The Story of the World is an engaging, award-winning history series that has captured the hearts of students for over twenty years. Designed with flexibility in mind, it suits a wide range of ages - from early primary through to early high school - and adapts beautifully to various learning styles, and adapts well for larger families using just the one set per family.
Spanning four volumes, this captivating series follows the sweep of human history across time and place. Rather than teaching disconnected facts, The Story of the World offers students a rich, chronological narrative - helping them see the past as a meaningful, interconnected story.
In contrast to the Australian Curriculum’s “ripple out” approach (beginning with personal and local history, then gradually expanding to the world), The Story of the World invites students to explore history in the order it unfolded. Starting around 8000 years ago, it introduces early farmers and nomads before guiding learners through ancient civilisations, empires, discoveries, and revolutions - helping them understand where they fit in the grand timeline of human history.
With the Activity Books and Test Books, each volume can be expanded into a full year of hands-on, literature-rich learning across history and geography.
Whether you're looking to follow a chronological approach, inspire curiosity, or simply make history enjoyable - The Story of the World makes it easy to both learn and love history.
Shop The Story of the WorldView The Story of the World Samples
Curious to see what’s inside? Click below to explore free samples from each volume - including readings, activity pages, and maps.
How it Works
Story of the World is more than just a history program - it’s an engaging, cross-curricular journey through the past, designed to bring history to life for children of all ages.
Each volume combines beautifully told historical narratives with geography, literature, writing, hands-on projects, and critical thinking activities - making it ideal for both structured homeschooling and relaxed, interest-led learning.
Here’s how the core set works together:
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The main text is written in a lively, read-aloud style that children love. Each chapter covers a different historical event or civilisation, weaving stories together to build a global view of history. You can read it aloud, or assign it as independent reading for older children.
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The activity book expands on the story chapters with:
Mapwork and geography
Crafts and hands-on projects
Comprehension questions
Suggested reading lists
Writing and narration prompts
Activities are adaptable for different ages and learning styles - perfect for families with multiple children.
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Each chapter includes a short quiz to review key concepts. These are helpful for families who want to track progress, reinforce retention, or prepare for high school-style assessments later on.
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Activities and writing assignments gradually become more advanced across the four volumes - so your child grows with the program.
Whether you’re diving into Ancient Egypt, exploring the Middle Ages, or tracing world events into modern times, Story of the World offers a rich, connected way to learn history - with plenty of space for creativity, curiosity, and discussion.
Shop The Story of the WorldIs The Story of the World Aligned with the Australian Curriculum?
The Story of the World is not officially aligned with the Australian Curriculum - but it is an incredibly valuable companion resource that helps students understand the why behind the world we live in today.
Many of the structures, systems, and ideas in modern society stem from choices made long ago - often based on the beliefs, cultures, and needs of the time. To truly understand today’s world, students benefit from looking back at the unfolding story of civilisation, across time and place.
By exploring history through this global, narrative-based approach, students build deep historical awareness that complements and enhances the themes and connections taught in the Australian Curriculum.
What's in Each Volume?
Scroll down to see how The Story of the World follows the sweep of human history across time and place through four volumes, covering: Ancient Times (Egypt and the World), Middle Ages, Early Modern History, and The Modern World.
Volume 1: Ancient Times
Volume One of The Story of the World covers human history from the dawn of civilisation (around 6000 B.C.) through to the last Roman emperor. While it's aimed at students in Grades 1-4, its 338 pages offer a surprisingly rich and detailed journey through the ancient world - far beyond what most early primary history programs provide.
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Early farming and nomadic life
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Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome
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Early civilisations in India, China, and West Africa
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Mythologies and belief systems from around the world
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Hands-on projects
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Review questions and narration prompts
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Maps and colouring pages
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127 activity pages
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Together, the reader and activity book create a deeply engaging history program that’s easy to customise for different ages and learning styles - whether you're reading aloud to younger children, setting up timeline projects, or diving into crafts and geography connections.
