Book List: Ancient Mesopotamia & Ancient Egypt

Book List: Ancient Mesopotamia & Ancient Egypt

Greetings Fellow Homeschoolers!  Throughout the summer, in response to numerous requests, I will be posting book lists that correspond with each unit study on this U READ Thru History blog.   Following is a list of titles (organized by grade level) that will be used for the Year 1 unit study on Ancient Mesopotamia & Ancient Egypt (see the tab at the top of this blog).  If your library does not carry these books, you may be able to obtain them through interlibrary loan.  Of course, all of these titles can also be purchased on Amazon.com or abebooks.com.

May God continue to bless your homeschool adventure!

– Gwen

Grades K – 3:

1. Let There Be Light by Pauline Baynes
2. Adam & Eve story from a children’s Bible
3. Let There Be Light (Noah’s Ark section only) by Jane Ray
4. Tower of Babel story in a children’s Bible AND The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 1 – 3 only) by Martha Rustad
5. Abraham by Nest Entertainment or story of Abraham from children’s Bible AND Read: The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon by Martha Rustad (Chp 4 only)
6. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt by Linda Honan (Read Introduction & Chp 1)
7. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt by Linda Honan (Chp 6 only)
8. Joseph by Brian Wildsmith
9. The Gods & Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Leonard Everett Fisher
10. Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki
11. Exodus by Brian Wildsmith
12. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt (Chp 4) by Linda Honan
13. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt (Chp 2) by Linda Honan
14. Mummies, Pyramids, & Pharoahs by Gail Gibbons
15. Reread Mummies, Pyramids, & Pharoahs by Gail Gibbons
16. Story of Daniel & Story of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego in a children’s Bible AND The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 5 – 6 only) by Martha Rustad

Grade 4:

1. Genesis 1:1 –2 :3
2. Genesis 2:4 –5 :32
3. Genesis 6:1 – 9:17
4. Genesis 11: 1- 32 & The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 1 – 3 only) by Martha Rustad
5. Genesis 18: 1- 15 & Genesis 21:1-7, & Genesis 22:1-19 AND The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 4 only) by Martha Rustad
6. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt by Linda Honan (Read Introduction & Chp 1)
7. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt by Linda Honan (Chp 6 only)
8. Genesis 40:1 -40:57
9. The Gods & Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Leonard Everett Fisher
10. Secret of the Mummies by Harriet Griffey
11. Exodus by Mary Auld
12. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt (Chp 4) by Linda Honan
13. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt (Chp 2) by Linda Honan
14. King Fisher Voyages: Ancient Egypt by Simon Adams (pg 1 – 29)
15. King Fisher Voyages: Ancient Egypt by Simon Adams (pg 30 – end)
16. Daniel 3, Daniel 6 AND The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 5 – 6 only) by Martha Rustad

Grade 5:

1. Genesis 1:1 –2 :3
2. Genesis 2:4 –5 :32
3. Genesis 6:1 – 9:17
4. Genesis 11: 1- 32 & The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 1 – 3 only) by Martha Rustad
5. Genesis 18: 1- 15 & Genesis 21:1-7, & Genesis 22:1-19 AND The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 4 only) by Martha Rustad
6. Egyptian Dynasties by Joyce Haynes (Read Chp 3 only)
7. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt by Linda Honan (Chp 6 only)
8. Genesis 40:1 -40:57
9. The Gods & Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Leonard Everett Fisher
10. Secret of the Mummies by Harriet Griffey
11. Exodus by Mary Auld
12. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt (Chp 4) by Linda Honan
13. Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt (Chp 2) by Linda Honan
14. King Fisher Voyages: Ancient Egypt by Simon Adams (pg 1 – 29)
15. King Fisher Voyages: Ancient Egypt by Simon Adams (pg 30 – end)
16. Daniel 3, Daniel 6 AND The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 5 – 6 only) by Martha Rustad

Grade 6:

