Below is the contents of the link above: RED PYRAMID: TEXT SET Key for font colors: Kaela Latimer, Jasmine Albrecht, Kim Krutka, Charaley Macias, Mandy Parker.
Introduction: Be sure we “make a strong case for the relevance of the text set based on the novel” (Rubric)
AUDIENCE: ? Middle School Students
Inquiry Questions:
BRAINSTORMING:
Possible Teacher Inquiry Questions:
How can I connect this text to my students lives?
How does this text connect to other core classes?
What background info will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
What resources would explain the ways that ancient Egyptian culture has influenced modern culture?
What resources could elaborate on the ways that Egyptian rulers, such as Cleopatra or Hatshepsut, influenced history?
What kinds of resources would facilitate the exploration of Egyptian symbols and monuments?
What resources could explain the role that hieroglyphics played in Egyptian culture?
Possible Student Inquiry Questions:
Where is Egypt located in relation to where we are?
When did people believe these stories? Do they still believe them now?
How are customs and traditions in this story similar and different to my own customs and traditions?
Could use some kind of current tool (like google maps) to show the students where the places that the characters are going are and how long it would normally take them to travel there.
What is the relationship between the gods and the government/people of ancient Egypt?
AS WE WORK ON BUILDING OUR TEXT SET:
What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book?
What resources could offer a foundation of knowledge about Egyptian culture in order to provide a context for The Red Pyramid?
What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
FINAL QUESTIONS:
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member):
Kaela Latimer
McDevitt, April. "Ancient Egypt: The Mythology." August 17, 2014 2014.Web. March 18, 2015 <__http://www.egyptianmyths.net/__>. This website is focused on Egyptian mythology and is organized into five easily navigated sections. The section labeled “The Gods” would give background information on the gods of Egyptian mythology to help the students understand each god’s story as well as their relationships. This section is organized alphabetically for ease of use. The section labeled “The Symbols” would give more information on the symbols that the characters encountered in the story. Riordan provided illustrations of many of these symbols that would help the students connect to the symbols on this site. The author of this site provides a full bibliography of her research as well as links to other websites for further information.
Fisher, Leonard Everett. The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. New York: Holiday House, 1997. Print. This illustrated guide to the gods and goddesses of Egyptian mythology would be a valuable resource for giving background knowledge on the gods. The illustrations would help the students who were struggling to picture what some of the gods looked like that Riordan used. Fisher provides a family tree and pronunciation guide in the back along with the references he used when creating this guide. The stories Fisher includes in this book would help the students better understand the relationships between the gods.
Marston, Elsa. The Ancient Egyptians. New York: Benchmark Books, 1996. Print. In her book about ancient Egypt, Marston describes the political and cultural history of Egypt. She provides a context for the gods and goddesses with Egyptian culture and how their belief system influenced their daily life. She also puts the ancient traditions into relationship with the modern culture in Egypt today and how while the belief system today is different, there are still many ancient traditions that have been translated to fit in with modern society. Marston provides a full bibliography of her research as well as providing both non-fiction and fiction works for further reading into Egyptian culture. This would help the students better understand the cultural context of the story as it relates to ancient Egyptian practices and beliefs while also providing a glimpse into modern Egyptian culture and how is has been influenced by ancient practices.
Shuter, Jane. Egypt. Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 1999. Print. In this book, Shuter gives an overview of ancient Egyptian culture. She discusses the location and how the climate affected daily life. She describes the hierarchy of Egyptian society from the gods to the slaves. She discusses the gods and goddesses in the context of the Egyptian belief system and how the culture of Egypt was affected by invading countries after the end of the pharaoh system. She also shows how both modern Egyptian culture is still influenced by ancient customs as well as how ancient Egyptian culture has influenced other cultures even to this day in areas such as art and architecture. While there is not a bibliography included, there is a section of further reading that includes other reference texts. This would provide both a cultural context for the book as well as a cultural connection for the students and their lives today.
Focus areas: Ancient Egyptian Culture Ancient - Modern Egyptian Culture connections Mythology - gods and goddesses
Formats: Website - digital materials Books - Print materials
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member) Jasmine Albrecht
"Egyptian Mythology." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology>. In this overview of Egyptian Mythology we find descriptions and details of mythological elements mentioned in the book such as the Ma’at, The journey of the sun, and the Osiris myth, all of which play a huge role in the Red Pyramid. the supporting images are authentic artwork illustrate and reinforce the information given in the text. This would be a great resource for building background.
mythology Egypt.png
Napoli, Donna Jo, Christina Moore, and LLC Books. Treasury of Egyptian Mythology Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded, 2014. Print. In this collection of stories, starting with the genesis of Egypt, we see the stories of the Egyptian gods and all of their connections laid out in kid friendly detail accompanied by beautiful visuals. A splendid source for background knowledge and concurrent inquiry.
