UKS2 Topic Overview: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Egyptians
Learn all about the Ancient Egyptians. Investigate the men and women who studied the kingdoms and
explore their discoveries. Look at some of the Pharaohs and the development of the pyramids, as well as
the mythology that surrounded this early civilisation. Look at the role the Nile had in allowing this
civilisation to flourish and examine daily life, comparing it to our own.
Block
Key NC Objectives
History, Geography and English
Block A
Introduction
to Ancient
Egypt
(4 sessions)
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Block B
Egyptologists
(4 sessions)
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Main creative outcomes
Build your knowledge of the period
Know and understand significant aspects of the history of when the Ancient Egyptians were
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
powerful in the world. Compare the
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing
Ancient Egyptian civilisation with
knowledge into different contexts, understanding the
the society, climate and terrain of
connections between short- and long-term timescales.
Britain at the time. Discover how the
Understand the abstract term ‘civilisation’.
Locate the world’s countries, using maps and focussing on Ancient Egyptian civilisation came to
their environmental regions and key physical
an end and also learn about the
characteristics.
evidence of Ancient Egypt that exists
Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping
to locate countries and describe features.
in modern Egypt today.
Describe and understand key aspects of physical and
human geography.
Identify the audience for and purpose of the writing,
selecting the appropriate form.
Use further presentational devices to structure text. Draw
on reading and research where necessary.
Retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction.
Provide reasoned justifications for their views.
Participate in discussions and debates.
Consider and evaluate different viewpoints, attending to
and building on the contributions of others.
Speak audibly and fluently.
History, English and Art
Find out about intrepid
Egyptologists Champollion and
Know and understand significant aspects of the history of
Howard Carter and their incredible
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
discoveries, achievements and
Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including
methods. Write a play of the events;
how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims,
make observational drawings of
and discern how and why contrasting arguments and
interpretations of the past have been constructed.
Egyptian artefacts just like a real
Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of
Egyptologist; devise and record an
abstract terms such as ‘empire’ and ‘civilisation’
interview with an Egyptologist and
Note and develop initial ideas, drawing on reading and
research where necessary.
finally debate the removal of
Use further presentational devices to structure text.
artefacts from Egypt.
Plan their writing by noting and developing initial ideas,
drawing on research where necessary.
Identifying purpose of writing and selecting appropriate
form.
Articulate and justify answers and opinions.
Use spoken language to develop understanding.
Participate in role play.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques,
including painting and drawing.
© Hamilton Trust 2014 This activity may be adapted for use by a teacher in his/her own class. It may not be reproduced for any
other purpose.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites
UKS2 Topic Overview: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Egyptians
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Find out about great artists in history.
Create sketchbooks to record their observations.
History, English, D&T, Maths, Science and Art
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Block C
Pharaohs and
Pyramids
(9 sessions)
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Know and understand significant aspects of the history of
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of
abstract terms such as ‘empire’ and ‘civilisation’.
Understand historical concepts such as continuity and
change, similarity, difference and significance.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing
knowledge into different contexts, understanding the
connections between short- and long-timescales.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing
knowledge into different contexts, understanding the
connections between economic, military and social
history.
Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment
to perform practical tasks.
Select from and use a wider range of materials and
components.
Noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading
and research where necessary.
Selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary.
Using further organisational and presentational devices to
structure text and to guide the reader.
Participate in presentations.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques
including sculpture and painting with a range of materials.
Find out about great architects in history.
Calculate the area of rectangles.
Recognise when it is possible to use a formula for area.
Identify 3-D shapes, from 2-D representations.
Recognise, describe and build simple 3-D shapes, including
making nets.
Learn about the mighty rulers of
Ancient Egypt, their dynasties,
battles and burials. Discover their
symbols and crowns. Share
knowledge and understanding of the
pharaohs by staging an Ancient
Egyptian exhibition.
© Hamilton Trust 2014 This activity may be adapted for use by a teacher in his/her own class. It may not be reproduced for any
other purpose.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites
UKS2 Topic Overview: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Egyptians
This is a challenging but very rewarding
Design and Technology project. Learn
Know and understand significant aspects of the history of
about the tombs of the Egyptians and
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
how to draw and paint Ancient
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment Egyptian style figures; then make and
to perform practical tasks accurately.
decorate your own 3D model of an
Apply their knowledge of how to strengthen, stiffen and
Ancient Egyptian decorated rock-cut
reinforce more complex structures.
tomb.
