*** OLD THREAD! *** I resurrected it to update with what we ended up doing; please do add to it if you have ideas about implementing SOTW4! Original Post begins here: I am using SOTW4 with A, and he really struggles with the comprehension questions. We read the encyclopedia selections first for background, and I have begun reading the SOTW4 activity guide questions to him before we read from SOTW4, but that doesn't make much difference; and to help with the reading itself we did the last assignment as paired reading, alternating reading paragraphs aloud to each other, and while he seemed to understand as we read he did not retain the information for the activity guide questions. When he doesn't know the information, I have him try to find it in the text; if he just can't locate it, I have him read aloud the pertinent paragraph in its entirety and then answer. That ALWAYS works. Is it worth sticking with the questions? Is this "normal" -- as in, just fine from a development and learning perspective? In the past I've adopted a practice of breaking the reading up into very short chunks and having A. narrate them, then expanding the length of sections. Maybe this would be best? it's probably my default next step ... TIA for thoughts! ETA -- this child has always had trouble processing history. It just doesn't make much sense to him, he's a STEM-y kind of guy. This is improving with age and experience :) but the comprehension challenges are pretty much limited to the history domain, in other topics he does what I'd expect.

Hello all, I'm just starting to get ready for the coming school year, and I read the Foreword for Story of the World 4. Susan Wise Bauer says that she does not recommend using this book for kids below grade 4 because of the serious and violent nature of the history of the 20th century. My oldest is entering 4th grade, and I have a 3rd grader (on the young side, just turned 8) and a 1st grader (6 yrs old). What am I supposed to do? I'm frustrated because I practically killed myself last year doing 2 years of SOTW in one so that my 2nd grader could catch up with his older brother (he was out of sync), and now I'm not supposed to do SOTW 4 with him or his younger sister? I thought I was doing what I was supposed to, keeping kids on the same year of history and letting the oldest determine the time period we study. I know SWB didn't talk a lot about this, but I know I read somewhere that she thought we'd make ourselves crazy if our kids were all in different time periods. So, what should I do? Still do activities but not read the text? SOTW is actually my rising 3rd graders favorite curriculum. Ugh. I'd appreciate any advice you can offer, thanks. Erin

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share a little blog I've started in which I will be posting online resources linked with the units and subunits of SOTW book 4. Most of what you'll find there are extension materials such as primary source documents, and video enrichment for my logic stage son. It's called StoryOfTheWorldBlog I hope you might find it of some use! Cheers, Lisa

I had ds10 type up facts as he came across new information. First he read the section, then he listened to it. He looked on the world map and atlas where everything was. On the second day he read the second section and did the same as before. On the third day he completed the map work and read the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia entries on both. He added more facts to his two sections in the chapter. He also decided then to write a paragraph on the Sepoy Mutiny. He had a choice between the two sections. On the fourth day he explored the Internet Quicklinks and completed the coloring page while listening to both sections one more time, this time one after the other. Since we did this particular chapter in two weeks (we began schooling on September 3, and started SOTW the following week), he looked at all his facts and typed up this paragraph today. What do you think? It is his first effort, and I don't want to discourage him, but at the same time I want a good product. I had to remind him to capitalize and instructed him again on where to add commas. I have to add that this narration is also closer to a Charlotte Mason narration instead of just a summary. Also, do you think I should have not helped him with his punctuation, capitalization? Written narrations are relatively new to us. I left his original sentence structures and the odd grammar in there. In 1857 Bahadur Shah, Governor of Bengal, was at a meeting, there the East India Company have bought a rifle, the Enfield Rifle. A normal rifle took time to shoot, but with the Enfield Rifle all you had to do was bite off the end and slide the bullet in. But the Hindus knew that the type of oil the Enfield Rifle was made with was animal fat (Hindus thought cows were sacred, Muslims thought pigs were dirty). The sepoys fought the East India Company's army but sadly.. the British army won. The mutiny ended in 1858, and Queen Victoria was now the ruler of India.