1. Genesis 1:1 –2 :3
2. Genesis 2:4 –5 :32
3. Genesis 6:1 – 9:17 AND Out of the Ark: Stories from the World’s Religions (read pgs 26 – 35 only)
4. Genesis 11: 1- 32 AND The Sumerians by Elaine Landau
5. Genesis 18: 1 – 19:29; Genesis 21:1-7 & Genesis 22:1-19 AND Ancient Computing by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 2 only)
6. Egyptian Dynasties by Joyce Haynes (Read Chp 3 only)
7. Ancient Transportation by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 3 only) AND Ancient Agriculture by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 3 only)
8. Genesis 37:1 – 37:36; 39:1 – 50:26
9. Egyptian Mythology by Janell Broyles (Chps 1 – 3 only)
10. Secret of the Mummies by Harriet Griffey
11. Exodus by Mary Auld
12. The Mystery of the Hieroglyphs by Carol Donoughue
13. Pyramids of Egypt by Don Narde
14. King Fisher Voyages: Ancient Egypt by Simon Adams (pg 1 – 29)
15. King Fisher Voyages: Ancient Egypt by Simon Adams (pg 30 – end)
16. Daniel 1, Daniel 3, & Daniel 7 AND The Babylonians by Elaine Landau

Grades 7 & 8:

1. Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 & Look up and read about the following on the internet: “Big Bang Theory”, “Day Age Theory”, “Gap Theory”, “Theistic Evolution”, & “Intelligent Design”
2. Genesis 2:4 – 5:32 AND Ancient Agriculture by Michael & Mary Woods (Chapter 2 only)
3. Genesis 6:1 – 9:17 AND Out of the Ark: Stories from the World’s Religions (read pgs 26 – 35 only)
4. Genesis 11: 1- 32 AND The Sumerians by Elaine Landau
5. Genesis 18: 1 – 19:29; Genesis 21:1-7 & Genesis 22:1-19 AND Ancient Computing by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 2 only)
6. Egyptian Dynasties by Joyce Haynes (Read Chp 3 only)
7. Ancient Transportation by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 3 only) AND Ancient Agriculture by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 3 only)
8. Genesis 37:1 – 37:36; 39:1 – 50:26
9. Egyptian Mythology by Janell Broyles (Chps 1 – 3 only)
10. Egyptian Mummies: The Brittish Museum by Delia Pemberton
11. Exodus 3:1 – 14:31
12. The Mystery of the Hieroglyphs by Carol Donoughue
13. Pyramids of Egypt by Don Narde
14. Your Travel Guide to Ancient Egypt by Nancy Day (pgs 1 – 51)
15. Your Travel Guide to Ancient Egypt by Nancy Day (pgs 52 – end)
16. Daniel 1, Daniel 3, & Daniel 7 AND The Babylonians by Elaine Landau

Copyright July 6th, 2015 by Gwen Fredette

Ancient Mesopotamia/Ancient Egypt Test

WEEK 17:  ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA/ANCIENT EGYPT TEST

NOTE: Following is the Ancient Mesopotamia/Ancient Egypt History Test.  7th and 8th graders should be able to do all of this test.  4th through 6th graders should be able to do most of the test.   K – 3rd graders will be able to do a lot of this test orally.   Each question is worth 2 points.  This test is OPTIONAL.   Please feel free to skip it; scale it; eliminate parts of it; use it merely as a review, or do whatever best suits your family!  If you choose to give your children this test, I would recommend reviewing the “Discussion Questions” from the last 16 weeks’ lesson plans the day before you give the test.

Following the test you will find a teachers’ answer key.

 

Name: __________________________ Date: ______________

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA/ANCIENT EGYPT HISTORY TEST

Fill in the blanks with the correct answers:

1.  What did God create on the first day? ___________________________________________

 

2.  What did God create on the second day? ________________________________________

 

3.  What did God create on the third day?    _______________________________________

 

4.  What did God create on the fourth day? _________________________________________

 

5.  What did God create on the fifth day? ___________________________________________

 

6.  What did God create on the sixth day? ___________________________________________

 

7.  What did God do on the seventh day? ___________________________________________

 

8.  What did God use to create Eve? _______________________________________________

 

9.  Why did God send a flood to the earth? __________________________________________

 

10.  How many languages were spoken when people began building the Tower of Babel? _____

 

11. What river was the lifeline of Ancient Egypt? ______________________________________

 

12.  How did most people travel in Egypt?  ______________________________

 

13.  Where were most Egyptian tombs? ____________________________________________

 

14.  What did the Egyptians write on?  __________________________________

 

15.  The finding of what famous stone enabled people to finally understand Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics? _______________________________________________________________

 

16.  Name two of the 7 wonders of the Ancient World? _______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Circle the letter of the correct answer:

