History Odyssey: Ancients

History Odyssey: Ancients

Grade level: 5th - 8th

Pages: 129

Course type: Study guide (See the Booklist tab for the resources required to complete this course.)

Important Notice

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (KFH) has become difficult to obtain. While we are hopeful a new edition will be released, there is no confirmed publication date at this time. KFH is the main reference spine for this History Odyssey course and is required for proper use.

Please make sure you have secured a copy of KFH before purchasing this History Odyssey course.

What Is History Odyssey: Ancients?

History Odyssey: Ancients is a year-long, secular homeschool history curriculum for middle school students who are ready to learn more independently.

This comprehensive course takes a multi-disciplinary approach, combining history, language arts, and world geography. As students progress through the lessons, they will complete reading and writing assignments, mapwork, and timeline projects—all of which work together to build a deep understanding of ancient civilizations.

Because Ancients is secular, it presents religious beliefs and texts not as historical fact, but as sources and perspectives to be examined within their cultural and historical context.

History Odyssey: Ancients is the first course in a four-part series, covering Ancients, Middle Ages, Early Modern, and Modern history. While each guide can be used independently, it is ideal to start with Ancients, as it lays the foundation for skills used in later courses.

What Resources and Materials Are Needed?

In addition to this study guide, you will need:

• The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia – the main reference spine for the course
• Access to additional reference materials (library or internet)
• The History Odyssey Timeline or supplies to create a large-scale timeline
• A detailed world atlas
• Colored pencils for mapwork
• 3-ring binder with dividers and lined paper
• Books from the original and/or alternative booklist (see Booklist tab for details)

The study guide integrates all six books from the original literature list, but a curated alternative book list is also available to expand cultural and global perspectives. Students may substitute or supplement readings using this alternative list.

Who Can Use History Odyssey- Ancients?

This course is appropriate for students in grades 5–8 learning:

• at home (independently or with guidance)
• in co-ops, learning pods, micro-schools, or charter programs

The study guide is written directly to the student, using clear and concise language to foster independent learning.

Prerequisites

Students should be comfortable:

• Writing complete sentences
• Reading independently and for comprehension

Flexible Scheduling

The course includes 72 lessons divided into manageable sections, each designed to be completed in one sitting.

Students typically spend 1–2 hours per lesson, several days per week, to complete the course over the span of one school year.

The schedule is flexible and can easily be adjusted to fit your family’s routine.

What Material Does Ancients Cover?

Students will study events from approximately 20,000 BCE to 500 CE, including:

• Major achievements of early civilizations
• Defining characteristics of ancient societies in Eurasia, the Americas, and Africa
• Ancient Egyptian culture
• Life in Ancient Greece
• The rise and fall of the Roman Empire

 

What Skills Will Students Learn?

Throughout History Odyssey- Ancients, students will develop:

• Critical reading and analytical thinking skills
• Evidence-based writing and argumentation
• Research and reference skills
• Geographical awareness and map literacy
• Historical reasoning and chronological understanding

 

Important Copyright Information

If you choose the eBook version of this course, you are purchasing a license to use the PDF for your own children. You may make copies for your own children, but you may not share (email, download, print and distribute, resell, etc.) this eBook or any portion of this eBook to others. Licensing is available for group, school, and co-op use. Please contact Pandia Press for details on group licensing (info@pandiapressbooks.com).