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In the quest to cover a little of everything from a particular time period AND present it at a level that a younger child can understand, most elementary history texts are, well, probably just a bit lacking in the exciting and shall we say “interesting” department. At least, I found it as such when I was much younger, although it led me to do a lot of self-reading to complete the picture in the areas that interested me. Susan Wise Bauer attempts to remedy this difficulty in presenting a chronological history to the younger set using a classical approach to history. The Story of the World is structured around a text and a curriculum guide/activity book that serve as a springboard for your futher history explorations. The readings in the text provide a background of the time period covered, augmented by the use of the guide, which contains review questions, suggestions for supplemental readings, appropriate literature selections, and also map activities, coloring pages, as well as an abundance of projects that span history, art, and science that are sure to excite the student.

The text itself serves as the starting point and backbone of each unit. Each chapter covers a particular time period, and is placed in chronological order. For example, in Volume One: Ancient Times, Chapter One begins with “The Earliest People” followed by chapters detailing periods of Egyptian, Sumarian, Jewish, Babylonian, Assyrian, Indian, Chinese, African, Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Persian, Native American, Roman, Christian, Celt, and Barbarian history. The book goes in strictly chronological order, so one time period of a civilization will be covered, and then a different civilization may be covered, returning to another era of the first civilization later, to encompass a significant historical event of that civilization. Each chapter is further split into smaller, more bite-sized amounts that lend themselves well to a younger attention span. The chapters are presented at a level they will understand, but at the same time, find fairly absorbing. History is presented in more of a story-type format that they will appreciate, and the author emphasizes that the book is not intended to give a complete overview of the time period, but rather to give the student a chronological order of major events and an appreciation and understanding of different cultures while presenting it in a way that will foster an enthusiasm and enjoyment of the subject matter. For example, while not every ruler of a civilization may be named, along with major accomplishments, an overview of the period highlighting important events and rulers, along with details of how the people in the civilizations lived comprise the short chapters. Mythical stories as well as historical fiction-type passages about young children from different cultures are woven into the narrative to stimulate further interest. These almost story-type chapters are meant to be read aloud to younger children, or those with reading difficulty, while good readers and older children can read or take turns reading the chapters aloud.

When a chapter has been completely read, you and the students then turn to the curriculum manual/actvitiy guide. At the beginning of each chapter in the guide, corresponding page references are given from four recommended supplements Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, The Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World, The Usborne Book of World History, and the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History. These selections further flesh out the history lessons, particularly for those periods or civilizations where less supplemental reading is available. When all the chapter reading has been accomplished, the next order of business are the reading comprehension-type review questions for each chapter section. Following the questions, the student is asked to summarize the chapter in a few sentences. The author again stresses that important facts be included in this narrative, but not necessarily every single one. A few sample narrations are also supplied for each section. The student’s narrative is then written, illustrated with his/her favorite part of the lesson. The narratives can be collected and put into a loose-leaf binder, to create the student’s own world history. After these activities have been completed, a list of readings chosen to supplement and complement the history lesson are supplied, as well as a following list of corresponding literature suggestions to further flesh out the lesson, with books telling stories from that era. Author, publisher, copyright date, and a sentence summary of each book are given for ease in locating the book.

Now for some real hands-on work! The activities commence with “Map Work,” where a map of the appropriate area is supplied, and the student identifies and marks pertinent areas, routes, and features. The geography section is normally followed by a coloring page, highlighting some aspect of the history lesson, or some other word activity. Finally, the chapter closes with a selection of projects to do to really “get into” the featured civilization or time period. These may be arts, crafts, writing, or science projects, or just fun supplemental activities. Most require only common household supplies and art supplies such as paints & paintbrushes, boxes, newspaper and waxed paper, self-drying clay, etc. Several projects are provided for each chapter, covering a wide range of activities. These could include anything from building your own hut to making your own cunieform tablets, mummifying a chicken, brick-making, baking an African or Greek feast, purple dye, an erupting volcano, an olympic wreath, a Native American sand painting, a Roman chariot, making paper, and LOTS more. When you’ve covered the chapter content as much as is desired, move on.

While the breadth of activities and readings may seem overwhelming or time-consuming, keep in mind that not every suggested book needs to be read, and not every single project needs to be completed. (But Mom, can’t we embalm the chicken today?) Spend as much time in an era as suits the students, pacing yourself to cover everything that is of interest. The structure of the curriculum makes it especially easy and enjoyable to use with several children in this age range, although I’m sure the older kids would love to get into it too!

Volume One was revised in 2006 and now features more illustrations, maps, several timelines and additional parent/teacher notes. The text is paperback, and the Curriculum Guide/Activity Book is a bound paperback. - Jess

Download PDF Sample of Volume I

Customer Reviews

 
Brittney S. from IOlive Branch, Mississippi wrote the following on 03/10/2004:
This is an excellent history text. It reads like a story book (as the title suggests) with appropriate language for first grade children. The author uses a mix of historical information and legends from the time and region being studied as well as fictional stories that allow the child to envision themselves in that time and place. Although pertinent information is covered, the chapters' size and content never allow for boredom. Each chapter of the book has a number of corresponding activities in the guide (#010993). The activities for every chapter range from highly involved (embalming a chicken) to simple (coloring a page). With each chapter, the author includes black line maps, coloring pages, even cartoons to color, craft projects, suggestions for further reading, both historical and literature. Last year I put together my own unit studies. I will never use another history program. Other than doing a craft project, or choosing a suggested book at the library for further reading, no prep time is needed. Highly recommended and cost effective.

 
Angie P. from Fredericktown, Ohio wrote the following on 04/01/2007:
This history curriculum was suggested last year during our end of the year assessment. I purchased it from Rainbow Resource Center last year for the 2006-2007 school year. At first, I wasn't sure it was the curriculum for us - the kids weren't too excited about the material, although they did seem to pay attention. I decided to stick with it and found that the issue was really that "Ancient Times" just wasn't as exciting to learn as Christopher Columbus, the Underground Railroad, and other history topics that we had previously studied. I am really glad I stuck with it! We are enjoying this history curriculum and it is easy to use. We have the text book and the activities book; we read aloud the portion of the chapter (already marked in the book) and orally answer the review questions in the activities book. The kids draw and narrate what they have learned that day on a sheet of paper which goes in their history notebooks. We do all of the suggested map work and coloring pages which also get added to their history notebooks. Sometimes we read some of the recommended literature (listed in the activity book) to add to our knowledge and ocassionally we also complete a suggested craft activity. Sometimes the kids are so enjoying the story that we read two or three days worth of material. We include history in our schedule two days a week and will complete about 2/3 of Volume 1 in this school year. I\'m excited about the idea of each kid having a history book of their own making that begins with the nomads in Ancient Times and will continue clear through history. The kids often get out their notebooks and look through them on their own - they enjoy looking at their work and they get a wonderful review in the process. Going through history chronologically is helpful to put it all in order in our brains and having Biblical stories/characters included help my children to understand that the Bible is a true historical record and it strongly reinforces our Bible studies as well. Are they retaining the information? The other evening we were watching an educational show on PBS when the Sahara Desert was shown and mentioned - the kids (grades 1st and 3rd) started yelling out to their dad, "Did you know that the Sahara Desert used to be full of trees and plants and many people used to live there?" Then, as they showed pictures on the show, my 3rd grade daughter started yelling, "Look it's a shaduf! That was the first farm machinery ever used!" Yes - they are retaining this information - that information was discussed in a history lesson 5 months ago! It's refreshing to have a curriculum that all of the family can do together (multi-age) and it's a relief off of my shoulders not to have to plan/create/gather any more than I desire!