Generate their ideas through talking.
History, D&T and Art
Block D
Ancient
Egyptian
Tombs
(4 sessions)
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Evaluate their products.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques,
including drawing with a range of materials.
History, D&T, English and Art
Block E
Mythology
(5 sessions)
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Know and understand significant aspects of the history of
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
Understand historical concepts such as continuity and
change, similarity, difference and significance.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing
knowledge into different contexts, understanding the
connections between cultural, religious and social history.
Increase their familiarity with a range of books, including
myths from other cultures.
Make comparisons across books.
Summarise the main ideas drawn from more than one
paragraph.
Use further organisational and presentational devices to
structure text.
Participate in role play.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques,
including drawing.
Design purposeful, appealing products for themselves.
Generate their ideas through talking and drawing.
Select from and use a range of tools & materials.
Evaluate their products.
Discover the myths and tales that the
Ancient Egyptians told about the
creation of the world and the lives of
the gods and goddesses they
worshipped. Take part in the recreation
of an Ancient Egyptian festival
procession.
© Hamilton Trust 2014 This activity may be adapted for use by a teacher in his/her own class. It may not be reproduced for any
other purpose.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites
UKS2 Topic Overview: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Egyptians
History, D&T, English, Art and Maths
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Block F
Daily Life
(8 sessions)
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Know and understand significant aspects of the history of
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
Understand historical concepts such as similarity,
difference and significance.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing
knowledge into different contexts, understanding the
connections between cultural, religious and social history.
Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of
abstract terms such as peasantry.
Understand the methods of historical enquiry.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques,
including drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Use a range of equipment to perform practical tasks.
Use a range of materials.
Use the basic principles of a healthy and varied diet to
prepare dishes.
Prepare and cook a variety of dishes.
Understand where Ancient Egyptian food came from.
Generate their ideas using annotated sketches and pattern
pieces.
Use a range of tools to perform practical tasks.
Select appropriate vocabulary.
Use further presentational devices to structure text.
Use similar writing as a model for their own.
Note and develop initial ideas.
Use organisational and presentational devices to structure
text and guide the reader.
Solve problems involving addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division.
Understand important aspects of the
daily life of the Ancient Egyptians;
including jobs, food, and games. Create
your own Ancient Egyptian board game.
History, Geography, D&T, English, Art and Science Learn about the incredible, life-giving
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Block G
The Nile
(5 sessions)
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Know and understand significant aspects of the history of
the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations;
characteristic features of past non-European societies.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing
knowledge into different contexts, understanding the
connections between cultural, economic, religious and
social history; and between short- and long-term
timescales.
Understand historical concepts such as continuity and
change, and significance, and use them to make
connections and to create their own structured accounts.
Explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth
because of the force of gravity.
Recognise that some mechanisms allow a smaller force to
have a greater effect.
Identify the effects of water resistance.
Understand and use mechanical systems in their products.
Generate, develop and model their ideas through
discussion and annotated sketches.
Evaluate their products and consider how to improve
them.
Locate the world’s countries.
Describe and understand key features of rivers.
River Nile and its impact on civilisation
in Egypt. Use the maps and models
made in previous sessions to present
your learning to visitors.
© Hamilton Trust 2014 This activity may be adapted for use by a teacher in his/her own class. It may not be reproduced for any
other purpose.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites
UKS2 Topic Overview: Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Egyptians
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Use maps to locate countries and describe features.
Improve their mastery of art and design techniques,
including sculpture.
Note and develop initial ideas, drawing on reading and
research where necessary.
Identify the audience for and purpose of the writing.
Use further organisational devices to structure text.
Gain and maintain the interest of the listener.
Give well-structured descriptions and explanations.
Participate in presentations.
© Hamilton Trust 2014 This activity may be adapted for use by a teacher in his/her own class. It may not be reproduced for any
other purpose.
We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites