A Tour thru the Sands of Time: A Lesson on Ancient

Egypt

World History Grade Level- 8th     Unit 2: Ancient Egypt

Authors:Angela Nyberg Allison Lorenz Aaron Robinson

  

 

 

Objectives

• The main objective of this lesson is to instruct students on the culture of ancient Egypt.

• In this lesson, students will investigate ancient Egypt. Students will research various characteristics of the civilization.

• Students will then present their findings to the class.

Materials Required

• Computers• Internet Capabilities• Paper• Pens or Pencils• Construction Paper• Markers • Crayons• Glue• Scissors • Toilet Paper

Websites

• The Mummy Page

• King Tut's Treasures

• Ancient Egypt Webquest

Websites (cont)

• Amazon

• Site Map

Student Activities• Watch Cleopatra staring

Elizabeth Taylor– Discuss the historical

accuracy or lack of • Group Projects

– Each group will be assigned a mission

– The mission should be completed within three days

– After each group completes their mission they will present their findings to the class

Student Activities• Mission 1: Daily Life

– Question: What was the daily life like for the people of ancient Egypt?

– Research: dress, games children played, common names, education, jobs, food, and art

– Make an Egyptian product that would be used to barter in the market place

Student Activities

• Mission 2: Mummy– Question: Were

ancient Egyptians successful mummy-makers?

– Research: why they made mummies, what the process was for making mummies, and if their practice was successful

– Make a mummy

Student Activities• Mission 3: Tomb Raiders

– Question: What were ancient Egyptian Tombs built for?– Research: what tombs were designed for, architecture,

where tombs are found, and what methods archeologists use

– Make an artifact that would be found in a tomb

Student Activities

• Mission 4: Hieroglyphics– Question: How did

ancient Egyptians communicate with each other in writing?

– Research: what are hieroglyphics and who could use them

– Make a cartouche with the group members’ names

Student Activities

• Mission 5: King Tut– Question: Why is King

Tut so crucial to our modern understanding of the ancient Egyptians?

– Research: King Tut’s biography and the circumstances surrounding King Tut’s death

– Make a paper model or drawing of a pharaoh’s death mask

Achievements

• First National Government

• Basic Forms of Arithmetic

• 365 day calendar

• Picture writing: hieroglyphics

Achievements (cont) • Papyrus: paper like writing material• One of first religions to emphasize life and death• Advanced cities: took many skilled architects, doctors,

engineers, painters, and sculptors to build and maintain• Pyramids!!!! Tombs for their leaders that have lasted for

over 4,500 years

Culture/ Customs • Matrilineal and Patriarchal- women and men had same

legal rights and status, family survival dependent on both

• Games- Similar to hockey and handball, played lots of board games

• Food- Main crop was grain, fish, vegetables, fruit- beef and other red meat was expensive

Culture/ Customs (cont) • Homes- made of mud and brick, high above but near

the Nile. Homes of the wealthy were large• Life- Short and difficult, 60-70% infant mortality rate,

high death rate for women giving birth. Children start helping family around age 4 or 5

• Mythology- gave culture understanding of events and idea of creation of the world, gods and goddesses

Geography

• The Nile– 4000 miles long– Life Blood of

Egypt

• The Desert– Upper Egypt– Lower Egypt

Geography (cont)

Famous People• King Menes 3100-

2850 B.C.U– United Upper and

Lower Egypt

• Khufu 2551-2528 B.C.– Built largest pyramid

“Pyramid of Giza”

• Hatshepsut 1473-1458 B.C.– First Female Pharaoh

• Ramsees II 1279-1213 B.C.P– Pharaoh at Egypt’s

peak

Major Events

• 3411 - 3100 Unification of all Egypt• 3100 - 2181 Construction of the

pyramids begins• 1878-1843 Colonization of Nubia• 1650 - 1550 Hyksos "invasion“• 1550 - 1069 Creation of the Egyptian

Empire• 750 BC Nubians Conquered Egypt

The End