Teaching History to Multiple Children

Yes, you can resort to a pre-packaged curriculum with a history text that is "fun" to read.  Maybe I am biased because I hated history so much in high school that I wanted to burn my book!  Looking back now, I do see why I found it boring, yet I am acutely aware that history is anything but boring.  I am eating this up now!

We have discovered a nifty little program called The Story of the World.  It is intended for early elementary grades.  There are four volumes each covering a years worth of history for grades 1-4.  They are presented chronologically- which makes a lot of sense.  The intent of the program is to build a framework of knowledge that your child can build on later. 

We do history together 2-3 days per week.  We start by mom reading a chapter of TSOTW out loud to all of the kids, and then complete a geography map and review questions of what we read.  For the maps, you will need the activity books too.  They are priceless when it comes to making history fun and lively for your child!

Even though this program is meant for younger children, you are still encouraged to use the framework of it for older kids.  Use the outlines and topics and have them review then dig deeper.  It can be repeated 3 times, or you can use it once, or use it twice. 

Our first year, we mummified a chicken!  You can find the full instructions in the activity guide for book one, or I have some pics and a shortened version here:

http://lori-alifetimeoflearning.blogspot.com/2010/11/history-meets-science-making-chicken.html

We also made mosaics out of food when we studied Rome and Julius Caesar.  Romans love mosaics, but they made theirs of stone...of course! 

http://lori-alifetimeoflearning.blogspot.com/2010/10/making-mosaics.html

Not every activity is as labor-intensive.  When we studied ancient China we learned Chinese calligraphy with watercolor:
http://lori-alifetimeoflearning.blogspot.com/2010/10/looking-for-living-water.html

The activity guides also contain literature suggestions.  We read many a library book last year!  We even read a children's version of The Odyssey!  My kids rolled on the flooor laughing at the blind cyclops! 


All of these projects are ideas found within the pages of The Story of the World.  We have loved it immensely.  It is probably what I look forward to most each week!  You can get it here:

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/

Or...you can do what I do and get it on Ebay!  Happy shopping!