Reimer, David. Count like an Egyptian: A Hands-on Introduction to Ancient Mathematics. Princeton: Princeton U, 2014. Print.
untitled.png
Count Like an Egyptian provides a fun, hands-on introduction to the intuitive and often-surprising art of ancient Egyptian math. David Reimer guides you step-by-step through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and more. Learn firsthand how mathematics is an expression of the culture that uses it, and why there’s more to math than rote memorization and bewildering abstraction. the beautiful connection of Egyptian religion, culture, and mythology make the mathematical processes used, that much more engaging. A great source for an interdisciplinary Unit.
Sicience Egypt.png
Woods, Geraldine. Science in Ancient Egypt. New York: Franklin Watts, 1998. Print. Discusses the achievements of the ancient Egyptians in science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, and technology. It also shows the influences of the egyptian innovations on our technology and everyday life. The illustration are a weakness. This could also be a source for an interdisciplinary unit.
Areas addressed: Understanding of Egyptian mythology and culture Egyptian influence on the rest of the world Connection to other core classes
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member): Kim Krutka Steele, Phillip. Ancient Egypt. London: Anness Publishing, 2008. Print. The author of many informational texts, Steele, presents manageable amounts of text accompanied by illustrations, images, sculptures, and monuments that provide an overview of Egyptian culture. This includes topics such as pharaohs, the afterworld, ancient writing, mythology, and the daily life of Egyptians. The book is easy to navigate with a table of contents, glossary, and index. Timelines, maps, and diagrams enhance the reader’s level of understanding. This text should be used concurrently with The Red Pyramid in order to strengthen the understanding of concepts found throughout the book. The images are colorful, relevant, and engaging and many are similar to those found in The Red Pyramid. There are many topics that Riordan’s book references which this text elaborates on such as pictures and explanations of the Rosetta Stone, hieroglyphics on a historic document as well as drawn out in color, shabti figures explained, and the explanation of gods such as Osiris and his role. The text also includes several hands-on activities that build on Egyptian knowledge such as making a pyramid or creating a Horus eye out of clay. As students read The Red Pyramid, these activities could allow for better understanding of Egyptian culture as it relates to Riordan’s characters and plot. This resource addresses the following inquiry questions: What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book? What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
“Gods and Goddesses: Explore.” Ancient Egypt. The British Museum, 1999. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/explore/main.html>. This user-friendly resource provided by The British Museum highlights key information about select Egyptian gods and goddesses. This resource should be used concurrently with the reading of The Red Pyramid to support student comprehension. The gods and goddesses are listed alphabetically for easy access and the names are accompanied by a colorful image, many of which are seen or described in The Red Pyramid. Each of these names is hyperlinked to a separate page that includes the god’s or goddess’s description, hieroglyphic representation, illustration, relationship to other gods, and powers. This can support student understanding of the various gods, goddesses, and their actions throughout The Red Pyramid. Words and concepts that students might struggle with are hyperlinked throughout this webpage, offering support of reading comprehension and cultural understanding. Because it is succinctly written, this web resource is helpful in offering an overview of Egyptian cultural topics, but students could use other resources to gain more in-depth information on specific elements. This resource addresses the following inquiry question: What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book?
“Ancient Egypt for Kids.” History for Kids. History for Kids, 2014. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://www.history-for-kids.com/ancient-egypt-for-kids.html>. This resource can be used as an introduction to Egyptian culture through short, informative, and illustrated poems over key cultural topics that are mentioned throughout The Red Pyramid. Paul Perro, a British author of many books that introduce historical and cultural concepts to children, shares nine poems that include information about hieroglyphics, monuments, gods, and pharaohs. For students who have little or no prior knowledge of Egyptian culture this resource offers an overview of key concepts in an engaging way that will help students better understand the overall story and characters in Riordan’s work. The accompanying illustrations are age-appropriate, colorful, and informative. The webpage concludes with a list of related facts about Ancient Egypt. This further supports the cultural authenticity of this page. This resource addresses the following inquiry questions: What resources could offer a foundation of knowledge about Egyptian culture in order to provide a context for The Red Pyramid? What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
National Geographic. “Ancient Egypt.” Online video clip. WatchKnowLearn. St. Charles Place Education Foundation, 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=30357&CategoryID=5169>. This 3 minute National Geographic video provides information on the origins of Ancient Egypt and key cultural elements such as monuments, writing, and gods and goddesses. The succinct and informative narration is enhanced by many images, statues, monuments, jewelry, boats, and inscriptions that provide the viewer with a substantial foundation of Ancient Egypt culture from which to build further understanding. The video could be viewed as the Kane children attempt to make sense of their Egyptian heritage in the beginning chapters of The Red Pyramid. At this point the students would have some exposure to Ancient Egypt, and could continue on the path of understanding at the same time that Sadie and Carter are exploring their own Egyptian culture. Also, the video references specific gods that Riordan brings into the Kane’s story, such as Osiris, Isis, and Horus which could support student comprehension. This resource addresses the following inquiry questions: What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book? What resources could offer a foundation of knowledge about Egyptian culture in order to provide a context for The Red Pyramid? What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
OTHER POSSIBILITIES:
Discovering Egypt: Website about a lot of things, __this__ page is about gods.
