I’m going through the Story of the World series with my daughter at a leisurely pace. We are using the Story of the World audio book and the Story of the World Activity Book as our main resources and adding in some videos, books, and projects.
On this post I have listed additional books, videos, and activities that are not found in the activity manual. The activity manual is a great resource for books and projects and we are using many of them. I highly recommend the combination of the audio book and the activity book. It has been working quite well for us.
This is an updated list. I expanded this list to cover through chapter 25 of Story of the World Ancient Times. My daughter also requested more projects so chapters 5 and up have more projects.
Here is basically how we are using Story of the World:
- Story of the World chapter audio with coloring page (We listen to the audio in the car as well.)
- Review questions (from Activity Book)
- Map work (from Activity Book)
- Mixture of read aloud books, videos, and projects on the topic. This takes up most of our time, but it is the part we like the best.
Introduction
Chapter 1 – The Earliest People
We started a prehistory unit study last year, but didn’t finish it so I added a bunch to this chapter.
- Europe: A Natural History Genesis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohMatNLX-lo
- Cain, Seth, Jubal and Tubal story from Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews – Chapter 2
- Story of Noah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCLRcA9mlQE
- Inside Noah’s Ark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya
pDn8cxEb0 - Noah’s Ark construction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMVgyqRTApM
- Build scale model of Noah’s ark out of brownies
- Jesus Storybook Bible Tower of Babel (short video – no longer on Youtube)
- Create Tower of Babel out of sliced watermelon.
- The Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 4-5
- Europe: A Natural History Ice Ages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdK6zbPnHw4
- From Hunter-Gatherer to Farmer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJLHewx6PHQ
- Walking with Beasts Mammoths
- Book – You Wouldn’t Want to be a Mammoth Hunter
- Wooly Mammoth Cake
- Walking with Beasts Saber Tooth Cats
- Saber Tooth Tiger Cake
- Read Aloud Book – Maroo of the Winter Caves
- Read about otzi man http://www.angelfire.com/me/ij/oetzie.html
- Make arrowhead cookies
- Watch Lascaux cave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0xrbvVAQw
- Watch ancient cave art http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3b1sX_WOlA
- Do cave art inside a tent
Chapter Two: Egyptians Lived on the Nile River
- The Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 10-11
- Book – Story of the Nile by Noon
- DVD Mystery of the Nile
Chapter 3: The First Writing
- DVD – The Mystery of the Rosetta Stone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMAkHfEtPT4
Chapter 4: The Old Kingdom of Egypt
The Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 12-13- Video – Engineering an Empire Egypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHj21WsmYRw
- Project – Wrap up as a mummy using toilet paper
- Video –Building the Great Pyramid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwiic6BoleQ
- Project: step pyramid made out of Legos
- Video- Egypt: Quest for Immortality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2U608sVrSk
Chapter 5: The First Sumerian Dictator
- The Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 6-9
- Book – You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Sumerian Slave
- Project – Make Mesopotamian house out of Rice Krispie Treats
- Video- Watch History of Sumeria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKs5Wvv1-14
Chapter 6: The Jewish People
- Project – Make cookie cake map showing Abraham’s journey from Ur to Canaan.
