Story of the World is a four-volume history curriculum created by Susan Wise Bauer. It tells world history as a continuous story, making it engaging for kids.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population. Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests.
What is story of the world?
Story of the World is a four-part history curriculum from BetterSchool. Written by Susan Wise Bauer, it presents world history as a continuous story. This makes learning fun and memorable for kids. Each volume covers a different time period, from ancient civilizations to modern times. Plus, there are activity books filled with maps, projects, and extra materials. For over twenty years, this curriculum has helped kids love history.
What's included in the activity books?
Each volume has an activity book that turns the story into a complete curriculum. The teacher's section gives directions for activities, reading lists, and review questions with answers. The student section has about 150 pages of maps, puzzles, games, coloring sheets, and review cards. Hands-on projects let kids build ancient huts, make cuneiform tablets, and even mummify a chicken. These activity books make Story of the World more than just a read-aloud.
How families use story of the world
Most families teach history two to three times a week, covering one chapter each week. A typical lesson starts with reading the chapter aloud or listening to the audio. Then, they discuss it using review questions. Map work helps with geography, and families choose projects based on their time and interest. There are more chapters than weeks in a school year, so some families either extend the curriculum or focus on favorite chapters. Many homeschoolers repeat the four-year cycle twice: once in elementary school and again in middle school for a deeper understanding.
Considerations before you buy
Story of the World is considered faith-friendly and neutral. It talks about biblical events alongside other historical narratives. Some Christian families prefer alternatives like Mystery of History if they want a more biblical focus. Volume 4 covers modern times and includes more mature topics, so Susan Wise Bauer doesn’t recommend it before fourth grade. Some historians point out a few inaccuracies, especially in British history sections. It's best used as a foundation, supplemented with extra books, videos, and primary sources.
The bottom line
Story of the World remains a favorite history curriculum for homeschoolers for good reason. Its storytelling approach engages kids who might find history boring. The activity books offer enough geography, literature, and hands-on learning to create a full program. This curriculum works well for families with kids of different ages. Younger and older students can listen to the same chapters while doing activities suited to their age. If you want chronological world history told as a story, consider Story of the World for your homeschool.
