Ancient Egypt
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Here are lists of people, places, and dates to review as you are learning about Ancient Egypt. I've also included a list of children's books and links to other websites.
People to Remember
Menes (reigned from c. 3150 B.C.) Legendary pharoah who unified Upper and Lower Egypt
Imhotep (2667 – 2648 B.C.) Architect of the Step Pyramid of Pharoah Djoser
Khufu (reigned from c. 2589 to 2566 B.C.) Pharoah of Egypt (also known as Cheops) who commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza
Hatshepsut (reigned from c.1479 - 1458 B.C.) Female pharoah, stepmother of Tuthmosis III
Akenhaten (reigned c.1352 - 1336 B.C.) Monotheistic pharoah who unsuccessfully attempted to have Egypt worship the sun god Aten
Tutankhamun (reigned from c.1336 - 1327 BC) Pharoah of Egypt whose tomb was discovered in 1922
Ramesses II (reigned from c.1279 - 1212 B.C.) The greatest pharoah of the New Kingdom period in Ancient Egypt, who made peace with the Hittites
Nefertari (493 – 429 B.C.) Wife of Ramesses II
Cleopatra - (reigned 51 - 30 BC) The last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty
Places and Terms to Know
Pharoah - An Ancient Egyptian ruler. The name is derived from the phrase "Great House."
Nile River - The longest river in the world which flows through Egypt
The Nile Delta - The fertile area where the Nile River spreads out and flows into the
Mediterranean Sea.
Cataracts - Areas of the Nile River where the water rushes over rocky beds
The Great Sphinx of Giza -A huge statue of a creature with a lion's body and a man's head that stands on the west bank of the Nile River in Giza, Egypt
The Great Pyramid of Giza - The oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis which is believed to have been built as a tomb for Pharoah Khufu around 2560 BC. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Thebes - The capital of Ancient Egypt
Amarna - The ceremonial capitol built by Pharoah Akenhaten, and promptly abandoned at his death around 1336 B.C.
Mummy - A body that has been preserved and wrapped for burial
Canopic Jars - Jars used for preserving the internal organs of a body
Ra - Egyptian sun god
Amulet - a small charm
Kohl - a dark powder used by the Egyptians to darken the rims of their eyelids
Hieroglyphs - A system of writing in ancient Egypt that used pictures or symbols
Papyrus - An early form of paper which was made by pounding the pith of the papyrus plant into smooth sheets
Obelisk - A tall, slender stone pillar
Valley of the Kings - a valley on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt where tombs were constructed for Pharoahs and powerful nobles
Dates to Remember for Ancient Egyptian History
c. 3100 B.C. - Pharoah Menes unites Upper and Lower Egypt
2630 B.C. Egypt's first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, is built.
2550 B.C. The Great Pyramid at Giza is built
Other E-learning Links for Learning about Ancient Egypt
National Geographic Timeline of Ancient Egypt
This timeline provides a good overview of the major time periods of Ancient Egyptian History.
BBC History has information about pyramids, mummification, Egyptian gods and pharoahs, and other topics.
MrDonn.org has lessons and links for many topics about Ancient Egypt.
Homeschool Share has library lists, recipes, lapbooks, and many other resources for learning about Ancient Egypt.
Activity Village has coloring pages, craft ideas, and other printables about Ancient Egypt.
Blog Posts about Ancient Egypt
Susan's Homeschool Blog - Susan's blog has lots of creative unit study ideas for Ancient Egypt. Some of them are presented as Youtube videos.
Kids Love Learning has a unit study for Ancient Egypt which includes ideas for crafts, timeline activities and sentences for copywork.
Children's Books about Ancient Egypt
Picture Books:
- Pharaoh's Boat
by David Weitzman
- Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt
by Joanna Cole
- Ancient Egypt (Sightseers)
by Kevin J. Harty
- You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pyramid Builder!: A Hazardous Job You'd Rather Not Have
by Jacqueline Morley, illustrated by David Antram
- Tut's Mummy: Lost...And Found (Step-Into-Reading, Step 4)
by Judy Donnelly
- Mummies, Pyramids, and Pharaohs: A Book About Ancient Egypt
by Gail Gibbons
- Egyptians (Usborne Beginners)
by Stephanie Turnbull
- Pyramids Through Time (Fast Forward)
by Nicholas Harris
- Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers: One Hundred Ancient Egyptian Jobs You Might Have Desired or Dreaded (Jobs in History)
by Kristin Butcher
- Everyday Life In Ancient Egypt (Clues to the Past)
by Nathaniel Harris
-
See Inside an Egyptian Town
by R. J. Unstead
- Hatshepsut, His Majesty, Herself
by Catherine M. Andronik, illustrated by Joseph Daniel Fiedler
- Pyramid
by David Macaulay
- The Great Pyramid at Giza: Tomb of Wonders
by Sarah Pitt Kaplan
- Secret of the Sphinx
by James Cross Giblin
Activity Books:
Ancient Civilizations & the Bible: Creation to Jesus Christ:
Elementary Activity Book (History Revealed)
by Diana Waring
- Ancient Egyptians (Qed Hands on History)
by Fiona MacDonald
- Ralph Masiello's Ancient Egypt Drawing Book
by Ralph Masiello
- Pyramids!: 50 Hands-On Activities to Experience Ancient Egypt (Kaleidoscope Kids Books)
by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell
- Projects About Ancient Egypt (Hands-on History)
by David C. King
Chapter Books)

- The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt
by G. A. Henty
- Mara, Daughter of the Nile
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
- The Golden Goblet
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
- God King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah
by Joanne Williamson
Movies
- The History Channel Presents Egypt - Engineering an Empire
by The History Channel (available on Neflix: DVD and Streaming)