 

17.  The Theory that each day of the Biblical account of Creation was actually thousands or millions of years is called:

A.  The Big Bang Theory

B.  Theistic Evolution

C.  Day-Age Theory

D.  Gap Theory

E.  Intelligent Design

 

18.  The Theory that each day of creation was a literal 24 hour day, but there was a gap of thousands or millions of years between the first and second verses of Genesis is called:

A.  The Big Bang Theory

B.  Theistic Evolution

C.  Day-Age Theory

D.  Gap Theory

E.  Intelligent Design

 

19.  The Theory that creatures have evolved over time, but God has allowed them to do so is called:

A.  The Big Bang Theory

B.  Theistic Evolution

C.  Day-Age Theory

D.  Gap Theory

E.  Intelligent Design

 

20.  The Theory that some great intelligent being began the universe and our earth is called:

A.  The Big Bang Theory

B.  Theistic Evolution

C.  Day-Age Theory

D.  Gap Theory

E.  Intelligent Design

 

21.  The Theory that the universe began with a great explosion of matter is called:

A.  The Big Bang Theory

B.  Theistic Evolution

C.  Day-Age Theory

D.  Gap Theory

E.  Intelligent Design

.

22.  What two rivers are mentioned in the Bible during the Garden of Eden and were part of Ancient Mesopotamia?

A.  Nile River and Euphrates River

B.  Tigris River and Euphrates River

C.  Nile River and Tigris River

D.  Nile River only

 

23.  The Tower of Babel was probably a:

A.  Pyramid

B.  Ziggurat

C.  Sphinx

D.  Pillar

 

24.  Which group living in Mesopotamia probably invented the first writing system?

A.   The Sumerians

B.  The Babylonians

C.  The Egyptians

D.  The Israelites

 

25.  Which of the following was NOT a food the Ancient Egyptians usually ate:

A.  Wheat

B.  Honey

C.  Lambs

D.  Dates

 

26.  Who was the god of all creation? (Hint:  He had the head of a hawk.)

A.  RA

B.  Anubis

C.  Osiris

D. Isis

E.  Set

 

27.  Who was the god of the dead? (Hint:  He had a jackal head.)

A.  RA

B.  Anubis

C.  Osiris

D. Isis

E.  Set

 

28.  Who was the god of the Underworld?

A.  RA

B.  Anubis

C.  Osiris

D. Isis

E.  Set

 

29.  Who was the greatest of the goddesses? (Hint: She had a disk and a pair of horns on her head.)

A.  RA

B.  Anubis

C.  Osiris

D. Isis

E.  Set

 

30.  Who was the god of the desert? (Hint:  He had the head of an aardvark.)

A.  RA

B.  Anubis

C.  Osiris

D. Isis

E.  Set

 

31.  Which of the following was NOT a common job of the Ancient Egyptians?

A.  Priests

B.  Farmers

C.  Shepherds

D.  Scribes

 

32.  The Ancient Pyramids were built with:

A.  Stone

B.  Brick

C.  Wood

D. Cement

.

33.  Name two SEAS near Ancient Egypt:

A.  The Dead Sea & the Red Sea

B.  The Nile River and the Red Sea

C.  The Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea

D.  The Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea

 

34.  Who was the most famous ruler of Babylon?

A.  Hammurabi

B. King Nebuchadnezzar II

C.  Ramses

D.  Moses

 

35.  Which of the following was NOT true of Nebuchadnezzar?

A.  He built canals.

B.  He built famous gardens.

C.  He built a huge, golden statue.

D.  He built a pyramid.

 

Write “T” if the answer is true.  Write “F” if the answer is false.

 36.  T/F  The Mesopotamians believed in hundreds of gods. ______

37.  T/F Many ancient cultures have different flood stories._______

38.  T/F Moses built an ark to escape the flood. ___________

39.  T/F  The word “babel” means confused. ___________

40.  T/F  Abraham and Sarah thought they were too old to have a baby. _____

41.  T/F  All Egyptians wore make-up. ______

42.  T/F  Judah was the favorite son of Jacob (Israel).  ________

43.  T/F Joseph became a great leader in Egypt. ________

44.  T/F The most famous mummy ever found was of Ramses. ____

45.  T/F Moses wanted to lead God’s people out of Egypt. _______

46.  T/F Most Ancient Egyptians could not read & write. _______

47.  T/F Hieroglyphics can be read from right to left or left to right. ___

48.  T/F  Thieves often robbed the Pharaohs’ tombs soon after they were buried. ________

49.  T/F The first great ruler of Babylon was Hammurabi. _____

50.  T/F Mom loves her kids and is very proud of them. ______

 

 

 

Extra Credit:

Name of 5 of the plagues against the Egyptians for 2 points.  Name all 10 of the plagues for 4 points.

