Four orange and white The Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition Bundle books and audio stacked in front of a white background.
An informational video of two women discussing The Story of the World Volume 1 Bundle.
Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition, open to Chapter 21: The Greek Gods, with an illustration of Zeus and the story of The Golden Apple.
Dark orange and white Story of the World Volume 1 Expanded Edition 3-book et on a white background. The kit includes the textbook, student workbook, and instructor guide.
Dark orange Story of the World Volume 1 - 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition book with historical figures on the cover.
Open pages of Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition, detailing the Trojan War with a black and white illustration of the goddess Athena.
Open textbook pages 172 and 173 from The Story of the World Volume 1 featuring a chapter introduction and a map of ancient Italy.
Red front cover of The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times Student Workbook with a central historical illustration.
Open student workbook pages showing a black-and-white coloring page of Queen Shammuramat with stone statues.
Open student workbook page displaying a blank history outline map titled A New Empire.
Open student workbook page featuring a black-and-white comic strip activity titled Rabbit Shoots the Sun.
Open instructor guide pages 188 and 189 detailing a craft activity to make an Olympus family tree.
Open instructor guide pages 228 and 229 detailing an optional history lesson on ancient India with review questions.
White front cover of The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times Instructor Guide with an orange accent stripe.
Open instructor guide pages 230 and 231 outlining an ancient China calligraphy activity and narration exercises.

Shop

/

History

/

The Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition Bundle

The Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition Bundle

An all-in-one bundle that combines the engaging Story of the World narrative with the student workbook, instructor guide, and audiobook download—everything you need to make history unforgettable, interactive, and fun.

$70.85

Quantity:

Ages6-9
Grades1st-4th
AvailabilityPhysical Items Usually Ship in 1-3 Business Days. The Digital Download Is Typically Sent Via Email in 2-3 Business Days.
Product Code181-301e
You'll earn 71 Doodle Dollar points!

Please Note: The MP3 audiobook download is non-refundable. 

Product Info
Learn More About This Product!

Please note: This is the Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition, which includes new chapters, biographies, illustrations and maps, and even updated text. All of these exciting updates render it incompatible with any previous text editions and supplemental products. Please see the FAQ section below for additional update information.

The Story of the World: Volume 1 Expanded – 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.

The 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.

Updates Include:
  • Mini-biographies: 10 new profiles of remarkable figures such as Spartacus, Draco and Solon, Zhang Heng, and Shammuramat.
  • Fresh visuals: Expanded with many new illustrations.
  • New content: Chapters on China, Korea, the Silk Road, King Herod, the siege of Masada, and more.
  • Improved clarity: Clearer formatting to distinguish ancient texts, myths, and stories from the historical narrative.
Student Workbook
Turn your history lessons into a full-on experience with the Student Workbook (formerly the back half of the Activity Book).

Inside, you'll find:
  • Dedicated student pages
  • Puzzles, game boards, craft templates, and other interactive activity pages
  • Suggested memory work activities
  • Map exercises to teach the geography of our world
  • New coloring pages
The Instructor Guide
Now there's a book just for you, the teacher. Formerly the front half of the Activity Book, the new Instructor Guide makes this much-loved curriculum even better.
  • Easier planning: Now fully organized into lessons.
  • Parent scripts for narration, review, and mapping exercises.
  • Sample answers for narration prompts and review questions.
  • Updated and expanded reading recommendation lists, combining the best of the classics with the best of what's been published in the past 25 years.
  • 40+ brand-new activities.
  • Specially-designed group activities.
  • Cross-curricular challenges connecting history to science, math, writing, and more.
  • Suggested memory work and field trip ideas.
  • Low-prep, no-prep, and movement activities.
The Audiobook No time to read? No problem. This unabridged reading brings to life the stories and records of the peoples of Ancient Times, covering the major historical events from the beginning of civilization to the fall of the Roman Empire. It's perfect for long car rides, making dinner, quiet time, or even winding down before bed with tales of Babylon and beyond.
  • New Narrator: Katherine de Leiros brings the past to life in her engaging and entertaining narration.
  • Mini-biographies: 10 new profiles of remarkable figures such as Spartacus, Draco and Solon, Zhang Heng, and Shammuramat.
  • New content: New material on China, Korea, the Silk Road, King Herod, the siege of Masada, and more.
There's no music or silly sound effects—just great storytelling, told straight from the source.

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!

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's 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 student workbook to do map exercises, hands-on crafts, activity pages, and answer questions.
  • The new instructor guide has easier planning, parent scripts, suggested memory work and field trip ideas, and updated and expanded reading recommendation lists.
  • 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!
Why Families Love It
  • 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.
Explore the Curriculum
Explore the Curriculum

See sample pages the from Story of the World: Volume 1 reader

View PDF