Ancient History Curriculum & Schedule

This page is still a "rough draft". I don't have time right now to create the different pages for the books, etc. so it's all right here! You can download the schedule we used by clicking on the links below my rambling. This page is going to change. Someday.

One of the important considerations in creating this schedule was that I wanted to do history chronologically. I wanted to see how all of the different civilizations interacted with each other and what different peoples were doing at similar times.

I’ve put certain sections of the free, downloadable schedule in a light gray. These are things I considered “optional” for my family. It makes the schedule as a whole less overwhelming at first glance. It also recognizes that there is NO way to get to everything scheduled in. This is a buffet of books and activities.

The items in black are things I actually ended up doing
with my son. This may help you get a feel for how this scheduled worked for my family. Feel free to change all the words to black if you don’t want to see what we did or didn’t do by selecting all (In Microsoft Word 2007, this is located at the home tool bar on the far right with an arrow symbol) and then choosing the black font color from the Microsoft Word toolbar.

We used Mystery of History as our main history spine and supplementing with Story of the World. The schedule reflects that. However, YOU may prefer only using Story of the World or some other combination (especially if you are a secular homeschooling family). Feel free to change the text color in the tables according to what YOU want to do (or not do). You can also delete entire table rows.

Some weeks are heavier than others. In fact, during a 6 week stretch around the middle we will be taking a break from most history readers and read-alouds to get a little breather and have time for other interesting books. You can also use light weeks to catch up on work you didn’t get to on heavy weeks. So, DON’T worry if you don’t get to everything. There will be light weeks where you can play catch up, go down bunny trails, explore holiday related studies or spend more time on your other subjects.
Consider this schedule a free, tweakable framework. Have fun!

I don’t make ANY claims about this schedule. This schedule was created by me for my son. I've provided a downloadable version of our schedule that is free to anyone who wants to check it out. I’m sharing it with you in honor of the multitude of blessings God has bestowed on our family. I’m not responsible for how you choose to use this schedule.  Please don’t repost it somewhere else.

If you want to help support my website, any purchases you make via Amazon from the book links are very much appreciated as I get a small commission. Visit my support page for more info. and other ways to help the site.

Click here to download a Microsoft Word document version of the schedule.

Click here for a PDF version of the schedule.

If you don't have Microsoft Word, you can download the FREE Open Office program and use that instead. I can't guarantee the formatting will match up though!

Below are the books and movies I scheduled in this year. There are some listed that aren't scheduled because I haven't done any housecleaning on this page yet. I'll get to that one of these days.

Books and other resources we used were each given a rating by my son, "Otter". 1 is the worst rating, 5 is the best. Items not rated were not used.
You can also click on most of the titles to see what other reviewers think via Amazon.

Symbol Key:

is for resources that should be available at most well-stocked libraries (at least they were in mine!). The other icons are explained by the text right next to them.

Video

Craft or activity book

Christian resource

****Click here for a lapbook for Story of the World 1**** I didn't schedule it in, because I just found it after we finished with the year, but it's too awesome not to link to.

*Note: You can find some great notebooking pages for ancient history here at Samutsari's page on Homeschool Launch. Just match up the notebook page titles with the ancient history lessons, topics and people.

Mystery of History Vol 1

I scheduled this as the main spine so we could learn about history from a Biblical and chronological perspective.
Each lesson takes about 10 minutes and there are activity ideas for three different ages/levels. Maps and timeline suggestions are also included.
The text is interesting, but it is sometimes more "dry" and sophisticated than the Story of the World.

*Note: I am not doing most of the activities in this book. I've found others to do that we like better. Activities from the book are NOT listed in the schedule. You have to buy the book and fill in the table yourself. :-)

Otter's review:
(He's really enjoying the Biblical aspect.) He's requested we use the entire series for history in the future.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

I used Story of the World with my older children in the past and they enjoyed it. It helps flesh out the MOH lessons with more of a narrative feel. I've moved some of the chapters around in the schedule to correspond with the MOH lessons.

I have the older version, so some of the scheduled pages (or chapters) may be different from the revised version.

Otter's review: (AT first) . At the end of the year, he dropped his rating down to 2 stars. I guess he ended up preferring the style of Mystery of History much better. I still love SOTW though. My older kids loved it too.

