2009-2010 Social Studies/History Curriculum (Ages 7 & 9) and Free Story of the World Journal Sheet

We will be finished with our state studies by June. Consequently, I in heavy analysis mode to figure out how we will structure our group time for next year. My husband and I have discussed the fact that I need something more pre-planned to lighten my load. The curriculum we both liked was K-12's online history courses. Unfortunately we think that is a little out of our price range. So I have looked into a number of other alternatives. Some of the programs I have considered include:Evan Moor's History PocketsPandia Press's History OdysseyMystery of HistoryThe Story of the WorldMr. Donn's World History lesson plansMy Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures or Creation to the GreeksBaltimore Curriculum Project's Core Knowledge Lessons After each curriculum I look at, I return to The Story of the World. It just seems like the best fit for our family's style. In going through the activity book, I have come up with a routine that I believe will work for us. Each week we will do two days of history. The first day, we will read a section from Story of the World, volume 1. While I am reading, the girls will color the coordinating coloring page from the The Story of the World Activity Book 1. When I finish reading, we will work on a journal page that I designed for the girls. Here is a sample completed page:On the journal page, the girls will write in the time period we are studying on the title line. They will then color in the appropriate years on the timeline. I will then give them their vocabulary word. These are words I will be choosing each week from our reading. They will need to write the word down, look it up in the dictionary, write the definition and then use it in a sentence. They will then draw a picture to illustrate the word. This journal sheet along with their coloring sheet will go into a binder that each girl will make so that by the end of the year, they will each have their own "story of the world". The following day we will start with review questions from the activity guide. We will then complete the coordinating map. When the map is complete it will also go into each girls' history binder. We will then do a read aloud of one of the supplemental stories recommended in the activity guide. We will finish up by doing one of the hands on activities from the guide. Each week, I will try to order as many related books as I can find and will put them into a book basket in our classroom but these will only be for the kids independent exploration. Art, science, and literature will all be studied as separate subjects next year. If you are interested in downloading a copy of my Story of the World Journal Sheet-Ancients, please click on the link which will provide with a full size .jpeg for your to download and print off. Please don't forget to visit my terms of use if you plan on using this printable for anything other than personal use.