A Journey to Ancient Egypt

A Journey to Ancient Egypt consists of seven Ancient Egypt reading passages. Each passage includes 10 comprehension questions, and is differentiated at three Flesch-Kincaid text levels: Grade 3, Grade 5, and Grade 7. An answer key is included.

Passage 1: An Introduction to Ancient Egypt

In this informational text, students are introduced to the beginnings of ancient Egyptian civilization. They will learn about:

• The transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers

• The Red Land and the White Land

• King Menes and the capital city of Memphis

Vocabulary: Agriculture • Civilization • Fertile • Stationary • Unify

Passage 2: An Egyptian Mystery, Solved!

In this magazine article-styled text, students explore how new evidence has helped archaeologists to understand how the huge blocks of the Great Pyramid of Giza were transported. Students will learn:

• What is the Great Pyramid of Giza?

• Who built it and why?

• How did archaeologists gather evidence to formulate a new theory about the construction of the pyramid?

Vocabulary: Archaeologist • Century • Cylindrical • Quarry • Waterway

Passage 3: Tausret’s Problem

In this historical fiction narrative, students meet Tausret, the owner of an Egyptian pomegranate orchard. Students will explore:

• Daily life in ancient Egypt

• The role of women in ancient Egypt

Vocabulary: Orchard • Capital • Local • Import • Harvest

Passage 4: Would You Be Pharaoh?

In this persuasive text, students are asked to weigh the pros and cons of being pharaoh. Students will learn:

• Who the pharaoh was

• What the pharaoh’s roles and responsibilities were

• Interesting facts about several pharaohs

Vocabulary: Pharaoh • Hereditary • Absolute • Extravagant • Strike

Passage 5: Social Classes in Ancient Egypt

In this informational passage, students will explore the social classes of ancient Egypt. They will learn:

• Who belonged to each social class in ancient Egypt

• If people could move from one social class to another (social mobility)

• The relationship between class and religious beliefs in ancient Egypt

Vocabulary: Social Class • Luxury • Vizier • Noble • Social Mobility

Passage 6: Cracking the Code

In this informational passage, students will learn about hieroglyphics. They will study:

• How hieroglyphics differ from modern writing

• How hieroglyphics were translated

• How new discoveries can cause archaeologists to revisit old theories

Vocabulary: Adorn • Sarcophagus • Foreign • Hieroglyphics • Decipher

Passage 7: Iput and the Scorpion

In this historical fiction narrative, students will explore the relationship between medicine and religion in ancient Egypt through the story of Iput. Students will learn:

• How Egyptian religious beliefs overlapped with medicine

• The role women played in ancient Egypt as healers and priestesses

• The significance of the Egyptian goddess Serket

Vocabulary: Priestess • Serket • Mortar and Pestle • Medicinal • Invoke