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Pretend that you are a modern day pharaoh (ruler). Imagine (for the sake of this writing prompt) that the title alone grants you respect normally reserved for gods in ancient times.

The Egyptians believed in taking their material possessions with them into the afterlife. Your first matter of business is to publish a "royal decree" detailing the construction of your pyramid along with those items that are to be buried with you for use in the next life.

Remember that you are living in these modern days, so you will have access to all of the modern day technology there is to offer, not to mention millions of people at your disposal. As for the items to be buried in the pyramid with you, everything you have ever wanted would be also be yours for the taking.

Word Bank Think big!
- ankh; cartouche; ka; mummy; obelisk; papyrus; pharaoh; pyramid; sarcophagus; scarab; sphinx; temple; tomb; Red Sea; silt; Thebes; Valley of the Kings; hieroglyph; Mediterranean Sea; Nile River; oasis; archaeologist; artifact; Cairo; Cleopatra; Ramses the Great; Tutankhamon; amulet; ba; Book of the Dead; canopic jars; hieroglyph; lotus; Ra;

May we prompt you?

1. What challenges would likely face someone trying to build something as big as the Great Pyramid in today's world?

2. How would you, as Pharaoh, keep your people happy and willing to work and serve your royal family?

3. What aspect of ancient Egyptian life is most fascinating to you?

4. Are there lessons to be learned for our times, from the Egyptian civilization?

5. In ancient times, water was the most precious resource, around which all ancient civilizations were built. What would say is the precious resource in modern days?

6. How has technology changed the way we are able to study and research past civilizations?

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Pretend that you are a modern day pharaoh (ruler). Imagine (for the sake of this writing prompt) that the title alone grants you respect normally reserved for gods in ancient times. The Egyptians believed in taking their material possessions with them into the afterlife.

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How To Make a Pharaoh's Snake Firework - Chemistry experiments you can do at home. | Snake firework, Kid experiments at home, Kid experiments

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Jun 22, 2017 - WOW! How To Make a Pharaoh's Snake Firework - Chemistry experiments you can do at home.Pharaoh's snakes or Pharaoh's serpents are a type of small firework in...

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The Pyramids of Egypt and the Giza Plateau: Ancient Egyptian History for Kids - FreeSchool

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-Help fine the ancient scripture.

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*Whoosh!*
"Why do I have sand in my shoes? Where are we?"
​
The Pharaoh's magician has summoned your class to ancient Egypt! The Pharaoh requires the special skills of a math detective to help him locate his precious sceptre. Without it he cannot rule!
Students will need to apply their knowledge of fractions to solve the Case of the Forgetful Pharaoh! Unless you want to stay stuck in the past forever, BEGIN CLUE ONE!

​A highly motivating and engaging math activity that will leave your students wanting more! ​

Find the Print and Go Individual Grade Versions of this Math Mystery below:

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Fractions Math Mystery Game - The Case of the Forgetful Pharaoh

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Whoosh!* "Why do I have sand in my shoes? Where are we?" ​ The Pharaoh's magician has summoned your class to ancient Egypt! The Pharaoh requires the special skills of a math detective to help him locate his precious sceptre. Without it he cannot rule!

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ANCIENT EGYPT: The Pharaoh civilisation | Educational Videos for Kids

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Lornabelle is from/lives in United Kingdom and has been a member of iSLCollective since 2013-04-16 16:09:27. Lornabelle last logged in on 2013-04-16 16:09:28, and has shared 1 resources on iSLCollective so far.

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A simple worksheet including a table showing the letters of the alphabet with their corresponding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. There is a sentence to translate and children are encouraged to write their own name in hieroglyphics. - ESL worksheets

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Nile River, the longest river in the world, called the father of African rivers. It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. It has a length of about 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometres) and drains an area estimated at 1,293,000 square miles (3,349,000 square kilometres). Its basin includes parts of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and the cultivated part of Egypt. Its most distant source is the Kagera River in Burundi.