Help needed please... We have the book, test and activity guide. Why is it so hard to find all the online extras that are everywhere for Vol 1 & 2? I know they are not necessary but that is how my ds learns. Things like a list of corresponding movies, BBC Horrible Histories, lapbooks, or anything else would be greatly appreciated! Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks! :)

This is the first time we're doing History in fifth, logic stage, and ds is following this sequence: Day 1 Listen to and read chapter in SOTW 4, look up locations on globe and map, answer questions, type up rough outline for narration Day 2 Listen to and read second section, answer questions, encyclopedia readings for both first and second sections, add important people, places, facts to outline Day 3 Mapwork, timeline work (using book and encyclopedia), flesh out outline and choose one paragraph to write about. As ability increases, perhaps add another paragraph for a total of two. Day 4 Encyclopedia Internet links and possible activity, edit and finish full written narration (paragraph due Monday morning) Does this sound like "enough" for a brandnew 10-year-old? He's a reluctant writer so far, but we're working on it and he's making progress slowly but surely. ETA: We also have the SOTW 4 AG timeline cards for our use as review and copies to paste in our Book of Centuries.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share a little blog I've started in which I will be posting online resources linked with the units and subunits of SOTW book 4. Most of what you'll find there are extension materials such as primary source documents, and video enrichment for my logic stage son. It's called StoryOfTheWorldBlog I hope you might find it of some use! Cheers, Lisa

Both DDs are hating the maps. They're complaining that it's all 'label, label, label' & want it to be more like the previous 3 levels, with more colouring and arrows. Anyone else found this? Anyone made modifications & willing to share them?

