This page has been updated to give more of an introduction to Sonlight Education Ministries. The section on the Family Bible Lessons has been moved onto it’s own page for easier access.
Sonlight Education Ministries is a ministry committed to teaching children in the same manner as Jesus taught. It encourages deep Bible study and all learning subjects are Bible-centric. When learning is done in this manner, one can’t help but be drawn closer to God and character reform is the natural result. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we become like Him (2 Cor 3:18).
This ministry has been around for more than 20 years. Over the years, it was made available for download and offered for free. Links for downloading given at the end of this post.
Jeanie Cook, the founder of this ministry, loved studying the Bible and teaching others how to study. She was a very private person who did not wish for her name or picture to be held up in high esteem. Instead, she recognizes Jesus as the only one to receive all glory.
How is this Curriculum Structured?
The Sonlight Curriculum is broken up as follows:
All of this and much, much more (including details of subject content, practical ideas, encouragement and suggested daily routines) can be found in a booklet called Catalogue, Roadmap and Route. This booklet is where you need to start! Download it, print it out and go through it to get the big picture.
Please note that while it is ideal to follow the suggested roadmap, Sonlight resources can be used to fit your own circumstances.
For example:
- The Family Bible Lessons are suitable for the whole family and can be used for morning and evening worship at any age.
- Even though the subjects in the Grade 2-8 Lessons all refer to the accompanying Bible Lesson, you could still supplement your current curriculum with, for example, the Health Lesson alone.
- Sonlight also has numerous supplementary booklets and resources which are excellent for going through with your children. Consider learning about Maths in the Kitchen as an add-on subject for your next quarter. Browse our visual Sonlight Catalogue.
- Interested in doing your own personal bible study? The Grades 9-12 curriculum includes deeper studies of the sanctuary, the book of Daniel and Revelation.
- Sonlight also offers an excellent course on True Education (the Ten Principles of True Education) – something that parents can go through in their own time. What is True Education?
Sonlight Resources
Below is a listing of the Sonlight Resources currently available.
Sonlight Education Ministry Website
Sonlight Google Drive for downloading the entire free collection. Start in the ’00 Start Here’ folder and begin by reading the Roadmap to get an overview of the curriculum.
Sonlight Facebook Page
Sonlight Facebook Group (private group)
Sonlight Pinterest (ideas for Family Bible Lessons)
Other Useful Links
- Sonlight Family Bible Lessons
- Sonlight Grades 2-8 Lessons: Getting Started
- Sonlight Catalogue (our own visual library linking to supplementary Sonlight booklets)
- What is True Education?
- All Sonlight Education Posts
- Parenting & Homeschooling Resources
Are you currently using the Sonlight curriculum? How did you get started? What were your struggles? What were your joys? Share with us in the comments below… 🙂
November 17, 2020 at 3:06 pm
hello, I am Dewi. I am mom of two and live in Indonesia. I looking for a right curriculum for our family. And Sonlight be our chosen curriculum. But, how about grade 9 – 12 … ? you say that its still developed? Can we continue to other curriculum, if we start our journey with Sonlight until grade 8?
thank you and God bless you
November 18, 2020 at 11:38 am
Hi Dewi
It is excellent that you are thinking ahead and trying to get the big picture of where you are heading with your children’s education. These are not easy questions to answer as I don’t believe there is one right answer for all families. Ultimately, you need to have a good think about what you are trying to achieve in educating your children.
Do you want them to have some kind of high school senior certificate which they may require to study further at a college or university? If so, this is still achievable – I know of a family which, after finishing the Grades 2-8 lessons, changed to the ACE curriculum which allowed them to get our South African Matric (Senior) certificate and study further in Europe. To do this, just make sure you keep up with your necessary language subjects and Maths while doing the Grades 2-8 lessons. Sonlight covers most other subjects like Biology, Geography, Health, History, Music etc and your child should be able to cope with the change.
On the other hand, I also know many children (mostly boys) who stop normal ‘schooling’ at 15 years of age and pursue a more hands-on technical course like agriculture, electrical, carpentry, engineering etc. Here, in South Africa, school is only compulsory up until the age of 15. (This would be before the start of Grades 9-12 lessons). So your decision is obviously also impacted by your country’s education laws.
After completing the Grades 2-8 lessons, Sonlight believes the student should be ready to now start doing their own research and writing their own text books using the subject outline provided. If you take a look in the Catalogue, Road Map and Route you will see the suggested outline for each Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12. Study guides are provided for certain subjects and for other subjects you will need to find your own suitable textbook (as suggested). For other subjects you will need to find ways to give your children as much practical experience as possible in their chosen field (eg. Accounting, Computer Literacy, Art, Gardening, Plumbing, Sewing etc).
Prayerfully, research your options, asking God to guide you. Remember Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”
November 19, 2020 at 6:58 pm
wow, wonderful answer… Thank you for encourage me. Is this curricullum same with Sonlight.com?
November 20, 2020 at 10:32 am
Hi Dewi
No, this is not the same curriculum as the more popular Sonlight at Sonlight.com. When a friend recommended Sonlight to me, I also found myself at Sonlight.com doing research and very impressed and excited with the curriculum. I was bitterly disappointed to find out I was looking at the ‘wrong’ Sonlight and discouraged by my first impression of the curriculum offered by Sonlight Education Ministries. However, when I showed my discoveries to my husband, he enthusiastically encouraged me to follow God’s original blueprint for our children’s education and to not worry about what the world has to offer. It was incredibly foreign to me as my own education did not follow God’s original blueprint. I decided to give the Family Bible Lessons a try, and I am so glad I did – I have never looked back!
For more information on God’s original blueprint take a look at this post: What is True Education? http://www.miraclesinslowmotion.co.za/what-is-true-education/
I hope this helps you with your decision!
November 25, 2020 at 2:38 am
Actually yes, I really love the coloring book they offer… but, you are right. I will try God’s original blueprint… thanks for the idea to give a try with FBL. Thank you Melinda. You are wonderful and so kind for me. God bless you sis
May 3, 2020 at 4:03 pm
Hello Melinda! You have a beautiful blog! I thought I would correct a link for you. We do not have a SonLight public “group” it is our Facebook Page… all pages are public and for use of getting to know a business or ministry. When I clicked the link, it did not load properly. The correct link would be…
https://www.facebook.com/sonlighteducationministry/
Thank you for sharing SonLight Education Ministry with others! You do a beautiful job and are thankful that you link back to us so others can be blessed by the materials that we offer.
Warmly, Melissa,
SonLight Education Ministry
May 4, 2020 at 12:46 pm
Thank you so much Melissa for your feedback – I have updated the link and changed the shortcut names 🙂 The Sonlight curriculum has been a life-changing blessing to our family – thank you for all the time and effort you put in to keep it available for all! Please let me know if there are any other funnies that you notice 😉 Blessings – Melinda