ancient fish civilizations old testament history curriculum for kids

free world history curriculum (Part 1)

Free Ancient World History Curriculum

Part 1:  Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament


Hi !  I’m so glad you’re here !

START HERE!  
For an introduction to this curriculum and how you can adapt it to your needs, start by clicking on the link below for the first post in this series-
 Free Chronological World History Plan .

ancient greek ruins ancient pyramid knight in armor ancient roman ruins history curriculum for kids

 

SO… WHAT WILL YOU NEED FOR THIS HISTORY STUDY?
Internet access.
A little creativity!

Seriously.  That’s all you need.
You can complete all of these units with very limited materials.  However, I have LOTS of suggestions for Hands-On Projects, movies, books, games, and more to ADD to the learning FUN!
Give this history curriculum a chance.  I think you and your family could actually be pretty EXCITED to do these lessons!

Here are just a few of the suggestions for this unit.
Some are free (other posts I’ve written as companions to this unit), and others are materials that I’ve created that I’ve kept as low cost as I can.

 

stack of books and kid reading history book list

My kids and I enjoyed some GREAT historical fiction books for “Language Arts” during this study…they were harder to find for this particular section, and there are more for the following ancient history sections, but here’s a list of  some of our favorites!
Ancient Civilizations/OT Booklist

 

 

 

 

 

Ancient Civilizations fish mosaic history curriculum for kids

 

If you’d like to have this unit in a printable PDF version, just grab the
Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament Curriculum Printable PDF Version
->No ads, no distractions!
Just download it onto your own computer and you’re good to go!
I’ve also added some extra printables in there for you as well.

 

 

ancient civilizations and the old testament amazing facts

 

This post has 21 seriously FASCINATING history facts that were written to get each of the lessons in this unit started.  If your family loves trivia and likes to stun friends and family with some strange facts and finds, you’re going to love this series of posts!!
21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Civilizations/OT

 

 

 

 

history coloring cards colored pencils 

Print out these fun Ancient Civilizations/OT History Cards.
They’re FREE!
Great for review, games, creating a timeline, and more!
You’ll find a reference to them in the directions below with lots of ideas on how my family used them.

 

 

 



**If you just want to see the  FREE Ancient Civilizations Curriculum, please just keep scrolling on down to **START HERE**, and you’ll find it below! **


Just to make finding everything easy from any of these pages, I am including below, each section in this series that I’ve posted (always adding more!), and the supplemental book lists for the previous & subsequent sections as well.  These books are NOT required for the studies… they’re just my favorite resources (most I’ve personally used).  You will find the few required books for the curriculum included on each unit’s curriculum page.

*Section 1:  Ancient Civilizations & the Old Testament
+FREE History of Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament Curriculum Lesson Plans
+FREE Ancient Civilizations / Old Testament Printable History Cards
+Ancient Civilizations/OT Printable PDF Version
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Civilizations
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Civilizations Printable PDF 
+Ancient Civilizations/OT Great Books Reading List
+Ancient Civilizations/OT History BUNDLE


*Section 2: Ancient Egypt  (includes Ancient China)
+FREE History of Ancient Egypt/China Curriculum Lesson Plans
+Ancient Egypt/China Curriculum Printable PDF Version
+Ancient Egypt Printable History Cards
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Egypt
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Egypt Printable PDF Version
+Ancient Egypt/China Great Books List !
+Ancient Egypt History Bundle


*Section 3:  Ancient Greece
+FREE History of Ancient Greece Curriculum Lesson Plans
+ Ancient Greece History Curriculum- Printable PDF
+ Printable Ancient Greece History Cards

Ancient Greece Books and Resources List
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Greece- History Starters
+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Greece-  PDF Version
*Ancient Greece History BUNDLE


*Section 4:  Ancient Rome
+FREE History of Ancient Rome Curriculum Lesson Plans
+ Ancient Rome History Curriculum- Printable PDF
Ancient Rome Books and Resources List
+Printable Ancient Rome History Cards
+FREE 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome-  History Starters

+21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Rome-  PDF Version
*Ancient Rome History BUNDLE


*Section 5: Middle Ages & the Renaissance
+ FREE History of the Middle Ages Lessons Plans
+ Middle Ages History Curriculum-  Printable PDF

Books and Resources List
+ Printable Middle Ages History Cards
+ FREE 21 30 Fascinating Facts About the Middle Ages
+ 21 30 Fascinating Facts About the Middle Ages- Printable PDF Version
+Middle Ages History BUNDLE

 

ancient history fields of daisies

   ancient history for kids  Homeschool Ancient History Printables

 

For even MORE history ideas, be sure to follow my  Ancient History Pinterest Boards!
* Ancient Civilizations Board
* Ancient Egypt Board
* Ancient Greece Board
* Ancient Rome Board
*Middle Ages & the Renaissance Board

 


If you have ANY QUESTIONS
 at all, I’d love to hear from you !
You can either comment at the bottom of this post or you can email me at
chenoah@fieldsofdaisies.com
Enjoy !