PBS site about Egypt: __these__ pages are about hieroglyphics
__Carnegie__ Museum of Natural History: has many pages with succinct information about various parts of Ancient Egyptian culture
Tour Egypt site: __This__ page offers information about Egyptian pharaohs and hyperlinks key people and things throughout the page that leads the reader to more information and explanation when needed.
History.com video __clip__: “Journey to the Afterlife.” Online video clip. History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
FOCUS OF MY (top 4) RESOURCES:
Overview of Egypt culture
Gods, Goddesses
FORMAT AND GENRE:
electronic resource video
electronic resource of poetry
print book
website
Charaley Macias’ Text Set Resources includes chapter books, picture books, anthologies, graphic novels, and a web resource):
Unknown
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Green, Jen. Egyptians. New York, NY: PowerKids, 2010. Print. Flashback History. This nonfiction text about Ancient Egypt is designed to be read in sections as a reference for inquiring minds. Its short chapters are appropriate for middle school age students. Covering most of the pages are detailed diagrams, drawings, maps,and photos which will only add to the appeal of students. Jen Green also includes a glossary and further information and resources for readers. This text would help connect The Red Pyramid to students’ lives and would provide some background information to help students understand the story more. This would also be a great resource to explain the ways that ancient Egyptian culture has influenced modern culture, to elaborate on the ways that Egyptian rulers influenced history, to facilitate the exploration of Egyptian symbols and monuments, and to explain the role that hieroglyphics played in Egyptian culture. Students can also use Egyptians to find the location of Egypt and how customs and traditions are similar and different to my own customs and traditions?
Unknown-2
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Heinrichs, Ann. Egypt. New York: Children's, 1997. Print. Enchantment of the World Second Ser. This book includes information about modern day Egypt as well as Egyptian history. Ann Heinrichs starts off with a brief story about a young girl’s life in modern day Egypt. She goes on to add information about current life in Egypt, hieroglyphics, major players in mythology, monuments, the government then and now and how the government and religion are intertwined. Additionally, Heinrichs includes a variety of maps and photos. While this book is full of information that would address and answer the text set questions, it may be too advanced for some middle schoolers to read and comprehend on their own. Heinrichs includes a Find Out More section with plenty of additional resources including nonfiction, biographies, videotapes, CDs, websites, and organizations.
Unknown-3
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Holm, Kirsten C. Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt. New York, NY: PowerKids, 2012. Print. This graphic novel tells a fictional tale about the life of a wealthy Ancient Egyptian boy, Imhotep and his family. On every page, Kristen Holm intertwines numerous facts and details about Ancient Egypt and the Old Kingdom with the fictional tale. This book will probably be an easy read for most middle schoolers and would be a perfect way to entice reluctant readers. Colorful illustrations dominate every page and tell their own story about daily life in the Old Kingdom. Holm also provides a brief historical background prior to telling her story, and she ends her story with a Did You Know? section, a glossary, and an index. While Holm also includes a website that reader can use to gather more information, she does not include any other sources she used while creating her book. Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt would be a good companion to The Red Pyramid by providing some background information and by connecting Ancient Egyptians’ lives to the everyday lives of our students.
Unknown-4
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Schecter, Vicky Alvear., and Antoine J. D. Revoy. Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead. Honesdale: Boyds Mills, 2013. Print. This chapter book is cleverly told from the perspective of Anubis, the god of the dead. Each chapter is divided into short, easy to read sections, that give both historical information about Egypt as well as further information about Egyptian myths. The book includes simple black and white drawings, which are well done; however, there are very few of these illustrations in the book. Due to the length of the text and the limited number of pictures, some middle school readers might be too overwhelmed to read the book. Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead would be more appropriate for advanced readers who are looking for additional information. Teachers can also share excerpts with the whole class during read alouds. Author Vicky Alvear Shector, includes several sections in her book that speaks to its cultural authenticity; these sections include a reference guide to Egyptian gods and demons, a glossary, and a detailed work cited page. This resource would address and help answer the following text set questions: How can I connect this text to my students lives? What background info will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story? What resources could elaborate on the ways that Egyptian rulers, influenced history? What resources could explain the role that hieroglyphics played in Egyptian culture? How are customs and traditions in this story similar and different to my own customs and traditions?
Unknown-5
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Williams, Marcia. Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2011. Print. In Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs, Marcia Williams retells nine accounts of both Egyptian mythology and Egyptian leaders. This collection of stories is told using fun comic-style illustrations and includes foldout pages as well as pages packed with color; this would be a great tool to use involve reluctant readers. Williams takes each story and add her own touch of humor that would engage most middle schoolers. Teachers and students can use Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs as a supplemental resources to The Red Pyramid. It provides background information for readers, it connect Ancient Egyptians’ lives to the lives of our students, it shows the relationship between Ancient Egyptians and the Egyptian gods, it elaborates on Egyptian rulers, and it can show readers where Egypt is located. While this would be fun resources to share with students, Williams does not include any additional notes or sources she used while creating this text, therefore its cultural authenticity is questionable.