 
Chalee G. from Jerome, ID wrote the following on 05/21/2007:
This history program is great. I used this with my 1st and 3rd grader. They both loved it. It reads just like a story which keeps their interest. The activity book is a great teacher help. Loads of hands on activities and map work, plus additional reading you can choose from, (which is completely optional). Plus there are coloring sheets which my girls love to do while I am reading. We will definitely use Volume 2 for next year.

 
Kim H. from Nazareth, PA wrote the following on 08/03/2007:
My daughter used to complain about history until we got this book. She is really interested in the stories (and so am I!) and doesn't complain about history any more. We used the activity book the 1st year, but didn't do everything. Mostly, we read some of the suggested books in there. This year I am only getting the test book to use as review of what she reads. She was 10 when she did this book, and we did the 2nd also, and now will be doing the 3rd this year. My daughter is very visual, but even though this doesn't have many pictures it didn't matter, since the stories are so interesting. She comes back to tell me things she read in the book, so I know she's retaining the information and understanding it, which she didn't in the more traditional history textbooks we used to do.

 
Teresa D. from Round Rock, Texas wrote the following on 10/25/2007:
The story format of this history text is interesting and short enough for my first grader, but I could see that an older child would get a lot deeper with the same material. I would strongly suggest the activity book to go with the history text if only for the matching maps and coloring sheets. I think that as my daughter colors a picture of what I am reading about-- while I read it-- that she is paying attention on multiple levels instead of her mind wandering. The texts are short enough for a single session, with each chapter broken into manageable chunks. As an adult I really appreciate the worldwide take on history-- not just Europe in here!

 
Linda R. from Indiana wrote the following on 02/26/2008:
We have thoroughly enjoyed this history program! ALL of my children have been able to participate on some level...They LOVE listening to the chapters being read and I especially like the activity guide with the coloring pages, narration questions, activities, and additional book lists...the children have enjoyed the maps and coloring pages. They have learned SO much this year about ancient history and it amazes me how much they remember! My kids are ages 2, 4, 6, and 8--there is SO much you can add to this curriculum if you wish, but if you choose to use it just as it is without anything extra then that is totally fine and so much more enriching than doing nothing at all...I also like the ease of using this program! It is pick up and go every time we are ready to do history!

 
Teri A. from North Carolina wrote the following on 08/02/2009:
We used Story of the World #1 as our 1st grade history text, as recommended in the Well-Trained Mind. This was an excellent grammar stage text for studying ancient history. There are 42 lessons, and many of them are told in a story format, which helped hold my son's attention. We did one lesson per week. There is a separate Activity Book, which I recommend purchasing, though it is at least double the price of the text book. The book can be used alone, of course, but the Activity Book has a lot of good ideas in it for bringing history alive in a hands-on manner. If you don't get the Activity Book, you'll need to get your maps from some other source (such as Blackline Maps of World History, Complete Set). This is considered to be not only a history course, but a geography course as well.

 
Brianna L. from Washington wrote the following on 06/10/2011:
We love Story of the World! I always hated history in school even though I got straight A's. I knew that I didn't have a coherent picture of the past. Teaching history to my kids used to scare me until I found this curriculum. First, I borrowed and read through the Ancient Times book. I couldn't put it down! I kept asking my husband things like "Have you ever heard of the Fertile Crescent?" "Did you know about the pictures carved into the ground in South America?" I had never learned about these things! Next, I bought the book and activity book. I am amazed at how much is packed into the activity book! I spent some time going through it, picked out the activities I wanted to do, made a list, and went to town to buy simple supplies and make copies of the coloring pages. The kids are so curious about the macaroni noodles, grass seed, clay, and dowels that I got for history. Now I will have practically no more prep time and the projects are going to be so fun to do! Final test: How do the kids like it? After the section about archaeology, my 6 year old begged, "Would you read that again?" He wanted to hear the text again before they went out on their own 'archaeological dig!' Today when I pulled out the book my 5 and 6 year olds said "Horray! History!" My 2 year old even participates in coloring and 'helping' with the projects, and the reading sections aren't long. I am able to read them before she gets too bored. I'm so happy to have this resource to begin teaching my kids (and myself) all about history! One more note: although this is not a Christian curriculum, it does respect the Christian perspective. There is no talk of evolution or the evolutionary time-line. In the book lists of the activity book, there are notes about the books that have evolutionary content or nudity, or might have content that is just too frightening for some children. I really appreciate this!

