Intro to World History, Year 2 of 2

History / Bible / Literature C, Grade 4 Readers, 5-Day, with Required Resources

Journey from the fall of Rome through modern world history!

Learn the significant events and stories of the last 1600 years of history in this discovery-filled study with Sonlight C.

If you feel like you've covered the Egyptians and the Ancients enough, or if you are a returning Sonlighter ready for the second half of this world history study, you'll learn not only the roots of Western civilization, but also acquire an overview of how civilizations have developed all over the world. In this 36-week program, you'll spend time with the Vikings and the feudal system of the Middle Ages, examine some of the art, literature, and rulers of the Renaissance, and on through the centuries to modern global history. Your children will see that history has an impact on how we live today.

• Finish the story of the world you started in History / Bible / Literature B.
• Relax with complete lesson plans and materials for homeschool success.
• Learn from the triumphs and mistakes of our ancestors. Adventure with Vikings, missionaries, astronauts & more.
• Create memories with your children, help them love learning!
• Purchase this package and you'll get free shipping (lower 48), a one-year guarantee and other perks.

Sonlight C takes you through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation, Asian dynasties, and the Industrial Revolution to modern global history.

You will not simply to trace the roots of Western Civilization, but acquire an overview of how civilizations have developed all over the world – Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa.

As your children see the flow of World History – the rise and fall of civilizations – they get a big-picture look at what has gone before. That, in turn, helps them understand the world today.

Although Sonlight C touches on some hard topics, overall the focus is on positive stories of people overcoming obstacles. (Since the 20th Century was particularly harsh, we wait until later years to study it in depth.)

As one mom said, Sonlight's C "is a great collection of books tied together with an Instructor's Guide. Worth every penny." We trust you'll agree.

Estimated daily time for Intro to World History, Year 2 of 2 plus your other subjects: Student: 2-3 hrs | Parent: 1.5-2 hrs

Prefer a condensed, one-year Introduction to World History? See Sonlight B+C.

Overview of the History

As in Sonlight B, the centerpiece of the history program is V.M. Hillyer's story-based Child's History of the World. This book continues to interweave with the illustration-heavy Usborne Book of World History. And, as in B, the Time Traveler book offers a deeper look at two cultures: the Vikings and Medieval Europe.

This program includes several gorgeously illustrated biographies of fascinating people. Peter the Great describes the energetic ruler of Russia, the visionary behind St. Petersburg, and a cultural reformer. Another introduces Michelangelo, a master of three widely different art forms: architecture, painting, and sculpture. And yet another is a wonderful biography of Gladys Aylward, an uneducated British housemaid who went to China via Russia in the midst of the Soviet-Chinese war in the early 20th century.

With this program, you also gain a special love for modern peoples around the world through the book Window on the World. From Afghans to Zulus, meet 92 largely unevangelized countries and people groups. Learn about the globe and help your children develop a godly heart for the world.

Another highlight is Geography Songs, a rollicking album of countries and capitals. If you sometimes forget where Gambia is, or whether Luxembourg is a country or a city, this album will help you know the countries of the world.

Overview of the Bible

The Bible will come to life as you read and memorize passages of the Bible in your History / Bible / Literature program. Children will memorize key portions of the Bible as they sing along with scripture verses set to delightful music. Your children will also learn how to understand and appreciate the Bible in new ways with the Discoverer's Bible for Young Readers. 

Overview of the Literature

As your children continue to mature, the Read-Alouds likewise require greater maturity. Most of them do not have illustrations.

Several more of the Read-Alouds this year take place concurrently with the history: The Minstrel in the Tower (5-Day), Tales of Robin Hood, The Adventures of Lancelot the Great (5-Day), and The Door in the Wall all take place in the Middle Ages.

Though the rest do not tie in to history, they are books to make your life better. Red Sails to Capri an all-time favorite, with its brilliant triumph of a search for beauty, adventure, and philosophy. The Cricket in Times Square follows the adventures of a cricket, a cat, and a mouse in New York's Grand Central Station. The White Stallion of Lipizza follows a boy as he studies dressage (a type of horse riding) at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The School Story is about book publishing, and Tiger Boy is a story of risk and sacrifice as a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve in the Sunderbans of West Bengal. Marvelous, entertaining, and endearing books, all.

History / Bible / Literature C also includes a collection of poems, 104 Poems of Whimsy and Wisdom to Delight Children of All Ages. This title features outstanding poems in the English language: fun, thoughtful, interesting, unexpected, delightful, inspiring.

Grade 4 Readers

Chapter books for the precocious reader.

A book with mysteries (Encyclopedia Brown); a book of tall tales (McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm); a book about building a business (The Toothpaste Millionaire). An original fairy tale (The King's Equal). A book about unusual pets (A Llama in the Family), and wild horses (Misty of Chincoteague). Another package of excellent readers to enjoy.

One of the enormous benefits of this package, especially, is that most of these books are either part of a series, or by an author who wrote many other books. So if your children find an author they particularly enjoy, look for more! For example, the author of Frindle, Andrew Clements, has written many delightful books. Or Arleta Richardson, who wrote More Stories from Grandma's Attic, has ten books in the complete set. Beverly Cleary wrote six books about Henry Huggins and eight about Henry's neighbors Beezus and Ramona. There are more than two dozen Encyclopedia Brown books, four in the "B" Is for Betsy series, three about Ralph S. Mouse. And so on.

Click here to learn more about Readers.

Required Resources

This package includes a few essential resources to make your learning extra rich this year. You'll use Sonlight's Timeline Book and Markable Map & Markers throughout your Sonlight career. This package also includes the The Usborne Time Traveler, The Usborne Book of World History, and A Child's History of the World. If you already own these resources, you can remove them from your package with options above.