High School Classes

Homeroom, Humanities, Health, Drama

About the Teacher

Mr. Sowers

Cornerstone Christian School

Curriculum

U.S. History

Course Objectives

My objectives are pretty simple. I want students to see history as just that: “His story.” The unfolding of God’s redemptive plan for mankind. American history, with its shining moments and dark stains, is a wonderful opportunity to see His providence and grace unfold – often in the most unexpected of ways. I also want students to come to examine and question what they are told about historical – or current – events; to look for evidence and not be swayed by mere claims.

Course Description

Our primary text for reading and discussion will be U.S. History (Bob Jones, 5^th Edition). We will also read and discuss several articles and essays. (As part of those discussions, I will sometimes play “devil’s advocate” in an attempt to encourage the students to be ready to defend their views.) Homework will primarily be a few pages of reading most nights – usually from the text, with a few articles/essays thrown in.

There are written tests from time to time – typically at the end of a chapter. There is a final at the end of each semester.

Class Outline

1^st Semester

Week 1 Ch. 1 – New and Old Worlds Meet

Week 2 Ch. 2 – Thirteen Colonies

Week 3 Ch. 3 – Colonial Life

Week 4-5 Ch. 4 – Religion in the American Colonies

Week 6 Ch. 5 – The Rising Storm (1689-1770)

Week 7-8 Ch. 6 – Independence (1770-1783)

Week 9 Ch. 7 – The Critical Period (1781-1789)

Week 10 Ch. 8 – The Federalist Years (1789-1801)

Week 11 Ch. 9 – The Jeffersonian Era (1801-1825)

Week 12 Ch. 10 – The Age of Jackson (1820-1840)

Week 13 Ch. 11 – The Growth of American Society (1789-1861)

Week 14 Ch. 12 – Manifest Destiny (1840-1848)

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Week 15 Ch. 13 – A House Dividing (1848-1861)

Week 16-17 Ch. 14 – The Civil War (1861-1865)

Week 18 Ch. 15 – Reconstruction (1865-1877)

SEMESTER FINAL

2^nd Semester

Week 1 Ch. 16 – The Gilded Age (1877-1896)

Week 2 Ch. 17 – America Expands (1850-1900)

Week 3 Ch. 18 – The Progressive Era (1900-1920)

Week 4 Ch. 19 – The Great War (1913-1920)

Week 5 Ch. 20 – The Twenties (1920-1929)

Week 6 Ch. 21 – The Thirties (1929-1939)

Week 7-8 Ch. 22 – The World at War (1939-1945)

Week 9-10 Ch. 23 – The Postwar Era (1945-1963)

SPRING BREAK

Week 11-13 Ch. 24 – The Shattered Society (1963-1973) & Ch. 25 – A Nation Adrift (1973-1980)

Week 14 Ch. 26 – Resurgence of Conservatism (1981-1992)

Week 15-16 Ch. 27 – Facing a New Millenium (1993-2017)

Week 17 Catch-up

FINAL

Gospel of John / Romans

Course Objectives:

The purpose of the course is to answer the question, “Who is Jesus and why does he matter?”

The key objectives include:

Understanding the Gospel as presented clearly in John and Romans;

Relating the Gospel to Christian living;

Studying the historical and religious contexts of John and Romans;

Identifying the nature, character, and personal attributes of Jesus Christ;

Applying Biblical inductive and exegetical study tools.

Course Description:

The course will focus primarily on the Biblical texts John and Romans. There will be books, articles, printed sermons, and videos that will accompany the reading of Scripture.

The first semester will be devoted to the study of John. We will examine the context it was written in, identify the major themes, and apply the text to daily living. There will be quizzes on class lectures, papers related to important themes, and a final written exam.

The second semester will cover the book of Romans. We will survey the life of Paul and his role in spreading the Gospel. We will also learn the significance of this epistle and its application to our lives today. As in the first semester, there will be reading assignments, homework, quizzes, papers, and a written final and apologetics project. Each semester will incorporate class discussion and student presentations.

Class Schedule:

*Subject to some variation

First Semester: The Gospel of John

Quarter 1: Jesus’ Public Ministry

Weeks 1-2: Absolute Truth; Authority of Scripture; Tools for Reading Scripture

Week 3: Intro to John; John 1: Jesus and John the Baptist; The Case for Christ Intro-ch.1

Week 4: John 2-3: Intro to Jesus’ Miracles; Nicodemus; The Case for Christ ch.2-3

Week 5: John 4-5: Woman at the Well; Miracle #2; Miracle #3; The Case for Christ ch.4

Week 6: John 6: Miracle #4; Miracle #5; “I Am” Statements; The Case for Christ ch.5

Week 7: John 7-8: Jesus’ Teaching at the Temple; The Case for Christ ch.6

Week 8: John 9: Miracle #6

Week 9: John 10-11: Miracle #7; Jesus the Good Shepherd; Plot to Kill Jesus; The Case for Christ ch.7

Week 10: John 12: Pre-Passover; Jesus enters Jerusalem; MIDTERM

Quarter 2: Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem

Week 11: John 13: The Last Supper; Jesus washes Disciples’ feet; The Case for Christ ch.8-9

Week 12-13: John 14-15: The Holy Spirit; Abide; The Case for Christ ch.10

Week 14: John 16-17: Jesus’ Prayer; The Case for Christ ch.11

Week 15: John 18: Jesus’ Trial; The Case for Christ ch.12

CHRISTMAS BREAK

Week 16: John 19: Jesus’s Crucifixion; The Case for Christ ch.13

Week 17: John 20-21; Jesus’ final encouragement; The Case for Christ ch.14 & Conclusion

Week 18-19: Paper; Final preparation; FINAL

Second Semester: Romans

Quarter 3: The Gospel

Week 1-2: Context of Romans/Paul’s life; Romans 1: What is the Gospel?; Pursuit of Holiness ch. 1

Week 3: Romans 2: Jews & Gentiles Accountable for Sin; POH ch. 2

Week 4-5: Romans 3-4: Faith Properly Understood; POH ch. 3-4

Week 6-7: Romans 5-6: Cheap v. Costly Grace; POH ch. 5

Week 8-9: Romans 7-8: The Law v. the Spirit; POH ch. 6; MIDTERM

Quarter 4: God’s Sovereignty; Christian Living

Week 10-12: Romans 9-11: Free Will v. Predestination; POH ch. 7-9

Week 12-13: Romans 12-13: Christian Living; POH ch. 10-11

SPRING BREAK

Week 14-16: Romans 14-16: Proper Christian Judgment & Disputable Matters. POH ch. 12

Week 17-18: Finals Prep. FINAL