SOTW Vol 1 Chapter Order out of wack (and Vol 3)

[LolaT]

(I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I didn't find anything with a quick search).

 

So, I'm doing SOTW Vol 1 for the second time around with my 3rd grader and K'er. (First time for them). I also started SOTW Vol 3 with DD10 and I'm noticing the chapters are not exactly in chronological order which I'm finding very annoying. It seems more out of order than Vol 2. I don't know.

 

Now, it's bothering me with Vol 1 as well.  Has anyone reorganized the chapters to be taught in chronological order or is the way they are presented really the way that's going to make the best sense?

[kiwik]

I think they are in chronological order but it keeps going until there is a good place to stop if that makes sense.

[LolaT]

I think they are in chronological order but it keeps going until there is a good place to stop if that makes sense.

Nope, I don't get it.

???

[TheAttachedMama]

No, SOTW is NOT in Chronological order at all.   It tends to focus on what was happening in certain places in the world. 

 

Personally, I would suggest just reading through the book as is because it will make the most sense that way.  The book is written like a story book.  HOWEVER, we also keep a timeline and put an entry down for each chapter (or important person mentioned).   This helps us visually see what was happening around the world.   My kids are young (7 & 8).   So they may not fully grasp the timeline.   However, we are keeping it just the same so that they can build upon it in the future.   We also memorize a timeline too.  

 

 

[LolaT]

In Vol 3 in particular though, it feels like it doesn't make sense at all. It's really jumpy. Do you see more of a discrepancy with the times in Vol 3?

 

[tomandlorih]

We are doing SOTW1 this year and I put them in as close to civilization order as I could.  I am also using Ancient Science by Jim Wiese and incorporating civilization specific art and lots of books from our library in the book basket.  (I dropped the Bible chapters since we cover that separately and I wanted to be done in 38 weeks).  I have not found it to be awkward so far.  Occasionally, there will be a reference to "do you remember when we talked about" in the beginning of the chapter but it is very brief and isn't confusing to my ds so far.  Hope it helps.  (or inspires:)

First Grade - SOTW vol 1
 

Class Syllabus for the 2015-2016 School Year:
Quarter 1
September
WEEK 1 
HISTORY: Prehistory, Part 1 – Story of the World – Introduction
ART: Cave Painting, Pictographs (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1, Lesson 18)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Dawn of Time – Project 1, The Stone Age & Project 3, Sweet Tooth

WEEK 2
HISTORY: Prehistory, Part 2 – SOTW Ch. 1: The Earliest People
ART: Petroglyphs/Venus Figurines
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Dawn of Time – Project 2, Make It Grow

WEEK 3
HISTORY: Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumer – SOTW Ch. 3: The First Writing, Part 1
ART: Cylinder Seals
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Dawn of Time – Project 4, Sky Sign

WEEK 4
HISTORY: Ancient Mesopotamia, Sumer – SOTW Ch. 5: The First Sumerian Dictator
ART: Weaving on a Hanging Loom
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Fertile Crescent – Project 4, Money, Money, Money

 

October
WEEK 5
HISTORY: Ancient Mesopotamia, Assyria – SOTW Ch. 8: The Assyrians
ART: Cone Mosaics
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Fertile Crescent – Project 3, Where in the World

WEEK 6
HISTORY: Ancient Mesopotamia, Assyria – SOTW Ch. 16: The Return of Assyria
ART: Cunieform Tablets (SOTW AG, Pg 17)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Fertile Cresent – Project 1, Scrubbing Bubbles

WEEK 7
HISTORY: Ancient Mesopotamia, Babylon – SOTW Ch. 7: Hammurabi and the Babylonians
ART: Bas Relief (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1, Lesson 23)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Fertile Crescent – Project 2, Free Wheeling

WEEK 8
HISTORY: Ancient Mesopotamia, Babylon – SOTW Ch. 17: Babylon Takes over again! & Ch. 21: The Medes and the Persians
ART: Babylonian Mosaics inspired by the Gate of Ishtar
SCIENCE: Irrigation, chain pumps and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

WEEK 9
HISTORY: Ancient Africa – SOTW – Chapter 11: Ancient Africa
ART: Painted Hands (SOTW AG, pg 39)
SCIENCE: Deadliest African Animals and Thorn Fence Construction

Quarter 2
November
WEEK 10
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 1 – SOTW Ch. 2: Egyptians Lived on the Nile River
ART: Egyptian Pot
SCIENCE: Begin Chicken Mummy Project

WEEK 11
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 2 – SOTW Ch. 3: The First Writing, Part 2
ART: Make paint and small brushes
SCIENCE: Make papyrus