Unknown-6
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Winters, Kay, and Barry Moser. Voices of Ancient Egypt. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2003. Print. This anthology includes 14 poems from the perspectives of Ancient Egyptian workers. Each poem provides an insight into what life was like for the everyday people that helped create a functional Ancient Egypt. This collection describes the lives and feelings of scribes, farmers, pyramid builders, herdsmen, birdnetters, clothes washers, weavers, goldsmiths, embalmers, dancers, carpenters, sailors, and marshmen. Each poem includes the title both in English and in hieroglyphics. To add to the cultural authenticity of her text, Kay Winters includes several author’s notes explaining her research methods, historical notes, which provide the readers with more facts about each job, and a detailed bibliography. Illustrator, Barry Moser, uses simple whites, browns, and greens to show just how monochromatic desert life was in Egypt. Moser also using each worker’s facial expressions to help add to each character’s feelings. Voices of Ancient Egypt is a great resource to provide background information to The Red Pyramid. This anthology can also be used to connect Ancient Egyptians’ lives to the everyday lives of our students, and it can also help provide some insight into the relationship Ancient Egyptians had with the Egyptian gods.
Unknown-7
Cover art provided by Amazon.com Zuehlke, Jeffrey. Egypt in Pictures. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2003. Print. This is a nonfiction resource that provides information about modern day Egypt. Some of the topics author, Jeffrey Zuehlke, covers are the Egyptian landscape, the major cities, history and government throughout the ages, important leaders, what life is like as a modern day Egyptian, and some economic details. Zuehlke also Includes numerous photos and maps which will provide more support to visual learners. He also includes several more sections that readers can use for a quick reference; these sections include a timeline, fast facts, famous people, sights to see, glossary, and further readings. The detailed bibliography also adds the the cultural authenticity of the text. This resource would address and help answer the following text set questions: How can I connect this text to my students lives? How does this text connect to other core classes? What background info will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story? What resources would explain the ways that ancient Egyptian culture has influenced modern culture? Where is Egypt located in relation to where we are? Do people still believe these stories now?
The BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. website offers several different interactive videos about Ancient Egypt and some of its most notable leaders, like Cleopatra. In addition to these interactive videos, teachers can use this resource to get complementary lessons ideas and activities as well as differentiated assessment tools. While their “Ancient Egypt” section is designed to target younger audiences, it can still provide useful information for middle school students. The short “Ancient Egypt” video answers questions like what hieroglyphics were, what Ancient Egypt was like, how long the Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted, where it was located throughout this reign, how important the Nile was, what kinds of inventions the Egyptian people created, who lived in Ancient Egypt and their different roles in society, what the Egyptians believed religiously, what the Rosetta Stone was and why it is important, and what remains of Ancient Egypt. This section of the BrainPop website would be a great tool to use prior to reading The Red Pyramid so that students have some background knowledge about Ancient Egypt before starting the book. Unfortunately the site does not provide further information about their own research on the subject so its culturally authenticity may be questionable. Because the video is so short it, it also does not give as much detail as other sources could.
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member): Mandy Parker
David, Rosalie. Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt, Revised Edition. New York: Infobase Pub., 2003. Print.
9780816074785.jpg
This is an extensive overview of all things related to ancient Egyptians. There are maps of the Egyptian locations mentioned in The Red Pyramid. Additionally, there is information about the gods and goddesses included in The Red Pyramid, as well as religious rituals and artifacts that may be of use to students to better understand Riordan's work. An excellent resource for building background information about ancient Egypt.
Remler, Pat. Egyptian Mythology A to Z: A Young Reader's Companion. New York, N.Y.: Facts on File, 2000. Print.
9781438131801.jpg
Egyptian Mythology A to Z discusses everything one could possibly think of regarding ancient Egypt. Contained in this book is also information about the people who ruled during ancient times. There are brief summaries of the lives of the pharaohs, but there are also sections of these biographies that describe any accomplishments of these rulers. This would be a good resource to show how Egyptian rulers impacted history.
