The Story of the World Volume 1
A captivating, story-based history curriculum that turns world events into epic adventures—perfect for curious kids who’d rather time travel than memorize dates.
$18.95
$19.95
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2025 First-Grade Curriculum Kit
The Story of the World: Volume 1 – Ancient Times
Step into a world of pyramids, palaces, sneaky spiders, and six-year-old emperors with The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times—the unforgettable kickoff to your family's history adventure.
Spanning from 5000 BC to 400 AD, this first volume of Susan Wise Bauer's beloved four-part series takes curious kids (and their equally curious parents) on a globe-trotting journey through the earliest nomads, mighty Egyptian pharaohs, Greek gods, Chinese emperors, and Roman rulers—all told in a way that feels more like a bedtime story than a dusty old textbook.
Whether you're reading it aloud with young learners or handing it off to your middle schooler for independent reading, the Volume 1 text makes history lively, funny, and totally relatable. It's the storybook spine of your ancient history study—and it's anything but boring.
So if you're ready to turn your home into a time machine, The Story of the World Volume 1 is your boarding pass. Whether you're meeting Hammurabi, discovering the secret of Shi Huangdi's tomb, or rooting for Anansi the Spider, this is history with a heartbeat.
Let the ancient adventures begin!
About The Story of the World Series
History That Reads Like an Adventure Book!
Tired of history that feels more like a list of dates than an epic tale? Then you're ready for The Story of the World—a wildly engaging, story-driven history curriculum that brings the past to life with dragons, emperors, explorers, and the occasional pie fight (seriously).
This four-volume series by Susan Wise Bauer turns world history into a captivating read-aloud (or read-alone!) journey from ancient times to the modern age, all told in a way that actually makes sense to kids. Think of it as your child's personal time machine—minus the jet lag.
What You'll Explore
Volume 1: Ancient Times
From pyramids and pharaohs to the last Roman emperor—travel back to the very beginning!
Volume 2: The Middle Ages
Castles, crusaders, and chocolate (yes, really). From the fall of Rome to the start of the Renaissance.
Volume 3: Early Modern Times
Queen Elizabeth I, samurai battles, and the invention of potato chips (okay, almost). All the excitement from the 1500s to the Gold Rush.
Volume 4: The Modern Age
From railroads to revolutions, you'll tour the globe and wrap up with the 20th century's biggest moments.
Each volume is built to flex with your family—Volume 1 is great for curious kids in grades 1–6, while Volume 4 ramps things up for older students, typically grades 4–8, with topics that carry a little more weight.
The series isn't faith-based, but it does introduce major figures from many world religions. If your family prefers to skip a few activities here and there, no problem—there are more than enough to choose from. And when the biblical details feel a bit light? That's your cue to jump in and share more of God's story, making the lesson even richer and more personal.
How It Works
- Read the story aloud (or let your child read it himself).
- Use the companion activity book to color maps, do hands-on crafts, answer questions, and dive into extra reading.
- Prefer to listen? The audio version is perfect for car rides or quiet time.
- Want to quiz your brain? Test books are optional but great for check-ins!
- Chronological structure helps kids make connections and see the big picture
- Multicultural stories from all over the world
Hands-on activities bring history to life (build a Roman road or try Egyptian mummification—no human organs involved) - Flexible format works for different ages and learning styles
- Sparks imagination while building real historical understanding
Whether your child is a castle-loving knight, an explorer in disguise, or just someone who thinks history should be more fun, The Story of the World turns the past into his new favorite subject.
See some sample pages from the first part of Story of the World: Volume 1.
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
Families can successfully begin with whatever time period most interests them. Some families prefer starting with ancient times and unraveling the story sequentially until modern times. Yet because the full scope of history is taught repeatedly up through high school, it is okay to skip volumes, knowing that the same events will be covered later.
