Story of the World
Well-Trained Mind Press · Susan Wise Bauer · Grades 1-8
Classical and eclectic secular homeschoolers grades 1-6 wanting coherent world-history narrative; auditory learners and car-schooling households (Jim Weiss audiobook); families wanting a flexible spine with massive supplemental community
$30-55/volume with activity book
Overview
Story of the World is the most widely-used homeschool history program in print, a four-volume narrative covering ancient times through the modern era. Susan Wise Bauer writes history as story. Kids listen to chapters as a series of human events, then narrate, do map work, and read supplementary trade books from the included activity guide. The four-year cycle is designed to run through three times: once in elementary, again in middle, again in high school, going deeper each pass. Mildly Protestant-flavored in places but largely secular; widely used by Christian, classical, and secular families alike.
Strengths
- •Jim Weiss audiobook is a phenomenon. Community describes retention without formal 'study'
- •Activity Book provides multi-sensory scaffolding across wide age spread
- •global perspective on simultaneous civilizations
- •outstanding value ($20/text)
- •huge supplemental community with spine maps, notebooking pages, co-op curricula
Limitations
- •Volume 4 (Modern Times) noticeably thinner on activities. Consistent community complaint
- •historical accuracy concerns flagged by historians (British history, WWI)
- •does NOT satisfy evangelical families wanting providential/biblical worldview history
- •shallow for middle school without heavy supplementation
- •some Christians object to mythology alongside biblical accounts
Best fit for
Classical and eclectic secular homeschoolers grades 1-6 wanting coherent world-history narrative; auditory learners and car-schooling households (Jim Weiss audiobook); families wanting a flexible spine with massive supplemental community
What's in the line
4 separate products in this brand. Pick the right one for your child's age and stage.
The honest read
Possibly the most widely-used history curriculum in secular/classical homeschool circles. Enormous enthusiast base, significant criticism from both left (too Western-centric) and right (not Christian enough), and well-documented quality fall-off at Volume 4. The audiobook (Jim Weiss narration) earns near-universal praise. Many families report children absorbing substantial history passively through car rides.
Get Story of the World
Classical and eclectic secular homeschoolers grades 1-6 wanting coherent world-history narrative; auditory learners and car-schooling households (Jim Weiss audiobook); families wanting a flexible spine with massive supplemental community
SHOPRelated in History
Story of the World
$30-55/volume with activity book