Ancient Egypt

This past school year, our three younger children (7th, 5th, and 1st grade at the time) studied the Ancient History time period.

For our youngest child, this was the first time he learned about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. It was the second time through for our middle children. Over their school years, we hope to go through world history three times.

The first time our daughters studied Ancient Egypt, we made papyrus paper using this kit. It didn't work. For the record, it could have been user error, as in our fault. Regardless, it was not the hands on learning I had dreamed of completing. In hind sight, I should have gotten this instead. Already preprinted papyrus would have been easier.

This time, I contemplated mummifying a chicken. We have the instructions in this book. I chickened out. Yes, I'm a bit squeamish.

Instead, we did a lot of paper, markers, and glue kind of projects using History Pockets: Ancient Egypt, published by Evan-Moor. It offered hands on learning with less mess. (Though when we got to Ancient Greece I relented and even tried homemade paper mache - quite the mess!)

Activity Ideas:

• Hieroglyphic writing (we wrote names and messages)
• papyrus paper (paint on kit)
• pyramid building (out of anything and everything, but Legos work nicely)
• reed boat building (instructions here, could substitute drinking straws for reeds)
• make an Egyptian Jeweled Collar (instructions here)
• play Senet (how to found here)
• mummify a chicken (for the brave of heart - how to found here)
• make canopic jars (inspiration here)

Books:

• The Cat of Bubastes, by G.A. Henty - I read this one aloud to our children, and my daughter asked for this one read aloud by Jim Weiss for Christmas
• The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, by Elizabeth Payne - read by our 7th grader
• Pyramid, by David Macaulay - paged through by the children on their own
• Tut's Mummy: Lost and Found, by Judy Donnelly - I read it aloud to our 1st grader
• Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs, by James Rumford - shared with all the children
• Science in Ancient Egypt, by Geraldine Woods - read by our 7th grader
• The Great Pyramid, by Elizabeth Mann - shared with all our children
• Ms. Frizzle's Adventure in Ancient Egypt, by Joanna Cole

 

 

After our Ancient History studies, we took the children to a museum which features Ancient Egyptian artifacts (including mummies!).

 

For those interested, I have a Pinterest board for Ancient Egypt. I'll be adding to it as we progress through the years. After all, I should be returning to teaching Ancient History at least two more times.

 

 



Follow Dorie Kay's board Ancient Egypt on Pinterest.