 

–>  This post contains affiliate links.  There will NOT be any additional charge to you if you click to Amazon through these links, but I will make a small commission if you do!  So thanks ahead for supporting my work !  🙂


**–> CURRICULUM STARTS HERE <–**



*Ancient Civilizations / Old Testament Timeline

1. Creation                              
2. Adam & Eve                       (4,100 BC approximately)
3.  Cain & Abel                      (4,000 BC)
4.  The Wicked                       (2,400 BC)
5. Noah & The Flood            (2,350 BC)

Mesopotamia & the Beginning of Civilizations

6.The Chaldeans &Abraham                           (2,170 BC)
7. The Canaanites / Isaac & Rebekah             (2,026 BC)
8.Jacob & Esau                                                    (2,000 BC)
9. Jacob Returns/The Israelites                        (1,920 BC)
10. Joseph                                                             (1,915 BC)

 

*Objectives:
+ Be able to sequence the 10 events above
I wrote each “event” on an index card.
As we worked through each section, we included the cards from the section before in the sequencing activity.  We played BINGO with them, had races to see who could get them in the right order the fastest and their favorite, candy quiz days !  Remember, if you don’t want to make them yourself, you can print the ones I made for this study… they’re FREE —>  HERE.   You may really want to consider covering the cards with clear contact paper, or if you are planning to use this curriculum through it’s cycles and with several kiddos, you may want to laminate them!
Try the FREE Printable History Cards !!
All done for you!  Print and use them !

Printables for Ancient History

–> BIG NOTE!!
I have the absolute BEST readers!

Here is one suggestion I received, and I think it will help lots of you using the Printable History Cards for this section!  I’m adding this quick guide below-  you may like to rearrange them a bit after going through these lessons yourself.  The Ancient Civilization/Old Testament dates are much more difficult to pinpoint, so do use your own judgement.
Here is my own ordering of the History Cards (by Event, Place, & People):


1-  CREATION
2- ADAM & EVE  (4100 BC)
      +Place- Mesopotamia
3- CAIN & ABEL   (4000 BC)
     +Place-  Nod  (Genesis 4:16-17)
     +People-  Seth  
4-  WICKEDNESS EVERYWHERE   (2400  BC)
     +People-  Methuselah  (Noah’s Grandfather-  Genesis 5:21-27)
     +People-  Noah
     +People-  Shem
5-  THE FLOOD   (2350 BC)
     +Place-  Armenia
     +Place-  Ararat  (area in Armenia- Genesis 8:4)
     +Place-  Babylon  (2235 BC)
     +Person-  Hammurabi  (You can include him here since he goes with Ancient Babylon or chronologically in 1810 BC)
     +Place-  Palestine  (Geographical location)
     +Place-  Babel   (Tower of Babel- 2242 BC-  Genesis 10-11)
     +Person-  Nimrod
6-  ABRAHAM & THE CHALDEANS   (2170 BC)
     +People-  The Chaldeans
     +Place-  Sumeria
     +Place- Uruk  (most ancient city in Sumeria)
     +People-  Gilgamesh
     +Place-  Ur  (also located in Sumeria)
     +Place-  Bethel  (Genesis 12:8)
7-  ISAAC & REBEKAH AND THE CANAANITES   (2026 BC)
8-  JACOB & ESAU  (2000 BC)
     +Place-  Bethel   (Genesis 28:10-22)
9-  JACOB RETURNS  (1920  BC)
10-  JOSEPH  (1915  BC)


+ Be able to tell
3 facts you can remember from each index card.
+ Be able to explain what BC and AD and/or  [BCE/CE]are and the reasoning behind them.
+ Be able to identify the part of the world in which each event took place.
+ Locate these regions on a map.
+ Be able to describe what the government was like and name some of the well known leaders of this period
+Be able to describe what a day in the life of a child living at this time would be like
+ Add at least one page per event to your history binder  (see explanation below)


**WHAT is a history binder?**

You will see mentions in this series to add pages to your “history binder”.  So what do I mean?
Here is how we made ours…
As we studied through each section of history, we each kept our own 3-ring binder-  an ‘all in one place’  type of timeline.  We filled the binders with fun facts, history related coloring pages, drawings, print outs, etc… each page with a date on the bottom (or at least stuck in the appropriate “period” of history).  We even added brochures from the art museum and other field trips that tied into our ancient studies!  In planning out our year, I also included biographies of important people, great artists, musicians, authors, scientists, etc. as applicable, and added them into the binder as well.  The suggestions you will find under “People”, “Places”, “Events”, and “Vocabulary” all would make great page headings to include in these binders.  As you flip through your binders to add pages, it is an automatic visual review of how these things fit together in a chronological history of our world.
The Printable History Cards also make a great addition!
Scroll down to WEEK 7  in this section to read some more ideas of what to add to your binders!

