The Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition
This Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition Story of the World includes new chapters, biographies, illustrations, maps, and updated text. With options for a student workbook, instructor guide, and audiobook download, you can get everything you need to make history unforgettable, interactive, and fun.
$97.99
Quantity:
Please Note: The MP3 audiobook download is non-refundable.
The Story of the World 1 Expanded Edition
Please note: This Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition includes new chapters, biographies, illustrations, maps, and updated text. Because of these changes, this edition is not compatible with previous editions or supplemental materials. Please see the FAQ section below for additional compatibility information.
Ancient history covers thousands of years, dozens of civilizations, and enough rulers, wars, inventions, and empires to make anyone's head spin. This expanded edition turns that complexity into a story-driven history program covering world history from 5000 BC through 400 AD.
Students explore early nomads, Egyptian pharaohs, Greek culture, Chinese dynasties, Roman rulers, and the civilizations, people, and events that shaped the ancient world—all through narrative lessons designed to help children understand how history connects.
Designed primarily for grades 1–6, the Expanded Edition combines narrative history, maps, activities, discussion prompts, and optional audio into a flexible full-year history program.
This Expanded Edition includes substantial updates, including:
- Ten new mini-biographies featuring figures such as Spartacus, Draco and Solon, Zhang Heng, and Shammuramat
- Expanded illustrations and updated maps
- New content covering China, Korea, the Silk Road, King Herod, Masada, and more
- Improved formatting that more clearly separates myths, ancient texts, and historical narrative
The history text serves as the foundation of the program. Families can read aloud together, assign independent reading, or combine reading with discussion and activities, depending on age and ability.
The Student Workbook extends lessons beyond reading through dedicated student pages, geography activities, map work, puzzles, crafts, review questions, narration activities, memory work, and new coloring pages.
The Instructor Guide provides parents with a dedicated planning resource, including lesson organization, parent scripts, sample answers, updated reading recommendations, more than 40 new activities, cross-curricular projects, group activities, field trip ideas, and movement activities.
Families who prefer listening can add the unabridged audiobook download narrated by Katherine de Leiros. Updated to match the Expanded Edition, the audiobook includes the revised text, new biographies, and expanded content while providing another way for students to review and experience ancient history.
Because reading, discussion, maps, activities, projects, narration, and optional audio work together, students interact with ancient history in multiple ways rather than simply memorizing facts and dates.
The Story of the World is not faith-based but introduces important historical figures, cultures, and religions throughout world history. Families who prefer additional worldview discussions can easily expand conversations as topics arise.
How to Use The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times Bundle
- Most families work through one or two chapters each week by reading aloud together, assigning independent reading, or listening to the audiobook narrated by Katherine de Leiros.
- After each chapter, ask your child to retell what happened. Narration helps students organize information, strengthen comprehension, and retain historical events without requiring additional worksheets.
- Use the Student Workbook to reinforce learning through map activities, review questions, geography work, coloring pages, crafts, narration activities, and hands-on projects. Each chapter contains multiple options, so most families choose only one or two activities rather than completing everything.
- Many families find that completing approximately three chapters every two weeks provides enough time for reading, activities, review, and discussion while still moving steadily through the program.
- Adjust activities based on how your child learns best. Visual learners may prefer maps and coloring activities, hands-on learners often enjoy projects and crafts, and students who benefit from repetition can revisit chapters through audiobook listening.
- The Instructor Guide helps simplify planning with lesson organization, parent scripts, review guidance, reading recommendations, field trip ideas, and additional activity suggestions.
Whether your family reads, listens, maps, discusses, builds, colors, or narrates, the goal is simple: help your child connect ancient civilizations into one continuous story rather than isolated facts and dates.