- Video – Abraham movie
- Project – Make Jacob’s rock pillow http://www.hungryhappenings.com/2012/06/my-dad-rocks-edible-fudge-rocks-for.html
- Video – Jacob movie
- Project – Make coat of many colors shape out of tin foil and then use crushed Jolly Ranchers melted in the oven to make colorful coats
- Video – Joseph movie
Chapter 7: Hammurabi and the Babylonians
- No additions
Chapter 8: The Assyrians
- Project – Make a braided Assyrian beard and hair out of yarn using a touque as a base. https://thirtyonethirtyone.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/how-to-make-a-beard/
- Video – Epic of Gilgamesh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJoDbeREUBk#t=66 (short)
Chapter 9: The First Cities of India
- Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 14-15
- Video- Indus Valley Civilization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnsatmxY7Kc
- Video – Mohenjo-Daro Civilization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdGbamPgf8o (short)
Chapter 10: The Far East – Ancient China
Watch Wild China 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eg4G3DKziw- Watch Wild China 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzPYXbq_44
- Watch Wild China 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ3D-8Xhok8
- Watch Wild China 4 http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg1OTYwMTI0.html?from=y1.2-1-103.3.3-2.1-1-1-2
- Book – Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales
- Watch Wild China 5 http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg2NTY3NTY0.html
- Video – Life of a Silkworm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xLCSoacVS8 (short)
- Video – A Strand of Silk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2i6yMOwYFs (short)
- Watch Wild China 6 http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjg3MDMwMjMy.html?from=y1.2-1-176.3.12-2.1-1-1-11
Chapter 11: Ancient Africa
- Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 68-69
- Video- Watch Anasi playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsvvHpAGQc&list=PLB0BAA039800305E2
Chapter 12: The Middle Kingdom of Egypt
- Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 30-31
- Project – Ancient Egyptian Meal
- Video – Ancient Egypt The Real Life of An Egyptian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ1Ho_YEctg
- Book – In the Day of the Pharaohs: A Look at Ancient Egypt
- Video – Egypt’s 10 Greatest Discoveries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNyztf1UYJ0
Chapter 13: The New Kingdom of Egypt
- Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 32-35
- Make paper mache face mask http://www.ehow.com/how_6399582_make-paper-mache-masks-face.html
- Video – Queen Pharaoh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbBNkp1FfMc
- Becoming the Boy Pharaoh picture activity https://sites.google.com/site/ancientegyptwebquest1/mission-5–king-tut
- Video – Rediscovering a Lost World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZS2UcSVWvY King Tut
- Project – King Tut’s Headdress www.bytesofmemory.com/2013/02/mystery-of-historytutankhamen.html
- Video – Queen Nefertiti Resurrected https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Qi-3_civA
Chapter 14: The Israelites Leave Egypt
- Jesus Storybook Bible – God to the Rescue video
- The Red Sea video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grvtFHwXWqU
- Video – The 10 Commandments Movie Animated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTpKYlFVtyQ
- Book – Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 38-39
- Project -10 Plagues Hands On Fun https://eclectic-homeschool.com/experiencing-the-10-plagues-of-egypt/
Chapter 15: The Phoenicians
- Book – Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 36-37, 40-41
- Project – write name with Phoenician alphabet
- Video – Secrets of Archaeology – Sailing with the Phoenicians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVKlra4pxJQ
- Video – Engineering an Empire – Carthage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HetYXwtCCho
Chapter 16: The Return of Assyria
- Book – Usborne Internet Linked Ancient World pg 42-45
- Video – Assyrian Lion Hunt Reliefs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XnpR1cmf5c
- Project- Cookie cake map of Jonah’s journey http://www.fmosoft.com/Content/images/map-creator/jonah-map.jpg
- Story of Sennacherib and Hezekiah http://www.gospelweb.net/YouthItems/hezekiahandsennacherib.htm
- Hezekiah’s tunnel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3t80ZSg6M (short)
- God’s Messenger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytd74b7U2TE (short)
- Video – Bible Animation Jonah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgNb4s_E5ko
Chapter 17: Babylon Takes Over Again!
- Testament the Bible in Animation Daniel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIiFmC9tFVs
- Daniel the Prophet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG_kfeOqJsM
- Book – Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians
- Draw Ishtar Gate http://artstor.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/berlin_db_10313751422.jpg?w=500&h=326
- Watch – 7 Wonders of the Ancient World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VawFVfcBi8I
- Project – Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Chapter 18: Life in Early Crete
- Book – Ancient World pg 20-23
- Project- Atlantis model – Circular cookie cake. Use blue sugar for water and candy to represent the bridges and temple.
- Video – Atlantis : Documentary on the Minoan Disaster and the Theory of Atlantis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrFWsq-9oL0 - Read Acts 17:16-34 and discuss Paul going to the Greeks (monotheism and polytheism)
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – In the Beginning and Pandora’s Box pg 9-14
- Watch Mythic Warriors: Prometheus and Pandora’s Box https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om3Xd6Ka-Go
- Book – Theseus and the Minotaur
- Watch Mythic Warriors: Theseus and the Minotaur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5TK0PnXMz4
- Book – Wings
by Jane Yolen and Dennis Nolan – story of Icarus and Daedalus (the man who invented the labyrinth for Minotaur)
- Watch Mythic Warriors: Icarus and Daedalus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UXG0Zkkzx4
- Project – Paint a backyard maze on the grass or snow http://www.topappreviews101.com/ipappimg/7783/finger-labyrinth-hd-screenshot-2.jpg
Chapter 19: The Early Greeks
- Ancient World pg 24-27
- Watch Secrets of Archaeology: Mycenaeans The Civilization Of Heroes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZghtMHBpdVI
- Project -Make ancient Greek vase out of Rice Krispie Treats. Paint with food coloring.