First of all, my apologies for this being so long and drawn out. I have 3 dc. DS 7th, dd 5th, and dd 1st. We came into WTM late beginning 3 years ago when my ds was in 4th. We started with SOTW 1. This past school year, we finished SOTW 3 in May. I had plans to do SOTW 4 this next school year with my two oldest. However, now that my youngest dd is ready for the cycle, I have been toying with the idea of returning to Ancients both because of the mature content in SOTW 4 as well as then both dd's will be in the right place of the WTM cycle. In order to do that I had the bright idea that I could just read SOTW 4 to us this summer as a story without the additional outlining, etc. so that we had been exposed atleast to the Modern stuff. Then we would be ready for Ancients in the fall. I already own a SOTW 1 (I need to get pdfs of the student pages). And then I read about K12 Human Odyssey and ordered all 3 books because it sounded so wonderful. So my plan was to use SOTW 1 with my 5th and 1st, requiring outlining from KF from my 5th and additional reading. Younger dd could do coloring pages and maps. My older ds would read K12 Human Odyssey Prehistory on his own. He could listen to SOTW 1 for fun if he wanted. I also have a HO student workbook that goes with the text book. But I still haven't decided whether I want ds to read this book and outline from KF or use student workbook from HO and no outlining (since we have a pretty intensive writing curriculum with CW Homer B). Anyway, this was my plan until now..... and here it is... the summer break is almost over and we haven't finished SOTW 4! School starts back Aug 22 and we are only on Ch. 10 of SOTW 4. Also, I have found this book is more difficult to "listen" to than the others. Did anyone else have that experience? I'm thinking that my older kids might actually benefit from the additional outlining in KF to cement all the information in SOTW as well as just plain reading SOTW 4 themselves, rather than me reading it aloud. (This would mean either I need to buy another book or they share?). The problem is I REALLY want to do Ancients! I REALLY want my ds to read K12 HO. It looks so good. i actually have all 3 volumes so he could begin reading them each year and then get to Modern his 9th grade year. Or perhaps he could read them all in two years? I dunno. But then he wouldn't have read SOTW 4 at all. One idea I had would be to use a LCC model and have a Classical History block, and Modern History block and do both periods this year. But I'm concerned that this would be too much. Plus, which period do I expect the outlining, etc. from. Both? One? I'm also unsure what to do with my ds for Science. I had planned to do Apologia General with him and get him used to reading textbook and notes and tests, etc. But i will be using Elemental Science Biology for the Logic Stage with my dd. Part of me wants to have ds do this too! We haven't done Biology yet. We've done Astronomy, Chemistry, Botany, and some Physics. He said Biology sounds fun. The idea of a microscope and experiments together sounds fun to me. It also sounds doable with our History Schedule if we attempt both periods. Elemental Science can be done in 2 days whereas Apologia is 4 a week. Here's what we have for school planned next year. ds 7th Writing: Classical Writing Homer B Lit: taking a class meets 1x weekly with other homeschoolers Spelling: Spelling Workout G Grammar: Rod and Staff 7 Latin: Lively Latin 2 math: TT PreAlgebra Science: Apologia General or Elemental Biology History: SOTW 4 and K12 HO Prehistory to Medieval Logic: undecided-suggestions? Music: 4th year of piano attempting Certificate of Merit for the first time He is also playing Fall Baseball and is in Boy Scouts dd 5th Writing: Classical Writing Aesop B Spelling: Spelling Workout E Grammar: Rod and Staff 5 Latin: Lively Latin 2 Math: TT 6 Science: Elemental Biology History: SOTW 4 and SOTW1 (which one do I have her outline though?) Logic: Mindbenders Music: 4th year of piano and attempting Certificate of Merit for 1st time Ballet: 3 times a week and just joined the studios Performing Company dd 1st Phonics: MFW 1st grade Math:RS B Science: Elemental Science Biology Lapbooking History: SOTW 1 Am I crazy for thinking of doing both History periods? And if anyone out there thinks it's doable, do you have any suggestions? Like which one to outline and which one to read and just answer questions? Or ?????? And what about Science? Is Elemental Science Biology too easy for my ds 7th? I have been reading the Science threads and saw where some said in high school there isn't a foundation that is expected since they start at the beginning again. I really want to make the most of what time I have left with my ds before he hits those tough high school years. Also, if i did Elemental Science with him, he will be pursuing Merit Badges for Boy Scouts and many of those are Science Related. He is taking a couple of courses on the weekend at a Scout place to earn some Science related badges so he would have more Science exposure there too.... i don't know why but this 7th grade year is stressing me out more than the others!!!!! I feel like he's getting so old! And it was always important, but I'm feeling it is more important now?!?!?!??! Anyone BTDT? Also, when the kids get in Logic Stage do you buy them their own books? So two KF's and two Science books, etc? Otherwise, how do I schedule that? Right now, I write down in their planners what they need to do for the week, and they work what they can independently. Sharing the KF adds another thing they have to figure out how to time. YKWIM? Thanks, Kim

Hello Forum! We've been doing SL for the last two years. This is what we've studied in the last 3: SL5: Eastern Hemisphere SL 3+4: Condensed American History in 1 year TOG Year 1: Ancient History "through the fall of Rome" In Fall '11, if we stay on the same path we've been on (pre-scheduled weeks purchased from a curriculum provider) we would be at SL Alt 7- one year's worth of World History. Is "World History" more broad than "Ancient History"? I feel like my ds has learned and knows so much about ancient history already, and I can't bear the thought of him reading all about what he already knows so well, even if it is at a more mature level. As I write this I realize that's what the 4 YR cycle is all about, but ancient (world?) history seems so fresh in our minds. What cycle of SOTW would we be on? I'm thinking volume 4, but I'm not certain. Any ideas and thoughts you have to share would be greatly appreciated.

