Core 300

Understand, engage and transform the modern world

• Trace the massive, sweeping changes of the last century.
• Explore complex roots of political, social and cultural battles that rage today.
• Hone valuable writing skills and learn how to defend your faith.
• Confidently guide blossoming scholars-- the Instructor's Guide maps the way.

A century of change and challenge

In 1900, American women could not vote. Vaccines and radio did not exist. It took over a week to travel from Paris to New York. Colonial powers scrambled to conquer Africa. Only the world's wealthiest owned automobiles.

In 1999, the world prepared for a computer problem that might ravage the global economy. Daily commercial flights jetted across the Atlantic. The Internet, space travel, and the ability to clone animals were no longer farfetched tales of science-fiction.

The 20th century brought massive changes to global society. Core 300 helps you understand those changes and, therefore, understand the world today.

I created this Core for 16- to 18-year-olds and mature 15-year-olds.

An encouraging note to parents

If your family has been learning, discussing and growing with Sonlight for a while, you have cultivated ripe soil for sustained positive communication with your older teenagers.

Reap the harvest you've prepared. Enjoy their maturing minds and marvel at their insights. Let them continue to see you as a source of wise counsel.

Core 300 offers priceless opportunities for these things. The Instructor's Guide helps you each step of the way.

Keys to history

Learn the key events, people, conflicts, inventions and changes of the last century. Your primary text, The Visual History of the Modern World, takes you year by year from 1900 through the 2000s. Timelines, concise articles and great photos chronicle the people and events that drove history.

The 20th century was the first to be documented in images as well as words. A second text, Our Century in Pictures, shows history through the iconic photos of the 1900s.

Key literary works and biographies of the 20th century augment your understanding. As you get a sense for how the century unfolded, some books will inspire while others disturb. But I have chosen all of them to help students understand how modern cultures view the world.

Facing reality

In earlier Core programs, we hold off from fully diving into 20th century world history. Why? Partially because it is so ugly. The 20th century is by far the most violent (not counting the Flood) in all of world history.

Amidst sweeping advances in wealth, these years also brought suffering in unprecedented proportions. There are the familiar tragedies: two devastating world wars, nuclear warfare and the Holocaust. But also lesser known horrors: Genocides in Europe, Asia and Africa. Mass starvation in China and the USSR. Drug wars, child labor and human trafficking.

Despite this century's ugliness, we look it in the face. We need to evaluate it for what it is, why it happened the way it did and where we are headed now.

Bottom line: Core 300 is not easy. It does not present simple answers to complex questions. It forces you to think hard. But it also opens your eyes to the global community you are part of.

Throughout these studies, we enjoy lighter works as well, and we always remain steadfast in our hope in God. He meets us in our suffering and does not abandon His children. He calls us to demonstrate His love on earth now. And He will one day redeem this earth and His people and wipe away every tear.

With that hope, we study the world we live in and learn how to share our hope with those around us.

Your Core 300 program includes:

Instructor's Guide

The Core 300 curriculum can be largely selftaught. The Instructor's Guide (IG) is written to the student. With your Parent Guide, open discussion and your students' journaling, you can engage and track their progress with ease.

We reformatted the Core 300 IG this year to make it easier to use. See p. 156 for more about the improvements. Request the first three weeks of this guide for free.

History

Witness the major events of the last century. From inventions and technological advances to sweeping social change, you will:

• Discover how Russia went from being our ally to our greatest foe in a few short years.
• Investigate a 1973 court case whose decision continues to divide a country.
• Learn how a defeated island nation rose to become a vast economic power.
• See how two words freed 100 million people in Eastern Europe.

Bible / Apologetics

The Core 300 Bible program helps guide your older students on their way to adulthood.

Know What You Believe and Know Why You Believe are wonderful introductory texts on the Christian faith and apologetics. The compelling Mere Christianity has helped countless Christians answer those who have questions about faith. Though not as deep, How to Ruin Your Life by 40 is a highly practical wake-up call.

Help kids see that the choices they make now have long-term implications for good or bad.

20th Century Literature

This thoughtful program of 20th century classics takes you on a tour of great writing for the last century. I've spread out the difficult classics and intermixed lighter, uplifting works for good variety. Prepare to integrate your learning with real life through discussion and spiritual preparation. You will:

• See firsthand how Hitler convinced normal German citizens to do his evil will and follow a 10-year-old who proudly joins the Hitler Youth in 1938.
• Enjoy the comforting story Hope Was Here, a tale of positive determination winning over corruption.
• Experience the true story of an American high school whose history teacher dangerously tests the power of peer pressure.

Biographies & Historical Fiction

Gripping biographies and novels add to your appreciation of history. For example, when you meet Chairman Mao in a history book, you also read a novel about his Red Army and a memoir of the terrifying Cultural Revolution. In addition:

• Meet Albert Einstein and get an amazingly understandable explanation of his theory of relativity.
• Read what many consider the greatest war novel of all time.
• Be inspired by Corrie Ten Boom's extraordinary Christian faith and her courage in hiding Jews during WWII.

Language Arts

Fully integrated with the Core 300 literature and history studies, this complete language arts program builds on past years and develops literary analysis, creative writing, research and essay skills. It spurs your students to write with passion and purpose.

Discover the world around you

Finish Core 300 with a deeper appreciation for the people and cultures of the modern world. Know the story behind modern conflicts and debates. And rest in our hope in Christ our savior.