Shop The Story of the World Volume 1Volume 2: The Middle Ages
Volume Two picks up where Ancient Times leaves off, guiding students through the thousand-year stretch between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the beginnings of the Renaissance. Aimed at Grades 2–5, this book continues in Susan Wise Bauer’s vivid storytelling style - making kings, conquerors, monks, and explorers leap off the page.
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The rise and fall of empires in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia
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The spread of Christianity and Islam
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Viking invasions, medieval castles, knights, and battles
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Great rulers like Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, and Saladin
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Explorers, inventions, and cultural shifts leading to the dawn of the Renaissance
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Volume two highlights key stories and people that give children a meaningful and memorable introduction to the medieval world.
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Comprehension questions and narration prompts
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Hands-on projects and crafts
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Geography activities and map work
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Over 100 pages to support multi-age learning
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Whether you're exploring the Silk Road or building a cardboard castle, this volume helps students truly experience the Middle Ages - not just read about them.
Shop The Story of the World Volume 2Volume 3: Early Modern Times
Spanning the years 1600–1850, Early Modern Times picks up the global story at the dawn of exploration, empire, and revolution. Designed for Grades 3–6 (but can be suitable for anyone!), this volume continues Susan Wise Bauer’s signature storytelling approach - bringing to life a world of pirates, inventors, kings, and revolutionaries.
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The reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the rise of global sea travel
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The struggles of Indigenous peoples and the expansion of European empires
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The birth of modern science and key inventions
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Revolutions in America, France, and Haiti
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Everyday life in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas
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And the beginning of a new world order that set the stage for our modern era
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Detailed reading comprehension questions and narration prompts
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Map work and timeline activities
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Dozens of hands-on projects
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Literature suggestions to deepen learning
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Creative writing and craft ideas for multi-sensory engagement
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Whether your learner is reenacting the storming of the Bastille or mapping the routes of famous explorers, Volume Three offers a rich and exciting foundation in early modern history.
Shop The Story of the World Volume 3Volume 4: The Modern Age
The final volume in The Story of the World series brings us into the modern era - covering global events from 1850 through to the end of the 20th century. Aimed at students in Grades 4–8, The Modern Age takes on a more comprehensive tone than earlier volumes, weaving together the complex movements, conflicts, and discoveries that have shaped the world we live in today.
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The rise and fall of empires
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World Wars I and II
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The Cold War and decolonisation
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Scientific breakthroughs and changing technology
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Social movements and global revolutions
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And the rapid transformations of the modern age
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While still written in a narrative style, this volume leans more toward a traditional history text - using engaging storytelling to explain key events rather than focusing on selected tales. It’s a fantastic option for upper primary through junior high learners ready to connect the dots between past and present.
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Teaching them to outline what they read
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Guiding them to expand those outlines into short compositions
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Encouraging independent thought and expression
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Continuing with mapwork, review questions, and creative projects
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The Modern Age not only brings history to life - it helps students begin thinking and writing like historians themselves.
⭐ Reviews for Homeschoolers ⭐
The Story of the World has been a favourite in the homeschooling community for decades - and it’s not just families who love it.
Cathy Duffy, one of the most trusted voices in homeschool curriculum reviews since 1984, has named The Story of the World as one of her Top 103 Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.
“...a wonderful job of presenting history in a way that is meaningful, memorable, and accessible for students.” - Cathy Duffy Reviews
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Resources which Compliment Story of the World
We’ve gathered a handpicked selection of resources to complement your journey - from air-drying clay (Volume 1: early writing), and paleontology kits (Volume 1: archaeology), to DIY da Vinci
kits (Volume 2: Renaissance), virtual reality sets exploring world history, world maps, and beautifully illustrated books that enrich each era.
You’ll also find history themed games and puzzles, which are perfect for weaving play into your history studies.
Perfect for homeschoolers, teachers, and curious families who want to explore history through storytelling, hands-on learning, and cross-curricular connections.
Browse the SOTW Collection