The Story of the World. Activity Book 1: Ancient Times

I'm using this for some of the maps and some of the activity ideas, as well as the review questions and narration ideas for each chapter.

I have the older version, so some of the scheduled pages (or chapters) may be different from the revised version. I only schedule in pages...if you want to schedule in the activities, but the book and fill in the tables with your choices.

The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History

I don't recommend you buy this book for this schedule. I'm only entering it in because we happen to have it and I want Otter to see the pictures when we cover specific things. If you already have it, then go ahead and use it.

Also, some of the pages are scheduled to correspond with SOTW so if you aren't using that...it may not be worth bothering with.

*Warning - this books has a hefty section on evolution and old earth history (like the first 100 pages!).

Otter's rating:

*Note: We ended up not really cracking this book open much at all. Feel free to skip it.

The Usborne Book of World History

This is another really optional book. I have the old version and am not sure if the new one is any different from the one I have so if it is, the scheduled pages may be off.

I'm using this book because my other son LOVED it and read it so many times. I have it on hand, so Otter gets to read it too.

*O.K., well this book wasn't a hit with Otter, so I dropped it. I left it in the schedule though.

Otter's rating:
Bear's rating:

Genesis: Finding Our Roots

There is a lot to think about with this book. If you use it, you may want to schedule more time for it than I did. I also don't recommend it for young children. It's for kids who are in the dialectic stage or beyond.

We'll be skipping most of the suggested activities and "extra" bunny trails it mentions.

*After reading through the first portion of this book, I decided to STOP reading it. Both my husband and I didn't feel 100% comfortable with some of the information in the way it was presented. This is a fascinating and thought provoking book for me as an adult, but I'm going to not continue reading it to Otter.

Otter's rating (for the portion we read):

Adam and His Kin: The Lost History of Their Lives and Times

This books takes a look at the stories of Adam, Noah and others from the beginning of the Bible in a narrative form. You may not want to use it with younger children who may have a hard time separating fact from fiction.

*I've also discontinued reading this book to Otter. It is very interesting for me to read myself, but I don't feel it's appropriate for Otter at this time.

Otter's rating (for the portion we read):

Prehistoric Art (Art in History
*Not in schedule

"Explore Prehistoric Art. Learn how artists painted in the depths of dark caves and which island was guarded by an army of statues. This book is packed full of priceless examples of prehistoric art. Discover the beliefs, inventions, and materials that helped prehistoric art and culture to develop. Full captions explain works of art in detail. A timeline summarizes key moments in the development of prehistoric art and places the art in its historical context. Make your own cave painting with the step-by-step instructions included in this book." Quoted from Amazon

Noah's Ark

I love the detailed illustrations in this book by Peter Spier. There is almost no text, but it's a wonderful book to browse.

Life in the Great Ice Age

We never did get our hands on this book. It's a Christian book that tells about a family during the Ice Age.

Famous Figures of Ancient Times: Movable Paper Figures to Cut, Color, and Assemble

This is a wonderful book that features jointed models of figures from ancient history on cardstock that you cut out and assemble. You have the option of choosing models that are already colored, or ones that are outlined in black you can color/paint yourself. Otter put the figures together during our read-aloud time and acted out small bits of his history lesson with them. We stored them in plastic page protectors in his history notebook and they served as concrete reminders of the things he learned.

Otter's rating:
Mom's note: While Otter sometimes didn't "feel like" making a figure, doing so always helped him remember each historical figure. Sometimes mom knows best.

Activity book

Motel of the Mysteries

This is a great book to read while learning about archeology. It's about the 41st century discovery of a 20th century motel....Some of the observations are really funny and show how researchers use their own beliefs and values to interpret things. The entire book is a parody.

I've scheduled it as a reader, but if your student doesn't have an advanced vocabulary or is very literal (Aspergers, etc.), you may want to read it out loud and explain the terminology and humor as you go along or just skip it.

We ended up not using it, even though we have it in our home library. Otter will read it when he's older.

Read aloud or reader for older kids

Archaeologists Dig for Clues

This easy picture books is a nice introduction to archaeology.

Otter's rating:

Dry Bones and Other Fossils

This creationist book teaches kids about fossils.

