10.12.2026
Intro to Our World History Unit(s)
Hi friends!
It's been awhile since I've talked about our homeschooling plans. This year, I decided to tackle world history with the boys. History has always been one of my favorite subjects and I feel teaching children at home gives us the opportunity to dive in, learn together and connect it to our faith and everyday lives. I haven't found a history curriculum for elementary students that I love, so it's given me the jolt to curate one that fits our families needs.
So, without further ado, I'd like to present this year's history curriculum:
I thought I'd share how we're going to approach and curate each unit before jumping in. Thats what this post is all about. My goal is to make each unit into a separate blog post where I share the resources we use as well as give you guys a look into how our studies went.
here's the plan + structure going forward
if the boys get fascinated by something, we can stay there. If something isn't particularly interesting, we can move along. The five-day rhythm is really just a framework for how I like to approach each unit, not a checklist we have to complete. The goal is to learn, explore, ask questions and enjoy the process -- not rush through history just to say we finished it.
books + videos
we are using The Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World and The Kingfisher Atlas of World History as our main history books. I am using the timelines in both of these books to guide us on our journey through the world's history. I start the entire unit with opening up these books, looking at the maps, reading the bits of information they have, and then building on that.
we've also subscribed to the EPIC! platform and I try to find books that we can all read together that correlate to the lesson / unit in addition to the books we have in our home library and public library. the more books we can dabble in, the better!
I also look for educational YouTube videos to show the boys. I love presenting tangible, auditory and visual forms of the lesson. I find that they boys retain information better this way.
*please note: The Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World is a thrifted find. if you find it in the wild, I highly recommend it for any home library. it's filled with wonderful maps, timelines and pictures.
the articles
this year, we are using Kid Discoveries online platform as the base of our unit. Each unit, I curate a selection of articles and videos from the platform that the boys must read independently. The children like to use the "read aloud" feature and read along with narrator. This is the perfect time to have them put on headphones and read independently.
There is also an optional quiz you can assign the child if you'd like. After the boys read an article (or two) for the day, we often discuss what they learned. This is the perfect opportunity to practice reading comprehension.
the history notebook
I purchased @theschoolnest's history notebook via Amazon and are using this a way for the boys to collect + record the information they learn. I curate coloring worksheets, small timelines, and other informational worksheets for the boys to cute and glue into the notebooks along with the notes they take. you will find some of these at the end of the lesson under the free resources section.
and this is just the beginning...
I've been working on a more in-depth notebooking companion to go alongside these units — something designed to help families build a history notebook of their own as they move through each civilization. It will include additional notebook pages, writing prompts, timelines, activities, and other resources that aren't included in the blog post.The idea behind these companions is to give parents a starting place — and to help bring the history notebook to life.
I don't want these companions to feel like something you have to work through from beginning to end. They’re meant to give you a variety of ideas and options to choose from — use what works for your family and leave the rest. My hope is that it becomes a place where your children collect pieces of what they've learned — not just a stack of completed worksheets, but a little history of their own learning.The idea behind these companions is that the notebook doesn't have to be the end of your study — it can be the beginning of your next one.
you might use the companion when your children are younger and create a notebook full of the things they were able to understand and do at that age. Then, a few years later, when they're ready to study that civilization in greater depth, you can pull that notebook back out.
suddenly, they have something to build from. They can look back at what they learned when they were younger, see what they remember, and begin asking new questions. What was once a simple timeline or drawing might become the starting point for deeper reading, more detailed writing, research, or discussion.
I love the idea that the notebook can become a starting point for the next layer of learning — not something you simply finish and put away.
my hope is that it becomes a place where your children collect pieces of what they've learned over the years — not just a stack of completed worksheets, but a little history of their own learning.
I want the notebook to come alive as the history comes alive.
the music we heard
the projects
for the interactive element of our history studies, I want the boys to complete a few hands-on projects for each unit. Whether it's recreating an artifact from the time period, researching a topic that sparks their curiosity, or building something inspired by the ancient world, these projects will give them an opportunity to explore history beyond the pages of a book.
My hope is that by using their hands, asking questions, and following their interests, they'll develop a deeper connection to the people, places, and cultures we're studying.
the meal
I like to close out the lesson by making a special meal from that time period. We break bread together and talk about what we've learned. It's the perfect way to close out the lesson and gives us the opportunity to share what we found most interesting, connect it to the bible, and look forward to the next lesson.
I will also have a plate template (found in the freebies section of the blog post). The boys will have an opportunity to draw / label the food that they ate and we will glue it in their history notebook. Pictures of the actual meal will be on the blog post as well -- and a recipe will be included for anyone who wants to try and make it.
annnnnnnd that's a wrap!
so, that's the plan in a nutshell. What do y'all think?!
I'm really excited to get started with this and see how it all actually plays out. We'll go down a few rabbit holes, spend way too long on something the boys become obsessed with and honestly, that's what homeschooling is all about and is one of my favorite parts!
Like I mentioned before, I'll be sharing each unit on the blog along with snippets of their notebooks, how each unit went and all the little extras (+ some freebies along the way).
alright friends, we're off to explore the world, one civilization at a time. See you at our first stop -- Mesopotamia!
*a little note about supporting my work:
I've had a few people ask how they can support the time and effort that goes into creating and sharing these resources. I love being able to offer ideas, inspiration, and helpful resources here on the blog for free.
Creating, curating, and writing these resources takes quite a bit of time, so if you’d like to support my work, you can always “buy me a coffee” through my tip jar. It is never expected, but it is genuinely appreciated and helps me continue creating and sharing these resources with you.
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