Do you have to use a history binder?
No.  You could make a huge timeline on the wall, or you could simply keep a notebook with tabs for vocabulary, important people and places, etc…  If you need some ideas for all different size and types of timelines, I wrote about my Top 10 Favorite History Timelines to make!

REMEMBER….This curriculum is meant to simply give you an outline to work from.
Add or take away whatever you want to make this a perfect fit for YOUR family!


*Overview of Lessons for this section:


*Week 1–  The Beginning of Civilization
*Week 2–  The Sumerians and the Babylonians
*Week 3– The Chaldeans and Abraham
*Week 4–  Canaan and Israel
*Week 5-  The Joy of Reading Week
*Week 6– Explore It More !  Week
(explanation at beginning of plans for this week)
*Week 7-  Notebook It ! Week/ Show What You Know Week
(explanation at beginning of plans for this week)


*People & Places:

+Adam                             +Seth                +Babel
+Mesopotamia               +Palestine       +Chaldeans
+Nod                                +Nimrod          +Esau
+Ararat                            +Jacob             +Methuselah
+Armenia                        +Bethel            +Noah
+Shem                              +Uruk              +Gilgamesh
+Babylonia                      +Sumeria         +Abraham
+Issac


*Vocabulary  (taken from suggested reading/adjust as needed):

+genesis           +civilization          +reluctant            +condemn          +abomination
+fugitive           +fortified               +patriarch            +diety                 +sojourn
+birthright       +rivalry                  +disperse             +nomad              +fraud
+atone              +behemoth            +peril                    +leviathan          +remnant
+rite                   +lotus                    +tributary            +forfeit


*Optional Corresponding  Bible Reading

*If you’d like to use the Bible as a text for this study each day here are the corresponding chapters.   I listed them with the number of the section (1-10) .  There is also a link to a  Chronological Illustrated Bible below too that is helpful !

1. Creation                              Genesis 1-2:3
2. Adam & Eve                       Genesis 1:26-4:26
3.  Cain & Abel                        ”            “
4.  The Wicked                        ”           “
5.  Noah & The Flood         Genesis 6-9/ Genesis 11:1-9
6. Abraham                           Genesis 12-13;  15-18
7. Isaac & Rebekah             Genesis 21-22:18,24
8. Jacob & Esau                   Genesis 25: 19-34
9. Jacob Returns                 Genesis 30:25-35:29
10. Joseph                              Genesis 37, 39-41

**NOTE:  Below is an outline of reading/activities for a three day schedule.  You could easily change this to 5 days by adding in some great hands on activities, if that fits your needs better.
Imagine doing Art Projects on the other two “off” days that are related to the era…or cooking meals that would have been eaten by people of this time !  The possibilities are endless and so much FUN !!!  I have included lots of activity books in the book list below !

 

****NEW NOTE ! ****
I just came across a really cool YouTube channel that has TONS of fun teaching videos that would fit perfectly with this study.  It is made for Jewish families to teach their children all about their holidays and traditions.
Here’s the link –>   BimBam  (YouTube)

 

Teaching All Ages At Once-

After parental review, the  lessons I have written below are meant to be self-directed for middle school ages and up .  But, if you are using this for multiple ages like I did, I simply read the Story of the World out loud, our Bible study, and some of the other historical fiction.  I have included a few “extra” books at the bottom of this page for younger readers and they can always be included in the hands on activities.

The Old Testament Days Activity Book is my favorite for ideas that can be leveled up or made a bit more simple, but enjoyed by all!!   My “little” often colored pages to put in her own timeline binder while I read!  I was often amazed at how much she absorbed just by listening !!
You can find lots  of  FREE  printable coloring and activity pages from Calvary Curriculum that go along perfectly with the daily plans below.  They have lessons, printable coloring and activity pages, etc for preschool through about 6th grade !  Who doesn’t like to color while listening to a great book after all ?!?  They are great to add in to the timeline binders for the big kids as well 🙂


And if you STILL have a kid who isn’t convinced that history is interesting…

Try these 21 Fascinating Facts About Ancient Civilizations !

Do you know what Abraham’s favorite board game was?
Or which person from the Bible might have had air conditioning in their house?
How about the Ancient Mesopotamians absolute favorite food?

Quick list of facts that will make you want to know more!
I wrote it specifically to go with this study and it is written on topic for each week 🙂
Great to start your lessons with each day!

ancient civilizations art and ruins

So…HERE WE GO !

