24-25, 28-29
• Narrate and read aloud excerpts from “Unveiling Kings of Israel” pg. 30
• Mark Timeline
• Read "Walking the Bible" by Brad Feiler (Children's Edition) pgs. 50-59
• Introduce ART:  Discuss the different artist interpretation in light of the biblical story  http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/abraham_and_isaac.htm 

Review Game:  For this I took a piece of paper cut it in cubes and wrote the eleven main points (Bible subtitles) of the story of Abraham and mixed them up and had the boys put them in order.  At first they had trouble, but that was alright it gave us a chance to narrate the story more so that the story flow would come together in their minds.  As we play it more they are doing better.  I am trying to do this at least once a day till they have it down.