WEEK 12
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 3 – SOTW Ch. 4: The Old Kingdom of Egypt
ART: Hieroglyphics – Cartouche Bookmark
SCIENCE: Ancient Science - Science Among The Pyramids – Project 5, Hieroglyphics

WEEK 13
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 4 – SOTW Ch. 4: The Old Kingdom of Egypt, cont.
ART: Art in Pyramids – Egyptian Murals & “Frontalism†(Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1 -Lesson 21)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science - Science Among The Pyramids – Project 2, Pyramid Power


 

December
WEEK 14
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 5 – SOTW Ch. 12: The Middle Kingdom of Egypt
ART: Art on Floors – Egyptian Pavement Painting (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1 -Lesson 22)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science - Science Among The Pyramids – Project 1, Sticking Together

WEEK 15
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 6 – SOTW Ch. 13: The New Kingdoms of Egypt
ART: Golden Death Mask
SCIENCE: Ancient Science - Science Among The Pyramids – Project 3, Measure Up

WEEK 16
HISTORY: Ancient Egypt, Part 7 – SOTW Ch. 13: The New Kingdoms of Egypt, cont.
ART: Sarcophagus and Canopic Jars
SCIENCE: Ancient Science - Science Among The Pyramids – Project 4, Keeping Time 1 and finish Chicken Mummy project

 

January
WEEK 17
HISTORY: Ancient India, Part 1 – SOTW Ch. 9: The First Cities of India
ART: Indus Valley Water Pot – Pottery Wheel
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Far East – Project 1, Flying High

WEEK 18
HISTORY: Ancient India, Part 2 – SOTW Ch. 30: The Aryans of India
ART: Chalk & Rice Dust Doorstep Drawings (Rangoli)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Far East – Project 2, Going Up With A Bang!

WEEK 19
HISTORY: Ancient India, Part 3 – SOTW Ch. 31: The Mauryan Empire of India
ART: Radial Design Mandalas – Sacred Geometry in Buddhist Art
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Far East – Project 5, True North

Quarter 3
January
WEEK 20
HISTORY: Ancient China, Part 1 – SOTW Ch. 10: The Far East: Ancient China
ART: Chinese Dragon Puppet & Chinese Paper Cutting
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Far East – Project 6, Count On It


February
WEEK 21
HISTORY: Ancient China, Part 2 – SOTW Ch. 32: China: Writing and the Qin
ART: Chinese Calligraphy & “Bamboo†Slat Book
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Far East – Project 3, Write On & Project 4, Cool Treats

WEEK 22
HISTORY: Ancient China, Part 3 – SOTW Ch. 33: Confucius
ART: Chinese Brush Painting
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the Far East – Project 7, Earthquake!

WEEK 23
HISTORY: Phoenicia – SOTW Ch. 15: The Phoenicians
ART: Glass-making (SOTW AG – pg 54)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the City-States – Project 2, The Sound of Music

WEEK 24
HISTORY: Crete – SOTW Ch. 18: Life in Early Crete
ART: Minoan Fresco Painting (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1 -Lesson 20)
SCIENCE: Make your own Santorini (volcano)


March
WEEK 25
HISTORY: Sparta – SOTW Ch. 22: Sparta and Athens
ART: Greek Columns
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the City-States – Project 1, Keeping Time 2

WEEK 26
HISTORY: Ancient Greece, Part 1 – SOTW Ch. 19: The Early Greeks
ART: Greek Pottery (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1 – Lesson 24)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the City-States – Project 3, Eureka! & Project 4, Diving Bell

WEEK 27
HISTORY: Ancient Greece, Part 2 – SOTW Ch. 20: Greece gets Civilized Again
ART: Theater Masks
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the City-States – Project 5, Surprise Attraction & Archimedes Screw

WEEK 28
HISTORY: Ancient Greece, Part 3 – SOTW Ch. 23: The Greek Gods
ART: Greek Amphorae – Papier Mache
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the City-States – Project 6, Knowing All the Angles & Project 7, Measuring the Earth

WEEK 29
HISTORY: Ancient Greece, Part 4 – SOTW Ch. 24: The Wars of the Greeks & Ch. 25: Alexander the Great
ART: Greek Vase Scratch Art
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science from the City-States – Project 8 A Nice Reflection & Project 9 Seeing the Light


Quarter 4
April
WEEK 30
HISTORY: Ancient Americas - SOTW Ch. 26: The People of the Americas
ART: Native American Sand Painting & White “Nazca†Drawing (SOTW AG pg 95)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science From The Americas – Project 1, Sun Block, Project 2, Paddle Along, Project 3, Grow It(read only), Project 4, North and North & Project 5, Sun Track

WEEK 31
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 1 – SOTW Ch. 27: The Rise of Rome
ART: Art in History, Ancient Roman Art (Hodge, ISBN 1-57572-552-5)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science From Republic to Empire – Project 1, Seeing Better