 


*WEEK 1 :  The Beginning of Civilization

*Suggested Complimentary Reading Week 1-
-“Genesis:  Finding Our Roots
-“Great Civilizations”
-“The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls- The Beginning
You will find LOTS of other books in the Book List for this unit a well!

*NEW Note!
I have recently updated the reading schedule for A Child’s History of the World”  and The Story of the World”  to include chapter titles as well as page numbers.  There are several different editions of these books and the page numbers can be off quite a bit with each one.  The earliest days of history can be difficult to teach, and even more challenging to find solid resources on for children.  You will find many more reading suggestions for the daily plans as you go.  🙂

I used 2 main history books as the spine for the entire Free Ancient World History Curriculum series-
A Child’s History of the World” by Virgil Hillyer (you’ll see it in the lessons as -> CHOW), and The Story of the World” series by Susan Wise Bauer (abbreviated in the lessons- SOTW).   HOWEVER, these (and all the other books I listed) are just a suggestion.  You can use one of them, all of them, another text you already have, or none of them at all!  Each daily lesson has TONS of online reading links, hands-on project suggestions, and  other options to fully explore the given topic.

*Day 1-


+Read-

“Great Civilizations”  p. 6-7

“The Story of the World-Vol 1”  –
Introduction
(Please be sure to always preview the reading materials… while this resource is “Christian friendly”, it isn’t necessarily written to include everything I might like it to)

“A Child’s History of the World”
Chapter 1  (p. 3-10)- How Things Started

What Makes a Civilization?
What Is a Civilization?
Civilizations- The Place Where A Culture Starts
(Not my favorite explanation for children-  you may like to skip this!  It has been shockingly difficult to find any good resources online that aren’t full of error!)


+Watch-

-What is a Civilization ?  (about 4 mins)
The Story of the First People
(Good graphic novel type video- about 25 mins)


+Explore-
Archeology: Clues From the Past !  (interactive)
Tools of the Trade-  Interactive Archeology Game
Early Civilizations Jeopardy Game
Would You Survive the Stone Age?   (silly game 🙂
Artifact Adventure   (interactive game)
Dirt Detective   (great for Littles !)
My Culture Quest  (interactive game)

*Note:  Remember, if you’d like to scatter hands-on learning activities in EACH WEEK, scroll down to week 6, and you’ll find LOTS of fun hands-on activities you can add in!  Otherwise, you can use week 6 to create a history museum of sorts to present all you’ve learned in this unit!


+ Add
this section’s vocabulary words to history notebook (in vocabulary section)


+ Color-
The First Civilizations Map Activity/Coloring Page 

 


*Day 2-

+Read-
“Genesis- Finding Our Roots”–  Unit 1
*Note- Depending on the ages of your children, you may like to read from this book yourself and share the material with them…you could use it as a read aloud, or your child could read this book, and discuss the material with you.

The Story of Creation
Creation   (from ‘Answers In Genesis’)
Listen to Genesis 1
(Your family might enjoy listening to the account of God creating!  Try the Dramatized Version!!)

+Watch-

The Fertile Crescent & the Rise of Civilization     (about 3 mins)
“Archeology Adventure in the Holy Land” (about 14 mins)
Ancient Mesopotamia 101   (from National Geo- about 4 minutes)

 

+Explore-

Met Kids- Explore History ! (8,000-2,000BC)
-Play one of these Archeology Games online !
Clues From the Past    (3 Archeology Games to play)
Iron Age Interactive Game
Mysterious Artifacts 
Jo Wilder and the Capitol Case


+ Choose
1 of the “Topics for Further Study” in “Genesis: Finding Our Roots” on pg. 11-19 (highlighted in blue)
Answer your question  fully in your history notebook (Q&A section).

+Make a simple outline (your choice of style) of today’s reading


+ Color-

Creation Coloring and Activity Pages  (scroll down to see all of the pages)
Genesis 1:1 Coloring Page
All About Archeology Coloring Book


*Day 3-


+Read-
“The Story of the World-Vol 1” –
Chapter 1  (p. 19-39) – “The Earliest People”
–>
 If you are not using “Genesis: Finding Our Roots”, you might like to split the SOTW reading between Day 2 and Day 3 this week.