The Nile is formed by three principal streams: the Blue Nile (Arabic: Al-Baḥr Al-Azraq; Amharic: Abay) and the Atbara (Arabic: Nahr ʿAṭbarah), which flow from the highlands of Ethiopia, and the White Nile (Arabic: Al-Baḥr Al-Abyad), the headstreams of which flow into Lakes Victoria and Albert.

The name Nile is derived from the Greek Neilos (Latin: Nilus), which probably originated from the Semitic root naḥal, meaning a valley or a river valley and hence, by an extension of the meaning, a river. The fact that the Nile-unlike other great rivers known to them-flowed from the south northward and was in flood at the warmest time of the year was an unsolved mystery to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. The ancient Egyptians called the river Ar or Aur (Coptic: Iaro), "Black," in allusion to the colour of the sediments carried by the river when it is in flood. Nile mud is black enough to have given the land itself its oldest name, Kem or Kemi, which also means "black" and signifies darkness. In the Odyssey, the epic poem written by the Greek poet Homer (7th century bce), Aigyptos is the name of the Nile (masculine) as well as the country of Egypt (feminine) through which it flows. The Nile in Egypt and Sudan is now called Al-Nīl, Al-Baḥr, and Baḥr Al-Nīl or Nahr Al-Nīl.

The Nile River basin, which covers about one-tenth of the area of the continent, served as the stage for the evolution and decay of advanced civilizations in the ancient world. On the banks of the river dwelled people who were among the first to cultivate the arts of agriculture and to use the plow. The basin is bordered on the north by the Mediterranean; on the east by the Red Sea Hills and the Ethiopian Plateau; on the south by the East African Highlands, which include Lake Victoria, a Nile source; and on the west by the less well-defined watershed between the Nile, Chad, and Congo basins, extending northwest to include the Marrah Mountains of Sudan, the Al-Jilf al-Kabīr Plateau of Egypt, and the Libyan Desert (part of the Sahara).

The availability of water from the Nile throughout the year, combined with the area's high temperatures, makes possible intensive cultivation along its banks. Even in some of the regions in which the average rainfall is sufficient for cultivation, marked annual variations in precipitation often make cultivation without irrigation risky.

The Nile River is also a vital waterway for transport, especially at times when motor transport is not feasible-e.g., during the flood season. Improvements in air, rail, and highway facilities beginning in the 20th century, however, greatly reduced dependency on the waterway.

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Nile River | Delta, Map, Basin, Length, Facts, Definition, Map, History, & Location

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Nile River, the longest river in the world, called the father of African rivers. It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. Learn more about the Nile River, including its hydrology and its plant and animal life, in this article.

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Egypt Bordering Countries:

Regional Maps:

Where is Egypt?

Egypt Satellite Image

Egypt Information:

Egypt is located in northeastern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, Israel and the Gaza strip to the east.

Google Earth is a free program from Google that allows you to explore satellite images showing the cities and landscapes of Egypt and all of Africa in fantastic detail. It works on your desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. The images in many areas are detailed enough that you can see houses, vehicles and even people on a city street. Google Earth is free and easy-to-use.

Egypt is one of nearly 200 countries illustrated on our Blue Ocean Laminated Map of the World. This map shows a combination of political and physical features. It includes country boundaries, major cities, major mountains in shaded relief, ocean depth in blue color gradient, along with many other features. This is a great map for students, schools, offices and anywhere that a nice map of the world is needed for education, display or decor.

If you are interested in Egypt and the geography of Africa our large laminated map of Africa might be just what you need. It is a large political map of Africa that also shows many of the continent's physical features in color or shaded relief. Major lakes, rivers,cities, roads, country boundaries, coastlines and surrounding islands are all shown on the map.