____________________________    _________________________________

____________________________    _________________________________

____________________________    _________________________________

____________________________    _________________________________

____________________________    _________________________________

 

For 2 points Describe 3 steps in making a mummy:

1.  ______________________________________________________________

2.  ______________________________________________________________

3.  ______________________________________________________________

.

.

ANSWER KEY:

• 1.  Darkness & Light
• 2.  Water & Sky
• 3.  Plants
• 4.  Sun, Moon, Stars
• 5.  Fish & Birds
• 6.  People & Land Animals
• 7.  Rest
• 8.  Adam’s rib
• 9.  Because of Man’s sin
• 10.  1
• 11.  Nile
• 12.  By boat or walking
• 13.  In the desert
• 14.  Papyrus
• 15.  Rosetta Stone
• 16.  Any two of the following: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Pyramid of Giza, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus, Mausoleum, Colossus, Lighthouse of Alexandria
• 17.  C
• 18.  D
• 19.  B
• 20.  E
• 21.  A
• 22. B
• 23.  B
• 24.  A
• 25.  C
• 26.  A
• 27.  B
• 28.  C
• 29.  D
• 30.  E
• 31.  C
• 32.  A
• 33.  C
• 34.  B
• 35.  D
• 36. T
• 37.  T
• 38.  F
• 39.  T
• 40.  T
• 41.  T
• 42.  F
• 43.  T
• 44.  F
• 45.  F
• 46.  T
• 47.  T
• 48.  T
• 49.  T
• 50.  T

Extra Credit:  10 Egyptian Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Livestock, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, & Firstborn

Extra Credit: 3 steps in Making a Mummy:  1.  Take out inner organs, 2.  Stuff the body with linen, natron (salt), sand & saw dust,  3.  Wrap body with linen (& amulets)

Copyright April 6th, 2013 by Gwen Fredette

 

Tower of Babel/Ancient Babylon (Part II)

 Week 16: Tower of Babel/Ancient Babylon Part II**

READ:  K – 3:  Story of Daniel & Story of Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego in a children’s Bible*  & The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 5 – 6 only) by Martha Rustad

4 – 5:  The Bible: Daniel  chapter 3, Daniel chapter 6 & The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 5 – 6 only) by Martha Rustad

6 – 8:  The Bible: Daniel chapter 1, Daniel chapter 3, & Daniel chapter 7 & The Babylonians by Elaine Landau

* I highly recommend The Young Reader’s Bible by Bonnie Bruno & Carol Reinsma

.

DISCUSS:

• Who was the first great ruler of Babylon? (Hammurabi)
• What was the “Code of Hammurabi”? (set of laws telling people how to live)
• How do we know about this code? (carved on a stone)
• Who was the most famous ruler of Babylon? (King Nebuchadnezzar II)
• What did he do to make Babylon powerful? (built a bigger & better city, fixed canals, built wall around city; built famous “Hanging Gardens of Babylon”)
• What were the “Hanging Gardens”?  (one of 7 wonders of the Ancient World; beautiful gardens built for the king’s wife on palace rooftop)
• Why is Nebuchadnezzar famous in the Bible? (demanded that Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego bow to worship a huge golden statue; also had dreams of prophecy that Daniel interpreted.)

ACTIVITIES: K – 2: Coloring page of Daniel in the lion’s den & Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego in fiery furnace.  Click HERE  and HERE.

3 – 5: Write a paragraph discussing some of the good and bad things about King Nebuchadnezzar.

6 – 8: Write an essay discussing King Nebuchadnezzar’s positive and negative qualities.

** Tower of Babel/Ancient Babylon Part I  lesson plan was posted several weeks ago.  To get to that lesson plan, click HERE.

Copyright March 30th, 2013 by Gwen Fredette

Moses and the Exodus

Week 11: Moses & the Exodus

READ:  K – 3:  Exodus by Brian Wildsmith

4 – 6:  Exodus by Mary Auld

7 – 8:  Exodus 3:1 – 14:31

.

