Using the Imagination Station Series with Story of the World

We’re using Story of the World, Volume 1 for our history spine this year. We like it, but we also like to add in additional books about ancient civilizations. I decided to use Imagination Station with Story of the World.

When I’m selecting books, I think through what a given title would add to my son’s experience. Story of the World is typically considered a “neutral” curriculum. There is no discussion of origins issues in Volume 1. Abraham, Jesus, and other biblical figures are mentioned, but Christian content is fairly limited.

My husband and I were Adventures in Odyssey fans as children, and continue to quote certain lines from it to each other.

“This is a DISAS-TUH area,” in the Rathbone accent just really sums up seeing a new mess.

But I digress.

The Imagination Station series is newer, but based on the Adventures in Odyssey radio series. In each book, a set of cousins takes a trip to a historical era in the Imagination Station. Like Adventures in Odyssey before it, the Imagination Station series is explicitly Christian. Some of the books cover biblical events. All of them cover biblical themes.

Imagination Station books add in a Christian worldview component, as well as some plain old fun. I researched the books in the series and coordinated them with the Story of the World volumes. When there wasn’t an exact match in place, I selected the Story of the World chapter that was closest to the time period of the Imagination Station book.

The Imagination Station series is written on about a 3rd grade reading level. If your student is at that point, they would make great independent reading.

Story of the World, Volume 1

Secret of the Prince’s Tomb – Egypt – corresponds to ch. 12

Showdown with the Shepherd – David and Goliath – corresponds to ch. 16 

Light in the Lions’ Den – Daniel – corresponds to ch. 17 

Attack at the Arena – Roman gladiators – corresponds to ch. 28 

Danger on a Silent Night – Birth of Jesus Christ – corresponds to ch. 37

Swept into the Sea – The Apostle Paul’s shipwreck – corresponds to ch. 38 

Doomsday in Pompeii – Pompeii volcano explosion – corresponds to ch. 39 

Challenge on the Hill of Fire – Saint Patrick – corresponds to ch. 42

Story of the World, Volume 2

Voyage of the Vikings – Leif Erikson and Erik the Red – corresponds to ch. 14

Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon – Africa – corresponds to ch. 19 

Peril in the Palace – Marco Polo and Kublai Khan – corresponds to ch. 22

Revenge of the Red Knight – Wars of the Roses – corresponds to 27 

Islands and Enemies – Magellan – corresponds to ch. 31

Story of the World, Volume 3

Problems in Plymouth – Pilgrims – corresponds to ch. 6

The Redcoats are Coming – American Revolution – corresponds to ch. 22 

Captured on the High Seas – American Revolution – corresponds to ch. 22 

Surprise at Yorktown – American Revolution – corresponds to ch. 22

Battle for Cannibal Island – pirates – corresponds to ch. 40 

Story of the World, Volume 4

Poison at the Pump – cholera epidemic in London – corresponds to ch. 1 

Freedom at the Falls – Civil War – corresponds to ch. 5 

Terror in the Tunnel – Abraham Lincoln – corresponds to ch. 5

Rescue on the River – Civil War – corresponds to ch. 5  

Trouble on the Orphan Train – Orphan Trains – corresponds to ch. 16 

Inferno in Tokyo – natural disasters in Japan – corresponds to ch. 25 

Madman in Manhattan – Thomas Edison – corresponds to ch. 8 

Refugees on the Run – World War II – corresponds to ch. 28 

Escape to the Hiding Place – Corrie ten Boom/World War II – corresponds to ch. 28 

In Fear of the Spear – Jim Elliot – 1950s

If you are studying ancient history, you might also enjoy my full book list post.

If you are studying the middle ages, you might also enjoy my full book list post for that era as well.