Otter's rating:

The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible

This is another creationist book that deals with the subject of dinosaurs.

Otter's rating:

Gilgamesh the King

Our library didn't have this book, so we read the Gilgamesh story in Story of the World. We did, however, check out the other two books in the series.

The Revenge of Ishtar

These books take about 10 minutes to read out loud and are a nice addition for learning the Gilgamesh story(s). The pages are lavishly illustrated. Some of the illustrations may be kind of "scary" for younger children.

Otter's rating:

The Last Quest of Gilgamesh

This books has some interesting parallels to the Biblical accounts of the flood as well as bits from the Garden of Eden story (snake/eternal life)

Otter's rating:

A Place in the Sun

This adventure story is about Senmut, a boy in ancient Egypt. After his father is bitten by a Cobra, Senmut attempts to carve a statue of the healer goddess Sekhmet with the hopes it will cure his father. While working, he thoughtlessly tosses a tool and accidentally kills a sacred dove. Senmut is sent to the mines for his crime. Will he survive his harsh sentence? Will he ever see his father alive again?
Read the first chapters at Google Books.

I scheduled this book as a reader, although I actually did it as a read-aloud due to the Egyptian spirituality that is woven throughout the story. I wanted to be on hand to edit out or explain/discuss portions because I didn't feel comfortable with a lot of it. It's a worthwhile story though, because it gives a realistic picture of ancient Egyptian beliefs, how lives were ruled by these beliefs and makes this ancient culture more accessible to young readers.

Otter's rating:

The Golden Bull

Free, short discussion guide

Novels that cover this time period and location are hard to come by. This is an adventurous story about a pair of siblings in Ur.

*Warning: There are numerous mentions of the beliefs of the times like the moon-god, etc. They are present, but they don't fully dominate the story. I often skipped the "hymns" as I didn't think Otter needed to hear detailed praises to "gods". Also, there is mention of beer drinking and there is some drunkenness (although it's portrayed in a negative light).

This books is "easy" enough to be a reader.

Otter's rating:

Tikki Tikki Tembo

We read this book after reading the chapter in Story of the World about ancient China. Otter LOVED it. Warning: you may want to pull your hair out the 50th time you hear your child say Tikki Tikki Tembo's full name out loud, lol... I had to listen to that for about 3 days straight.

Otters rating:

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!: A Life of Hard Labor You'd Rather Avoid

This series of books can sometimes be a little crude, but they inform with plenty of humor (and sometimes grossness) that kids love.

Otter's rating:
(Ha! Well so much for Otter loving it!)

You Wouldn't Want to Be an Assyrian Soldier!: An Ancient Army You'd Rather Not Join

*There are a couple mentions of "girlfriends" as well as a idol worship and telling the future by a priest of the sun god Shamash. There is also mention of getting out of hard work.

Otter's rating:

Mesopotamia (DK Eyewitness Books)

DK Eyewitness books are chock full of photos and illustrations!

Discovery Streaming

Discovery Streaming

Time Warp Trio: The Seven Blunders of the World

"Joe, Fred and Sam warp to Babylon to figure out who stole The Book and meet King Nebuchadnezzar II and Queen Amyitis, the creators of the Famous Hanging Gardens. Can they recover the book before all of Babylon is destroyed, and Joe's evil uncle Mad Jack takes over the world?" Quote

Otter's rating:

Discovery Streaming

PBS Secrets of the Dead: Sinking Atlantis

Uncover history-changing evidence of what happened to the ancient Minoans.

Online video (free)

Hittites: A Civilization That Changed The World

"This is the glorious story of the Hittites - the most powerful people in the Near East of their time. Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, “The Hittites” brings the fascinating history of this mighty empire to life with expert interviews, stunning cinematography, dramatic reenactments, and visual effects. Highlights include a breathtaking recreation of the controversial battle of Kadesh that decimated the armies of Egypt’s Pharaoh Ramesses II. Based on the actual words of the Hittites, deciphered from ancient clay tablets excavated in the 20th century, their story unfolds as beautifully as it written almost 3500 years earlier. "

Otter's rating: (I don't blame him - it's a bit advanced and dry for a kid. We didn't finish it.)