DISCUSS:

• Did Moses want to lead God’s people out of Egypt? (No)
• Why not?  (felt he couldn’t speak well)
• How did God respond to Moses? (sent him anyway)
• What plagues did God send against the Egyptians? (plague of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of firstborn.)
• What did the Hebrews have to do to their doorframes? (put blood around them)
• What was this time called? (Passover)
• How did God deliver the Israelites from Pharoah’s army? (brought them through the Red Sea)

ACTIVITIES: 

K – 2: Moses & the Exodus coloring page.  Click HERE.

3 – 5: Crossword puzzle:  http://gardenofpraise.com/bibpuz7.htm

6 – 8:  Create your own crossword puzzle about Moses, the 10 Plagues, and the Exodus.  You must have at least 15 words.

Copyright February 23, 2013 by Gwen Fredette

 

Joseph

Week 8: Joseph

READ:  K – 3:  Joseph by Brian Wildsmith

4 – 5:  Genesis 40:1 -40:57

6 – 8:  Genesis 37:1 – 37:36; 39:1 – 50:26

.




DISCUSS:

• Why was Joseph given a special coat? (favorite of father)
• Why did his brothers sell him as a slave? (jealousy)
• Why was Joseph put into prison? (Potiphar’s wife accused him of hurting her)
• What special gift did God give Joseph? (ability to understand and interpret dreams)
• Explain Pharoah’s dream and the meaning behind it? (seven fat cows ate seven skinny cows; seven full heads of grain – followed by seven meager heads of grain.  Meant 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine.)
• How did Joseph become in charge of all Egypt? (Pharoah put him in charge.)
• Why did Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt? (to buy grain)
• Where did Joseph’s family eventually come to live? (Egypt in land of Goshen)

ACTIVITIES:

K – 5: Watch: Joseph DVD by Dreamworks

6 – 8: Write an essay: compare and contrast Joseph’s life with the Israelites and when he was in charge of all Egypt.  Which life do you think he preferred?  Where would you prefer to live?

Copyright February 2nd, 2013 by Gwen Fredette

Abraham

Week 5:   Abraham

VIEW:  K – 3:  Abraham and Isaac by Nest Entertainment (many libraries across America carry these DVDs) OR  story of Abraham from children’s Bible    (I highly recommend The Young Reader’s Bible by Bonnie Bruno.  It’s excellent!) AND
READ: The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon by Martha Rustad (Chp 4 only)

4 – 6:  Genesis  18: 10 – 15 & Genesis 21:1-7, & Genesis 22:1-19  AND  The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 4 only) by Martha Rustad

7 – 8:  Genesis  18: 10 – 15 & Genesis 19: 1 – 29, & Genesis 21:1-7, & Genesis 22:1-19  AND  Ancient Computing by Michael & Mary Woods (Chp 2 only)

DISCUSS:

• Why didn’t Abraham & Sarah think they could have a baby? (too old)
• What does the name Isaac mean? (he laughs)
• Why did Abraham try to sacrifice his son? (God told him to)
• Why didn’t he? (God stopped him)
• Why did God ask him to? (tested his faith)
• Abraham is sometimes referred to as the father of the Jewish nation.  Do you think this is a fair title?  Why or why not? (answers will vary)
• Does God still ask people to do hard things today to test our faith?  Give some examples.  (answers will vary)
• Abraham and his family lived in tents, not a city.  Why do you think this was the case? (livestock needed to move often to new pastures to feed)

Questions for Grades 7 – 8: 

• How did the Ancient Mesopotamians measure weight? (used scales and standard weight balances)
• Did they use maps? (yes)
• Did they plan cities or did they just grow with the population? (they were planned)
• How did they measure time? (with the sundial)
• Why do we have 24 hr days? (started with the Babylonians)
• When was Pi discovered? (with the Babylonians)
• What is Pi? (circumference of a circle)

ACTIVITIES:

K – 3: Abraham & Isaac coloring page from this website:  Click HERE. 

4 – 6: Answer the following questions in writing:  Abraham is sometimes referred to as the father of the Jewish nation.  Do you think this is a fair title?  Why or why not?  Does God still ask people to do hard things today to test our faith?  Give some examples.  Abraham and his family lived in tents, not a city.  Why do you think this was the case?

