Amazing Ancient History for Middle and High Schoolers

So what is Dave Raymond’s Antiquity?

This is a video curriculum course for middle and high schoolers covering ancient history from creation to the time of Christ. In addition to Genesis history, the course gives students an in-depth look at such ancient civilizations as Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome — all from a Biblical worldview. The course includes 130 videos, a Student Reader, and a complete Teacher’s Guide with projects, a portfolio, and weekly exams. The course is worth 1 high school credit for history/social studies.

How does it work?

Each of the 27 lessons includes five (15-20 minute) videos. Each day your child watches a video and takes notes, then reads the corresponding material in the Student Reader. At the end of each lesson is an exam, and there are four project assignments throughout the course of the year. Students are also encouraged to keep a portfolio as a scrapbook of related photographs, drawings, articles, personal artwork, etc.

What is in the Student Reader? The downloadable reader is a collection of primary source documents, sermons, poems, etc., all related to the day’s video. Each reading includes a question or two to provoke thought and test comprehension.
What are the required projects?
- The Creation Week Project is an artistic representation of the seven days of creation in the student’s medium of choice. Students are free to paint, draw, or make a model of creation week, or they can even write poetry, make a scrapbook, or write a musical composition. The options are almost endless!
- The Theatrical Mask and Monologue Project requires the student to choose a historical figure, (even a mythical one!) from ancient history and create a mask to represent them. Students then write and perform a monologue based on facts about their chosen character.
- The Research and Thesis Paper involves researching and writing about any topic from ancient history. The student is to create an outline, write a paper including proofs, and include a bibliography.
- The Hour Project is a creative project of the student’s choice, relating to some aspect of their study of antiquity. This is an incredibly open-ended project. Students can choose to do anything from recreate Egyptian cuneiform tablets to write their own play set in ancient Rome.
What is an Antiquity portfolio? The portfolio is a scrapbook of articles, maps, photographs, and even personal artwork, all relating to things covered in each lesson.

Why is Antiquity a favorite at my house?

Dave Raymond is a phenomenal teacher. The best history teachers are excellent storytellers. That’s what history is, right? Stories of the past! Dave obviously loves history, and he has a gift for telling its stories in a fun and fascinating way.
The videos are so interesting, I love watching along with my kids! Dave’s storytelling is balanced perfectly with photographs, illustrations, and artwork in each video.
The blend of lecture, reading, and hands-on activities appeals to every kind of learner. Most of us will agree that learning happens best when it involves as many of the senses as possible: the eyes, the ears, the hands. Even the senses of smell and taste! Antiquity offers opportunity to use them all, and I believe it makes the details of history so much easier to understand and to remember.

It is easily adaptable to suit different children with very different learning styles. I love the flexibility Antiquity offers, especially when it comes to projects and the portfolio! Students are given so many options for both research and activities. And though the Teacher’s Guide offers guidelines and tips for grading, it also allows for consideration of each individual child’s maturity level and ability.