We build our history, geography, and cultural studies around living books. When the kids don't have any dominating interests (which then inform our studies) we follow, very loosely, a classical inspired cycle of studying the Ancients, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, and Modern Times.
We don't memorize dates, facts and political boundaries. We study a sequence of historical events, the rise and fall of nations and empires, and cultures around the world and in our backyard, to help us understand the present and look towards the future.