Egypt Cities:

Abu Sunbul, Al 'Arish, Al Bawiti, Al Fayyum, Al Ghardaqah, Al Jizah, Al Kharijah, Al Minya, Al Qusayr, Al Tur, As Sallum, Aswan, Asyut, Baltim, Bani Suwayf, Baranis, Baris, Benha, Beni Suef, Bur Safajah, Bur Said (Port Said), Cairo, Damanhur, Dumyat (Damietta), El Giza, El Iskandariya (Alexandria), El Mahalla el Kubra, El Minya, El Qahira (Cairo), El Suweis (Suez), Elat, Helwan, Idfu, Isma'ilia, Luxor, Marsa al 'Alam, Marsa Matruh, Mut, Qina, Ra's Gharib, Sharm ash Shaykh, Shibin el Kom, Siwah, Sudr, Suez, Suhaj, Tanta, Zagazig and Zifta.

Egypt Locations:

Bahr el Nil (Nile River), Buheirat al Manzala, Buheirat el Burullus, Eastern Desert, Foul Bay, Great Bitter Lake, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, ibyan Plateau (Ad Diffah), Khalig el Arab, Khalig el Salum, Lake Nasser, Libyan Desert, Mediterranean Sea, Munkhafad el Qattara (Qattara Depression), Red Sea and Western Desert.

Egypt Natural Resources:

Egypt's metal resources include iron ore, manganese, lead and zinc. The mineral resources include talc, gypsum and asbestos. Some of the country's commercial resources are petroleum, natural gas, phosphates and limestone.

Egypt Natural Hazards:

Egypt has frequent earthquakes, flash floods and landslides. Other natural hazards include dust storms, sandstorms, periodic droughts, and hot, driving windstorms called khamsin, which occur in the spring.

Egypt Environmental Issues:

Egypt has numerous environmental issues. This country's agricultural land is being lost to urbanization, windblown sands and desertification. There is also increasing soil salination below the Aswan High Dam. Egypt has water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents. Oil pollution is threatening the coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats. The country has very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is its only perennial water source. In addition, Egypt has had a rapid growth in population, which is overstraining the Nile and their natural resources.

Copyright information: The images on this page were composed by Angela King and Brad Cole and are copyright by Geology.com. These images are not available for use beyond our websites. If you would like to share them with others please link to this page. The satellite image was produced using Landsat data from NASA and the map was produced using data licensed from and copyright by Map Resources.

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Egypt Bordering Countries: Regional Maps: Egypt is located in northeastern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, Israel and the Gaza strip to the east.

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Ancient Egyptian History for Kids: Pyramids

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Kids learn about Ancient Egyptian Pyramids. The great structures of this world civilization.

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- Learn about Ancient Pharaohs and important roles.

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If asked to name 10 key figures of contemporary America, one would have a wide choice. The list could include people from many walks of life. It might include a political figure, a religious leader, a military or civic hero, an actor, a musician, an author, an athlete, a doctor, a scientist, and an inventor. People in all of those careers contribute to society in important ways. If you were short on names, you could turn to websites, newspapers, television, and libraries to remind you of the people making an impact here and now.

But if asked to name the key figures of ancient Egypt, our range of roles and occupations becomes much narrower. Although the Egyptians recorded their history through hieroglyphs and hieratic script, most of the existing records highlight political and religious rulers. Even some of these key figures have acquired layers of legend as their stories were carried through the centuries, making it sometimes difficult to separate myth from fact. Many influential figures in ancient Egypt, however, remain unknown to us because many records were lost or have not been recovered.

We will look at three groups of key figures of ancient Egypt: those who contributed to the early development of the pyramid as an important emblem of ancient Egyptian society; those ancient Egyptians whose leadership is noteworthy; and important rulers from outside of Egypt.
Monumental Figures
There are three key figures of the Old Kingdom (circa 2700-2100 B.C.E.) who drove the development of Egypt's most famous monument, the pyramid. As the architect to King Djoser (circa 2650-2575 B.C.E.), Imhotep is credited with the development of a six-layer step pyramid at Saqqarah and is the only key figure we cite who is not a ruler. The world's oldest stone monument, the Step Pyramid, was built over a , an older form of a rectangular, one-layer tomb in use at the time and is considered the essential first step in the development of the pyramid.