What Was the Fertile Crescent?
God’s Family and The First People
(This article is best for parents or older students, but it really helps us see the BIG picture of the FIRST PEOPLE and why it is so important to know the TRUTH about who they were, where they came from, and what their life was like!)
The Fertile Crescent   (good for older students)
Where Was Mesopotamia?
Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids


+Watch-
Creation- The First People  (animated-about 4 minutes)
Mesopotamia Rap
The Fertile Crescent Rap from Flowcabulary
Archeology Adventure in the Holy Land” (about 14 mins)
Ancient Mesopotamia 101   (from National Geo- about 4 minutes)

 

+Explore-
-Play the Ancient Mesopotamia Rags to Riches Game
-Explore and play The Days of Creation Game


+Make
a simple outline (your choice of style) of today’s reading

+Choose 1 of the “Topics for Further Study” in “Genesis- Finding Our Roots”, on pg. 11-19 (highlighted in blue).  Answer your question  fully in your history notebook (Q&A section).


+Color-

Ancient Mesopotamia Maps (and other printables- FREE TpT)
Adam & Eve and Their Creator Coloring Page
Creation of Adam & Eve 

 


*WEEK 2:  The Sumerians and the Babylonians

*Suggested Complimentary Reading Week 2-
“Great Civilizations”
The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls- The Lion’s Roar



*Day 1-

+Read-
“Great Civilizations”   p. 8-11

“A Child’s History of the World”
Chapter 8   (p. 48-55)-  A Rich Land Where There Was No Money
*I will skip around quite a bit in the first weeks… you may like to include Chapter 2.
I didn’t include it, as it was covered by other resources already listed.

“The Story of the World- Vol. 1”
Chapter 5  (p. 39-52)-  “The First Sumerian Dictator”
–>Remember you do NOT need to read from ALL of the resources listed !

Great Cities of Mesopotamia
Ancient Summeria
The Sumer
Who Were the Sumerians ?
Sumer & Mesopotamia
What Is the Epic of Gilgamesh ?

 

+Watch-
4 Empires of Mesopotamia (about 4 minutes)
Mesopotamia- From Nomads to Farmers…Nisaba’s Journal
Sumerians in 7 Minutes
The Epic of Gilgamesh 
(animated- about 5 minutes… great for younger students)
Crash Course Gilgamesh 
(Suggested for High School level- with back story.  NOTE!! This story/version has some very sensitive themes… please preview !)


+Explore-

Explore Mesopotamia Interactive Museum
The Bronze Age- DK Find Out!
DK Find Out!  The Iron Age
Mesopotamia!   (Interactive exploration)
DK Explore Mesopotamia


+Make
a “People” page for your binder today.  Just the heading, so you’ll be ready to add to this page.  Be creative!
-> Note: Use the list I provided to add the names we cover in each lesson, or add your own list of names as you read.

+Make a “Places” page for your binder using the same directions as above.


+Color-
Seal of Queen Puabi coloring page
Ancient Iraqi Painting coloring page
Mesopotamia Geography Map coloring page

 

 

*Day 2-

+Read-

“The Story of the World- Vol. 1”
Chapter 7   (p. 39-52)-   “Hammurabi and the Babylonians”

The Babylonian Empire
Babylon
Babylon in Bible History
Who Was Hammurabi and What Was His Code ?
-Read more about Ancient Babylonia
What are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?
Ever Wonder Who Invented the Wheel?
Ancient Ziggurats of Mesopotamia
Hammurabi and His Code


+Watch-

Babylon: A History of the City    (about 14 minutes)
Tower of Babel    (about 3 minutes… also reading)
The Tower of Babel   (Smithsonian Channel- about 4 minutes)
Hammurabi and the Tower of Babel    (about 10 minutes)
Take a Tour of Modern Day “Babylon”    (about 8 minutes)


+Explore-

The Ziggurats of Ur   (Interactive)
Write Like a Babylonian
DK FindOut!  Who Invented the Wheel ?
Explore Bruegel’s  ‘Tower of Babel’… How accurate do you think it is?
Babylonia Math Mystery


+Make
a simple/bullet outline (you choose the style) of today’s reading


+Color-
Hanging Gardens of Babylon coloring page
Ziggurat of Ur coloring page
Draw Your Own Ziggurat  (step by step)
Ancient Mesopotamia Flap Map   (with coloring activity)
Tower of Babel Coloring Page and Activities

 

*Day 3-

+Read-
“Genesis:  Finding Our Roots”–  Unit 2

Who Was King Nebuchadnezzar II ?
The Land of Assyria    (click the audio button and listen to this!  Well done!)
Ancient Assyria
The Assyrian Empire
-The Stories & Myths of Ancient Sumer & Ancient Babylonia
The Library at Ninevah


+Watch-
The History of Babylon & It’s Empire  (about 11 minutes)
Echos from Ugarit- The Oldest Melody in History  (SO cool !)
The Discovery of the Library at Nineveh   (about 5 minutes)
King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel   (about 4 minutes)
Superbook- The Fiery Furnace  (about 24 minutes)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream  (about 4 minutes)


+Explore-
Virtual Tour of Art of Ancient Middle East
(Be sure to scroll down to listen to the actual audio tour as you click through the pieces!)
Daniel Jeopardy Game online   (scroll below picture to start the game)
3 Men in a Fire Jigsaw Puzzle online
Babylon- DK Find Out!
The Hanging Gardens

+  Choose 1 of the “Topics for Further Study” in “Genesis:  Finding Our Roots” on pg. 83-87  (highlighted in blue)
Answer your question  fully in your history notebook (Q&A section).


