The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective from The Master and His Apprentices
This comprehensive program is available in print and digital formats, and contains a full Student Text and Teacher Guide. It can be completed for a full high school credit. Why should you bother to teach art history? Well, it's a key to understanding God, the Bible and our history better - and this program does an EXCELLENT job of putting it all together for you!
The Master and His Apprentices is written from a unashamedly Christian worldview, that alone makes it worth your high school student's time. There is absolutely NO questionable images in this book and it is free from secular and humanistic ideology- which is hard to find in art books for older students.
My digital version came with a 380 page PDF Student Text and a 116 page Teacher Guide that included copy privileges for my family. They have a generous offer of allowing you to purchase additional student worksheet copies for just $2 each. If you prefer hard copies, you can print your books (or purchase a hardcover text, with free shipping). I always like a physical copy to work with, so I printed them with the easy-to-follow directions and had them spiral bound. The PDF's are optimized to work best on a computer screen. They are also ready to use on your e-readers. This book is so beautiful, you will want it in full-color!
The 19 chapter Student Text covers art history - starting with Creation through Today. I love that the author, who was homeschooled herself, repeatedly points to God and Scripture throughout this text. She covers art chronologically, addressing each major civilization and time period. Right away, I liked that this could be used as a stand alone art curriculum, or a valuable addition to your history study.
As you read the text, you are really learning the history of humanity and God's hand in it. I LOVE it!
The book covers all areas of art - painting, sculpture, architecture and more. Your students will most definitely have a well-rounded art history education. Best of all, you do NOT have to worry that they will stumble across inappropriate images or ideas!
One of my favorite parts of this curriculum is the Timelines in each chapter. The author has taken the major works of art and combined them on a timeline which included "Important World Events" and "Biblical Events and Christian History". It gives us a big picture view of the world!
This text includes some great extras in the Appendix. Several thought-provoking essays from the author, an art period chart, a complete timeline, terms to learn, and even a list of "Pieces by Location" that shows where to find these amazing art pieces (do you see geography tie-in? I do!)
The Teacher Guide is a valuable component of the program. The author shows how to utilize this program in schools or at home, provides detailed instructions and even includes a syllabus you can customize.
In addition, there are worksheets with discussion style questions for each chapter, a full answer key, and 4 exams. To complete a full credit, you student will write 4 papers - on artists, style or specific pieces from different art periods.
The questions are more than just comprehension, they make the student really consider what they think about the artwork, and why. This is really what we want to accomplish by teaching art history - we want them to think!
This is the most WELL ORGANIZED, and comprehensive art history curriculum I have ever seen. I have enjoyed it as much, if not more, than my high schoolers! My students will be using this one for years to come.
