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7th grade · Social Studies · Unit 8 of 14

Ancient Israel & Kush

The early Hebrews and the kingdom of Kush

What your child practices

The origins and central teachings of Judaism, key figures and the Diaspora, how Judaism endured, and the kingdom of Kush on the Nile: its iron, trade, pyramids and rule over Egypt. Religions are described factually and neutrally.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 7.8; 7.9 · ancient Israel, and the African kingdom of Kush

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Judaism teaches belief in one God (monotheism). Abraham is seen as the father of the Hebrew people.
  2. Jewish people pray and study in synagogues. After the Babylonians destroyed the First Temple (587 BCE), many Jews were sent into exile.
  3. Kush lay on the Nile south of Egypt and traded gold, ivory and ebony.

Example: Where was the kingdom of Kush? Kush was on the Nile River. It lay to the south of Egypt. Answer: along the Nile, south of Egypt

Ancient Israel & Kush in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 8 of 14 in 7th grade Social Studies, after Ancient Egypt and before Empires of the Americas & Africa.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    In the 700s BCE, Kushite kings conquered and ruled…

    • Rome
    • Persia
    • China
    • Egypt

  2. Question 2

    The Hebrew Bible's first five books are called the…

    • Torah
    • Qur'an
    • Vedas
    • Analects

  3. Question 3

    The Talmud is…

    • a Roman road
    • a collection of Jewish law and teachings
    • a Greek play
    • an Egyptian tomb

  4. Question 4

    The Kushite king Piye is known for…

    • writing the Torah
    • conquering Egypt
    • building the Great Wall
    • founding Rome

  5. Question 5

    Abraham is important in Judaism, Christianity and Islam because he is seen as…

    • an Egyptian pharaoh
    • the father of the Hebrew people and a founder of monotheism
    • a Roman emperor
    • a Greek philosopher

  6. Question 6

    Rabbinic Judaism grew after 70 CE by focusing on…

    • study, prayer and community instead of temple sacrifice
    • moving to China only
    • building a new empire
    • worshipping many gods

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