We’ve memorized history sentences. We’ve memorized science facts. We’ve memorized geography locations. These have all been valuable pieces of information for us to learn as we practice the skill of memorization. Yet… something was still missing for us in the elementary years. Our family needed more.
For the past decade, I’ve developed reading plans and resources that have been used by thousands of other families to enhance their classical learning experience. These plans have provided quality literature selections, nature and science studies, history readings, and fine arts projects to round out the skills practiced within the classical art of grammar (specifically, naming, expressing, and storytelling). But because I was attempting to custom fit these plans to specific facts each week, it was a bit disjointed. Our family needed continuity, integration, and focus.
The truth is, we are not just teaching our children facts. We are teaching our children a worldview – a lens through which they view and interact with the world. We’re aiming to impart in them a true desire to serve Christ by serving others. So… when we prepare to embark on a study of world cultures and world religions this fall, how can we help our children to recognize God’s immense love for the world? How can we grow in love and compassion towards the many people who do not have the hope and joy we have in Christ? How can we help our children see how God can use them to share His Truth among all nations, including our own?
That’s why we’re excited to announce a project our family has been pulling together for the past six months…
Mission: World Wonders
Written for families with students in Grades 2-8 (and beyond), Mission: World Wonders is an integrated study of world geography, cultures, religions, and missions through the wonders God has worked from creation through today using people who were willing to follow His call – with a focus on Africa, Asia, and the Americas (specifically, Central America, South America, and Canada).
Note: The Usborne Art Treasury and The Usborne Geography Encyclopedia are no longer part of this curriculum package. If you would like to reference The Usborne Geography Encyclopedia for additional geography and science readings (listed as an optional resource) and/or The Usborne Art Treasury for more details regarding art projects, you can search for them here on Amazon or at other third party sellers. We’ve also replaced A Child’s Geography: Explore His Earth with God’s Design for Heaven & Earth: Our Planet Earth. An update to this video overview will be uploaded in Summer 2024.
The framework of this study is built around twelve unique people who have changed the world through their love for Christ and their compassion for fellow man. These captivating biographies were especially chosen due to the diverse backgrounds and talents that each person possessed and used to glorify God.
As each missionary is studied, families also read a chronological study of history to learn about the story of the world – God’s world – and how cultures and people have influenced one another through the ages. Story of the World has been chosen to provide students with a chronological history in an engaging storytelling format. Story of the World Volume 1 introduces children to ancient civilizations and world cultures through stories that have been passed down through the generations. History is continued in Story of the World Volume 2 as students are introduced to the people, places, and events of the Middle Ages, from the fall of Rome to the rise of the Renaissance period.
The Mission: World Wonders study is organized into units by geographical location, starting with Africa, followed by Asia, and ending with the Americas (Central America, South America, and Canada). As students learn about cultures and world religions, they develop an understanding and compassion for world religions and how we can pray and minister to those who do not know God. While learning about world culture, they also memorize the countries of Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America, as well as the provinces of Canada.
To add the beautiful elements of fine arts, we also integrate hymn study and art projects that correlate with the missionary or region studied. To gain an appreciation for classical music, students will learn about the instruments of the orchestra along with composers Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
In this curriculum, we marvel at the wonders of God’s creation through nature study and exploration of biology and earth science while interweaving apologetics. The core science selection for first semester is The World of Plants from God’s Design for Life, and, for second semester, Our Planet Earth from God’s Design for Heaven & Earth. (Each book/section in God’s Design for Life and God’s Design for Heaven & Earth is used in Mission Great Commission The Human Body is used in Mission Lasting Liberty, Our Universe is used in Mission Faith Forgers, and Our Weather and Water is used in the second trip through Mission World Wonders.) Because most children enjoy learning about animals, we have also included an optional reading each week from The World of Animals from God’s Design for Life. These science readings are short, interesting, and informative. The Teacher’s Guide also sets aside a time each week for students to go outside to find an item in nature related to the week’s science reading.
What holds it all together? The Mission: World Wonders Teacher’s Guide! This reading plan is divided into six separate units of six weeks each to provide flexibility for families. Completed together, the study offers a full 36-week course of study for science, history, geography, and fine arts. Alternatively, families may adjust their schedules to complete fewer units if needed. The plan is scheduled using a 4-day week to accommodate families who participate in a homeschool community/co-op day or to provide an extra day each week to shift activities or catch up if needed.
The Revised Edition of these lesson plans (released in April 2024) include the following:
- Content warnings for readings that may be too intense for sensitive or young students
- Instructions for art projects that correspond with the missionary and world cultures study
- Correlated hymn study and geography readings to better integrate material
- Correlated picture book and read-aloud lists for expanding the curriculum to meet the needs of students from preschool through high school
- General guidelines for using Mission: World Wonders in a co-op setting (for elementary level).
- Science and history extensions to expand the lessons into more challenging content for middle school students.
- Mission World Wonders Trip Two plans. After completing one cycle of the three missions (Mission World Wonders, Mission Faith Forgers, and Mission Lasting Liberty), families can repeat the entire series. When you repeat Mission World Wonders three years from now, you can use any or all of the suggested replacement readings which are provided at the bottom of each planning page.
- Access to an exclusive password-protected website that provides additional resources that correlate with this study.
Along with this study, users will also gain access to an exclusive password-protected website that provides additional resources that correlate with this study. Download a sample of the Mission: World Wonders Teacher’s Guide by clicking on the button below.
Read testimonials of our Mission: World Wonders Curriculum here.
Homeschooling high school? Check out our corresponding scope and sequence and recommended resources for Mission: World Wonders.
Questions? Be sure to check out our Mission: Great Commission FAQ.