+Color-
Assyrian Soldiers Coloring Page   (click on image to enlarge and print)
Ancient Assyria Printable
Nebuchadnezzar Statue coloring page
Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar and the Hebrew Men coloring page
Jonah Coloring Page



*WEEK 3:  The Chaldeans and Abraham

*Suggested Complimentary Reading Week 3-
-“Usborne:  World History
-“Genesis:  Finding Our Roots
-“The Laughing Princess in the Desert



*Day 1-

+Read-  
-“Usborne:  World History”  p. 12-13 and p. 30-31)

“The Story of the World- Vol. 1”
Chapter 6- “The Jewish People”

“A Child’s History of the World”–  p.56-63
Chapter 9- “The Jews Search For a Home”

Who Were the Chaldeans ?
–>Biblical references to the Chaldeans
King Nebuchadnezzar II
Who was Abraham?
Abraham and Ur of the Chaldees
The Story of Abraham’s Journey   (click the speaker icon to listen to the story)
Abraham’s Journeys
(If you’d like to see which cities he journeyed through


+Watch-

God Calls Abram   (about 5 minutes… animated)
Abraham’s City of Ur (about 13 minutes)
Ur of the Chaldeans- Home of Abraham (about 2 minutes)
The Story of Abraham, Isaac, and God’s People  (about 6 minutes)


+Explore-
Explore the Ancient City of Ur
-Play an online Matching Game all about Abraham
Abram’s Travel Journey Interactive 
Abram’s Journey (Maps & more!)
Interactive Explore The Indus Valley Civilization


+Color-

A Great Nation Coloring Page
Abram Leaves Ur coloring and activity pages
Lands of the OT Printable Map
Printable Map 

 


*Day 2-

+Read-

“The Story of the World- Vol. 1”–  p. 53-67  (top)
Chapter 8- “The Assyrians”

The Royal Tombs of Ur
Introducing the Assyrians
(From ‘The British Museum’-  longer read, but be sure to at least scroll though the images of the Ancient Assyrian artifacts!  Fascinating!)
Bible History of Assyria    (Be sure to scroll to see reading for younger/older students)
Where is Assyria mentioned in the Bible?
(No wonder Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh!)
Who Was King Ashurbanipal?
The Library of Ashurbnipal
What Is the Epic of Gilgamesh ?


+Watch-
The Great Ziggurat of Ur    (Good intro- about 3 minutes)
The Rise and Fall of the Assyrian Empire  (about 5 minutes)
Hezekiah vs. Sennacherib!   (audio)
Superbook ‘A Matter of Time’     (about 24 minutes)
Hezekiah’s Tunnel!    (about 3 minutes)
Learn about Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel     (No narration, but good!  About 5 minutes)
(My husband and son walked through part of the tunnel when we were in Israel!  Amazing!)

+Explore-
Hezekiah Print and Play Bingo Game
Quiz yourself !  
Play the Royal Game of Ur Online
Explore the Royal Tombs of Ur


+  Make
a simple outline (you choose the style) of today’s reading

+Color-
Life of King Hezekiah Coloring Pages
Color the map of Sennacherib’s Advance on Jerusalem
Ancient Assyrian King & Queen Coloring Page

 

 

*Day 3-

+Read-  
“Genesis:  Finding Our Roots”– Unit 3

Who Were the Indus People ?
The Indus Valley Civilization
Children in the Indus Valley
The Bible and Mesopotamia:  Putting It All Together
What Happened to the Indus Valley Civilization  (A mystery of history!!)
The End of the Indus Valley Civilization


+Watch-
The Indus Valley Civilization  (PBS- about 3 minutes)
Harappan Civilization   (about 9 minutes- best for older students… PLEASE preview)

 


+Explore-

-Play an online Matching Game all about Abraham
Explore the Indus Valley Civilization
Interactive  The Indus Valley Inventions 
The Indus Valley – Interactive    (Scroll down for interactives- there are many)
Explore Artifacts from archaeological digs in the Indus Valley- Harappa
How Much Do You Know?   (fun quiz)
Explore the Ancient Indus Civilization


+Choose
1 more of the “Topics for Further Study” in Genesis”  Finding Our Roots, on pg. 83-87
(highlighted in blue) .  Answer your question  fully in your history notebook (Q&A section).