7 – 8:  Find and color the Dead Sea on a map of Israel (click HERE); many people believe that is where Sodom & Gomorrah once were located.  Essay question:  Lot was Abraham’s nephew.  Why do you think Lot and his family wanted to stay in Sodom?  Do you believe things are better or worse in cities today than things were in Sodom & Gomorrah?  Why?

Copyright January 12, 2013 by Gwen Fredette

Tower of Babel/Ancient Babylon

Week 4:   Tower of Babel/Ancient Babylon Part I

READ:  K – 3:  Tower of Babel story in a children’s Bible & The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 1 – 3 only) by Martha Rustad

4 – 5:  Genesis  11:  1 – 32 & The Babylonians: Life in Ancient Babylon (Chps 1 – 3 only) by Martha Rustad

6 – 8:  Genesis  11: 1 – 32 & The Sumerians by Elaine Landau

Note: Many people believe the Tower of Babel was built during the Babylonian empire.  Read 1 Chronicles 1:19.  This verse is about Peleg, the great, great, great grandson of Noah.  The verse says that in his time the earth was divided.  He probably lived at about the time of the building of the Tower of Babel.  There are some people who believe at one time the earth was all one continent, but at some point, it was broken into pieces.  Is it possible that in addition to confusing their languages, that God “scattered them from there over all the earth” by dividing the earth into pieces? Something to think about!

DISCUSS:

• How many languages were spoken when people began building the Tower of Babel? (1)
• Why did the Lord scatter the people over the earth and confuse their languages? (because they wanted to make a name for themselves)
• What does the word “Babel” mean? (confused)
• Find a picture of a ziggurat in your text or on the internet. (Click HERE.)  Many people believe the tower of Babel was a ziggurat.  Is this how you pictured the Tower of Babel?
• Why were most ziggurats built? (to honor a city’s patron god)
• What were the Babylonians’ buildings made of? (baked bricks)
• Where did the Ancient Mesopotamians first live? (Fertile Crescent Area)
• Which group living in Mesopotamia invented the first writing system? (The Sumerians)
• Who lived in Mesopotamia first, the Sumerians or the Babylonians? (Sumerians)

Questions for Grades 6 – 8:

• What were some of the jobs/positions of people in Ancient Mesopotamia? (king, government officials, merchants, scribes, farmers, slaves, priests)
• How many gods did the Mesopotamians believe in? (Hundreds)

ACTIVITIES: K – 2: Build a ziggurat out of Legos, blocks, etc.

3 – 5:  Write a paragraph discussing some good and bad things about everyone being able to speak the same language.

6 – 8:  Write an essay: Compare and contrast Ancient Mesopotamian Life with the lives of the Ancient Hebrews.  Be sure to include where they lived, what they worshipped, what type of work they did, etc.

Copyright January 5th, 2013 by Gwen Fredette

Noah’s Ark

Week 3:   Noah’s Ark

READ:  K – 3:  Let There Be Light  (Noah’s Ark section only) by Jane Ray
4 – 5:  Genesis  6:1 – 9:17
6 – 8:  Genesis  6:1 – 9:17 & Out of the Ark: Stories from the World’s Religions by Anita Ganeri (read pgs 26 – 35 only)

 

DISCUSS: 

• Why did God send a flood to the earth? (To destroy mankind)
• Why didn’t he destroy Noah & his family? (Noah was a righteous man and walked with God)
• It rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but Noah and his family were on the boat for about a year.  Why do you think? (took a long time for the water to recede.)
• Discuss what life must have been like for Noah and his family on the boat. (answers will vary)

Questions for Grades 6 – 8:

• Discuss how the flood stories you read compare and contrast to the Biblical account. (answers will vary)
• A flood story exists in numerous ancient cultures.  Why do you think this is the case? (Because there really was a great flood that destroyed mankind.)
• Why do you think each flood story is a little different? (God’s Holy Spirit preserved the true story of the flood in the Bible.  Other stories got changed over time by people.)

ACTIVITIES: K – 2: Draw your own picture of Noah’s ark and the great flood.  Be sure to include many animals!
3 – 5:  What do you think life was like on the ark?  Write a paragraph.  Be sure to include what things looked like, smelled like, and sounded like on the ark.
6 – 8:  Write an essay comparing and contrasting one flood story you read with the Biblical account.

