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Title: The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition (Story ... the World: History for the Classical Child)
ISBN: 1933339012
Author:
Susan Wise Bauer
Publicate Date: 2006-09-06
Publish: 2006-09-06
List Price: $24.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $16.47
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $16.00
Amazon Merchant Price: $16.47
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Not based on facts!!
I borrowed this book from a friend who also homeschools and I'm glad I did before purchasing it. I started skimming through it and saw so many (authors)opinions that I didn't even consider wasting my time reading the book thoroughly. When I read that "Nero was the worst emporer in the history of Rome" and that the "Romans HATED Jesus", I was really put off by the opinionated views, as well as the negativity. I want to teach my children how to form their own opinions about the history of the world and other subjects as well, this is exactly why I took them out of school. If your looking for a book that is a factal account of world history this is not the book for you. She should have titled the book "My Opinion of the Story of the World".
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2: I've always wanted to know this stuff
This comprehensive history program helps put today's conflicts in perspective. The chapters are short, and have lots of stories, legends, and myths to keep the child interested along with the more "information" parts. Both my 7-year-old and I learned a lot.
While we are not religious, I like that it includes the biblical information in "context," i.e. what was happening in egypt when Moses was born, etc. It gives a kind of cultural literacy in our predominantly Christian society. The book equally treats the birth of leaders/founders from other religions (Confucious, the Budda, etc.)
I recommend the activity book .The Story of the World: Activity Book 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Third Edition and tests The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Tests for Volume 1: Ancient Times (Story of the World: History for the Classical Child)as well. I let my daughter take "open book" tests when we're done with everything else in the chapter
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3: Narrative & comprehensive ancient history for kids (& adults).
I bought this book while homeschooling my two girls. The book was such good story that I began using it for evening reading to the girls before bed (that way I got to read it too!)
I found that the narrative format (story telling) was much more engaging than a collection of facts (as textbooks tend to do). The author selects information, individuals and nations and so obviously leaves out a lot of information (as noted in other reviews.) HOWEVER, I personally found this style VERY helpful since the story moves very fast this way and this comprehensive style makes it easier for readers and listeners to see the connections between cultures, nations, individuals etc.
There is an unavoidable tradeoff in writing about history: more detail provides greater sense of context, but makes it difficult to develop a comprehensive overview of the relationship between significant events and places. This book errs on the overview instead of detail and does that perspective VERY well. After reading "Story of the World" you can go and investigate the areas that interest you (or that you need to know) in more detail with books that take the "detail" perspective.
By the way, for home schooling, an old (Victorian) writer who does some great historical fiction on specific periods is G. A. Henty. His books are hard to find, but worth reading. His book on Hannibal (the general) called "The Carthagian," was a wonderful adventure which told me what I wanted to learn about that man and his wars.
Make history come alive-read Story of the World and then focus on the people, events and times that make you particularly interested and find books and movies that give you more details!
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4: Not for all ages
I homeschooled our older daughter for six years back in the Dark Ages (the mid 90's). We switched over to learning about history chronologically, a relatively "new" idea then,after being convinced at a curriculum fair presentation of its sensibleness. It was the best advice we ever had, and that daughter is graduating college next year as a history major, and as president of her history honorary fraternity. (We used GreenLeaf Press' "Famous Men..." series, BTW.)
Now 10 years later we are taking our younger daughter out and will begin homeschooling her in 2nd grade. Enough of the public school "Twaddle"!!
"Famous Men" is too high a reading comprehension level for her, so I have been researching the plethora of chrono-history books out there to find an alternative. I followed the guidelines by Susan Wise Bauer of "The Well-Trained Mind" to use "The Story of the World" series.
However, after thumbing through it and comparing it with others, I do not feel it will hold the interest of my wiggly 7 year-old. The reading level seems minimally for 4th-grade. I wouldn't want to turn her off right from the start.
For me the benchmark is Hillyers' "A Child's History of the World." The writing style is so personal, clever, and engaging. But if you want a curriculum that has an even stronger Christian bent, and that teaches from a Biblical chronology, look into Linda Hobar's "The Mystery of History". This author comes closest to Hillyer's wit and child-friendliness, and yet does not dumb it down. There are age-appropriate activities built right into the book (no second purchase required), plus instructions on making your own timeline and historical figures to add as you read. (a la a famous Unit Study series). Like "History of the World", it is a several-volume series. You will probably have to go outside Amazon to find it. (http://www.themysteryofhistory.com/)
Another very Christian-based chrono-history curriculum is "Tapestry of Grace." Not as "warm and fuzzy" in my view, but lots of great multi-age teaching and activities that suppport a classical education. Appropriate through high school.
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5: Good Resource!
This is very well written. A great help to helping children understand History. It makes reading about the past fun and enjoyable.
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