February 25, 2005
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We’ve finally finished Year One of the history curriculum (which we started two years ago in France).
The Story of the World: Volume I has been a wonderful history spine: a very gentle introduction to the reality of history for my somewhat sensitive son. (He has just declared his refusal to read any more biography, because “they always die at the end.”) This is a secular resource, in that the stories of different civilizations and their religions are told from *their* point of view, with no comment on the veracity or value of the stories/myths/religions; on the other hand, this makes it congenial to virtually all of the faiths expressed. The foundational stories and major turning points for the world’s major religions are told; thus a Jew, a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, or a Christian will find herself part of this history, with her faith being neither affirmed *nor* renarrated from a “historian’s” “objective” point of view. A thoroughgoing atheist-secularist may be frustrated at the respectful tone of these stories, and an Ussher-style creationist will object to the chronology of the first two chapters (the story starts with the first human civilizations, which are dated between 10000 and 6000 BC), but from my perspective, this is secular history done right. For first graders, no less.
A family interested in a particular culture *will* have to supplement. Oddly enough, this includes Americans! In Volume II, which we’ve just started, I feared that England was being covered “better” than France; but I’ve realized that Brits and Americans would say that their history is being covered sketchily. This really is a WORLD history, and if you, as a homeschooler, need to cover your own culture or nation “better” than this, get thee a library card and a good book list.
Incidentally, the corresponding Activity Pack (the “currently reading” picture) contains maps, coloring pages, activity suggestions, and . . . that good book list you need, arranged according to the SOTW chapter. Pricey, but probably worth it.
Comments (4)
I really like Susan Wise Bauer, although I’m teaching history using the Usborne Book of World History and supplementing with library books. The Well-Trained Mind has become my homeschooling Bible.
You have an interesting blog. I just happened to stumble across it while browsing through the “families who homeschool” blog ring.
I think I would also like this resource, although I have also been happy with Sonlight Curriculum’s use of the Usborne Book of World History. I haven’t been as pleased with their use of Hillyer’s A Child’s History of the World, but we can work with what we have. What will you move on to next? With Sonlight, we do two years of world history, then two years of American history, then a year of the Eastern Hemisphere (which my oldest child is thoroughly enjoying), then we begin the cycle again, although the second time through, American history is only covered for one year, and church history is given a year. Next year I will have one child in the 2nd round of world history, two beginning American history, and a four year old who is learning the basics and listening in when he feels like it.
We are listening to vol I on tape and jumping into vol II full force with the activity manual next. My children are very interested in the middle ages and want to immerse themselves in that time period so I have decided to go with their interests to delve deeper. When we are trying to cover a multi-age group it becomes more complicated.
Thanks for the review.
We will be using our library card and I always include my biased opinion whenever we are covering any history!
What are you memorizing for history “pegs” as they recommend in the WTM? I’m thinking of the list of wars in the back of the Kingfisher reference as history does seem to flow that direction as your little one has already sadly discovered.
We’re not memorizing anything just yet. I’ve seen that the Activity Guide for SOTW II has memorization suggestions–I’m waiting till I get mine, and I’ll probably start with those. I just couldn’t bear to go the “list of wars” route (not yet–maybe in a coupla years), and the AG has more wide-ranging suggestions–names, poems, etc.
Do you like the SOTW on tape? I was looking longingly at it . . .