What is The Story of The World?
The Story of the World is a four-volume narrative history curriculum that traces the history of the world from ancient times up to the 2000s.
Volume 1: Ancient Times – Covers the major ancient civilizations including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, and the Americas up to the late 400s CE.
Volume 2: The Middle Ages – Focuses on the major medieval civilizations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas from the late 400s to the 1500s.
Volume 3: Early Modern Times – Explores the Renaissance, Reformation, Elizabethan era, Chinese dynasties, Ottomans, and more from 1600-1850.
Volume 4: The Modern Age – Examines the late 1800s to early 2000s including industrialization, imperialism, the World Wars, communism, and globalization.
Across the four volumes, the series highlights interconnectedness through stories on trade, religion, politics, technology diffusion, migrations, and conquests. The engaging narrative emphasizes impactful people, cultures, and events. Maps, illustrations, and informational sidebars enrich comprehension and interest. Overall, The Story of the World provides a cohesive overview of world history tailored for elementary students.
What do students learn from The Story of the World?
Students learn a wide range of concepts and skills from this course, including:
- Chronological understanding of major eras and events in world history, from ancient times to the present
- Knowledge of influential cultures, civilizations, and historical figures across time periods and regions
- Analysis of primary sources like artifacts, images, and documents to learn about the past
- Recognition of how interconnected events and innovations shaped human development
- An appreciation for the diversity of human experiences and perspectives throughout history
- Critical evaluation of historical claims and accounts from different perspectives
- Improved comprehension through engaging narrative, visuals, and informational text features
- Development of “big picture” perspective to contextualize modern societies and current events
- Enriched literacy skills through reading, discussion, and written responses
- Practice of historical thinking skills like causation, change and continuity over time
- Curiosity and passion for the human story across eras and places
In summary, The Story of the World helps students gain a comprehensive overview of world history while building essential literacy and critical thinking skills. Students come away with an enriched understanding of the diverse and interconnected human journey.
Course (1)
I have designed and developed curriculum for The Story of The World, a world history course tailored for young learners from 6 to 12 years old.
The Story of The World - Susan Wise Bauer
The Story of the World is an award-winning series of narrative history textbooks by Susan Wise Bauer aimed at elementary school students.
First published in 2001, the series covers the global past from ancient times up to the 2000s across four volumes – Volume 1: Ancient Times, Volume 2: The Middle Ages, Volume 3: Early Modern Times, and Volume 4: The Modern Age.
The books utilize engaging storytelling, complemented by illustrations, maps, timelines, and information boxes, to convey world history in a cohesive, chronological format appropriate for young learners.
The volumes trace how civilizations and societies across the world developed and interacted with one another. They highlight connections between cultures while also providing geographic and historical context.
The text is written in an accessible style to pique students’ interest.
Critical thinking questions, activities, craft projects, and lesson plans in the accompanying guides enrich comprehension and retention.
The curriculum helps students recognize historical concepts like change, continuity, and causation.
Review quizzes and tests are included to assess student progress.
First developed as a resource for homeschooling parents, The Story of the World has become popular in public and private schools alike for its creativity and integrated approach.
It is lauded for its ability to bring history to life for elementary students and cultivate a passion for the subject.
The series stands out as a unique and engaging world history program for young learners.
