This post is designed to open up a dialogue on developing a Christian worldview in relationship to Alberta Education curriculum. Also see Inspiring Christian Education Dialogue in Alberta.
It is proposed that this development take place by working with parents, post-secondary and secondary students from grades 7-12 and their leaders. Ideally the work with parents would start per-marriage, as the couple develops a Christian worldview, which would be passed on to their children starting in pre-school see below. Dialogue on formal worldview studies could initially focus on the grades 7 and 8 curriculum with specific application to other grades and post-secondary students emerging as the dialogue develops.
It is proposed that this development take place by working with parents, post-secondary and secondary students from grades 7-12 and their leaders. Ideally the work with parents would start per-marriage, as the couple develops a Christian worldview, which would be passed on to their children starting in pre-school see below. Dialogue on formal worldview studies could initially focus on the grades 7 and 8 curriculum with specific application to other grades and post-secondary students emerging as the dialogue develops.
It is hoped that as we look at a common formal Christian worldview in the context of Alberta values that we will come to personal worldviews that reflect active Christian faith in relationship to our Alberta culture. The following are presented to open up a dialogue on how this could happen.
Study Basic Christian Belief:
This should start in pre-school by reading Bible Stories starting with a Bible like the Toddler's Bible. Then moving to a Bible like the Young Readers Bible, then the Picture Bible and a complete Bible like the New International Readers Version (designed for beginning readers). See Bible DVDs for Preschoolers. Elementary students can have their own devotions as soon as they learn to read.
A more formal study of Christian Beliefs could take place using topics from the grade 7& 8 Canadian Catholic study of Christian Creeds. The topics studied along with summaries of the Catholic catechism and Charles Colson and Harold Fickett's book "The Faith" are referenced in a chart on Christian Beliefs (Creed Topics). Colson's book is written for both Catholics and Protestants to understand basics Christian beliefs. This is a great resource for teachers and parents and for students as they mature. Also see
- Josh & Sean McDowell's book on The Unshakable Truth
- Power Point on Teaching Truth in Today's Youth Culture
- Christian Worldview and Alberta Grade 8 Social Studies
Stories of how family members and other Christians have participated in their communities and our country can be told starting in preschool. Visiting historic sites especially as they relate to the Social Studies curriculum and Christian heritage. For example, the grades 5 & 7 Social Studies curriculum focuses on Canadian history (grade 4 focuses on Alberta), allowing teachers and parents an opportunity to help their students develop an understanding of how Christian faith has contributed to the development of Canada.
Relate Worldview Studies to Christian Worldview:
In grade 8 Alberta students study worldview. Teachers and parents can help students develop a Christian worldview by relating what is studied in religion and/or what is written by Colson (particularly pages 213-215) to their study of worldviews. Parents and teachers could also connect with international students and Canadians working in the countries studied or visit those countries in person see Report on Japan/Alberta Summer 2010 Project and Christmas and Japanese Youth
Link up with others who are studying Christian worldview from a Canadian perspective.
See Joe Boot's sessions at Breakforth 2011
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| Joe Boot |