- Reader
- Student Workbook
- Instructor Guide
- Audiobook
- Reader
- Student Workbook
- Instructor Guide
- Teaches world history from 5000 BC to 400 AD
- From the earliest Nomads to the last Roman Emperor
- Storytelling approach to history
Text:
Publisher: Well-Trained Mind Press
Author: Susan Wise Bauer
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: No
Number of Pages: 349
ISBN: 978-1-944481-83-4
Format: Paperback
Edition/Copyright: 2026, 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition
Made In: USA
Student Workbook
Publisher: Well-Trained Mind Press
Author: Susan Wise Bauer
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Yes
Reproducible: 130 reproducible student pages
For families: You may make as many photocopies of the maps and other Student Pages as you need for use WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY ONLY. Schools and co-ops MAY NOT PHOTOCOPY any portion of the Activity Book.
Number of Pages: 130
ISBN: 978-1-944481-87-2
Format: Paperback
Edition/Copyright: 2026
Made In: USA
Instructor Guide
Publisher: Well-Trained Mind Press
Author: Susan Wise Bauer
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: No
Reproducible: No
Number of Pages: 206
ISBN: 978-1-944481-86-5
Format: Paperback
Edition/Copyright: 2026
Made In: USA
mp3 Audio Download
Publisher: Well-Trained Mind Press
Author: Susan Wise Bauer
Read by: Katherine de Leiros
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: No
Reproducible: No
ISBN: 978-1-944481-85-8
Format: mp3 Download
Run time: 9 hours 44 minutes
Made In: USA
The Old Schoolhouse 2013 Excellence in Education WinnerFind answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
New Features in The Story of the World: Volume 1 – 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition (Main Text):
• The same engaging storytelling and readability that children love
• Two new chapters on East Asian history
• Additional material in the existing chapters on key historical events, including: The rise of the Roman Republic, The beginning of the Han dynasty, The Silk Road, The rule of Herod the Great and the siege of Masada
• Ten new biographies of fascinating historical figures (Spartacus, Zhang Heng, and more)
• Twenty new illustrations and maps
• Updated pronunciation guide
• New chapter order for better chronological flow
• Clearer formatting, distinguishing ancient texts, myths, and stories from historical narrative
And for customers who want to turn The Story of the World into a full History & Geography curriculum:
Instructor Guide (formerly the front half of the Activity Book):
• Now fully organized into lessons for easier planning
• 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
Student Workbook (formerly the back half of the Activity Book):
• 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
What This Means for You:
We believe the 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition will be a bestseller, just as the classic edition has been. You'll want to plan ahead for stocking it in early 2026.
Please Note:
The new edition is not compatible with the older (2001/2006) editions, or with their activity books or MP3 audiobooks.
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.
One difference between the two series is their target age. The Story of the World is primarily for elementary students, with Volume I recommended for 1st through 4th grade and Volume IV for 4th through 8th grade. The Mystery of History's reading level begins at about 4th or 5th grade in Volume I and progresses to 10th or 11th grade in Volume IV, although it is easily adaptable for multiple ages.
Another key difference is the religious perspective. The Story of the World aims to narrate from a neutral perspective. It covers major religious characters and historical events but does not endorse a particular religious view. The Mystery of History is written from a clearly Christian perspective and integrates biblical and church history into the text.
A minor difference between the two series is the student work involved. The Story of the World revolves around the narrative, so all activities, while engaging, are optional. The Mystery of History is also narrative-based but expects more student work. Nonetheless, it is highly adaptable to each student's age and family preferences.
Throughout history, religion has played a major role in shaping the world for significant reasons:
- Religion has shaped the development of civilizations. Many of the world's major civilizations, such as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, were founded on religious beliefs. Religion has also played a role in law, government, and education development.
- Religion has been a source of conflict and violence. Wars have been fought over religious differences, and religious persecution has been common throughout history.
- Religion has influenced art, music, and literature. Religious themes have been a source of inspiration for artists, musicians, and writers for centuries.
In short, religion is mentioned in world history because it has greatly shaped human societies and cultures throughout history. Religion has been a complex and multifaceted force in human history, and its influence continues to be felt today.