It was Snefru (reigned circa 2600 B.C.E.) who covered the ground between a stepped pyramid and a true pyramid, albeit with some issues along the way-such as the limestone casing falling off the Meidum Pyramid and getting the angle wrong on the Bent Pyramid. But with the Red Pyramid at Dashur, he achieved what is widely considered to be the first true pyramid.

Snefru's son, Khufu (reigned circa 2580-2565 B.C.E.), learned from his father's technological advances. He had the Great Pyramid at Giza built, a structure that-with a height of 147 meters (481 feet)-was the world's tallest building for about 3,800 years, until the Cathedral at Lincoln, England, was completed in 1311 C.E.
Egyptian Rulers of Renown
In the New Kingdom (circa 1560-1070 B.C.E.), a set of Egyptian rulers achieved renown for vastly different reasons.

Hatshepsut (reigned circa 1473-1458 B.C.E.) began her rule first as a queen married to Thutmose II, then as regent to her stepson Thutmose III, but ended it as a king in her own right, the first woman to rule Egypt as king.

Thutmose III (reigned circa 1479-1425 B.C.E.) followed Hatshepsut to the throne after she died and apparently tried to eradicate all evidence of her rule. It is now believed he did this to secure the tradition of males serving as the ultimate rulers. Under his rule, Egypt reached the height of its power, with holdings in southwest Asia up to the Euphrates River, supply ports along the Levantine coast in the Middle East, and continued dominance over Nubia, the region along the almighty Nile River.

Amenhotep IV (reigned circa 1353-1336 B.C.E.) instituted dramatic changes in Egyptian religion by promoting the worship of the sun god, Aten, at the expense of other traditional Egyptian gods. Changing his name to Akhenaten, he declared that as pharaoh, he was the highest priest in the land. Through this move, he effectively dismissed the priests of the chief god of the pantheon, Amun. Busy establishing a new capital in Amarna, he neglected other aspects of political rule, which would have been disastrous, had he not died. Shortly thereafter, the priests and people went back to traditional worship and the capital returned to Memphis.
Non-Egyptian Rulers of Note
Cambyses II (reigned circa 530-522 B.C.E.), a king of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, conquered Egypt in 525 B.C.E. during the reign of Pharaoh Psamtik III. Cambyses initiated the rule of Egypt as a pharaoh, and Persian control of Egypt lasted until 404 B.C.E.

There was a second shorter period of Persian rule from 343 to 332 B.C.E., which was ended by Macedonian King Alexander the Great (reigned circa 332-323 B.C.E.). Alexander conquered Persia and its extended provinces through Southwest Asia, reaching Egypt in 332 B.C.E. After being greeted by the surrender of the current governor, Alexander proceeded to adopt local customs to foster acceptance. In part, this included traveling to the oracle of the chief god, Amun, where he received the priest's greeting to a pharaoh, under which title he was crowned ruler of Egypt. He also founded the city of Alexandria.

After Alexander's death, the rule of Egypt was taken up by one of his companions, Ptolemy Soter (reigned circa 323-282 B.C.E.). Cleopatra VII Philopator (reigned 51-30 B.C.E.) was the last of the Ptolemy line. She ascended the throne along with her brother, Ptolemy XIII, but was forced out of Egypt by ministers loyal to her brother. Raising an army, she returned to fight her brother, but Julius Caesar's intervention brought about a transient period of peace. After Ptolemy XIII's death, she co-ruled with another brother, Ptolemy XIV, until his death in 44 B.C.E., the same year Caesar was murdered. Eventually, Marc Antony and Cleopatra combined forces and faced off against Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, who defeated them in the Battle of Actium in 30 B.C.E. and was crowned Emperor of the Roman Empire three years later, with Egypt incorporated into the empire. Thus ended ancient Egypt's existence as an independent state.

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Due to the limited nature of the information we have about ancient Egypt, the historical figures that we call key is a more limited group than it would be in contemporary times. The article explores three groups of key figures: those involved in developing the form of the pyramid, famous Egyptian rulers, and important non-Egyptian rulers.

