We're traveling on the River Nile in the spring of 47 B.C. We float on the magnificent royal barge, catching glimpses of pyramids and ancient ruins. Our hosts, Cleopatra VII (the last great pharaoh of Ancient Egypt) and her companion, the powerful Roman general Julius Caesar, share exotic foods and delicious beverages with us. We've packed our old-fashioned leather expedition bags. We have canteens full of water, lots of light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and long scarves to protect us from the sun and desert sand. We're on a Reading Road Trip to Ancient Egypt!
Fifth Grade Reading Road Trippers are exploring The Egypt Game, a 1967 Newbery Honor award-winning novel by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. The story, set in California, follows a sustained imaginative game created by a group of children who share an interest in Ancient Egypt. They spend countless hours performing rituals and consulting oracles in their imaginary Egypt-- a deserted lot-- even as strange things begin happening in their neighborhood. Their bright imaginations inspire the game, but very real dangers lurking outside their make-believe world threaten to bring the Egypt Game to a disastrous end.
Just in time for Reading Road Trip's visit to Ancient Egypt, Lafayette Fourth Graders are reading The Time Warp Trio: Tut Tut by Jon Scieszka. The adventure begins when Joe's sister Anna accidentally opens The Book-- and Joe, Sam, and Fred suddenly find themselves in Ancient Egypt. Soon, the three are dodging crocodiles on the Nile, outwitting an evil high priest, and searching for an escape route from a mummy-making chamber. Can their new friend Thutmose III help them? Reading Road Trippers are going to find out!
Hailey H. in Mrs. Kelly’s fourth grade class read and reviewed The Time Warp Trio: Tut, Tut. She summarizes what happens when Joe, Sam, and Fred—along with Joe’s sister Anna and her cat named Cleo—are time-warped to Ancient Egypt: “They meet a pharaoh, become friends, and also meet an evil guy. The evil guy traps them in a secret room, and the Egyptian goddess Isis saves them.” Hailey’s favorite character in the book is Fred because “he surfs the Nile… and loves the Egyptian food.” Hailey likes the book because both the story and the characters are funny, and the plot isn’t boring. She recommends this book to friends who want to learn about Ancient Egypt and meet some funny characters along the way!
Check out Mr. Mummy! This lecture on mummification was given in 2009 by Egyptologist Robert Briar, one of the world's foremost experts on mummies. Ancient Egyptians were amazing record keepers; however, they wrote very little about the unique process of mummification. Dr. Briar-- also known as Mr. Mummy-- explains it all, so let's check out his cool lecture!
Egyptian Mummy by Henry G. |
Tut Tut by Blair B. |
Take a closer look at The British Museum: Ancient Egypt, a fascinating interactive Mummification site, Ancient Egypt for Kids, and an Egyptian Tomb Adventure. Click on the red-highlighted words to get started.
King Tut by Katherine W. |
Pyramid and Sphinx by Emma D. |
Hieroglyphic Alphabet by Haley P. |
Egyptian Rock Art |
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