Exploring Countries and Cultures, Second Edition

My Father's World released a second edition of Exploring Countries and Cultures in 2009.
Significant revisions and upgrades include:

• Second Edition requires much less photocopying than before.
• Parent/Teacher Supplement with map masters and games, including a parent copy of the Geography Game.
• Student Sheets with full-color, ready-made Geography Game and new Geography Notebook pages (replacing the Appendix pages which previously had to be photocopied). Purchase one ready-to-use set for each student.
• Pre-printed passport and new book on Bible translation—God Speaks Numanggang.
• For science, Wild Places has been replaced by Properties of Ecosystems, which has a Biblical perspective.
• Kingdom Tales, a classic collection of 36 beloved tales by David and Karen Mains that use allegory to reveal truths about the Kingdom of God. Updated by My Father's World to include discussion questions.
• Expanded 7th & 8th Grade Supplement Package (see below).
• 7th & 8th grade lesson plans included each week in the Teacher's Manual.

If you own the first edition of Exploring Countries and Cultures, you can use it again and again as long as you keep all of the original books that match the Teacher's Manual. However, an upgrade offer is available. The upgrade will include the second edition Teacher's Manual and new books and materials essential to the second edition. You may also need some additional items for each child using the program. In the 1st Edition, 7th & 8th grade lesson plans were not included in the Teacher's Manaul -- here are the recommendations.

Take a trip around the world and explore diverse countries while learning geography and being challenged by true stories of missionaries. Our easy-to-teach unit study includes a teacher’s manual with daily lesson plans and all required books for Bible, geography, science, art, and music. For classroom use, please contact us for special ordering information.

Teacher’s Manual

• Daily lesson plans are in an easy-to-use weekly chart format. Charts list each subject with page numbers of books to read. Many activities will be suitable for all ages; additional activities are suggested for older students. We do the lesson planning for you so that you have more time to enjoy teaching!

Bible

• True stories of godly men and women who served as missionaries overseas, using Hero Tales stories to illustrate specific character traits they portrayed.
• Weekly information about different ethnic groups around the world and their specific prayer needs, using Window on the World.
• Weekly memory verses and daily readings from Matthew.

Reading

• Develop a love for reading using “living books” from our excellent library list of picture books, fiction, and non-fiction for each country you study. We list the very best books we have read, but none are required.

Geography

• Maps and globes are explored with Illustrated World Atlas, Classroom Atlas, Maps and Globes, and a world wall map, as well as additional hands-on activities.
• Easy-to-use full-color Geography Game teaches country names and locations.
• Vocabulary focuses on geographic terms as students make illustrated vocabulary cards from Geography from A to Z.
• Research skills are developed through the study of continents in World Geography.
• Hands-on activities (cooking, flag making, passport, etc.) to explore 15 countries using A Trip Around the World and our Teacher’s Manual.

Science

• A focus on different habitats (desert, rain forest, grassland, forest, polar region, etc.) using Properties of Ecosystems and Living World Encyclopedia, as well as optional library books. Correlates to the country being studied (e.g., rain forest when studying Brazil). Includes a weekly nature walk and nature journal.
• 7th and 8th graders add Apologia science (purchase separately).

Art and Music

• Enjoy art projects and music from countries you “visit” this year using Global Art and Wee Sing Around the World. You may supplement with ethnic music from the library.

Math, Language Arts, and Foreign Language

• Add math and language arts.
• Foreign language is optional but highly recommended.

Exploring Countries and Cultures Basic Package

Includes Bible, Social Studies (Geography and International Cultures), Science, Music and Art

• Teacher's Manual, 2nd Edition
• Parent/Teacher Supplement (required)
• Student Sheets (purchase one per student)
• Flags of the World Ultimate Sticker Book (purchase one per student)
• Passport (purchase one per student)
• World Geography (purchase one per 3rd-8th grader or photocopy)
• Hero Tales
• Window on the World
• God Speaks Numanggang
• Illustrated World Atlas
• Classroom Atlas
• Wall Map of the World
• Maps and Globes
• Geography from A to Z
• A Trip Around the World
• Another Trip Around the World
• Properties of Ecosystems
• Living World Encyclopedia
• Global Art
• Wee Sing Around the World

Have a 7th or 8th grader? See the 7th-8th Grade Supplement.

To complete your curriculum, just add Language Arts, Math, and consider a Foreign Language.

For 2nd-3rd Grade consider adding The Complete Book of Animals (optional but recommended, purchase separately).

Exploring Countries and Cultures Deluxe Package

Everything from the Basic Package (above) plus the following:

• Kingdom Tales
• Christian Heroes: Then and Now - six book set
• Cameron Townsend
• Amy Carmichael
• Nate Saint
• David Livingstone
• George Müller
• Gladys Aylward (included FREE with the purchase of the Christian Heroes: Then and Now set or with the purchase of George Müller.)
• Inflatable Globe
• The Great Animal Search
• Fun with Easy Origami

(Lesson plans for using these highly recommended but optional resources are included in the Exploring Countries and Cultures Teacher's Manual.)

Exploring Countries and Cultures 7th - 8th Grade Supplement

(required for 7th and 8th graders)

The 7th - 8th Grade supplement includes four inspiring missionary biographies, resources for developing research skills, and more. All of the items are scheduled in your lesson plans for Exploring Countries and Cultures.

• Bruchko
• The Narrow Road
• I Dared to Call Him Father
• Peace Child
• Writing a Country Report
• 2010 World Book Encyclopedia DVD-ROM (works with Windows and Mac. Non-returnable if opened.)
• World Facts and Landmarks Flashcards

We also recommend adding Apologia science for 7th-8th grade.

Exploring Countries and Cultures Individual Items

The individual items below are not pictured relative to each other in size. Some items have been enlarged for detail and others reduced to fit. See the group pictures above for item size comparison.