Physical items (books and/or other tangible products) ship from our shop within 3 business days. Tracking information is sent to the Paypal email address used at checkout as soon as your item is shipped. Upon purchase of the PDF download, you will receive instant access to the ebook version of the Mission: World Wonders Teacher’s Guide, and the download link will be sent to the Paypal email address used at check-out.
Mission: World Wonders Teacher’s Guide Revised Edition – PDF Version
Format: PDF Download (Mac & PC Compatible), 154 pages. Access to our exclusive Mission: World Wonders Supplemental Resource Webpage is included with purchase. Download a sample.
Suggested grades: 2 to 8 (although resources may be used as a morning time for the whole family – with younger and older siblings as well)
PDF Version Price: $39.95
Mission World Wonders: Build Your Own Bundle
You can purchase the Mission World Wonders Teacher’s Guide separately and grab the books you need a-la-carte from our store or at the links below. The more you purchase from us, the more you save!
- Orders $200-$299 receive a 10% discount
- Orders $300-$399 receive a 15% discount
- Orders over $400 receive a 20% discount
These discounts are activated when your subtotal reaches that amount in your shopping cart and applies to all items in our store, including our cursive program and digital products.
Also take advantage of FREE media mail shipping for orders over $100! (Free shipping will automatically update if your subtotal reaches $100.)
The resources needed for Mission: World Wonders include:
- Mission: World Wonders Teacher’s Guide Revised Edition ebook. PDF.
- Access to Mission: World Wonders Supplemental Resource Webpage. Digital Access.
- Children’s Atlas of God’s World. Hardcover.
- Geography Audio Memory CD. Booklet + Audio CD.
- Window on the World Revised Edition. Softcover.
- Inflatable Globe. Vinyl.
- Color-Your-Own-World-Map Poster. 22″ x 17″ Paper.
- God’s Design for Life Set: Student Book + Teacher Guide. Softcover. (The World of Plants section is used first semester and The World of Animals section is used first and second semester.)
- God’s Design for Heaven & Earth Set: Student Book + Teacher Guide. Softcover. (Mission: World Wonders uses Our Planet Earth and Our Weather and Water (for Trip 2) and Mission: Faith Forgers uses Our Universe. These individual books are now available only within this single combined volume of all three titles from the God’s Design for Heaven & Earth series.)
- The Story of the World Volume 1. Softcover.
- The Story of the World Volume 2. Softcover.
- A Child’s Introduction to the Orchestra. Hardcover. (Formerly titled Story of the Orchestra. Page numbers and information remain the same, but instead of an audio CD, this new edition provides a link to download the audio tracks and also includes a removable poster of an orchestra seating chart.)
- Then Sings My Soul. Softcover.
- Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar (West Africa). Softcover.
- Sundar Singh: Footprints over the Mountains (India/ Tibet). Softcover.
- Cameron Townsend: Good News in Every Language (Central America). Softcover.
- Clarence Jones: Mr. Radio (South America & beyond). Softcover.
- A Long Walk to Water (Sudan).
- Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder in Egypt (Egypt).
- Charles Mulli: We Are Family (Kenya).
- Tales of Persia: Missionary Stories from Islamic Iran (Arabia).
- Ida Scudder: Healing Bodies, Touching Hearts (India).
- Hudson Taylor: Deep in the Heart of China (China).
- Rachel Saint: A Star in the Jungle (Ecuador).
- Wilfred Grenfell: Fisher of Men (Canada).
To purchase each item separately, click here.
Note: The Usborne Art Treasury is no longer part of this curriculum package. If you would like to reference it for more details regarding art projects, you can search for it here on Amazon or at other third party sellers. The Usborne Geography Encyclopedia is referenced in our curriculum guide as an optional resource that will enhance the study of geography and science. Both of these books went out of print in 2024 but are available from third party sellers.
The image below provides a list of the books used in Mission: World Wonders Revised Edition.
Note that the three volumes of God’s Design for Life – The World of Plants, The World of Animals, and The Human Body – are available now only as a single combined volume. The World of Plants and The World of Animals are used in Mission: World Wonders. The Human Body is used in Mission: Lasting Liberty. The three volumes of God’s Design for Heaven & Earth – Our Planet Earth, Our Universe, and Our Weather & Water – are available now only as a single combined volume. Our Planet Earth is used during second semester of Mission World Wonders, Our Universe is used in Mission Faith Forgers, and Our Weather and Water is used in the second trip through Mission World Wonders.
Mission: World Wonders is part of our Mission: Great Commission Curriculum Series, which takes students through a study of the entire world. Mission: Faith Forgers focuses on church history from the early church through modern missions during the conflicts of the 20th century, with an emphasis on Europe and Asia. Mission: Lasting Liberty provides an integrated overview of U.S. history and geography, focusing on Christians who have found freedom in their faith while in the midst of hardship.
Questions? Just jump down to the comments or send us an email at support@halfahundredacrewood.com.
O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (Psalm 105:1-5 KJV)
You may also be interested in Script-n-Scribe Truth Traveler: Exploring Empires through Cursive Copywork, Scripture, Poetry, and Art Study, which includes poetry and picture studies related to the history themes in Mission: World Wonders.
Note for Classical Conversations® families: The Mission World Wonders homeschool curriculum has been designed to be used independently of Classical Conversations® but has greatly enriched the homeschooling experience for families who use Classical Conversations®. The books selected for this curriculum package were chosen as long-term resources for students to use when they embark on research and world geography memorization in grades 7+. The Mission: World Wonders study overlaps the memory work studied during Cycle 1 but is not correlated week by week. This provides an opportunity for ongoing review and integration of the memory work throughout the year. To download a correlation of Mission: World Wonders to Classical Conversations® along with an FAQ, download this Mission: World Wonders and CC Match-Up.
This post was originally published in Spring 2018.