 
Colleen Y. from Ohio wrote the following on 04/13/2007:
I bought the entire four book series of Story of the World and handed them to my 12 and 15 year olds to see how they liked them. I perhaps deviated from the original plan for use of these books as I use them for a little bit older children . I also asked my children to keep a notebook where they record a bit of writing, narrations and pictures via the internet every day about what they are reading. They both have told me that before this year, they hated world history. They both have said that these are their favorite books of all they've read in our years of homeschooling. It has been no problem to get them to read these and they've been so unusually enthusiastic about it that my 11 and 12 year olds have picked them up to read now, too. These are definitely keepers for us.

 
Cathy W. from Camas, WA wrote the following on 08/29/2007:
This is the most incredible history program I have seen. It makes me wish I was in 1st grade again. I have 3 boys ages 2, 4, and 6 - one is auditory, one is visual and one is a hands-on learner. I use the book and activity notebook for all three of them at once. Today we did the archaeological dig. Donned with shovels, screens, and buckets, they all fell in love with history and school (they were in awe of the fact that mom actually told them to dig in the dirt and it was school work). They all learned more than I hoped for - not that many 2 year olds can successfully pronounce the word archaeologist and know what it means. I love that you can do as little or as much as you want with these books without feeling like you are going to miss something you will need to know for later on. I decided to choose one project per week and decided those ahead of time. I pulled all the supplies needed for the entire year and boxed it up. It is so clear what we will need that this completely stream-lined my year, making it a joy. Every week I cannot wait until Activity Day and that excitement gets my boys excited about school. I am getting more than my money's worth on this one!

 
Joanna R. from WV wrote the following on 06/02/2008:
My kids, 1st & 2nd grade LOVED this program! Their favorite thing we did in school this year was study the Ancient Greeks! It was fun to be able to study history/geography together with different age groups- especially with one reading well and one just starting to read. I found the activity book very helpful. The kids loved the craft suggestions and books. They loved to hear the narration. The coloring pages/ fun pages were also a great activity, though I found some things like crossword puzzles didn't really appeal to my 1st grader yet. I found that we did history about 2-3 times a week and that was enough to get our book done. I also supplemented with some videos/documentaries and kid-friendly websites, such a a Jim Henson's Muppet Theater of Greek Myths & Legends from Netflix. How awesome was it the night we started watching a PBS documentary about the demise of the Ancient Minoans and my kids knew all about the geography of Crete and Greece. My husband was stunned that they knew the subject so well. And imagine my delight when my 2nd grader asked if I thought Hammurabi or Alexander the Great were the greater influence on the world. I wish I could find more of the literature recommended in my public library, but it's not a very big library. Also, my 1st grader has a very short attention span with a low level of frustration when it comes to concentration. My 2nd gr. son is a quick, self-guided learner. They both loved this series and comprehended it well. We didn't even use the tests though we may as they get older. We also set up some of their projects for grandparents to see as they were very proud of their work and loved to talk about everything they learned. As a history lover myself, I found that it was very good not just at the boring dates and facts, but it showing how one civilization or event or person influenced or paved the way for others, which is such an important part of understanding history. And it is easy to teach. Read the narration, which is divided into short sections, pick which activities and literature you want to do, color the pages, and supplement with a few good resources, and your kids can really understand history, even if it wasn't your favorite subject. Highly recommended!