Snagfilms free online video

"In ca. 1200 B.C., Uriah the Hittite leaves his conquered homeland and, following his father's instruction, seeks refuge with an old family friend, eventually finding himself in a great battle between the Canaanite forces of Sisera and the Hebrew forces of Barak."

*Warning: I don't recommend you read this book to younger students. It has violence and some possibly disturbing passages about child sacrifice.

Otherwise, it's a fast paced story that Otter always begged me to "read just one more chapter, pleeeeeeeease!!"

Otter's rating:

Lost Ships of the Mediterranean

"Join famed underwater explorer Dr. Robert Ballard as a rare find off the coast of Israel sends him, a team of experts, and a National Geographic crew on a quest to solve an archaeological mystery. See the oldest shipwrecks ever found in the deep Mediterranean, relive the excitement of an ancient wreck discovered by a U.S. Navy nuclear sub, and probe the secrets of these unprecedented archaeological ‘time capsules’ and the clues they offer to an extraordinary, ancient civilization that dates back to biblical times. "

Snagfilms free online video

Free online video (HULU)

Adventures in Ancient China

This is an enjoyable book in cartoon format.

Usborne Time Traveler

This has been a favorite of all 3 of my children. We're using part of the book now and part later when we study medieval times.

Otter's rating:

History Pockets: Ancient Egypt: Grades 4-6+

Instead of scheduling in lapbooks, I decided to use History Pockets instead. Both of my "big kids" really enjoyed them when they were younger. I like the high quality graphics and the variety of paper activities.
These are non-consumable books with tear-out pages designed to copy from. I do a lot of the cutting to eliminate "busy work" and don't require any of the elements to be colored. Otter likes to color them though while I do read-alouds. We've also used paints in the past, to make decorating the pages and items more fun.

Otter's rating:

Pharaoh's Boat

There is a lot of text in this picture book, so I don't recommend it as a reader for young children (though they may be interested in the pictures).
Learn how an ancient boat was built the first time and then built again when found in modern times.

While he was reading it, Otter declared it to be "boring" but he did pause several times to tell me some facts he found interesting.

Otter's rating:

Reader

Ralph Masiello's Ancient Egypt Drawing Book

Preview at Christianbook.com

If you have a student who enjoys drawing, this book should be a hit. We had a lot of fun with it and Otter was really happy with how his drawings turned out. He often asked if we could work from the book, even when it wasn't scheduled.

Otter's rating:

Reader

(Picture book with cartoon illustrations)

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt

Reading level: 3.1

This book has very simple text and lots of bright, colorful pictures.

Picture book

Mummies Made in Egypt

Reading level: 4.7

We've always enjoyed books by Aliki. This one has lots of illustrations, many which were adapted from paintings and sculptures found in Egyptian tombs. The text is an easy read that will likely take only one sitting.

Otter's rating:

Reader

Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Reading level 5.1

Preview at Google Books

Picture book to be used as a reader

The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle: Solving a Mystery of Ancient Egypt

Reading level 5.9

Picture book to be used as a reader

Egyptian Diary: The Journal of Nakht

Reading level: 5.3

Reader

Interactive book

Exodus
This is a beautiful picture book by Brian Wildsmith.

Reading level 5.6

Otter's rating:

Picture book to be used as a reader

Joseph
This is a beautiful picture book by Brian Wildsmith.

Otter's rating:

Picture book to be used as a reader

The Magic and the Mummy (Egyptian Tales)

Google preview

This is a fairly short "easy" chapter book that weaves some of the ancient Egyptian's beliefs into a narrative. The illustrations are fairly humorous and fun.

*Warning: The hero of the story disobeys her father, deceives him and lies to her brother. She does these things in order to save a live cat she is supposed to mummify (situational ethics). I used this book to prompt a discussion about: Is it ever ok to do wrong things in order to do something right?
There are also mentions of things having to do with mummification that are kind of gross.

Otter's rating: (which he later changed to 3 stars after about a month or so)

Reader
(Easy reader - early chapter book)

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Pyramid Builder: A Hazardous Job You'd Rather Not Have

Reading level 5.9

Reader

Reader

Pyramid

Reading level 7.1

History

DVD or Discovery Streaming

Egypt's Ten Greatest Discoveries

Otter's rating:

DVD or Discovery Streaming

DVD or Discovery Streaming

Virtual Egypt

Visit the PBS companion website for the DVD above to check out some virtual places in Egypt.