To get the Famous Figures book that goes along with Story of the World Volume 1, you'll want to order Famous Figures of Ancient Times.
Customers earn Doodle Dollars for reviewing products they've purchased, and some promotions add an entry in a prize drawing. Rewards never depend on the rating given.
Customer photos
- September 22, 2026
Catherine M.
We're a few chapters in and my son is really enjoying this program. We were doing History Quest before this. While they are good overall they did have things we're not ok with. We didn't like how information was missing and how they protrayed some of the people as good when they weren't. Story of the world is by far better and I'm glad we switched.
- May 26, 2026
Danielle G.
We are only a few chapters in and as the parent, I love that the new activities are user friendly. We are creating the mummy from an apple and created a pyramid from sugar cubes. My daughter loves the newer audio version. Overall very happy with this purchase.
- April 23, 2025
Fan Girling Over Here
Karolyn B.
We are HUGE fans of this history. We feel it is beautifully written, extensively researched, and well balanced information. The activity resource has more fun ideas to enhance the weekly chapter than we had the time to do. I can see how wonderfully this would work with multiple ages as well. I just read the book aloud and did not buy the bonus audio content. We did purchase the articulating paper dolls and they were also a huge hit. It made the people from ancient times feel more “real” as someone who did live long before us. My student even made up plays with them. This curriculum combines the aspects that I loved in my best histories and adds to those good things with even more awesomeness. Totally recommend for history for everyone. 5 out of 5. I would also purchase one of the recommended additional resources/encyclopedias since the books are not in color. We did the one from Usborne and that was a perfect way to see how things looked in those days a bit more.
- October 18, 2024
This is religious material.
Michaela R.
I bought the story of the world bundle because it was not religious. However, it talks about Jesus resurrection and also has a prayer within the book.
- October 6, 2024
Perfect For Our Elementary Kids
Travis H.
We have thoroughly been enjoying this curriculum. We received this in the 1st grade package, but our pre-k student also listens along and does the activities. At first glance, it looks really boring, but with a little preparation the history comes to life with the additional resources, enrichment reading recommendations, and projects. The chapters are appropriately short, the workbook has a lot of coloring pages, map work, word searches etc., and those are easy to let your child independently work on, but some of the projects are so fun! Who knew you could mummify your own chicken to tie into Ancient Egypt teachings?! Our kids love history class, and as someone who didn't like taking history growing up, I have also found a new love for it. This does take some prep work on the parent side (20 minutes depending on activities, and some trips to the library) if you really want to take advantage of this program, but it has been totally worth it.
- August 8, 2023
Excellent curriculum and read-aloud!
Elizabeth D.
We absolutely love The Story of the World, vol. 1! Ancient History might seem like a stretch for young students, but they are endlessly fascinated by it! My kids find it a fascinating read-aloud, there are activities for a variety of ages and interests, and as a bit of a history nerd, I really appreciate how the author recognizes her own inherent bias, but does her best to give as fair and neutral voice to different perspectives as humanly possible.
- February 3, 2023
Not for 1st grade
ScotFlower
As a teacher, I do admire this curriculum's rigor, activities, and supplemental book lists. However, I deeply question using this curriculum in first or second grade for non-history fanatic children. Why? Well, my kid is sensitive and cannot read about mummies or death without breaking down and having night terrors. Also the curriculum is too rigorous for first and second graders who are just trying to master writing, reading, and basic math. My kid excels in reading, but struggles in the other two so we have to do a lot of supplemental curriculum and activities. We just do not have time for a rigorous history curriculum with so many lessons a week. When you add in extra reading books or projects, it takes more time than you think. I was intimidated and overwhelmed just looking at one week of lessons and thinking about how many books I would need to get at the library. Sure, I will do this curriculum with my son - just in 3rd grade instead. In the meantime, I am doing timelines based on Bede's History of Me and Us for social studies and reading some books on historical figures and holidays that I have on the shelf already and are easily accessible. So its a good curriculum, just not for us in first grade.