Watson, John. "Tour Egypt :: The Symbolism of Ancient Egypt, an Introduction." The Symbolism of Ancient Egypt, an Introduction. 12 June 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/symbolism1.htm>. This website, though intended to entice people to travel to Egypt, has useful and interesting information about both monuments that have survived from ancient times until now and the symbols that can be found on them. Beautiful pictures are included so that students can see the monuments that they read about in books. This website would be useful to facilitate the exploration of Egyptian symbols and monuments.
untitled.png
Wilson, Hilary. Understanding Hieroglyphs: A Complete Introductory Guide. London: Michael O'Mara, 1995. Print. This book teaches basic vocabulary that recurs in many Egyptian inscriptions. It also discusses the power of names, as well as the duties of those who most likely would be the ones inscribing the hieroglyphics. This appears to be an excellent resource to introduce students to hieroglyphics' use in ancient Egyptian culture.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s6fL3puhstiKf-fW29HiYFLPV2bqgT2nJ_8XaBkQZ1Q/edit
Here is a link to the second part of our discussion:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ijvHUZC_gEvmro9Wi3zsrOTneRH4xHWUf4EvYXm31cg/edit?usp=sharing
Below is the contents of the link above:
RED PYRAMID: TEXT SET
Key for font colors:
Kaela Latimer, Jasmine Albrecht, Kim Krutka, Charaley Macias, Mandy Parker.
Introduction:
Be sure we “make a strong case for the relevance of the text set based on the novel” (Rubric)
AUDIENCE: ? Middle School Students
Inquiry Questions:
- How can I connect this text to my students lives?
- How does this text connect to other core classes?
- What background info will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
- What resources would explain the ways that ancient Egyptian culture has influenced modern culture?
- What resources could elaborate on the ways that Egyptian rulers, such as Cleopatra or Hatshepsut, influenced history?
- What kinds of resources would facilitate the exploration of Egyptian symbols and monuments?
- What resources could explain the role that hieroglyphics played in Egyptian culture?
Possible Student Inquiry Questions:Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member):
Kaela Latimer
McDevitt, April. "Ancient Egypt: The Mythology." August 17, 2014 2014.Web. March 18, 2015 <__http://www.egyptianmyths.net/__>.
This website is focused on Egyptian mythology and is organized into five easily navigated sections. The section labeled “The Gods” would give background information on the gods of Egyptian mythology to help the students understand each god’s story as well as their relationships. This section is organized alphabetically for ease of use. The section labeled “The Symbols” would give more information on the symbols that the characters encountered in the story. Riordan provided illustrations of many of these symbols that would help the students connect to the symbols on this site. The author of this site provides a full bibliography of her research as well as links to other websites for further information.
Fisher, Leonard Everett. The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. New York: Holiday House, 1997. Print.
This illustrated guide to the gods and goddesses of Egyptian mythology would be a valuable resource for giving background knowledge on the gods. The illustrations would help the students who were struggling to picture what some of the gods looked like that Riordan used. Fisher provides a family tree and pronunciation guide in the back along with the references he used when creating this guide. The stories Fisher includes in this book would help the students better understand the relationships between the gods.
Marston, Elsa. The Ancient Egyptians. New York: Benchmark Books, 1996. Print.
In her book about ancient Egypt, Marston describes the political and cultural history of Egypt. She provides a context for the gods and goddesses with Egyptian culture and how their belief system influenced their daily life. She also puts the ancient traditions into relationship with the modern culture in Egypt today and how while the belief system today is different, there are still many ancient traditions that have been translated to fit in with modern society. Marston provides a full bibliography of her research as well as providing both non-fiction and fiction works for further reading into Egyptian culture. This would help the students better understand the cultural context of the story as it relates to ancient Egyptian practices and beliefs while also providing a glimpse into modern Egyptian culture and how is has been influenced by ancient practices.
Shuter, Jane. Egypt. Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 1999. Print.
In this book, Shuter gives an overview of ancient Egyptian culture. She discusses the location and how the climate affected daily life. She describes the hierarchy of Egyptian society from the gods to the slaves. She discusses the gods and goddesses in the context of the Egyptian belief system and how the culture of Egypt was affected by invading countries after the end of the pharaoh system. She also shows how both modern Egyptian culture is still influenced by ancient customs as well as how ancient Egyptian culture has influenced other cultures even to this day in areas such as art and architecture. While there is not a bibliography included, there is a section of further reading that includes other reference texts. This would provide both a cultural context for the book as well as a cultural connection for the students and their lives today.
Focus areas:
Ancient Egyptian Culture
Ancient - Modern Egyptian Culture connections
Mythology - gods and goddesses
Formats:
Website - digital materials
Books - Print materials
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member)
Jasmine Albrecht
"Egyptian Mythology." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 10 Mar. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology>.
In this overview of Egyptian Mythology we find descriptions and details of mythological elements mentioned in the book such as the Ma’at, The journey of the sun, and the Osiris myth, all of which play a huge role in the Red Pyramid. the supporting images are authentic artwork illustrate and reinforce the information given in the text. This would be a great resource for building background.
Napoli, Donna Jo, Christina Moore, and LLC Books. Treasury of Egyptian Mythology Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded, 2014. Print.
In this collection of stories, starting with the genesis of Egypt, we see the stories of the Egyptian gods and all of their connections laid out in kid friendly detail accompanied by beautiful visuals. A splendid source for background knowledge and concurrent inquiry.