This activity isn't flashy, but might be interesting for kids who want to see some actual Egyptian sites.

Otter's rating:

Discovery Streaming

Journals Through History: Ancient Egypt - Constructing Civilization

Discovery Streaming

Discovery Streaming

Time Warp Trio: Tut Tut

"The Trio accidentally warps to ancient Egypt where they meet the young Pharaoh Thutmose and — thanks to his evil minister Hatsnat — get a little too up close and personal with the mummification process." Quote

Otter's rating:

Discovery Streaming

That's a Wrap Interactive game

The Green Mist Mysteries are original, interactive stories featuring the Time Warp Trio. Read, puzzle, investigate, and noodle your way through the green mist. BEWARE: the choices you make will guide the story. The fate of the Time Warp Trio is in your hands!

Hieroglyphic Translator

Type your name and then see it in hieroglyphics.

Otter's rating:

Discovery Streaming

Otter's rating: for the portion he watched

Discovery Streaming

Egypt: Secrets of the Pharaohs

"Who built the pyramids? What were the secrets of mummification? Which treasures were selected for the afterlife and why? For centuries, Egypt’s pharaohs have kept these secrets to themselves...until now. Travel to a land of mystery and marvel as archaeologists investigate how the pyramids were actually built. Follow scientists as they re-create the ancient ritual of mummification and discover how the bodies of the pharaohs were preserved. And be there as cameras reveal the ancient underground vault that houses the mysterious ship of the Pharaoh Khufu: his magnificent vessel for eternity. "

*Warning: There are some potentially disturbing scenes of mummification (that show a real dead man being mummified in modern times) as well as mummies (from the past). These scenes start after about 30-35 minutes into the film.

Otter's rating: - but if he had stuck around to watch the mummification part, I bet that rating would have jumped up.

Snagfilms free online video

Into the Great Pyramid

"Noted Egyptologist Zahi Al-Hawass showcases the most up-to-date archaeological work going on in Egypt and reveals new discoveries that may shed light on some of the most enduring mysteries of the pyramids. You’ll witness the opening of Egypt’s oldest intact sarcophagus and follow a specially-designed robot as it reveals what lay beyond a blocking stone in the Great Pyramid’s mysterious southern shaft. You’ll learn more about how the Great Pyramids were built as a worker’s city is unearthed and its clues revealed for the first time. "

Snagfilms free online video

I had this kit from previous years when my "big" kids were studying ancient history. It comes with a booklet, a mummy to wrap up, canopic jars, internal organs, amulets, etc.

Otter's rating:
Bear's rating (remembering when he used it years ago): 4 stars

Egyptology

Reading level 5.6

Egypt in Spectacular Cross-section

We didn't read the text in this book, but rather poured over the super detailed pictures.

Reading level 5.2

Otter's rating: - His comment: "I liked the pictures."

Tutankhamun: Internet Referenced

Otter's review:

Ancient Egypt Scratch and Sketch: An Art Activity Book for Inquisitive Archaeologists and Artists of All Ages

This is a great book to pull out during read-aloud time. The pages on the left have a short paragraph of text introducing various things having to do with ancient Egypt like: hieroglyphics, obelisks, scarabs, the step pyramid at Saqqara, mummies, Anubis, symbols, Ramses II and more. The pages on the right are shimmering swirled colors covered by a thin coating of black. Use the stylus the comes with the book to scratch out your own designs related the text pages.

*The paragraphs are excellent sources for writing, if you are doing IEW!

Otter's rating: (This was a HUGE hit.)

Papyrus Kit

This kit offers students the opportunity to make their own papyrus, and two sheets of finished papyrus paper they can use while they're waiting for their own to dry. Set includes raw Egyptian papyrus reeds, one sheet of blank papyrus paper, and one sheet of papyrus paper with a black-and-white outline of an Egyptian scene printed on it, for you to color. Included papyrus paper measures 8" x 12". Quote

Note: This kit has a strong smell when you first open it!

Otter's rating:

Ancient Egypt: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose Books: Historical Eras)

Preview at Google Books

Learn how to play Senet

Otter's rating: (and the comment from him: "I won!")