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When British archaeologist Howard Carter opened a sarcophagus in Egypt's Valley of the Kings for the first time on February 16, 1923, he stoked intrigue and mystery over an ancient Egyptian boy king. Who was King Tutankhamun, the occupant of the burial chamber who ruled 3,300 years ago, and how did he die at the age of 19?

Carter didn't have an answer back then, but modern forensic and medical technologies have uncovered details that provide clues as to what may have plagued King Tut before his death. DNA tests and computerized tomography (CT) exams showed he suffered from malaria, a fractured lower leg and congenital deformities associated with inbreeding that was common among Egyptian royalty.

Swiss mummy expert Frank Rühli noted in 2014 that in the years since the discovery of King Tut's tomb, many researchers, academics and amateur Egyptologists have come up with theories about what ultimately killed the boy king. In each case, however, the evidence was interesting but not compelling.

The CT scans of Tutankhamun found a cleft palate and fairly long head, as well as a curved spine and fusion of the upper vertebrae, which are conditions associated with Marfan's syndrome. But DNA tests in 2010 proved negative for that diagnosis.

The Chariot Crash Theory

In 2014, producers of a BBC television documentary postulated that Tut died in chariot crash that broke his legs and pelvis, and resulted in an infection and perhaps death by blood poisoning. Supporters of this theory note that Tut was depicted riding on chariots and also suffered from a deformed left foot, making it possible that he fell and broke his leg.

While that theory sounded like a good story, there were no records that such an incident occurred. In fact, one of the Egyptologists involved in that British television program still has doubts about what happened.

"We cannot at present know how Tutankhamun died," says Christopher Naunton, an Egyptologist and former head of the Egypt Exploration Society. Naunton says the BBC documentary started from the premise that the mummy showed evidence of the king having suffered severe trauma to his left torso and side. The filmmakers commissioned research that showed that this kind of injury could have been caused by the impact of a chariot wheel, but not by a fall from a chariot.

What remains unclear, Naunton says, is whether the skeletal damage occurred during the king's life or long after his death, as a result of the handling of the mummy after the discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter.

"It's quite possible what ultimately killed him has left no trace," Naunton says.

The Post-Mortem Factor

One obstacle to reconstructing Tut's life is the condition of his mummy after its discovery in 1923. Carter first examined the remains in 1926 and then returned the mummy to the outer burial chamber where it remained until 2007. During that time, some of the necklaces and jewels buried with Tut were removed, perhaps fracturing the fragile remains.

"Those of us who have anything to do with mummies know the degree that post mortem changes with the effects of mummification itself and along with what may have happened are really difficult to factor in and create a believable narrative," says Betsy M. Bryan, professor of near Eastern studies at Johns Hopkins University, who has worked for decades researching ancient Egypt. Bryan says she believes that new forensic technologies will ultimately improve enough to determine what happened. "I have great faith in science," she says.

Rühli, the Swiss mummy expert at the University of Zurich, argues what's needed is not more science, but perhaps another inspection of Tut's remains. "New technology is not necessary," he says. "However, what would be most helpful is a profound eye-only (with a magnifying glass) investigation of the suggested trauma sites (feet, knee, face) on the mummy itself."

King Tut's Erased History

Not only is King Tut's death a mystery, there are also gaps in the story of his life. Tutankhamun was the son of a controversial Egyptian king, Akhenaten, who decreed that Egypt would worship a single god, Aten, instead of many, and moved its capital from Thebes to Amarna. Politically, Egypt grew weak during Akhenaten's 13-year reign, according to David P. Silverman, professor of Egyptology at the University of Pennsylvania, who was curator of the first King Tut exhibit in 1978 at the Field Museum of Chicago.

Silverman says that Tut restored the old gods and their temples, erasing the changes brought by his heretical father and returning the kingdom to stability. The rulers who followed erased written representations of both father and son from Egypt's important list of kings, he explains, and both tombs were considered lost until their discovery in the early 20 century.

"They specifically tried to take memory of the entire family away by not including them in later lists of kings. It's as if these people didn't exist," Silverman says.

