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Susan Wise Bauer - The Story of the World:...
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awlafon's Review
Susan Wise Bauer - The Story of the World: History for the Classical Chid Ancient Times From the Earliest Nomad to the Last Ro Review
Overall 5.00 of 5
(by 1 user)
The Story of the World: The FAV in our homeschool world
reading non-fiction, making learning fun, a homeschool Mom, a teacher
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AUG
9
2008
History for the Classical Child
Volume 1: Ancient Times
From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor
By Susan Wise Bauer
As a former teacher turned stay at home Mom, I was contemplating combining my two favorite careers and becoming a homeshooling Mom. I read a lot of books for guidance and one of my favorites was The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Norton, 1999) co-authored by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. I was so impressed with this book that I checked out the history curriculum, The Story of the World, by Susan Wise Bauer. I am glad that I did and not just for my kids. I wish I had this history curriculum when I was in school!
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 1: Ancient Times is written in a very straightforward manner with quite an engaging tone. It is meant to be a read aloud for parents and elementary school age children. There is also an activity book sold separately that includes ideas for hands on activities, an awesome supportive reading list and some worksheets. My daughter rechecks out and rechecks out many of the library books recommended by The Story of the World.
Although it doesn’t say so on The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 1: Ancient Times, I have read else where that it is intended for grades first through fourth. The book has 325 pages and 42 chapters that average 4 to 8 pages per chapter. There are no specific break downs that tell you which chapters to use for each grade so each family could set there own pace. I am on my fourth year of using this book and my thinking was that we could move faster in the third and fourth grades than first and second so I planned 8 chapters for 1st grade, 10 chapters for 2nd and 12 chapters for each 3rd and 4th grade and that pace has worked for us.
Susan Wise Bauer has a gift for making history understandable, interesting and relevant to kids today. I often read to my kids in the car and my husband even likes listening to this one. I never get the “please, I can’t take it anymore” eye from my husband when I read from The Story of the World.
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 1: Ancient Times covers from the first nomads to the last Roman Emperor. It is followed up by:
Volume 2: Middle Ages
Volume 3 Early Modern Times
There are activity books, tests booklets and audio books available for each of the volumes.
I asked my daughter to share her feelings about this book:
“I thought it was really interesting how the first nomads used the river to become farmers. I liked everything about Egypt but my favorite were the stories from Ancient China about the silkworm.
I like the library books it suggests. One Blue Bead and all of the Lyle the Crocodile books are great.
There is a lot of stuff in this book but I am always surprised how much I can remember from the activities we’ve done.”
This was very interesting to me. When she finished the chapter on Ancient China we bought her a silk kimono and had a tea party. Wonder if that influenced her memory of and fondness for Ancient China?
My Viewpoint:
I used a lot of curriculums as a classroom teacher and homeschooling Mom, and The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 1: Ancient Times is my favorite history curriculum hands down. It is thorough, easy to use and engaging. I am looking to using the next volumes and to starting this one over when my son starts first grade.
Susan Wise Bauer - The Story of the World: History for... is recommended by awlafon |
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