Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: History, Our Island Story, SOW, story of the world

This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 11 months ago by eawerner.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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July 5, 2012 at 2:13 am
Inky
Member
So….. now I’ve decided what to do with science next year, I’m now agonising over History (again! – I posted 3 weeks ago and got some wonderful advice which has helped me progress my thinking a few steps…..)
My girls are 6 and 4 (the 4 year old just kind of joins in, or goes off to play with her baby brother). My 6 year old LOVES history. It’s her favourite subject – which amazes me since I know almost nothing about it, having found it boring and retained very little from my school days.
This year we did Story of the World 1. It was our first year homeschooling and I was using a CM/Classical approach. We loved it, so I ordered SOW2.
Then I had some doubts, as apparently it isn’t strong on British History (we’re a British family), so I posted here and got some wonderful advice from you guys, with the result that I’m thinking of supplimenting SOW2 with Our Island Story and 50 Famous Stories. I’m loath to drop SOW2 completely, as I enjoyed SOW1 and feel I need quite a lot of help (honestly, my history knowledge is embarrasing!), and I like that SOW covers not just western history, but also other parts of the world.
But now I’m wondering if I’m biting off more than I (or rather my daughters) can chew.   Will I be making our schedule too heavy?
I’m definitely someone who is moving away from Classical towards CM, and needs to work at simplifying our schedule. But I do like the SOW rotation. Maybe I’m too set on the 4 year rotation – I don’t know! But the 6 year rotation seems like a long time, and the AO rotation seems a bit chaotic to me (I”m sure it’s not, it’s just how it seems to me) in that it doesn’t start with the Ancients.
I’d love any thoughts and advice.
Ruth
July 5, 2012 at 3:22 am
my3boys
Participant
Just wondering if you have considered Module 1 from SCM?? It’s heavy on Bible, but for your 2 little ones you could use the Children’s Story Bible (I may have that title wrong), 1-2 readers, geography (map drills, you wouldn’t need to read Letters from Egypt, you could do puzzles, online games, etc.), maybe a family Book of Centuries and lots of drawings for narrations (and skits or whatever).
If I had to do it over again and my dc were your dc’s ages, I would start with the SCM Module 1 or Truthquest (ancients) and just do what is recommended for their ages.
I have limited experience with SOTW (I have their paperbacks and an audio), but have had wonderful experience with SCM modules and I have a TQ guide that would be very doable.
I’m not sure, but I see no reason why you couldn’t still concentrate on British History at some point…whenever you felt you wanted to.
HTH
July 5, 2012 at 4:01 am
chocodog
Participant
I started doing a History study in the car. I use the SOTW CD and the Activity book. When we go somewhere I play the chapter we are on and my son asks the questions after the chapter has been read. The kids seem to like this and they can do a activity page while we discuss it or after we are done. I also do SCM Module 1 but more when we are at home. I have bought the TQ and they also have some good books that they recommend but I find it to much right now with everything else.    This is what I am doing. I defineatly love having the cd apposed to the books. I have both but love to listen to Mr. Bauers story telling. I couldn’t do a better job, That is for sure… 🙂
              Blessings! and good luck!
July 5, 2012 at 11:55 am
Monica
Participant
We also do SOTW in the car, and then just supplement with additional books. For what it’s worth, SOTW 3 was very light on American History, and we’re from the US. We heavily supplemented with other books and it worked out fine.
July 6, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Inky
Member
Thanks everyone – that’s helpful. We hardly spend any time in the car, but thanks for the CD tip – I didn’t know and it might come in handy at some time. I’ll have another look at Sonya’s modules. I think I remember choosing SOW last year, partly because it was a 4 year rotation, and partly because Oxford History was about $100 at the time (though now they’re about $30 i see). Also I like that SOW covered history from other ancient cultures – Far East, Americas and Africa. I might be wrong but I don’t think Sonyas module do?
I guess if I were to switch to Sonya’s modules now, I’d be going straight into Module 3, since SOW 1 took us up to the end of the Romans?
July 6, 2012 at 11:55 pm
eawerner
Participant
Actually if you got to the end of the Romans that would put you in Module 4. The six year cycle at SCM splits the first year of a traditional 4 year cycle into 3 years (Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans) because it is so loaded with all the bible history. I don’t think SCM does much if any other ancient cultures but I opted to use it anyway since I love the integrated bible history lessons.