Throughout the scriptures, we are told to look at the great things God has done for us throughout history as a way of reminding ourselves of His power and goodness (see, for example, I COR. 10:11). This good providence of God is the starting point for history at Wilson Hill Academy. History is more than just a “subject”, though; it is a perspective or lens through which we consider ideas, influences and influencers from past ages as they affect our current choices and future callings.
At the Grammar School level, our Story of History series focuses on putting all of history in the context of God’s story. Who were the heroes? The villains? Where and when did various events take place? And what was it like then and there?
In the School of Logic, we include “history” in the first cycle of our integrated humanities series, The Great Conversation. Students begin to see the way people, events and ideas interact with each other and build upon each other over time. They also begin to make analytical connections and to draw cause-and-effect conclusions. For those who need a little more context, we also offer a World Geography and History course that paints a backdrop against which to view material covered in The Great Conversation.
In the School of Rhetoric, we continue to integrate “history” with the second cycle of The Great Conversation series. Increasingly, students are challenged to make interpretive connections and apply the lessons learned from history (and humanities as a whole) to their own life choices and callings. At the same time, we offer elective courses that allow students to dig deeper into specific areas of history and to explore questions of historiography (how one “does” history).
The ultimate goal is for students to see God’s hand of Providence at work, and to be equipped to answer Francis Schaeffer’s famous question, How Shall We Then Live?
This course brings American History to life for grammar school students while also developing skills like attentive listening, close reading and thoughtful interaction with others. Maps and timelines are used extensively, equipping students for success in future grammar level or School of Logic history classes. Students will get to know the heroes, villains and key […]
This grammar-school history course is intended to provide students with historical, geographical, and cultural knowledge of ancient civilizations, including Sumer, Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. The course will begin with Creation and progress chronologically to the Fall of Rome. Ancient history will come to life as students explore geographical settings and learn about ancient cultures […]
This grammar-school history course is intended to provide students with historical, geographical, and cultural knowledge of the middle ages, approximately AD 500 to AD 1450. The course will begin with the Fall of Rome and progress chronologically through the Renaissance. Students will explore the fight for power in Western Europe, the religious wars between Christians […]
New course coming for 2023-24 (part 3 of 3 part series). Details coming soon!
The Story of History series is intended to cover the flow of history from Bible times through the 20th century, providing students with a backdrop against which they can better engage in The Great Conversation. Students in the upper Grammar School or School of Logic will get to know the heroes, villains and key events […]
The story of history is the story of God’s providence. This course weaves together the flow of history in three dimensions: time, space, and story. Using a timeline that starts with Creation and ends with the 20th century, the class teaches World geography chronologically. Students see how geography matters: how landforms, climate, and natural resources […]
Fundamentals of Research & Presentation introduces students to logic level research and presentation skills as they use the history of their own home area (state, province, or country) as the research content. Students will hone their written and oral presentation skills and gain experience with computerized presentation tools as they develop clear, engaging, and well-organized […]
Students engage the Great Conversation at its beginning by learning some of the earliest and most beautiful stories ever written, along with the major events and ideas of ancient Mesopotamia, Israel, Greece and Rome. Along with several Bible books, students will study the work of Homer, Herodotus, Livy, Virgil and others. The course also includes […]
Students encounter The Great Conversation as it unfolded during the Middle Ages through a study of some the most influential works of the medieval times and some works inspired by this period. The course covers the period from the fall of Rome to the death of Elizabeth I and focusses on medieval England due to […]
Students study some of the most influential writings and events that shaped the modern world, beginning with the Protestant Reformation. Students will continue to develop their ability to both thoughtfully read a great book and to discuss its main ideas and questions with others. Aimed at School of Rhetoric students, class discussions and writing assignments […]
This course is designed for students who begin The Great Conversation courses in ninth or tenth grade and can benefit from a survey of ancient works before moving on to the upper levels of The Great Conversation. As a combination of levels 1 and 4, TGC 1+4 will examine key works of the ancient world […]
Covering the same time period as The Great Conversation 1, level 4 takes the student deeper into the works of many of the same authors. Homer, Plato, Livy and Virgil are some of the thinkers whose works are explored on a new level. Taught alongside several books of the Bible, the primary source writings demand […]
Students encounter The Great Conversation as it unfolded during the Middle Ages through a study of some of the most influential works of the medieval times. The course covers the period from the fall of Rome to the death of Elizabeth I and focuses on medieval Europe. Students will continue to see how, in works […]
Covering the same period as The Great Conversation 3, this course is designed for upper level School of Rhetoric students and challenges them to discuss how the people, ideas, and books from the Modern Era have brought us to our present day. Using various works of theology, philosophy, and literature, students will consider how the […]
This college-level course surveys the history of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the cave paintings of Lascaux to the splatterings of Jackson Pollock. Students will gain a Christian understanding of the nature of art via the insights of Francis Schaeffer’s colleague at L’Abri, Hans Rookmaker, and other Christian art historians and philosophers. We will trace […]
This is an honors level survey course covering the full sweep of United States history from colonial times through the present. There is a brief introductory unit on pre-Columbian America; subsequent units will cover the English colonial period, the conflicts that led to independence and the adoption of the US Constitution, the early national period […]
This course satisfies the common state requirement for one semester each of government and economics, two of the most fundamental social aspects of God’s design for how humans are to act and interact with each other. Because our interactions with each other are grounded in our relationship with God, the government unit of the course […]