We enjoyed the first volume of Story of the World so much that I felt like a certified historian by the end of it—honestly, I learned as much as she did! Naturally, we’ve graduated to Volume 2: The Middle Ages this year. I handle this particular curriculum with a bit of "editorial discretion." History can be a tad more... stabby... than my sensitive seven-year-old prefers, so I make it a point to pre-read each section. I summarize or omit the particularly gruesome bits so we can focus on the "cool" parts of the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance without any nightmares.
The Activity Book is an absolute necessity and, in my opinion, the heart of the program. It is brimming with supplemental reading lists that allow us to fall down wonderful "rabbit holes" of extra literature. The instructor's section also includes structured review questions and narration exercises that ensure her brain is actually absorbing the information. We usually aim for a two-to-five sentence summary for these exercises, which is the perfect way to make sure she’s grasped the "big picture" of the chapter.
Then, there are the projects. Oh, the projects! The book lists everything from medieval culinary experiments to traditional crafts and period-appropriate games. We generally select one or two per chapter, and they are consistently a massive hit. There is nothing quite like recreating a historical event in your kitchen to make a lesson stick. The instructions are clear, the materials are usually things you already have, and the "fun factor" is off the charts. It turns a history lesson into a memory-making session.
The student pages are equally fantastic, featuring cartography (map work), coloring pages, and tactile crafts. One of the best perks? The book explicitly allows you to photocopy these pages for home use. This is a total win for families with multiple children because you can just print what you need for each kid without buying a whole new set of books. It makes the curriculum incredibly economical while still feeling premium and high-quality for every student involved.
To add a bit of extra "oomph" to our Middle Ages study, we used the UGears 4Kids Knight on Horseback kit from our Timberdoodle box. I strategically hid it away until we actually reached the chapter on knights, and the wait was worth it! It was a delightful opportunity for her to build and paint her own mechanical knight, and it brought the textbook to life in a way a simple drawing never could. Story of the World is a foundational element of our school day, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. What are you using for history this year? Let us know in the comments!
Comments
Post a Comment