Skip to main content

Review: The Story of the World Volume 1 & Test

If you are searching for a seamless, engaging introduction to world history, The Story of the World is an absolute gold standard. One of my favorite features as an educator with dyslexia is the manageable chapter length; the readings are concise and approachable, preventing the "information overload" that often comes with historical texts. For families who are constantly on the move, there is also an audiobook version available—a popular choice among fellow homeschoolers for "car-schooling" sessions. While the depth of the material occasionally covers topics I don’t even remember from my own school days, I appreciate the global perspective. It introduces diverse cultures and belief systems in a way that is respectful and historically focused, showing the rich tapestry of what people have believed throughout time.


The true heartbeat of this curriculum, however, is the Activity Book. I actually took mine to a local office supply store to have it spiral-bound—separating the teacher instructions from the student pages—which has made our daily lessons much more organized. The teacher portion includes specific comprehension questions and answers, which helps me pinpoint the most vital takeaways from each chapter. It also provides a curated list of supplemental literature if you want to dive deeper into a specific era or civilization. 


Our daughter thoroughly enjoys the student activity pages. Each section includes detailed maps where she can color, draw, and identify the geographical locations mentioned in the text. The teacher’s guide provides step-by-step instructions for these map activities, ensuring the student is building a strong spatial understanding of history. Depending on the lesson, the pages might also feature coloring sheets, word searches, or crossword puzzles, keeping the "seat work" varied and interesting.


Perhaps the most exciting element is the plethora of hands-on projects suggested in the manual. These activities truly bring history to life. Because there are often more ideas than we have time for, I like to prep ahead of time and select the projects that align best with our daughter’s interests. Whether we are recreating an ancient artifact or cooking a period-accurate snack, these projects turn abstract dates into tangible memories.


To ensure long-term retention, we also utilize the Story of the World Test Booklet. The exams feature a mix of matching, multiple-choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions. Even if you aren't a "testing family," these booklets serve as an excellent review tool to gauge understanding during your hands-on projects. We consistently find our history resources through Timberdoodle, and I highly recommend exploring the various levels of this series to find the right fit for your student. It has transformed history from a dry subject into the favorite part of our homeschooling week!

Labels:

Comments

  1. Gina @ OaxacabornJuly 1, 2021 at 7:12 PM

    Isn't it crazy how much SOTW covers? We just finished Book 2 this year, and wow. So much packed into a relatively small paperback.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BettyJuly 5, 2021 at 3:02 PM

    I need to look into this series for my 2nd grader!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: All About Reading Level 4

We have officially reached the summit of  All About Reading Level 4 , and I am currently accepting trophies, high-fives, and perhaps a very large latte. If you had told me a few years ago that we’d be tackling "anomalous phonetic structures" and "loanwords" without a total household meltdown, I would have assumed you were hallucinating. Yet, here we are, and I am officially a fan-girl for All About Learning Press. This final level is essentially the "Black Belt" of literacy instruction, diving into the deep end of the linguistic pool with a level of clarity that is frankly miraculous. The curriculum tackles those treacherous "borrowed" words that usually make the English language look like it was put together in a blender. As a dyslexic educator teaching a fellow dyslexic, I’ll be entirely transparent: I encountered phonetic principles in these four levels that were completely absent from my own public school experience. I was basically learning ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Djeco Pompom Pictures - All Aboard

Djeco Pompom  is a super cute and easy art craft for toddlers. They just put the pompoms on the corresponding dots. I like that it comes with all the pompoms you need. However, the glue stick they give you doesn’t make the pompoms sticks to the board. I tried regular glue and that didn’t work either so I ended up having to use a hot glue gun. So, I suggest having hot glue if you get this. There are small circles on the boards to let you know what color pompom goes where so it’s pretty self-explanatory. The kit does come with a small manual that it done with pictures so even your little one can look at the manual and understand which pompoms go on which board. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: A to Z Board Book

In our household, literature is the cornerstone of early education, so we began our daily reading rituals when our daughters were mere infants. While our shelves are currently burgeoning with an eclectic array of alphabet primers, the  A to Z Board Book  has secured a particularly prestigious position in our rotation. As the name suggests, this is a board book—a vital feature for anyone navigating the "destructive" phase of toddlerhood. My youngest has a penchant for paper shredding that would rival a high-end office machine, so the sturdy construction of a board book is a non-negotiable necessity. However, because this is a "lift-the-flap" volume, I maintain a strict "supervised access only" policy to ensure the flaps remain attached to their respective pages. We have integrated this book into our daily school routine, as it offers a multifaceted sensory experience. My daughter is currently enchanted by the interactive elements, relishing the opportunity ...
Post a Comment
Read more