+Color-
Harappa Coloring Page
Indus Valley Civilization Printable Map & Activity


*WEEK 4:  Canaan & Israel


*Suggested Complimentary Reading Week 4-

-“Princess Jewel At The Well



*Day 1-  The Canaanites, Isaac &  Rebekah

+Read-
Who Were the Canaanites ?
Quick Facts- Who Were the Canaanites?
(Scroll down for Biblical references)
Who Were the Hebrews?
The Hebrew People    (pdf chapter from a textbook)
Abraham’s Journey to Canaan
Canaan and Ancient Israel    (please preview this resource!)
Who Was Jacob?
Jacob Becomes “Israel”
Joshua and Canaan
(will cover this much more in depth in the Ancient Egypt part of this series)


+Watch-

Abraham’s Journey to Canaan    (about 6 minutes)
Isaac, Jacob, and  Esau   (about 10 minutes)
The Story of Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob and Esau 
(about 25 minutes)


+Explore-

Abraham in the Land of Canaan   (Interactive Map of his journeys)
-Interactive Map of Abraham’s Journey to Canaan
Jacob and Esau Quiz
Jacob and Esau Activities
Anagram (Jacob & Esau)
Jacob’s Stew


+Color-

Map of Ancient Israel   (including Canaan)
Abram’s Journey to Canaan coloring page

 

*Day 2- Jacob & Esau

+Read-
Jacob & Esau  
Who Was Jacob ?
Jacob Wrestles With God
The Origins of the Hebrews
All About Israel

 

+Watch-
Jacob and Esau    (about 6 minutes)
God’s Story- Jacob & Esau  (about 4 minutes- great for younger kids too!)
Jacob Wrestles- God’s Story  (about 4 minutes)
The Sons of Jacob (about 25 minutes)

 

+Explore-
Map Jacob’s Journey
Jacob Jigsaw
Online Canaan and Ancient Israel Museum Collection
Jacob & Esau Quiz
Jacob Wrestles With God Fun Object Lesson     (Peniel)

 

+Color-
Jacob and Esau coloring pages and activities
Jacob’s Sons coloring page and activities
Israel coloring page and activities

 

 

 

*Day 3-  Joseph
**Note- This is just a brief introduction to Joseph.  We will be reading about him again during the Ancient Egypt Section!

+Read-
Joseph   (a simple story of Joseph from Canaan)
Who Was Joseph ?
Joseph Sold By His Brothers
Timeline and Family Tree of Joseph
Egypt in the Bible
Does Archeology Confirm Joseph in Egypt?
(Best suited for older students, or a read aloud for younger students… really interesting!!)


+Watch-
The Story of Joseph    (about 5 minutes)
Joseph’s Story  (about 10 minutes)
Joseph and His Brothers   (about 28 minutes)


+Explore-
The Story of Joseph
(Information and TONS of ideas from  Future Flying Saucers–  if you haven’t scoured this site, I HIGHLY recommend it!)
Timeline of Joseph’s Life
Interactive Egypt Map

+Color-
Jacob and Joseph coloring page
Joseph Sold Into Slavery coloring page
Joseph Interprets a Dream coloring page
The Family Comes to Egypt coloring page
Map of Egypt 

 


*Week 5: Choose Your Own Book Week !


*Here are a few ideas-

     


           

 

 

You can find a full list of my favorite resources for studying Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament, in this Book List!

ancient civilizations old testament books for kids

*Note:  You may like to require more than one book or more written work this week.  It would also be a great week to start on the pages for notebooks (see Week 6).   Remember, I was on a mission at this point to reignite the JOY of reading in my kids.  Sometimes when we aren’t allowed time to just read and ENJOY a book without any “strings attached” , reading loses it’s enjoyment.


*Week 6:  Explore It More!  Hands-On !

*Hands-On Learning !  Try It !  (All free online ideas)
You could also work on several projects to display at the end of this week…something like a Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit.  My kids loved anything food related.  We often invited friends or family over for a themed feast when finishing a study.  The book below was our FAVORITE!  We learned so much by tasting our way through history.  If you’re doing a separate Bible study with your family, this cookbook and Journey Through the Bible  would be perfect to use with this study !  In addition to the suggestions below, you may like to check out my Ancient Civilizations/OT Pinterest Board, for some super fun (and free) hands-on activities for this history section !

       

*Hands-On Learning !  Try It !  (All free online ideas)

+Creations, Crafts and Games-
+ Cuneiform Activity  (and LOTS of other hands on activities)  from Kids Discover

+ Make & Play the Royal Game of Ur

+ Try one of the activities Ancient Babylonian Art Lesson for Kids ! from Dymphna’s Song.

