9th Grade Curriculum Set

One of the advantages of building a diversified, creation-based, Christian worldview publishing house is having the option of putting together solid, academically strong, grade level curriculum packages. It helps if you have well-known people like Ken Ham, James Stobaugh, and John Hudson Tiner on your author lists. New Leaf Publishing Group, which includes Master Books (with connections to Answers in Genesis) has established a plausible, college-prep scope and sequence and packaged suitable courses at each grade level to provide junior and senior high credits in science, history, English/literature, and Bible. [All you need to add is math.] Be prepared for some deviations from a "standard" high school scope and sequence particularly in the science courses but the overall coverage is comprehensive albeit slightly unusual.

Each set is a collection of student/teacher book combinations and parent lesson planners with books and DVDs (courses, by the way, that we offer and describe more thoroughly in the various subject sections of our catalog). This means that there is strong teacher support lesson plans, answers, talking points, quizzes, and tests for every course. But there is also flexibility as well as options for self-directed study. In every course, the content has a strong biblical and Christian worldview. History and English/literature courses are authored by Dr. James Stobaugh and include both challenging academic content and purposeful Christian worldview application. Teacher and student books are provided and designed to work together. Teacher books provide daily calendars, daily discussion questions, weekly exams, and answer keys. Science courses are a varied collection of the courses offered by Master Books (Wonders of Creation plus others). Each course includes a Parent Lesson Planner and utilizes textual material (and sometimes DVDs) from a variety of authors but all from a creation-based perspective. The science offerings do not have strong labs built into the courses, but a download from the publisher's website has suggestions for labs and supplies.

Sets are available for 7th through 12th grades. As mentioned earlier, the science courses do not fall neatly into the typical biology, chemistry, physics high school scope and sequence although each of those subjects are covered to some degree along with strong earth science courses. Students will have a strong foundation in those topics but may need additional courses if planning on a science career path. The Stobaugh history and literature courses are challenging academically and their scope and sequence is more typical. Both, but particularly the literature, courses require much writing. Writing instruction, however, is only minimally part of these courses. Those skills are covered thoroughly in the Writing Strands course which is included in the 9th grade curriculum set. Grammar skills are are assumed rather than covered, although a focused study of punctuation is completed in grade 9. A student needing review or instruction will need to supplement the grammar instruction.The 11th and 12th grade sets also include Stobaugh's ACT or SAT prep book which has a heavy emphasis on vocabulary development, test-taking strategies, study skills, and personal spiritual preparation.

Covered in the six-year series: Social studies: world history, American history, and economics. English/Literature: composition, literary analysis, American, British, world literature, and college prep. Science: geology, life science (biology), earth science, physics, engineering, astronomy, paleontology, and archeology. If your student is interested in some non-typical science topics (i.e. paleontology, archeology) or if you want a pervasive biblical and Christian worldview in every subject or just want the convenience of everything-in-a-box, ready to open-and-go, this series is definitely worth your consideration. ~ Janice