Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
Drive Thru History® Adventures takes the popular Drive Thru History® video series and turns it into a full homeschool history curriculum. This easy to use and engaging program starts with a very thorough, step-by-step guide to help you familiarize yourself with each course before getting started. There is a suggested schedule you can follow, but going at your own pace is encouraged. Lessons, or adventures, include a video, worksheet and answer guide, dig deeper articles, and suggestions for hands on projects.
Bible Unearthed is a brand new offering from Drive Thru History® Adventures. Fans will recognize Dave Stotts, the host of Drive Thru History®, who is joined by a couple of new faces, writer Randall Niles, and archaeologist Titus Kennedy, PhD. This twelve week course gives an in depth focus on Biblical Archaeology. Bible Unearthed covers everything from the basics of archaeology and what an archaeologist does, to archaeological trends and discoveries. The hosts thoroughly explain how archaeological discoveries tie into historical events of the Bible.
Grade Level/Age
The content in Bible Unearthed is appropriate for any age group and I didn’t see or hear anything parents would need to pre-screen for younger kids. Middle school and up seems like the target age group for this series. There is enough depth with all of the extras that I think this could be used as a high school level history elective. I think the content in Bible Unearthed is more technical and a little bit harder to relate to than a typical history course, so it might not appeal to younger students unless they have a high interest in archaeology.
My twelve year old really enjoyed watching these videos and had several ‘aha’ moments when discussing how archaeology can point us to the accuracy of the Bible. My ten year old wasn’t as interested but enjoyed some of Dave Stotts’ antics throughout the lessons. The age recommendation I am giving is based solely on my experience with my own kids.
Homeschool Style
This can be used with any homeschool style, because you have the flexibility to choose how to use the course. The course is well laid out, so it’s great for kids working independently. You can also use this as a family study or simply enjoy the videos together.
How to Use Bible Unearthed
The video is the main part of the lesson. Each video is around fifteen minutes long and very conversational in tone. The information is presented in an interesting way so students won’t feel like they are being lectured by an ancient artifact (forgive my archaeology pun). Instead, they will find themselves listening in on a conversation between three people who happen to have a lot of knowledge in the field of Biblical Archaeology. The content is engaging, not dry and boring like some may expect from an archaeology course.
The worksheets include a lesson summary and short teaching, a scripture reading, and discussion questions. We used the worksheets just to prompt some good discussion, but if you prefer you’re students can write out their responses on the worksheets.
Dig Deeper articles are written by Randall Niles and Titus Kennedy. Randall Niles is a writer, and his articles are more accessible for younger students, where as Titus Kennedy is an archaeologist and his articles are more academic in nature. You can choose which Dig Deeper articles you want your student to read. My kids didn’t read through the articles as we are using this as more of an overview to give them an idea of what Biblical Archaeology is all about. While I enjoyed reading the articles and diving deeper into the subject for myself, there is enough content in the videos alone to make this an excellent course.
Worldview
Drive Thru History® Adventures is Christian, and Biblical content is found throughout every course.
Things to Consider
Long time Drive Thru History® fans need to know that this is not your usual Drive Thru History® course. Yes, Dave Stotts is still there, but instead of driving around in his Jeep as the main host and presenter of information, his role in this series is much different. Titus Kennedy takes center stage in presenting the information, while Dave Stotts and Randall Niles are there to contribute to the conversation. Titus did a great job in the role of the main teacher or presenter, and the other two played off of him very well.
The next thing to consider is that the format is very different from all other Drive Thru History® series I’ve watched. This is by design as the Drive Thru History® team wanted to go more in depth into archaeology, an aspect they haven’t really covered to this extent in some of the historical series. Bible Unearthed is a little more serious and a little less adventurous than past series. I would almost describe this as Drive Thru History®-grown up. The three hosts are mostly sitting around a table having a discussion on each lesson’s topic. Information is presented in the form of timelines, artwork, conversation and “show and tell” with some historical artifacts. There are occasional clips of Titus Kennedy visiting an archaeological dig site, but that is not the main feature of this series. The information presented is still very interesting and engaging, but if you are a longtime Drive Thru History® fan (like me), it might take a bit to adjust to the Bible Unearthed format.
Summary
Bible Unearthed is a unique course from Drive Thru History® Adventures. I don’t think there is anything quite like it offered in the homeschool market. This course would also appeal to non-homeschoolers that are interested in Biblical Archaeology. The twelve week course presents information in an engaging way that will appeal to kids and parents. The course is flexible and can be used with a variety of homeschool styles or as a family study. You can add as much depth to Bible Unearthed as your kids are ready for. While the format is a little different from past Drive Thru History® Adventures, the content is still engaging and the videos are enjoyable to watch.
I really like this series. It is a different way to view the historical accuracy of the Bible, and I enjoyed learning alongside my kids. The Dig Deeper articles were fascinating and I enjoyed the way information was presented. Drive Thru History® Adventures hit a home run with this unique course and we will definitely revisit this again when my kids get a little older.
Read More
This review is written in partnership with the Homeschool Review Crew. Check out more Bible Unearthed reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew Blog.