+ Make a Hanging Garden from Babylon fun idea from Joyfully Weary
+ Try creating your own version of a working wheel… Here’s one Wheel Idea !
+ Make this Ancient Mesopotamia Irrigation Engineering Marvel!
+ Play with CLAY!  The Mesopotamians made so many beautiful and useful things from clay.  Make your own creation, or try these clay pinch pots!

+Cooking-

Jacob’s Stew Historic Recipe from Tori Avey

Mesopotamian Bread  from Just a Pinch

Ancient Mesopotamian Recipes

Bible Foods Picnic

Mersu   (Yum!)

-Ancient Civilizations/Old Testament Museum
You could also work on several projects to display at the end of this week…something like a Ancient Civilizations Museum Exhibit.

-History Feast!
My kids loved anything food related.  We often invited friends or family over for a themed feast when finishing a study.  The book below  (‘Food at the Time of the Bible’- see links in Book List)  was our FAVORITE!  We learned so much by tasting our way through history.  If you’re doing a separate Bible study with your family, this cookbook and ‘Journey Through the Bible’ would be perfect to use with this study !  There are links to both of these books in the post.

-Museum and Ancients Picnic
Most art museums feature at least a small exhibit of Ancient art and artifacts.  A quick search in your area would make for a fun Hands-On day of learning!  Be sure to pack some ancient snacks to enjoy after your visit!

-More Ideas
You can also find many free hands-on projects & related resources on my Ancient Civilizations Pinterest Boards.

 

 



*WEEK 7:  Notebook it !

*Day 1-
  +Make a cover page for this (Ancient Civilizations & the Old Testament) section to add to your binder.  Be sure to put a line across the bottom of the page and note our “beginning date”.

+Make a history page for each of the 10 sections .
This can be print outs, coloring sheets, or hand written pages.  BE CREATIVE!
(Again, be sure to add the timeline date line at the bottom of each page)

1. Creation                              

2. Adam & Eve                           (4,100 BC approx)
3.  Cain & Abel                           (4,000 BC)
4.  The Wicked                           (2,400 BC)
5.  The Flood  & Noah             (2,350 BC)

Mesopotamia & the Beginning of Civilizations


6. The Chaldeans & Abram                      (2,170 BC)

7. The Canaanites, Isaac & Rebekah (2,026 BC)
8. The Israelites, Jacob & Esau              (2,000 BC)
9. Jacob Returns                                             (1,920 BC)
10. Joseph                                                           (1,915 BC)

 

* Day 2-
+Add information for each of the 10 pages you made on Day 1.
You may write things you can remember…quotes…draw pictures, etc.
Add in any of the activities you tried on the proper page :
Cuneiform (pictures), Recipes, etc.
You also could use/expand on your outlines from the reading
(cut & paste pictures, bubble notes, or bullet points…)

 

 

*Day 3-
+ Review the 10 index cards.  Candy Quiz on these today !

+Write a short paper from your reading outlines.
This will be the final assignment for this study.
Include it behind the cover page in your binder.

 

*Be sure to check out the Book List ,  FREE Printable History Cards,
and 21 Fascinating Facts- History Starters for this study !

stack of books and kid reading history book list    Printables for Ancient History      ancient civilizations art and ruins

 

history for kids

You can find even more History FUN for the Ancient Civilizations Curriculum, and all the others in this series, in the post-

**TOP 10 Teaching History Helps Series**
+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 History HANDS-ON
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS

And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS

 

 

*COMING UP NEXT:
Free World History Curriculum Part 2: Ancient Egypt*

ancient egypt free homeschooling history curriculum     Ancient Egypt Printable History Cards

 

*If you are continuing on to American History after the Ancients, I’ve got that covered too!
Free Early American History CurriculumFree Modern American History

*NEW!
American History Bundle!

american history bundle image

–>  Below are affiliate links.  There will NOT be any additional charge to you if you click to Amazon through these links, but I will make a small commission if you do !  So thanks ahead for supporting my work !  🙂

*BOOKS/RESOURCES  LIST
FOR ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS / OT HISTORY UNIT-

*4 Core Books-

*Other Recommended Ancient World History Resources (Just for Fun!)

**REMEMBER:
Be sure to follow my Ancient History Pinterest Boards too !  

I will be adding to them frequently.
* Ancient Civilizations Board
* Ancient Egypt Board
* Ancient Greece Board
* Ancient Rome Board
* Middle Ages Board
Lots of free ideas and activities to add to these units.

And be sure to check out my full list of ABSOLUTE FAVORITE living books and resources for making ancient world history come ALIVE !!

Middle Ages & the Renaissance Book List
Ancient Rome Book List
Ancient Greece Book List

Ancient Egypt Book List 
Ancient Civilizations & the Old Testament Book List

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