Here is a quick run down of how I plan the Story of the World curriculum:
- Go through and pick activities
- Gather supplies
- Find books at library and order them
- Copy coloring pages and templates
I plan out 2-3 weeks of history in advance. The days come so fast, and it’s easier to have it all ready to go, waiting for you, than to be scrambling at the last minute while your kids wait. Or worse, skipping history because you weren’t prepared. (I’ve done it! I know.)
STEP 1
I sit down with the activity book and figure out which activities I want to do. I make a list or mark in the book which ones we’re doing. I consider my children’s interests, what they are good at and what will keep their attention. Once I’ve figured out which activities, I write out a supply list. There is a supply list for each activity, but I like to make a shopping list out of it, so I can easily have it all in one place. Then when I go grocery shopping, I’ll have it. I also “shop” in my house and use what I have first.
Step 2
Once I have my lists, I’ll gather supplies. First I look in my house and then I’ll go shopping. I can combine this with grocery shopping or other errands. I have a bin in my school room that I keep all of the supplies in and I can just grab it when we do history and everything is right there.
Step 3
Then I’ll go through the book list and find 3 or 4 books from the library that I want the kids to read. I pick the books and order them all online. My library system will find the books throughout the entire city and bring them to my library of choice and have them ready to go in one bundle. All I have to do is go to the library and check them out! If your library system doesn’t offer this, just pick the books that are the easiest to get at your branch and use those. You can also buy them, if that’s easier, but the library is definitely much cheaper.
Step 4
I will copy all of the coloring pages and templates I need and put them in my teacher binder. This includes making multiple copies of the same pages if I have more than one child doing history. Then when we sit down, the pages are right there, waiting for me.