This summer when I got ready to pre-read SOTW 4 and prepare my booklist I was surprised that several moms here told me that this period was too intense for their child(ren). We started SOTW 1 in 1st grade and have followed the sequence in order so I just assumed that SOTW 4 would be like all the others. Once I started pre-reading I saw just what those moms meant. SWB even addressed it in the foreword of the volume. After pre-reading the entire volume and doing some thinking I decided that we would cover this period of history but do it at an accelerated pace, focusing on America's part of the story mostly. I blogged about our plan and wanted to share it in case it helped someone else as they began thinking about next year. If anyone has any great books I missed or any other thoughts or insights based on your experiences with modern history please leave a comment on my blog or here. We are up to Chapter 20 so we still have plenty of time left to add/delete or tweak. :)

or as its main reading component for history? This would be for my 7th grader. Just thinkin' Faithe

My boys will be in a classical Christian school next year but I want to keep books here to supplement what they are learning. They will be basically in the SOTW 4 time frame. Thanks for any suggestions. Trisha

Next year I want to have in our budget enough to purchase the 10 "best of the best" books to supplement SOTW 4. Can you help me make my list? For SOTW 2 I purchased over 50 books and this year for SOTW 3 I didn't have a budget to buy one extra thing. Next year will be a happy medium. ;) I would prefer biographies and CM style books where the story is told from a first person point of view but am very open to all suggestions. So what did you just love, love, love that made SOTW absolutely come alive for your dc?

We are finally getting through our first go round of history. This upcoming year will be year 4. We are using SOTW 4 with a Grade 8 and Grade 5. The younger boy will be using OM. If you did this with these grades how did it go? My oldest made a lot of improvements this year. He is ready for heavier work, but probably not quite Grade 8 work. He has difficulties with learning due to Aspergers. But, honestly he is doing wonderfully. He is no longer afraid to use a pencil:tongue_smilie: I'm going to get the pre-printed student pages. They both want it to be easy to use. They don't want to have to stop to copy stuff or get out paper. That sort of thing. I think I might print up questions (I'm assuming there are still some in the AG).

I am planning SOTW 4 for us for next year. Ds9 will be in 4th grade (yes I know a little young for this volume but we will edit out more sensitive topics). Are most 4th graders ready for the outlines in the AG? If not, did you modify to make it doable for a younger SOTW 4 student and how? If you did not outline, did you continue with narrations but have them write their own?

I know PHP had something in the works, but in the meantime anyone have suggestions? I'm talking about mainly coloring books, but I'm open to any suggestions.

Hi! I am hoping someone can help me. I have been struggling with this for a while now. We are using SOTW and we love it. The way we do it, is I read the lesson aloud to my daughter (in this case, DD9) and then she does her summary. But, most of the time, she doesn't get it. She doesn't follow it very well. All the names of rulers, countries, wars, etc, seem to go right over her head. So, I end up having to explain and clarify everything before she can even do her summary. But, I always thought that the way SOTW is written--story format--makes it easier for the child to understand so not much explanation is needed. It used to be true in 1st grade. But not since then. So, what are your experiences?? What should I expect from her?? Thanks for any help you can offer!! Stephanie

I've been doing my annual summer job of making out a reading list from the SOTW activity book (among other resources) and today I came across a recommendation of "Tintin in the Congo." :ohmy: I didn't even know you could get it in America--I only ever saw it in Denmark--but what in goodness' name is it doing on a book list?? Is it maybe supposed to be an object lesson or something? All the description says is that "Tintin and Snowy head to the Belgian Congo. (4-6)" It did have the 'preview' warning attached. I should say so...

Every year I come here and ask and pretty much every year I end up with Story of the World. Although we did try TOG one year. So for year 4, did you like SOTW or did you find something you liked better? Or what are you using? Thanks.:001_smile:

Has anyone done SOTW with multiple children, esp younger ones? After trying to teach history separately, I have learned we need to do it together. This year ds10 is starting the modern age, so by default, ds 6 is also. Ds 6 is very thoughtful and can follow along and comprehend the material on his level. (he just can't write for himself). After reading the beginning of the activity guide and SWB warning not to teach SOTW to kids younger than 4th, I have decided to proceed anyway. Has anyone done this? Do you have any recommendations? Things you would do differently? Things that worked? Thanks!