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Discovering the what we believe series with BetterSchool

Learn about the What We Believe Series, a unique Christian curriculum designed for homeschooling families.
Lisa Thorsen
Written byLisa Thorsen
3 min read
Key takeaways
  • The What We Believe Series is a four-volume Christian curriculum designed for grades 4-8, adaptable for ages 6-14, that teaches children to understand and apply biblical truths in their daily lives
  • With engaging stories and discussions, it fosters meaningful conversations about faith and builds a solid Christian worldview.

The What We Believe Series is a Christian curriculum for kids, helping them see the world through a biblical lens. It combines stories, discussions, and journaling to build a strong Christian faith.

Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024).

What is the what we believe series?

The What We Believe Series is a Christian curriculum from Apologia Educational Ministries and Summit Ministries. It's not just a regular Bible study. This four-volume set teaches kids to look at life through a biblical perspective and apply Christian truths daily. It talks directly to students in a friendly way, using stories, biographies, questions, and journaling to help them understand their faith deeply.

Teaching approach

Each lesson lasts two weeks, with three days of teaching each week. You’ll find fun stories featuring kids from different backgrounds, true stories, historical biographies, scripture memory verses, and lots of discussion questions. The writing talks to students, making it easy for them to read independently while also encouraging family chats. Many families take their time to let the ideas settle.

What makes it unique

Unlike typical Bible studies, this series focuses on building a solid worldview. Kids learn not just what Christians believe, but why those beliefs matter in real life. It’s praised by folks like Chuck Colson, Andy Stanley, and Sean McDowell, who called it an 'excellent, Bible-rich worldview curriculum.' Parents often share how surprised they are by the deep conversations their kids start after using it.

Age recommendations and materials

This series is best for grades 4-8, but it works well for ages 6-14 with some adjustments. Younger kids (K-3) can use the Junior Notebooking Journal, which has activities suited for them. The Standard Notebooking Journal is for grades 4-8 and includes more challenging writing prompts. The hardcover books are beautifully illustrated and can be read aloud as a family or assigned for independent reading. You can get a four-volume boxed set for a complete experience.

The bottom line

The What We Believe Series is perfect for families looking for more than just Sunday school material. It builds a thoughtful worldview instead of just Bible knowledge. This helps kids understand why they believe what they do. For homeschool families wanting to grow in faith while learning, this curriculum offers rich content without being boring. Pair it with your family devotions for a well-rounded Christian education.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lisa Thorsen
Written by
Lisa Thorsen

Co-founder, BetterSchool

Lisa is the co-founder of BetterSchool and a homeschool mom of three. BetterSchool administers the largest independent homeschool community in the country — over 350,000 families across all 50 states.

When COVID hit, Lisa and her husband pulled their children out of school and hit the road. Homeschooling wasn't the plan — it was a necessity. But somewhere along the way, the family fell in love with it: the time together, the ability to tailor lessons to each child's interests, learning at their own pace, the freedom to travel, eating healthy on their own schedule, and the countless other benefits that come with homeschooling.

As they traveled, Lisa kept discovering incredible hands-on learning experiences that most homeschool families had no way of finding. She built BetterSchool to make it easy for every family to find and book the experiences that make learning come alive.

Through her community, Lisa has helped hundreds of thousands of parents navigate homeschooling, while also helping local businesses find and serve the homeschool community. She is the former managing partner of a law firm focused on business law and mergers and acquisitions — BetterSchool is her second technology startup. She holds a J.D. from California Western School of Law and a B.A. from Penn State.

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Table of Contents

  • What is the what we believe series?
  • Teaching approach
  • What makes it unique
  • Age recommendations and materials
  • The bottom line
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