WEEK 32
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 2 – SOTW Ch. 28: The Roman Empire
ART: Art in the Streets: Roman Sculpture (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1, Lesson 26)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science From Republic to Empire – Project 3, Powerful Wheels


May
WEEK 33
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 3 – SOTW Ch. 34: The Rise of Julius Caesar
ART: Trajan's Column
SCIENCE: Military Technology – Metallurgy and Catapults

WEEK 34
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 4 – SOTW Ch. 35: Caesar the Hero
ART: Triumphal Arches
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science From Republic to Empire – Project 4, Stronger Structures

WEEK 35
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 5 – SOTW Ch. 36: The First Roman Prince
ART: Art on Roadsides: Roman Portraits (Artistic Pursuits, Bk 1, Lesson 27)
SCIENCE: Roman Roads & Surveying

WEEK 36
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 6 – SOTW Ch. 40: Rome Begins to Weaken
ART: Early Christian Art (Video and line drawing in pencil)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science From Republic to Empire – Project 5, Stronger Materials

June
WEEK 37
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 7 – SOTW Ch. 41: The Attacking Barbarians
ART: Byzantine Mosaics (Artistic Pursuits Lesson 28)
SCIENCE: Ancient Science – Science From Republic to Empire – Project 2, Clever Clippers

WEEK 38
HISTORY: Ancient Rome, Part 8 – SOTW Ch. 42: The End of Rome
ART: Favorite Project, Take 2
SCIENCE: Favorite Project, Take 2
 

[ExcitedMama]

Tomandlorih thank you for the wonderful outline! How is your DS6 with Science in the Beginning? I've been considering it for when we start SOTW but so many of the reviews seemed to be recommending it for older kids. Thanks!

[tomandlorih]

ExcitedMama, Happy to share. But it's not Science in the Beginning.. It's Ancient Science.  This one.. http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Science-Time-Traveling-World-Exploring-History-Making/dp/0471215953  I'm not sure I would consider it a "complete" science curriculum (whatever that means) but my children love experiments and I love that the explanations go along with the history we are learning.  I do also supplement with Evan Moor Daily Science. :)    Anyway, my ds6 listens to the explanations but is much more interested in the experiments.  Tonight, he got so excited to find the North Star.  

[Carrousel]

I found sotw 3 to be too jumpy for us to go in the text order. I couldn't wrap my head around teaching the Industrial and French Revolutions before the Pilgrims. We are going out of order, and with heavier American history focus, saving some of the world history for the later spring weeks, so that the American history is sure to get done.

[LolaT]

Does anyone have a better suggested order for Vol 3?

[Carrousel]

I don't know if it's better, but here's what we are doing for the first half of SOTW3:

Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4

6, (additional week on Pilgrims and Colonial life) 7, 12, 13

15, 16, 17

21, 22, 23 (additional 2 weeks on American Revolution)

 

We are doing more in depth studies of less chapters, and focusing on American history.  I'm including some of the European to help transition from SOTW2 focus and because we hope to take the kids to Europe within the next couple of years, so I'd like them to have a background for some of the sights we will see..

 

Chapters 5, 8-11, 14, and 17-20 are mostly Eastern World history, which we may or may not cover this time thru.  I have a Pre-K and a 3rd grader, so I'm okay with focusing on American and Western for now.  If nothing else, we will do a Samurai unit week during our Holiday term or next summer because I've got 2 boys who would love it!

 

 

 

[Jackie]

We're only using the first volume right now, but I've rearranged it very similarly to what tomandlorih has done. I line it up more with our read alouds instead of with our science and history, and we spread it out over more time, but in general we are doing Ancients from a cultural approach rather than chronologically.

[ExcitedMama]

Oops tomandlorih, I have been considering both so the other one must have been on my mind. I am considering it for next year when DS starts SOTW. Would you recommend it for a 6/7 year old or do you think your older child is getting more out of it? Since in my case he wouldn't be tagging along. Thanks again!

[tomandlorih]

Oops tomandlorih, I have been considering both so the other one must have been on my mind. I am considering it for next year when DS starts SOTW. Would you recommend it for a 6/7 year old or do you think your older child is getting more out of it? Since in my case he wouldn't be tagging along. Thanks again!

It's definitely aimed at older kids.. I think Amazon says like 9-12??  lol  I just asked him and he said it's boring.  :)   And I thought I was doing so well stopping and explaining things in more simple terms to him.  oops.  

 

There are science experiments in the SOTW AG or at least that's what they call themselves.. but there is no real scientific explanation along with them.  Although one could argue that at 6/7 they don't need a lot of scientific explanation.. just hands on exploration of the world around them.  :)