Reimer, David. Count like an Egyptian: A Hands-on Introduction to Ancient Mathematics. Princeton: Princeton U, 2014. Print.
Count Like an Egyptian provides a fun, hands-on introduction to the intuitive and often-surprising art of ancient Egyptian math. David Reimer guides you step-by-step through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and more. Learn firsthand how mathematics is an expression of the culture that uses it, and why there’s more to math than rote memorization and bewildering abstraction. the beautiful connection of Egyptian religion, culture, and mythology make the mathematical processes used, that much more engaging. A great source for an interdisciplinary Unit.
Woods, Geraldine. Science in Ancient Egypt. New York: Franklin Watts, 1998. Print.
Discusses the achievements of the ancient Egyptians in science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, and technology. It also shows the influences of the egyptian innovations on our technology and everyday life. The illustration are a weakness. This could also be a source for an interdisciplinary unit.
Areas addressed:
Understanding of Egyptian mythology and culture
Egyptian influence on the rest of the world
Connection to other core classes
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member):
Kim Krutka
Steele, Phillip. Ancient Egypt. London: Anness Publishing, 2008. Print.
The author of many informational texts, Steele, presents manageable amounts of text accompanied by illustrations, images, sculptures, and monuments that provide an overview of Egyptian culture. This includes topics such as pharaohs, the afterworld, ancient writing, mythology, and the daily life of Egyptians. The book is easy to navigate with a table of contents, glossary, and index. Timelines, maps, and diagrams enhance the reader’s level of understanding. This text should be used concurrently with The Red Pyramid in order to strengthen the understanding of concepts found throughout the book. The images are colorful, relevant, and engaging and many are similar to those found in The Red Pyramid. There are many topics that Riordan’s book references which this text elaborates on such as pictures and explanations of the Rosetta Stone, hieroglyphics on a historic document as well as drawn out in color, shabti figures explained, and the explanation of gods such as Osiris and his role. The text also includes several hands-on activities that build on Egyptian knowledge such as making a pyramid or creating a Horus eye out of clay. As students read The Red Pyramid, these activities could allow for better understanding of Egyptian culture as it relates to Riordan’s characters and plot. This resource addresses the following inquiry questions: What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book? What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
“Gods and Goddesses: Explore.” Ancient Egypt. The British Museum, 1999. Web. 11 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/explore/main.html>.
This user-friendly resource provided by The British Museum highlights key information about select Egyptian gods and goddesses. This resource should be used concurrently with the reading of The Red Pyramid to support student comprehension. The gods and goddesses are listed alphabetically for easy access and the names are accompanied by a colorful image, many of which are seen or described in The Red Pyramid. Each of these names is hyperlinked to a separate page that includes the god’s or goddess’s description, hieroglyphic representation, illustration, relationship to other gods, and powers. This can support student understanding of the various gods, goddesses, and their actions throughout The Red Pyramid. Words and concepts that students might struggle with are hyperlinked throughout this webpage, offering support of reading comprehension and cultural understanding. Because it is succinctly written, this web resource is helpful in offering an overview of Egyptian cultural topics, but students could use other resources to gain more in-depth information on specific elements. This resource addresses the following inquiry question: What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book?
“Ancient Egypt for Kids.” History for Kids. History for Kids, 2014. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.history-for-kids.com/ancient-egypt-for-kids.html>.
This resource can be used as an introduction to Egyptian culture through short, informative, and illustrated poems over key cultural topics that are mentioned throughout The Red Pyramid. Paul Perro, a British author of many books that introduce historical and cultural concepts to children, shares nine poems that include information about hieroglyphics, monuments, gods, and pharaohs. For students who have little or no prior knowledge of Egyptian culture this resource offers an overview of key concepts in an engaging way that will help students better understand the overall story and characters in Riordan’s work. The accompanying illustrations are age-appropriate, colorful, and informative. The webpage concludes with a list of related facts about Ancient Egypt. This further supports the cultural authenticity of this page. This resource addresses the following inquiry questions: What resources could offer a foundation of knowledge about Egyptian culture in order to provide a context for The Red Pyramid? What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
National Geographic. “Ancient Egypt.” Online video clip. WatchKnowLearn. St. Charles
Place Education Foundation, 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=30357&CategoryID=5169>.
This 3 minute National Geographic video provides information on the origins of Ancient Egypt and key cultural elements such as monuments, writing, and gods and goddesses. The succinct and informative narration is enhanced by many images, statues, monuments, jewelry, boats, and inscriptions that provide the viewer with a substantial foundation of Ancient Egypt culture from which to build further understanding. The video could be viewed as the Kane children attempt to make sense of their Egyptian heritage in the beginning chapters of The Red Pyramid. At this point the students would have some exposure to Ancient Egypt, and could continue on the path of understanding at the same time that Sadie and Carter are exploring their own Egyptian culture. Also, the video references specific gods that Riordan brings into the Kane’s story, such as Osiris, Isis, and Horus which could support student comprehension. This resource addresses the following inquiry questions: What resources would assist students in understanding significant Egyptian gods and goddesses that are mentioned throughout the book? What resources could offer a foundation of knowledge about Egyptian culture in order to provide a context for The Red Pyramid? What information will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story?