BM&AG for Kids - Explore Ancient Egypt

Explore an Egyptian Tomb

Play Seega activity sheet
Mehen snake board game
Egyptian timeline (Use the interactive "About Ancient Egypt" section to help you fill it out.)

The Children's University of Manchester: Ancient Egypt

There are several nice, interactive things at this website like a timeline, writing in hieroglyphics, etc.

Mara, Daughter of the Nile

I haven't scheduled this book in because I know Otter won't like it. My "big kids" liked it though when we used it years ago. If you use it, be warned that there is some light romance and some issues of character you may want to be on hand to discuss.

The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Adventure)

Free online and also here

This book might be considered boring by younger kids especially. The language is "outdated". I haven't scheduled this book in either because I don't think it will appeal much to Otter.

The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid (Geronimo Stilton, No. 2)

This is a silly story with words that use a variety of fonts that make the reading more fun. You can skip it, but I scheduled it for Otter because I know he'll like it. It takes place in modern times, but lots of ancient Egyptian facts are sprinkled throughout.

Ghosts of the Nile

This is a very colorful book with super busy pages that are a visual treat. It would be awkward to read out loud but would make a fun book to browse. There is mention of magic but it's in the context of the characters going back in time.

Bricks of Egypt

Ok, so this game is not educational at all, but it's a fun excuse to take a little break.

Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile

This silly story is great for younger children. It's about a crocodile and his bird friend in modern day Egypt. Younger students will easily pick up some words associated with ancient Egypt in the course of the story.

Otter's rating:

Tirzah

"Fleeing with Moses from captivity in Egypt, twelve-year-old Tirzah learns a song of hope as she tries to survive to reach the promised land."Quote from Amazon

There are a few minor sections that may be upsetting to younger or sensitive children. There is also some very light "romance" but it's tastefully presented in the context of the culture.

Otter's rating:
Mom's rating:

Nefertiti Resurrected

This is a very well made movie with great sets and costumes. Both Otter and I enjoyed it.

Otter's rating:

Netflix

or Amazon

Hercules: The Twelve Labors: A Greek Myth (Graphic Myths and Legends)

Otter loves comics so I scheduled this in. It has great graphics that might be more appealing to boys than girls.

*Warning: There are some "violent" or scary images like a snake creature attacking Hercules, etc.

The First Marathon: The Legend of Pheidippides

This story, illustrated with woodcut style pictures, will help your younger readers remember Pheidippides. The notes in the back give a much more detailed story than the text, including information about modern marathons and how they came about. You may want to read the end of the book out loud, but the rest of the book should be used as a reader except by the youngest of students.

The Groovy Greeks: AND The Rotten Romans (Horrible Histories Collections)

Reading level 5.1

The Trojan Horse: The Fall of Troy (Graphic Myths & Legends

This is a graphic novel that will appeal to reluctant readers. Otter LOVES this type of book. Even your regular readers will probably enjoy a visual retelling of the Trojan Horse story.

Ox, House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet

This is the perfect reader to go along with the chapter in MOH and SOTW about the Phoenicians. It also mentions the Greeks and Romans.
It's a colorful, interesting (well at least to ME anyway) and easy read.

Otter's rating:

Literature Pockets, Greek & Roman Myths, Grades 4-6

Instead of scheduling in a variety of lapbooks for this year's study, I chose to use History and Literature Pockets instead to do basically the same job. Our "big kids" used them in the past and really enjoyed them.

One tip: don't feel like your kids have to color everything in. They'll learn a lot just constructing the various items. Also, some kids may be more motivated to do HP if you've already done the cutting.

*Note: This History Pockets was scheduled during a part of our year when we were busy with other subjects. We ended up not doing most of the items.

Otter's rating:

We used about half of this book. It was scheduled during a time of year when we were busy with other things. History "extras" got put on a back burner.

Otter's rating:

Otter's rating:

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

Reading level 5.9

I remember reading this book as a child and loving the illustrations. Knowing about Greek myths is essential (in my opinion) to understand a lot of modern cultural references as well as some of the origins of specific beliefs.

Otter's rating:

DK Classics: The Odyssey

We used a different version of this book because this one wasn't available to us.

