Story of the World, a Great History Resource

As a homeschooling parent, you very soon discover the massive variety to select from when choosing curriculum for ANY and ALL studies. I know I pondered what programs to look at, that would fit well with my personality and that would offer intrigue to my children. Story of the World has offered the intrigue that we all desire, and for one of most people's least favorite subjects, history.

Story of the world is considered to be teaching in a classical method, meaning that all of the information is offered and taught in chronological order. Volume 1 of Story of the World covers Ancient Times, Volume 2 of Story of the World covers Middle Ages, Volume 3 of Story of the World covers Early Modern Times, and Volume 4 of Story of the World covers The Modern Age. This course of study is intended to be repeated, to maintain the chronological timeline of history. As an adult, I don't have all of the pieces to fit nicely into timeline fashion for history. However, after studying one year of Story of the World, I have a greater variety of information that does fit into a timeline.

While Story of the World isn't considered to be written as a curriculum with a Christian foundation, it is easily read along-side a Bible and to make reference during the reading of the chapters.

Story of the World has a wealth of information to offer. The reading books cover generally 42 Chapters of information. Each book has an activity guide with narration exercises, questions, map work, and activities that are suggested for each chapter. The activity books also have suggested history reading as well as other reading for children that correspond with the topics covered.

Within the Story of the World Activity Book, there are also other sources to utilize for teachers. One that I have found especially useful is the Usborne Internet linked Book of World History. The Internet Links are very detailed, fun, and allow children a safe environment to explore the Internet.

Each chapter within Story of the World is designed in two or three sections that are read aloud, or you can also utilize the audio CD's (sold separately). The reading can be done in a day or two days if parents' decide to separate the reading. There are coloring pages, reading suggestions, and map work to be done from the activity guide, and projects that can be completed individually or in a group.

I love the fact that I'm building bridges for myself on the history realm. I always did well in History classes in school, but never really enjoyed learning about history. I love this program and have had such a great time teaching this to my children. We enjoy the stories, creating a time line out of our maps, participating in the projects, and being able to review the information we've learned throughout the year.

My family has just finished using Volume 1 of Ancient Times and my son now has a great understanding of the beginning of time: the beginnings of the nomads, how they ended up in Egypt, how the Summerians and the Egyptians lived. How Mesopotamia started, and how each area of the world started their foundations. My children have enjoyed the stories told from the perspective of a child, specifically when we learned about the children in Sparta and how the children were taken away from their families at a young age to learn to fight in their Army. The stories really stick. My children talk about them frequently.

We live near Orlando, Florida, so we are able to visit Epcot frequently. My son has always loved the ride, Spaceship Earth, which is the story of history, it's progression and how communication has become so advanced. Now, he excitedly narrates the details because he has a great understanding of what is to come next.

We also just watched Night at the Museum, with Ben Stiller, and my son enjoyed watching the stories that he's been studying come to life. We had just completed our reading about Attila the Hun, and he had a great background of his life and why he would be in a museum.

In all, I value the content within Story of the World. I'm excited to receive the next Volume of Story of the World for use for our upcoming school year and to share our positive experiences with other families.

Peace Hill Press is the publisher of the Story of the World series, as well as all of Susan Wise Bauer's books. Check it out.