Copyright December 28th, 2012 by Gwen Fredette

Adam & Eve

Week 2: Adam & Eve

READ: K – 3: Adam & Eve story from a children’s Bible and read “Note” below.  (I highly recommend the Young Reader’s Bible by Bonnie Bruno.  It’s excellent!)

4 – 6: Genesis 2:4 –5 :32 and read “Note” below.

7 – 8: Genesis 2:4 – 5:32 & Ancient Agriculture by Michael & Mary Woods (Chapter 2 only) and read “Note” below.

Note: The section mentioned in this passage of the Bible mentions 4 rivers: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, & Euphrates.  The Tigris and Euphrates rivers can be found on the map in modern-day Iraq.  Many scholars refer to the area between the Tigris and Euphrates as the “Fertile Crescent”. Most scholars (Christian and otherwise) believe this area of the globe is where the world’s first civilizations began.

DISCUSS:

• Why did God create Eve for Adam? (saw it was not good that man was alone)
• How did God create Eve? (used one of Adam’s ribs)
• What commandment did God give Adam & Eve? (not to eat fruit from a specific tree)
• Who tempted Eve to eat the fruit? (the serpent)
• Who tempted Adam to eat the fruit? (Eve)
• Who was punished for the sin? (serpent, Eve, & Adam)
• What was each punishment? (crawl on belly, pain in labor, work will cause pain)

Question for grades 7 – 8: Describe 3 agricultural or domesticating techniques used by Ancient Mesopotamians.

ACTIVITIES: All ages: Find and color in the “Fertile Crescent” on this map.  Click HERE.

K – 2: Adam & Eve coloring page.  Click HERE.

4 – 6: Adam & Eve crossword puzzle from “Garden of Praise”.  Click HERE.  And do the following: God’s punishment to Adam was that his work would cause him pain. Work is a curse and a blessing. Write a paragraph about how your schoolwork can be a blessing and yet cause you pain.

7 – 8: Write an essay: Describe three agricultural or domesticating techniques use by the Ancient Mesopotamians.  Considering what you read, what techniques do you believe may have been used by Adam & Eve, their children, or their grandchildren? Why?

Copyright December 15th, 2012 by Gwen Fredette

Creation

Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt History Curriculum

Week 1: Creation

 READ: K – 3: Let There Be Light by Pauline Baynes

4 – 6: Genesis 1:1 –2 :3 (The Bible)

7 – 8: Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 (The Bible)  & Look up and read about the following on the internet: “Big Bang Theory”, “Day-Age Theory”, “Gap Theory”, “Theistic Evolution”, & “Intelligent Design”.  (Parents:  you will probably have to help your students find this information.  Wikipedia may be a good source.)

DISCUSS:

• Who created the heavens and the earth? (God)
• What did God create on the first day? (Light & Darkness)
• What did God create on the second day? (sky; separated the waters)
• What did God create on the third day? (dry ground, seas; plants)
• What did God create on the fourth day? (sun, moon, & stars)
• What did God create on the fifth day? (birds & fish)
• What did God create on the sixth day? (Land creatures, man)
• What did God do on the seventh day? (He rested)

Questions for grades 7 & 8:

• Explain the Day-Age Theory (Each day of the Biblical account was actually thousands or millions of years)
• Explain the Gap Theory (six-day creation, as described in the Book of Genesis, involved literal 24-hour days, but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis, explaining many scientific observations, including the age of the Earth.)
• Explain Theistic Evolution (creatures have evolved over time, but God has allowed them to do so, and was ultimately responsible for the beginning of life on earth)
• Explain Intelligent Design (Some sort of great, intelligent being(s) began the universe and our earth)
• Explain the Big Bang Theory (Started from nothing, but began with a great explosion of matter.)

ACTIVITIES: K – 3: Using a ruler, divide a large piece of paper or posterboard into seven sections. Ask your child to draw a picture for each of the seven days of creation.

4 – 6: Write a short essay on one or both of the following: 1) Compare and contrast the Bible story of creation with what you’ve learned about evolution in the past. 2) God created plants before he made the sun, but plants need sunlight to grow. In your opinion, how did He do this?

7 – 8: Write an essay: After researching the different theories of creation (including the traditional, Biblical account), what do you find most believable? Why?

Copyright December 8th, 2012 by Gwen Fredette