Tales From the Odyssey CD Collection

The One Eyed Giant

The Land of the Dead

Sirens and Sea Monsters

The Gray-Eyed Goddess

Return to Ithaca

The Final Battle

Listen (or get the books to read)

The Iliad for Boys and Girls (Yesterday's Classics)

Read this book for FREE at Google Books

Old fashioned, but good for someone on a budget who doesn't mind the old language.

Fiction

FREE Online

Warning: This book has a section that describes the inappropriate behavior between Helen and Paris of Troy (not s*x, but you still may want to discuss it).

Also the version I read, which was illustrated by Alan Lee, had some female nudity (illustrated).

Otter's rating:
Mom's rating 2-3 stars

Otter's rating:

The Story of the Greeks (Yesterday's Classics)

Read this book for FREE at Google Books

Old fashioned, but good for someone on a budget who doesn't mind the old language.

History

FREE Online

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

Reading level: 5.7

Otter's rating:

Aww, poo on Otter's rating for this and the next book. I liked them!

Math and History

Otter's rating:

Math and History

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Greek Athlete: Races You'd Rather Not Run

Reading level 5.5

Reader

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Slave in Ancient Greece!

Reading level 4.9

Reader

Archimedes and the Door of Science

Preview at Google Books

Otter's rating:

History and science

Elementary Adventures: Ancient Greece
Segment 1: History: Alexander the Great
Segment 2: Philosophy: Socrates and Plato
Segment 3: Mythology: Homer's Odyssey

The Greeks Interactive

At this PBS site which is a companion to the above DVD, you can check out an interactive map, learn about life in Athens and listen to what it was like to speak like a Greek!

Michael Wood: In Search of Myths and Heroes

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Preview: I haven't watched this just yet, but it may treat some of the Bible the same as the other myths covered.

DVD or Discovery Streaming

Time Warp Trio: My Big Fat Greek Olympics

"A wild warp at the Olympia Diner sends Fred and Samantha to Ancient Greece during the Olympic games (and Sam to another diner on the edge of Time). Can the three of them get it together to avoid historical disaster?" Quote

Otter's rating:

Great Books: Homer's Odyssey / Plato's Republic

Nova: Secrets of the Parthenon

"2009 Emmy Nominee: How did the ancient Athenians build this near-flawless icon of Greece's golden age?"

Otter's rating:

Beyond the Movie: Troy

"No single story in western civilization has continuously inspired and intrigued more people than the Trojan tale of war and deception. But, did a place called Troy really exist? Was Homer’s epic more than just an engaging story? Join us in the search for a lost world and unravel the mysteries that swirl around this ancient city. Through stunning recreations and the perspectives of international scholars, National Geographic transports you back in time as we explore the ancient legends of this fabled city."

Greek Alphabet Code Cracker

Otter's rating: 1 star because it's Greek
for how it teaches

He decided he doesn't like learning Greek. He prefers sticking with Latin. He told me the book itself is a good teaching method though.

Greek vase notebooking page

Finish the Greek patterns and decorate the vase.

Otter's rating: - He said it was fun at first, but it was really hard to put together (hence the lower rating)

Greek Hero (Fly on the Wall)

There isn't a ton of information in this book, but it's an easy read for younger students who need a general overview of Greek culture.

Picture book

Otter's rating: (He said TEN stars)

Otter's rating:

Lively Latin Big Book 1

We are using this program for Latin, so I scheduled the history lessons and pages in it. If you aren't planning to use Lively Latin 1 this year, just ignore.

Otter's rating: (but sometimes 3 for the fun factor)

Otter's rating:

Fun With Roman Numerals

This is a colorful and fun introduction to Roman numerals.

Otter's rating:

The Story of the Romans (Yesterday's Classics)

Read this book for FREE at Google Books

This book is good if you are on a budget and don't mind the old-fashioned language.

History

FREE Online

The Children's Plutarch: Tales of the Romans (Yesterday's Classics)

Read this book for FREE at Google Books

This book is good if you are on a budget and don't mind the old-fashioned language.

History

FREE Online

Otter's rating: (Huh?? LOL! I thought it was fun.)

Reader

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator!

