Ancient History First Semester Curriculum (Young Adult Edition): Thoughtful, Hands-On History for High School Students

Introduce your students to the wonders and complexities of the ancient world with the first semester of our Ancient History Curriculum (Young Adult Edition). This creative and thought-provoking program takes learners on a journey through nine fascinating civilizations, from Stone Age Japan to the early cultures of Mesoamerica.

This stand-alone package includes nine themed boxes, each packed with immersive, hands-on activities, advanced lesson plans, reading lists, and educator resources. Perfect for homeschool families, independent study, or classrooms earning high school credit, this curriculum makes it easy for students to engage critically with the people, cultures, and ideas that shaped the ancient world.

What’s Inside?

This package includes nine engaging boxes, each featuring creative projects, deeper historical context, and mature discussion prompts to help students ages 16+ think critically about history:

1. Jomon: Visit the Jomon people of stone age Japan! Weave a basket, decorate a clay pot, own your own stone arrowhead, and enjoy a tasty snack of chestnuts.
2. Uruk: Visit King Gilgamesh in the first city in the world. Enjoy Sumerian mythology, bake cuneiform cookies, make a personal seal, and learn about the art and history of Ancient Uruk.
3. Indus Valley: Tour the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro in Ancient India. Learn an ancient dice game, make beautiful bird calls using a 3,500 year old toy, discover the fun of henna tattoos, and see the first unicorns in history!
4. Egypt: Enjoy Egypt at the time of the Pyramid of Giza! Mummify an apple, decorate a sarcophagus, play the world’s first board game, read a 4000 year old Cinderella story, and make an ancient dessert.
5. Australia: Enjoy a sweet, six-legged snack as you learn about the Aboriginal people of Ancient Australia. Decorate a returning boomerang, read an aboriginal creation story, mix paint from ancient pigments, and recreate 40,000 year old cave art.
6. Babylon: Visit Hammurabi’s Court in Ancient Babylon! Choose your own adventure as you explore Hammurabi’s Code, make your own soap, and learn how to create a cylinder seal.
7. Pharaohs: Meet the “heretic king” Ahkanaten and his son Tutankhamun in ancient Egypt. Make a working sundial, paint a papyrus scroll, and have fun exploring the Egyptian Gods’ family tree.
8. Israelites: Enjoy daily life with the Israelites under King David’s rule. Craft and light an olive oil lamp, blow a ram’s horn trumpet, learn the historic significance of cheese and then make some to enjoy!
9. Olmecs: Meet the Olmec people of Ancient Mesoamerica. Carve an animal out of soapstone, make a ceremonial mask, whip up some ancient hot chocolate, and learn more about the world’s first organized sport.

Each box includes hands-on projects, thoughtful stories, and materials that invite students to reflect, analyze, and connect with history on a deeper level.

Why Choose Our Ancient History Curriculum?

This secular, high school-level curriculum engages students with meaningful, hands-on activities alongside advanced content and mature discussion topics. Students craft, create, and consider how ancient civilizations influenced the world and what lessons they still offer today.

Everything you need is included: supplies, directions, historical context, and educator prompts. You can focus on teaching while your students explore the richness and complexity of the past.

Product Details

• Includes nine themed boxes with advanced lesson plans, reading lists, and educator resources

• Covers one semester of ancient history at a high school level

• Designed for students ages 16+ / grades 10–12

• Welcome Packet included

• Secular, inclusive, and adaptable for homeschool, classroom, or independent learning

• Please see our FAQs for additional information

Bring the ancient world to life for your students with the first semester of our Ancient History Curriculum (Young Adult Edition) for a thoughtful, hands-on way to explore history’s earliest stories. Order today and inspire curiosity and critical thinking!

Complimentary Welcome Packet