 
Darlene H. from New Albany, IN wrote the following on 02/20/2009:
I have used this series with three of my children and am about to start it up all over again with my youngest. You would think I'd be bored having to read it ALL over again with another child. Wrong! I can't wait to share this wonderful series with my daughter. Susan has such a way of making history come alive right before our eyes! My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books, but my favorite was Book 4. It was not only interesting to read, but I learned many facts I didn't learn in all my years of school! Not even in my high school years! I especially like the activity book that goes along with this volume. It gently taught my kids how to write an outline and then gradually transitioned them into writing from an outline. These are valuable skills for kids to learn before they are expected to write essays in the high school years. I can't say enough about this series and heartily recommend it to anyone who will listen to me!

 
Maureen M. from Montana wrote the following on 03/10/2009:
I used this program with my 7 year old daughter. She has thoroughly enjoyed it and shares her knowledge of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Roman Empire with all our dinner guests. During free time, she often incorporates her new knowledge into her pretend play with her younger brother as they sail down the Nile River (our hallway) or dress up as Spartan warriors. The SOTW activity book is easy to use. Information is laid out for well for ease of use during a lesson. We found the maps and coloring pages to be beneficial in solidifying the lesson in my daughter's mind. Most of the activities did not seem, to me, to be beneficial in proportion to their time and effort. Of the ones we did try, the directions were not very clear. The library in our area is not worth mentioning, so the supplemental book list included was not helpful to me. Susan Wise Bauer calls this text a spine that is meant to be supplemented. We have very easily incorporated Bible and Church history into this course with the use of a children's Bible and "Peril and Peace" of the History Lives series. We are very much looking forward to volume 2.

 
Kathy A. from Southeast Wisconsin wrote the following on 10/23/2009:
Story of the World is authored by homeschooling graduate/homeschooling mother, Susan Wise Bauer. The series consists of a four volume set of "storybooks" which tell the history of the world from the earliest nomads to the events of the late 20th century. The series is written in a narrative tone, reminiscent of the late V.M. Hillyer's style of writing. Volume 1 covers the time period of the earliest nomads to the last Roman emperor. Volume 2 covers the time period fall of Rome to the rise of the Renaissance. Volume 3 covers the time period from Elizabeth I to the Forty Niners. Volume 4 covers the time period from Victoria's empire to the end of the USSR. To round out your history curriculum I would highly recommend purchasing the activity books which accompany each volume. The activity books correspond with the chapters in each of the four volumes. For each chapter there are review questions, narration exercise, additional history reading, writing/craft/art projects, and an activity. In the back of each activity book there is a section titled student pages which consists of maps, coloring pages and review cards to create a world history notebook. Science is not included in this study, but you can use Jim Wiese's book "Ancient Science" as a starting point. Based on our experience with this series and the content of the curriculum I would recommend it for Grades 5-8. Overall I am pleased with Ms. Bauer's approach to world history and look forward to using this as a unit study in our homeschool.

 
Katrena R. from Shingle Springs, CA wrote the following on 11/14/2010:
Our family absolutely loved the Story of the World. I have three girls that are each 13 months apart and I loved that I can use it with all three at the same time which makes it well worth the money! Because one of my girls has a learning disability and the Story of the World is actually told like a story I really didn't have to do any extra work so she could understand. Very easy to use! Well worth it. Enjoy!

 
Melanie R. from Florida wrote the following on 04/04/2011:
I've been using Story of the World as a spine to go along with the Truthquest History guides and it has suited this purpose perfectly. While I would never choose this program as my primary history source because of its lack of Christian focus, Story of the World is a great addition to history studies. Susan Wise Bauer covers things that other history programs often leave out and her literary style is quite engaging. My daughter is 9 and really enjoys these books. My son is 15 and I sometimes assign a chapter from SOTW for him on a topic that is hard to find a "living book" that covers the subject. I enjoy reading them as well, so that makes these books great for all ages! They are inexpensive and a wonderful resource to have on your bookshelf. I don't use the activity books as our homeschool is very literature based. We save the hands on stuff for art and science mostly and just read a lot of good books about History. If your kids are really hands on, you may prefer to use them though. I've heard they are really good. To sum it all up, I think these books are excellent supplements to an indepth study of history.