Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer is the most widely used narrative history curriculum in the homeschool world. It tells the story of human civilization chronologically across four volumes: Volume 1 (Ancient Times), Volume 2 (Middle Ages), Volume 3 (Early Modern Times), and Volume 4 (Modern Age). Each volume is designed to cover one year of study.

The core text is a read-aloud narrative · engaging, story-driven chapters that bring historical figures and events to life for young listeners. The companion Activity Book provides maps, coloring pages, narration exercises, craft projects, and review questions for each chapter. An optional test book adds formal assessment.

At a Glance

What to Know

The four-volume cycle is designed to be completed once during elementary school (grades 1-4) and repeated with greater depth and additional primary sources during middle school. This aligns with the classical education model of revisiting history in stages, though many non-classical families use the program simply because the narrative is so well-written.

Story of the World is secular in presentation , it covers world religions, including Christianity, as historical phenomena rather than from a devotional perspective. Some Christian families supplement with a Biblical timeline; some secular families appreciate the neutral approach.

The books are inexpensive ($15-20 each) and widely available. Audio versions narrated by Jim Weiss are popular for car schooling or families with reluctant readers. Story of the World works beautifully as a history spine that families build upon with library books, documentaries, and field trips.