OTHER POSSIBILITIES:
FOCUS OF MY (top 4) RESOURCES:
- Overview of Egypt culture
- Gods, Goddesses
FORMAT AND GENRE:Charaley Macias’ Text Set Resources includes chapter books, picture books, anthologies, graphic novels, and a web resource):
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Green, Jen. Egyptians. New York, NY: PowerKids, 2010. Print. Flashback History.
This nonfiction text about Ancient Egypt is designed to be read in sections as a reference for inquiring minds. Its short chapters are appropriate for middle school age students. Covering most of the pages are detailed diagrams, drawings, maps,and photos which will only add to the appeal of students. Jen Green also includes a glossary and further information and resources for readers. This text would help connect The Red Pyramid to students’ lives and would provide some background information to help students understand the story more. This would also be a great resource to explain the ways that ancient Egyptian culture has influenced modern culture, to elaborate on the ways that Egyptian rulers influenced history, to facilitate the exploration of Egyptian symbols and monuments, and to explain the role that hieroglyphics played in Egyptian culture. Students can also use Egyptians to find the location of Egypt and how customs and traditions are similar and different to my own customs and traditions?
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Heinrichs, Ann. Egypt. New York: Children's, 1997. Print. Enchantment of the World Second Ser.
This book includes information about modern day Egypt as well as Egyptian history. Ann Heinrichs starts off with a brief story about a young girl’s life in modern day Egypt. She goes on to add information about current life in Egypt, hieroglyphics, major players in mythology, monuments, the government then and now and how the government and religion are intertwined. Additionally, Heinrichs includes a variety of maps and photos. While this book is full of information that would address and answer the text set questions, it may be too advanced for some middle schoolers to read and comprehend on their own. Heinrichs includes a Find Out More section with plenty of additional resources including nonfiction, biographies, videotapes, CDs, websites, and organizations.
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Holm, Kirsten C. Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt. New York, NY: PowerKids, 2012. Print.
This graphic novel tells a fictional tale about the life of a wealthy Ancient Egyptian boy, Imhotep and his family. On every page, Kristen Holm intertwines numerous facts and details about Ancient Egypt and the Old Kingdom with the fictional tale. This book will probably be an easy read for most middle schoolers and would be a perfect way to entice reluctant readers. Colorful illustrations dominate every page and tell their own story about daily life in the Old Kingdom. Holm also provides a brief historical background prior to telling her story, and she ends her story with a Did You Know? section, a glossary, and an index. While Holm also includes a website that reader can use to gather more information, she does not include any other sources she used while creating her book. Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt would be a good companion to The Red Pyramid by providing some background information and by connecting Ancient Egyptians’ lives to the everyday lives of our students.
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Schecter, Vicky Alvear., and Antoine J. D. Revoy. Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead. Honesdale: Boyds Mills, 2013. Print.
This chapter book is cleverly told from the perspective of Anubis, the god of the dead. Each chapter is divided into short, easy to read sections, that give both historical information about Egypt as well as further information about Egyptian myths. The book includes simple black and white drawings, which are well done; however, there are very few of these illustrations in the book. Due to the length of the text and the limited number of pictures, some middle school readers might be too overwhelmed to read the book. Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead would be more appropriate for advanced readers who are looking for additional information. Teachers can also share excerpts with the whole class during read alouds. Author Vicky Alvear Shector, includes several sections in her book that speaks to its cultural authenticity; these sections include a reference guide to Egyptian gods and demons, a glossary, and a detailed work cited page. This resource would address and help answer the following text set questions: How can I connect this text to my students lives? What background info will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story? What resources could elaborate on the ways that Egyptian rulers, influenced history? What resources could explain the role that hieroglyphics played in Egyptian culture? How are customs and traditions in this story similar and different to my own customs and traditions?
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Williams, Marcia. Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2011. Print.
In Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs, Marcia Williams retells nine accounts of both Egyptian mythology and Egyptian leaders. This collection of stories is told using fun comic-style illustrations and includes foldout pages as well as pages packed with color; this would be a great tool to use involve reluctant readers. Williams takes each story and add her own touch of humor that would engage most middle schoolers. Teachers and students can use Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs as a supplemental resources to The Red Pyramid. It provides background information for readers, it connect Ancient Egyptians’ lives to the lives of our students, it shows the relationship between Ancient Egyptians and the Egyptian gods, it elaborates on Egyptian rulers, and it can show readers where Egypt is located. While this would be fun resources to share with students, Williams does not include any additional notes or sources she used while creating this text, therefore its cultural authenticity is questionable.
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Winters, Kay, and Barry Moser. Voices of Ancient Egypt. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2003. Print.