- Read Ancient Greece
by MacDonald - Watch Mycenaea 3D animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1sOB9A1RzY
- Project – Put together and play Digging Up Greece game by Ellen McHenry (pdf file)
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds pg 15-20
- Watch Mythic Warriors: Persephone and the Winter Seeds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plsmo-wRe-8
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – Echo and Narcissus pg 21-25
- Watch Echo and Narcissus video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztn9tH20dP4
- Project – Tin Foil art project http://pagingfunmums.com/2014/08/30/tin-foil-art/
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – Arachne the Spinner pg 32-35
- Watch Arachne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW3Bbav7w4A
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – King Midas pg 36-40
- Watch King Midas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hrUPVI4Os and The Golden Touch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1CmVmslJ18 and Mythic Warriors King Midas The Golden Touch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NerC_xh0c0w
- Project- Make handprint on construction paper. Cover with glue and add gold glitter.
- Perseus
by Warwick Hutton – picture book mythology (Medusa’s head, Andromeda, and King Polydectes)
- Watch Mythic Warriors Perseus The Search for Medusa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0o4fqfcpsE
- Watch Mythic Warriors Andromeda The Warrior Princess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd2SmApVVaM
- Watch Mythic Warriors Psyche and Eros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQkD7ltQjQo
- Watch Mythic Warriors Phaeton The Chariot of Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGLrE6R1Qho
- Watch Mythic Warriors Cadmus and Europa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPRVe9PpZc
- BBC: Who Were the Greeks Part 1 and 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XU5TJoiJ0w
- Pegasus, the Flying Horse
by Yolen
- Watch Mythic Warriors Bellerophon and Pegasus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6lEaJyq_NY
- Project – Make Blue Sky and Fluffly Cloud Jello http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/blue-sky-fluffy-clouds-jello/460136
- The Twelve Labors Of Hercules
by Riordan and Balit. Story book with pictures.
- Watch Mythic Warriors Hercules and Iolas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY4aebU6g0c
- Watch Mythic Warriors The Labors of Hercules https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJBovmveOA
- Watch Mythic Warriors Hercules and the Golden Apples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glylH-R6dxY
- Movie – Helen of Troy
- Watch Mythic Warriors Castor and Pollux https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCkF5NGNVSc
- Watch Mythic Warriors Odysseus and the Trojan Horse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hOex-q6Fw
- Project – Trojan Horse Pinata
Chapter 20: Greece Gets Civilized Again
- BBC: What the Ancients Knew – The Greeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFyubn-hWIM
- How to Be an Ancient Greek Athlete
by Morley
- Video – The Real Olympics https://vimeo.com/5059505
- Project – Create olympic contest between siblings and then compete
- Odysseus And The Cyclops
by Warwick Hutton – picture book on Odysseus and Cyclops
- Activity – Pin the eye on the cyclops http://imaginationsoup.net/2012/04/a-book-themed-percy-jackson-birthday-party/#_a5y_p=1191601
- Watch Mythic Warriors Odysseus and the Journey Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ORbnLf2iZM
- Watch Mythic Warriors Odysseus and Circe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Iukvx8cu0
- Watch Mythic Warriors Odysseus and Penelope A Kingdom Lost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSxG5_zugM
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – Apollo and Daphne pg 60-61
- Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xTtoX9e644 7 min
- Watch Mythic Warriors Damon and Pythias https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E04pV67Uxrk
- Watch Mythic Warriors Androcles and the Lion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEd7X5HKQzg
- Watch Mythic Warriors The Hounds of Actaeon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPUP0baEng4
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – Jason and the Golden Fleece pg 66-70
- Watch Jason and the Argonauts 1963 version
- Watch Mythic Warriors Jason and the Argonauts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoqUiFUGlHA
- Watch Mythic Warriors Jason and Medea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qDnXY4aQAc
- Project – Make little golden fleeces. Cut a fruit leather into a shape of ram’s fleece. Coat one side with melted white chocolate and sprinkle on golden colored sprinkles or coconut.
