Once again we have been taking a journey back in time as my children and I soak up the adventures in the audio drama, For The Temple from Heirloom Audio. We recently received this 2-CD set for our listening pleasure and to share our review and honest opinions with you.
For The Temple is based on the G. A. Henty novel by the same name. This is a fictional story woven into a tale of real-life events that lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple in the year 70 A.D. Early in the story, the listener meets John who leads a band of young men who’s task is to harass the Roman soldiers in the regions of Palestine. We follow along with him on his journey as he meets ups with important characters in history like Titus, Vespasian and Josephus.
When John finds himself in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., we are there with him as the Roman army moves to attack the Temple. The dramatization, the voices, the actors make it seem as though you are really there. Heirloom Audio brings Christian radio theater into your home, your car and your preferred listening. Their high-quality audio dramas are exciting, wholesome and even educational.
Along with the 2-CD set, I received a downloadable study guide. This provided a wonderful way to expand our knowledge about this time period in history. Who were the Roman emperors of the time? Which generals were leading the army? Where were these cities and regions we hear about? How does all this fit together with what we read in our Bibles? This audio drama and it’s accompanying study guide showed us how history and religion are woven together.
There are 3 different sections in the guide that coordinate with each track (or chapter) on the CD:
- Listening Well gives you questions about what you have heard. How well did you pay attention? Did you pick up all the details and follow the story line?
- Thinking Further gives you thought provoking tasks and questions that take you a little deeper. Why are the Jews having difficulty defending their city? What are some of the tactics and strategies the Romans use? These are just a couple of the topics we’ve discussed when working through the study guide.
- Defining Words gives your students an opportunity to build their vocabulary as well as a better understanding of the story by defining words that were used. Listening to conversations that may have taken place 2,000 years ago as written by an author over 100 years ago will surely bring out new and challenging words.
These were all very helpful in making a fun, entertaining audio drama a part of our history lessons. But my favorite things about the study guide were the sections that came after the chapter questions and activities. Included in this study guide was More on The Destruction of Jerusalem for Older Children and Bible studies on the topics of No Other Savior, Proper Worship and Christ Our Temple.
This pdf file is easy to print and easy to use. I recommend printing the pages and binding them in a folder or 3-ring notebook. I also found it helpful to use an HDMI cable to connect my computer to our television so we could all view and discuss from the day’s lesson.
And now a word from my children, sharing their thoughts:
- My older daughter, age 17, says, “A great way to learn history that’s fun and interesting. And with the moral lessons, it’s a wonderful resource for learning about the Fall of Jerusalem or Ancient Rome.”
- My older son, age 16, says, “The acting in this drama is very good and the story is really interesting. The ending seemed a little rushed, but that may be because that was how the book was written. Still, I think it’s really good and I recommend it to others.”
- My younger son, age 14, says, “This audio retells the story of the destruction of Jerusalem in a new, exciting and interesting way that will appeal to all ages. The realistic sound design and experienced actors will transport you to ancient Rome and Israel for a truly enthralling experience!”
- My younger daughter, age 12, says, “I thought For The Temple was exciting and interesting. My favorite thing about the cd was the actors and their voices that made it all like real life.”
Our family has now built up a nice library of audio dramas from Heirloom Audio Productions. My past reviews of In The Rein of Terror, Captain Bayley’s Heir and Wulf of Saxon give you a glimpse of how much we have enjoyed our collection. Having the physical CD sets on the shelf makes it easy for my kids to grab their favorite drama as they head down to work on a project or for a day full of errands in the car. We also enjoy the digital version of these dramas so each person can listen individually (often with headphones) while they work on the computer.
Read about how my fellow Crew Mates have used this audio adventure in their homes and homeschools. Just click on the image below to find their reviews.
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