Level 1A
Note: We have not read all the books on this list. Most are either stocked by reliable catalogs or are by authors with who we are familiar.
Key text
* The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne
Each lesson is to be read aloud and narrated. As part of each lesson learn unfamiliar names, locate places on a map and look at relevant illustrations.
Note: Most lessons cover an entire section in the book. Where a section is split into more than one lesson, line and paragraph numbers are given to show where to stop reading.
Recommended Reference Materials
- Ancient Egypt Timeline
- Usborne Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
Optional Extras
- Usborne Time Traveller: Pyramids and Pharaoh. An entertaining look at life in Ancient Egypt
- The Orchard Book of Egyptian Gods and Pharaohs by Robert Swindells. Illustrated introduction to Egyptian mythology.
Lessons 1 to 4: The Rediscovery of Ancient Egypt (AD.1798 – AD.1822)
(1) pp. 3 – 6
(2) pp. 6 – 10
(3) pp. 10 – 14
(4) pp. 14 – 19
Lessons 5 to 9: The First Egyptians and the Dead Demigods (c.25000/10000BC – 3200BC)
(5) pp. 20 – 24
(6) pp. 24 – 29 (end of 2nd para)
(7) pp. 29 (3rd para) – 32 (2nd line)
(8) pp. 32 (2nd line) – 35 (end of 3rd para)
(9) pp. 35 (4th para) – 39
Lessons 10 to 14: “The Good God” – Pharaoh Cheops (c.2756BC – c.2553BC)
(10) pp. 40 – 45
(11) pp. 45 – 48 (4th line)
(12) pp. 48 (1st para) – 53
(13) pp. 53 – 59
(14) pp. 59 – 63
Lessons 15 to 17: “I Show Thee a Land Topsy-Turvey” (c.2553BC-c.1505BC)
(15) pp. 64 – 69
(16) pp. 69 – 74 (4th line)
(17) pp. 74 (1st para) – 79
Lessons 18 to 21: “His Majesty, Herself” – Queen Hatshepsut (c.1505BC-1484BC)
(18) pp. 80 – 83 (end of 2nd para)
(19) pp. 83 (3rd para) – 89
(20) pp. 89 – 92
(21) pp. 92 – 96
Lessons 22 to 27: “The Smiter of the Asiatics” – Pharaoh Thutmose the Third (c.1484BC-c.1461BC)
(22) pp. 97 – 101 (end of 1st para)
(23) pp. 101 (2nd para) – 106
(24) pp. 106 – 110
(25) pp. 110 – 111
(26) pp. 111 – 115 (end of 3rd para)
(27) pp.115 (last 2 lines) – 118
Lessons 28 to 35: The Criminal of Akhetaton – Pharaoh Akhnaton (c.1361BC-c.1344BC)
(28) pp. 119 – 122
(29) pp. 122 – 127
(30) pp. 127 – 130
(31) pp. 130 – 132
(32) pp. 132 – 137
(33) pp. 137 – 141
(34) pp. 141 – 146 (4th line)
(35) pp. 146 (1st para) – 152
Lessons 36 to 40: The beginning of the End – Pharaoh Rameses the Second (c.1291BC – c.1224BC)
(36) pp. 153 – 156 (5th line)
(37) pp. 156 (1st para) – 160 (2nd para)
(38) pp. 160 (last 4 lines) – 164
(39) pp. 164 – 169
(40) pp. 169 – 172
Optional Further Reading
NON-FICTION
Tut’s Mummy Lost and Found by Judy Donnelly. Easy reader telling the story of the discover of Tutenkhamun’s tomb.
The Boy Pharaoh: Tutenkhamun by Noel Streatfeild. A recreation of the life of Tutenkhamun by a gifted author of both children’s fiction and historical non-fiction. Out of print.
Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki. A clear, thorough description of the mummification process.
Cleopatra by Diane Stanley
Pyramid by David Macaulay
Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Egypt by James Baikie
PICTURE BOOKS
Senefer by Beatrice Lumpkin
Pepi and the Secret Names by Jill Paton Walsh
Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile by Tomie de Paola. Just for fun! (Not historical)
Pharoah’s Boat by David Weitzman
Exodus by Brian Wildsmith
Joseph by Brian Wildsmith
MYTHOLOGY
Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green. Retelling of Egyptian myths by a friend of C.S.Lewis.
Egyptian Treasures: Mummies and Myths told by Jim Weiss (audio).
HISTORICAL FICTION
Casting the Gods Adrift: a Tale of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine McCaughrean. Set in the time of Akhenaten. Could be read alone or as a read aloud.
Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones
Gift of the River by Enid La Monte Meadowcroft OOP
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
God King by Joanne Williamson
Shadow Hawk by Andre Norton – set during the Hyksos invasions, c.1590
The Cat of Bubastes by G.A.Henty
