Asia: Its People and History

Name: Asia: Its People and History
Brand: Write Bonnie Rosehttp://www.writebonnierose.com

by Write Bonnie Rosehttp://www.writebonnierose.com

Social_studiesGrades 1–6

About This Curriculum

A 16-week Christian missions-focused study introducing six Asian countries (Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Iran, and Vietnam) through fictional stories and brief histories to develop children's hearts for missions and prayer for the persecuted Church.

What makes it unique: Combines engaging first-person stories with historical facts and Christian worldview to help children connect with and pray for persecuted Christians in Asia while learning geography and culture

Asia: Its People and History: Missions-Focused Asian Studies

A 16-week Christian missions-focused curriculum introducing six Asian countries through fictional stories and brief histories. Designed for elementary grades with emphasis on developing prayer hearts for persecuted Christians and missionary awareness.

Best for

Homeschool families seeking a Christian missions perspective on Asian studies as a supplement to more comprehensive social studies curriculum, particularly for grades 1-6

Evaluation Criteria

2 concerns · 3 neutral · 2 insufficient evidence

Direct InstructionConcern

The curriculum appears to rely heavily on story-based learning rather than direct instruction of content. Lessons alternate between storytelling and brief historical content.

Reviews describe lessons that 'begin with a story' followed by discussion questions, with 'lessons alternate between storytelling and history,' suggesting limited direct instruction

Chronological KnowledgeConcern

The curriculum does not build systematic chronological knowledge of Asian history. It focuses on brief histories of six specific countries without connecting them to broader historical timelines.

Reviews note that 'history is not comprehensive' and recommend it should not be a 'primary resource for learning about Asia,' indicating limited chronological depth

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes discussion questions and some guidance but appears to have limited teacher support materials for content knowledge development.

Reviews mention 'discussion questions' following stories and references to the author's website for downloading activity pages, but no comprehensive teacher training is described

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

Some retrieval practice is incorporated through puzzles and written activities, but systematic review and spaced practice are not evident.

Reviews mention activities including 'puzzles, written activities' and 'crossword puzzles and word searches,' though no systematic retrieval practice is described

Geographic KnowledgeNeutral

The curriculum includes some geographic content but appears limited to basic country-specific information. Geographic knowledge is integrated with cultural and historical content.

Reviews mention activities like 'a chart in the Bangladesh chapter listing all animals found in the country' and references to learning about culture and geography alongside history

Primary SourcesInsufficient Evidence

No evidence of primary source engagement is mentioned in the reviews. The curriculum relies on fictional stories rather than historical documents.

Reviews describe the curriculum as using 'fictional stories about children' and 'brief histories' but make no mention of primary source documents or historical evidence

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Limited evidence of systematic vocabulary instruction, though cultural and religious terms are likely introduced through stories and country studies.

Reviews mention discussion questions and activities like 'crossword puzzles and word searches' but don't specifically highlight vocabulary development as a curriculum feature

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, encouragingmomsathome.com