While records of his life were erased, in death, King Tut became ancient Egypt's most famous pharaoh. Carter hinted at that future fascination when he first entered the pharaoh's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Asked by a colleague on the outside if he saw anything, Carter replied, "Yes, wonderful things."

HISTORY Vault: Engineering an Empire: Egypt

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Decades of research and high-tech forensics have offered multiple theories about the boy kind who died at 19.

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children's fiction / mysteries & detective

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juvenile fiction / mysteries & detective stories

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juvenile fiction / people & places / africa

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juvenile fiction / social themes / friendship

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juvenile fiction/mysteries & detective stories

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juvenile fiction/people & places - africa

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juvenile fiction/social themes - friendship

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game; egypt; classic; newbery; newbery honor; award winner; mystery; spooky; ancient egypt

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juvenile fiction / mysteries & detective stories

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juvenile fiction / people & places / africa

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juvenile fiction / social themes / friendship

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juvenile fiction/mysteries & detective stories

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juvenile fiction/people & places - africa

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juvenile fiction/social themes - friendship

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The Egypt Game [Snyder, Zilpha Keatley, Raible, Alton] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Egypt Game

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- interactive

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- lesson plan source

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Lornabelle is from/lives in United Kingdom and has been a member of iSLCollective since 2013-04-16 16:09:27. Lornabelle last logged in on 2013-04-16 16:09:28, and has shared 1 resources on iSLCollective so far.

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A simple worksheet including a table showing the letters of the alphabet with their corresponding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. There is a sentence to translate and children are encouraged to write their own name in hieroglyphics. - ESL worksheets

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-intro video

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Follow the course of the longest river in the world, the Nile Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Dmitry Pichugin/Dreamstime.com

We are following the course of the Nile, the longest river in the world. For 6,600 kilometers it snakes its way through a wild and mysterious continent of thick jungle, wide open plains and vast deserts, until it finally reaches its goal, the expansive Nile Delta on the Mediterranean coast.

The Nile's long journey begins in the heart of Africa. It flows down from the mountains of Rwanda and Burundi to join Lake Victoria. The place where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria in Uganda is known as the source of the Nile. This very special place is said to possess a unique force. This is where the Nile plunges down the Bujagali Falls. The natives believe that these falls have a mighty power - the power to destroy, but also to nourish and to heal.

The Nile proceeds from Lake Victoria through Uganda and on to Sudan. This is where the White Nile meets the much shorter Blue Nile, which flows north from the mountains of Ethiopia and over mighty waterfalls of its own. As the Nile crosses the border between Sudan and Egypt, its environment changes considerably. Now it is passing through the Sahara. The banks of the Nile are a unique and thriving habitat for wildlife right in the middle of the desert. The river flows through the desert for over 1,500 kilometers, without being joined by even the tiniest tributary. The Nile is the lifeblood of these dry regions.

Like many towns in the south of Egypt, Aswan lives primarily on tourism. The first ships started traversing the Nile here in the 19th century, bringing travellers from all over the world to gape at the treasures of ancient Egypt. The concept of the pleasure cruise was born. Since then, Egyptian captains have steered their ships up and down these waters between Aswan and Luxor - one of the most charming cruise routes in the world.

Captain Abdel Rachman Abdel Zami has commanded cruise ships here for over 40 years. He never learnt to read and write but he has alert eyes and an instinctive feel for the river. Abdel doesn't know how many times he has travelled up and down the Nile. He also doesn't know how old he is. But one thing he knows for sure is that he is not ready to give up his job.

The river continues through the small, fertile tract of land that it created once upon a time through constant flooding. The Nile has been venerated and feared for thousands of years. But the river has just kept rolling along throughout the history of humankind. On the last stage of its journey it fans out just downstream of Cairo to form the Nile Delta, where it plunges into the Mediterranean Sea. The lifeline of Africa has reached its final destination.

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We are following the course of the Nile, the longest river in the world. For 6,600 kilometers it snakes its way through a wild and mysterious continent of thick jungle, wide open plains and vast deserts, until it finally reaches its goal, the expansive Nile Delta on the Mediterranean coast.