Comparison of Diana Waring's Activity Books and Susan Wise Bauer's Story of the World Activity Books Page 2
I wouldn’t attempt to do both, unless it was to add the DIANA WARING Bible Study Guides to the SUSAN WISE BAUER Act books. (But that’s a big cost for just that). You’d be going over similar ground.
The DIANA WARING Study Guides do not use STORY OF THE WORLD as a spine. DIANA WARING Guides give a lot of freedom as to what you use – you can use what you like. I find it easy to tie in the relevant STORY OF THE WORLD chapters with her Study Guides, but you don’t have to. For a child using the DIANA WARING Act books, I would eventually go around again using the Study Guides as, IMO, the Act Books are not that deep - we have to remember, they are not designed as a senior high school curriculum. I know SUSAN WISE BAUER would say the same about hers too.
I think it is also important to not be dazzled by the sheer volume of activities in the SUSAN WISE BAUER Act book. It looks great to have half a dozen pictures to colour on each subject, but will your child be glad to do yet another colouring in? How many crafts do you actually have time to set up and clean up? How many heads of kings do you need to colour? At the same time, one can easily think the DIANA WARING Act books are a bit thin on activities in comparison, but I’ve found what is there is actually quite well chosen. If we do them, plus add a couple of narrations in the month (and alter the books choices – they have different things available in American libraries that are largely out of print now, so we can’t easily get them), and add timeline and perhaps an extra map if we want, it works out as a nice study for a child that age.
I will add that the SUSAN WISE BAUER - STORY OF THE WORLD Act books have marvellous booklists, most titles of which are in print and easily obtainable through Home School Favourites within a fortnight - just ask for the ones you want and I'll get you the prices. In fact there are so many great books there it may be hard to limit yourself! The booklists are worthwhile to use with any other curriculum you may be using. Note that they are generally books for primary aged children only.
I hope this description will help you decide what would best suit your family. I think the whole question comes down to – what do you have time to do in your family? It depends on you, and on the ages of your children – whether you have older ones who require some time.
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