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths – Orpheus and Eurydice pg 71-74
- Watch The Storyteller Greek Myths Orpheus and Eurydice http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqh16c_the-storyteller-greek-myths-orpheus-and-eurydice_school
- The Race of the Golden Apples
by Claire Martin
- Watch Mythic Warriors Atalanta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQbjeZ3sXQ
- Project – Make caramel (golden) apples.
- Read Aesop’s Fables for Children
– The Wolf and the Kid through The Fox and the Grapes
- Watch The Country Cousin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obwOm4fmsX0
- Watch The Fox and the Grapes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op6_4e0mMN0
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Bundle of Sticks through The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf
- Watch Peter and the Wolf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot7m9i70JDg
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Gnat and the Bull through The Boys and the Frogs
- Watch the Rat and the Elephant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L__Fcesevso
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Crow and the Pitcher through The Ass and the Load of Salt
- Watch the Grasshopper and the Ants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM1DgihKHVI
Chapter 21: The Medes and the Persians
- The Persian Empire The History Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcTnjj1dtd0
- Read the book of Esther in the Bible
- Give each other makeovers
- One Night with the King movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwNxzRFmPBc
- Video – Ancient Greeks Golden Age of Civilization https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=18&v=vHMu2gVzspA
Chapter 22: Sparta and Athens
- Ancient World pg 50-55
- The Spartan Hoplites
by Park and Love
- Watch The 300 Spartans
- Project – Make blueberry pie to look like Spartan shield http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/images/Product/large/MC-MAZ-300SH.png
- Book – Ancient Greece As It Was: Exploring the City of Athens in 415 BC
- Video- Everyday Life in Ancient Greece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF09PRMQ7Dk
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Lion and the Gnat through The Goatherd and the Wild Goats
- Watch Goose Golden Egg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k0Z0tRCmvA
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Spendthrift and the Swallow – The Bees, the Wasp, and the Hornet
- Watch Bill Cosby’s Aesop’s Fables http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jON9jB6KPws 25 minutes
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Lark and Her Young Ones – The Ant and the Dove
- Watch the Fox and the Crow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYx5Uw6TWiQ
- Watch the Ant and the Dove http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-1MQij1bK8
- Aesop’s Fables for Children – The Man and the Satyr – The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle
- The Orchard Book of Greek Myths
– Freedom for Prometheus
Chapter 23: The Greek Gods
Discuss Acts 17:16-34- Book – Oh My Gods!: A Look-It-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology
- Project – Play Immortal City app
- Greece The Quest for the Gods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldnA9bGQcbs
- Life in a Greek Temple
by Shuter
- Project – Make Parthenon out of Rice Krispie Treats, chocolate melts, and cookies
- Watch Secrets of the Parthenon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLCW0zKR4xk
Chapter 24: The Wars of the Greeks
- Read Tales of the Dead Ancient Greece
- Watch Spartans World Greatest Warriors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_R4wzHvRME
- Decisive Battles of the Ancient World
Battle of Marathon
- Activity – Run as long as possible around a track and compare the distance run with how long Phidippides ran
- Decisive Battles of the Ancient World
- Project – Make a battle of Thermopylae cake with 300 sprinkles in mountain pass and tons of sprinkles for the Persians.
Chapter 25: Alexander the Great
- Ancient World pg 56-57
- Alexander: The Boy Soldier Who Conquered the World
by Adams
- Project – Make cookie cake map and mark Alexander’s path http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/wps/media/objects/2427/2486120/chap_assets/maps/map5_1.jpg
- Watch Alexander the Great One of History’s Most Ruthless Kings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1VIXqUZUFU
- Decisive Battles of the Ancient World
- Project – Make Bucephalus cake
- The Life of Alexander the Great
by Nicholas Saunders
- Watch Ultimate Battles Alexander the Great https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTAuU3DPtzQ
I started this curriculum with my son earlier this year as well. I love all of your suggested activity ideas and am bookmarking this article for later reference.
This is an awesome resource list! Thank you! I hope you did the other chapters as well. I’ll be checking. Have a wonderful day and thanks again!