I was going to purchase the WP American Story 1 but I'm having second thoughts. I think we need to choose something a little less costly due to food costs, gas, all is going up. This has been our first year of homeschooling and we did a big purchase last year with a SL core. We have not used most of it. We loved the readers and read-alouds but I see we wasted alot!! I can foresee us utilizing the library more and cutting costs. I got some good ideas on mapwork, dictation,etc.
So I'm looking at Story of the World. I want a history that's still classical in its' approach and not of too much patriotism and religion. I read alot of complaints on the chronological order was a mess. What are your experiences or suggestions with SOTW. I've seen it posted quite a bit.
What other history is very good for combined 6,7, and 9 year olds?
Thaanks!!!!

Other than that we're going to use:
Easy Grammar
Spellwell
Wordly Wise
Just Write
Saxon Math
Geography Songs
Fulbright Elem. Science (undecided which topic)
Fulbright's Psalm 91 study

have you looked at History - FUN Books (http://www.fun-books.com/history.htm) ?
many of those books can be found at the library or used on amazon for next to nothing.

We tried SOTW. I found that there was a bit too much emphasis on the Judeo/Christian aspects (for us). It was short and easy to do, but it was a bit dry.

Here is some food for thought though. When I read this article, I realized why I was not happy with the history stuff. I felt like I was supposed to be doing something with history, but this route makes so much more sense and it is so much more meaningful to the kids. Once they have a foundation for understanding the community around them and how THAT works, history make a lot more sense to them.

Back to the Present (http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/article8.asp)

I love this: Welcome to the Mystery of History (http://www.themysteryofhistory.com/)

If you don't want to purchase the entire WP set then what about just getting the spine (DK Ency of American History) and then adding in readers from you library or paperbackswap.

I am planning on doing MFW Advertures with is US history next year (probably start this summer).

My favorite that I have looked at has been: Early Am History Primary Study Guide (http://www.bfbooks.com/s.nl;jsessionid=0a01054f1f43c13736fd64eb44ca93e7c4 685b0becd3.e3eTaxiNaN0Te34Pa38Ta38SbNb0?it=A&id=282&sc=1&category=-101) All but the CD's can be found at the library. So all told, the curriculum costs you about $40. I am getting this one: Ancient History Intermediate Pack (http://www.bfbooks.com/s.nl/it.A/id.519/.f?sc=2&category=2) next year for Alex and Cyan. But only the timelines, cd's and books like the Pyramid and City books. The rest, I found and put on my list at the library. I have also found other resources that will go well with these teachers lessons that will work better for Cyan (who is much younger).

Anyhoo... that is what we are doing and I just am really impressed with this set of publishers. They even say in their catalog "If using library materials and only need portions of this pack, please see pg 51". Its just a great company.

Val

Val,
I am trying to figure out if you can buy the CDs and text alone? Where is it?

These look like something we could use!

Thanks for the links Val. We are back to Ancient History next year and that looks really intersting.

DD, who is a great reader, LOVES SOTW. We have gone through volumes 2-4, one each year. I did not like the teacher's guide and we did not purchase the CDs, so the cost was low. I like how SOTW covers (attempts to cover -- obviously, there is just no way to cover the whole history of the world in any book) history all over the world. For many chapters, I would get tons of books from the library on the topic being studied (mostly non-fiction, but also the Princess Diaries and other relavent fiction).

I noticed there is a book package for AS1 for sale on the WP forum for $185. (In case you talk yourself back into WP).

We will be doing AS1 starting June 30. I can scarcely wait! We didn't pay for the new program, but I plan to try to do so with AS2 for the following year. We have really enjoyed our WP year this year (Animals and Their World).

There is a free curriculum online that utilizes SOTW or A Little History of the World (Actually I think I found the link from another thread here a few months back). Free Curriculum (http://lunablog.net/the-free-curriculum-project/)

Val,
I am trying to figure out if you can buy the CDs and text alone? Where is it?

These look like something we could use!

Search Results (http://www.bfbooks.com/s.nl?sc=2&category=2&search=Great%20Stories)

These are the cd's. I am going to buy one set just to see if I like them as much as I think I will, and then purchase the rest when I need to. They have a list of the people who are featured in the catalog. I recomend getting the catalog. :D

Val

We love SOTW. I'm pagan, so I avoid religious stuff - but I didn't have a problem with SOTW.. you can't teach history without the judeo-christian coming into it since it was a big part of how the world developped culturally and borders of countries were formed, etc. Really, you can't explain what's going on with Isreal without the judeo-christian background knowlege.. and history without the crusades, inquisition, etc.. that's just wrong. I didn't find it to be preachy, so it worked for us :) We have the CDs as well - we listenned to them on our cross country drive.

We use History Odyssey.

Tara