This anthology includes 14 poems from the perspectives of Ancient Egyptian workers. Each poem provides an insight into what life was like for the everyday people that helped create a functional Ancient Egypt. This collection describes the lives and feelings of scribes, farmers, pyramid builders, herdsmen, birdnetters, clothes washers, weavers, goldsmiths, embalmers, dancers, carpenters, sailors, and marshmen. Each poem includes the title both in English and in hieroglyphics. To add to the cultural authenticity of her text, Kay Winters includes several author’s notes explaining her research methods, historical notes, which provide the readers with more facts about each job, and a detailed bibliography. Illustrator, Barry Moser, uses simple whites, browns, and greens to show just how monochromatic desert life was in Egypt. Moser also using each worker’s facial expressions to help add to each character’s feelings. Voices of Ancient Egypt is a great resource to provide background information to The Red Pyramid. This anthology can also be used to connect Ancient Egyptians’ lives to the everyday lives of our students, and it can also help provide some insight into the relationship Ancient Egyptians had with the Egyptian gods.
Cover art provided by Amazon.com
Zuehlke, Jeffrey. Egypt in Pictures. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2003. Print.
This is a nonfiction resource that provides information about modern day Egypt. Some of the topics author, Jeffrey Zuehlke, covers are the Egyptian landscape, the major cities, history and government throughout the ages, important leaders, what life is like as a modern day Egyptian, and some economic details. Zuehlke also Includes numerous photos and maps which will provide more support to visual learners. He also includes several more sections that readers can use for a quick reference; these sections include a timeline, fast facts, famous people, sights to see, glossary, and further readings. The detailed bibliography also adds the the cultural authenticity of the text. This resource would address and help answer the following text set questions: How can I connect this text to my students lives? How does this text connect to other core classes? What background info will I need to provide for my students to better understand the cultural context of the story? What resources would explain the ways that ancient Egyptian culture has influenced modern culture? Where is Egypt located in relation to where we are? Do people still believe these stories now?
Screenshot taken from BrainPOP.com
"Ancient Egypt." BrainPOP Jr. BrainPOP, 2015. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://jr.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ancienthistory/ancientegypt/>.
The BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. website offers several different interactive videos about Ancient Egypt and some of its most notable leaders, like Cleopatra. In addition to these interactive videos, teachers can use this resource to get complementary lessons ideas and activities as well as differentiated assessment tools. While their “Ancient Egypt” section is designed to target younger audiences, it can still provide useful information for middle school students. The short “Ancient Egypt” video answers questions like what hieroglyphics were, what Ancient Egypt was like, how long the Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted, where it was located throughout this reign, how important the Nile was, what kinds of inventions the Egyptian people created, who lived in Ancient Egypt and their different roles in society, what the Egyptians believed religiously, what the Rosetta Stone was and why it is important, and what remains of Ancient Egypt. This section of the BrainPop website would be a great tool to use prior to reading The Red Pyramid so that students have some background knowledge about Ancient Egypt before starting the book. Unfortunately the site does not provide further information about their own research on the subject so its culturally authenticity may be questionable. Because the video is so short it, it also does not give as much detail as other sources could.
Citations and Annotations (at least 4 per group member):
Mandy Parker
David, Rosalie. Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt, Revised Edition. New York: Infobase Pub., 2003. Print.
This is an extensive overview of all things related to ancient Egyptians. There are maps of the Egyptian locations mentioned in The Red Pyramid. Additionally, there is information about the gods and goddesses included in The Red Pyramid, as well as religious rituals and artifacts that may be of use to students to better understand Riordan's work. An excellent resource for building background information about ancient Egypt.
Remler, Pat. Egyptian Mythology A to Z: A Young Reader's Companion. New York, N.Y.: Facts on File, 2000. Print.
Egyptian Mythology A to Z discusses everything one could possibly think of regarding ancient Egypt. Contained in this book is also information about the people who ruled during ancient times. There are brief summaries of the lives of the pharaohs, but there are also sections of these biographies that describe any accomplishments of these rulers. This would be a good resource to show how Egyptian rulers impacted history.
Watson, John. "Tour Egypt :: The Symbolism of Ancient Egypt, an Introduction." The Symbolism of Ancient Egypt, an Introduction. 12 June 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/symbolism1.htm>.
This website, though intended to entice people to travel to Egypt, has useful and interesting information about both monuments that have survived from ancient times until now and the symbols that can be found on them. Beautiful pictures are included so that students can see the monuments that they read about in books. This website would be useful to facilitate the exploration of Egyptian symbols and monuments.
Wilson, Hilary. Understanding Hieroglyphs: A Complete Introductory Guide. London: Michael O'Mara, 1995. Print.
This book teaches basic vocabulary that recurs in many Egyptian inscriptions. It also discusses the power of names, as well as the duties of those who most likely would be the ones inscribing the hieroglyphics. This appears to be an excellent resource to introduce students to hieroglyphics' use in ancient Egyptian culture.