Reading level 6.4

Reader

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Soldier!: Barbarians You'd Rather Not Meet

Reading level 6.4

Reader

Moments in Time - Letters from the Roman Front

"Rome's legions met their match in the highlands of Scotland. At the archaeological dig of the Roman garrison at Vindolanda, countless artifacts help recreate the life of Roman armies--from their aqueducts to their slaughterhouse."

Watch the intro here.

Augustus Caesar's World

Preview at Christianbook.com

I recommend this as a read aloud for younger students. It's packed with information, but my "big kids" really enjoyed it when we used it in the past.

Otter's rating:

History

Otter's rating:

History

History

Reader

Cleopatra (Lifelines)

This is my favorite book about Cleopatra for this age group. Right away the jeweled cover invites you to take a peek inside. The illustrations are terrific and the story is engaging. Through Nefret's diary you learn all sorts of details about Cleopatra and the world she lived in. At the end of the story there are additional illustrated facts like a timeline, Cleopatra's family tree and details about the places and people mentioned in the story. The format is more like a picture book than a novel. Every single page is heavily illustrated and the pictures do just as much to tell the story as the words do (but there is still plenty to read).

*Warning: the basic facts of Cleopatra's life are mentioned including Marc Antony's adultery and Cleopatra's pregnancy before she was married.

Otter's rating: (Very surprised he rated it this low! Perhaps it appeals to girls more!)

Reader

Otter's rating:

Moments in Time: Antony and Cleopatra and the Battle of Actium

"The Roman navy, led by Octavian, defeats the formidable fleet of Mark Antony and Cleopatra."

PBS Empires: The Roman Empire

View some free clips online at PBS.

DVD or Discovery Streaming

or FREE online at HULU

The Emperor of Rome game (PBS)

"This is your chance to rule the largest empire the world has ever seen.

You can choose which emperor you want to be, then you'll face real situations where you have to decide what you want to do."

*WARNING!! If you choose Augustus, there are some scenes depicted (via "art") that show nudity and s*x. There may be other items that are not appropriate so please preview.

Time Warp Trio: See You Later, Gladiator!

"The Book transports Joe, Sam, and Fred back to ancient Rome A.D. 120 — and face-to-face with one big ol' Gladiator. They've seen plenty of professional wrestling on TV — but will the smackdown body slam be enough to save them at the Coliseum?" Quote

Otter's rating:

Julius Caesar

I can't find this new anywhere, but I've scheduled it in because we have it.

Otter's rating:

Otter's rating:

Otter's rating:

Replica Coins from the Bible - New Testament

And Coins of the Old Testament

Otter's rating:

The Very First Christians

Preview this book here.

Otter's rating:

Beyond the Movie: Alexander the Great

Explore the fascinating true story of Alexander the Great, the most extraordinary warrior of all time whose military conquests remain unrivaled to this day. Leading his armies through 22,000 miles of sieges in 8 short years, Alexander brought east and west together in the mightiest clash of cultures the world has ever known. Join National Geographic on a quest to uncover the mystery surrounding Alexander’s life and examine what inspired him to push onward. Stunning recreations and insights from historians shed light on the question: Did Alexander, fearing no mortal, become his own most dangerous enemy? 

Alexander the Great Rocks the World

This is not a beautifully illustrated book, but it is a fun, interesting and sometimes humorous read. The text is very accessible for middle grade readers (4-8th grades) with plenty of meat and memorable info. Pages are sprinkled with cartoon-like illustrations, black & white classical paintings, maps and artifacts.

Of Numbers And Stars: The Story of Hypatia

Google preview

This pleasant picture book introduces a bright woman from the ancient world. The illustrations are a treat and even though there isn't a lot of text, it's a worthwhile book because of the unique subject.

Reader

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

This is a movie I scheduled in to watch after lesson 30 in MOH (which mentions the ark of the covenant). This movie has some scenes that may be inappropriate for your family (especially a scene towards the end where a face "melts" as well as some romance, etc.). If you do watch it, let your kids know it's entirely fiction. ;-)

Time Warp Trio: Dude, Where's My Karma?

"When Joe realizes that he's slowly disappearing, the kids find a malfunction in his family tree in The Book and follow it to India during the Gupta Empire. Sam, Fred, Samantha and Freddi have to help Joe's ancestor Prince Karna win the hand of Princess Lakshmi to save the entire family line!" Quote