ProQuest Standards-Based Learning Activity
Ancient Egypt Alphabet Book
Teacher Procedures
APPROPRIATE FOR: Social Studies, Grades 3-5
TIMELINE: Three class periods
SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS LESSON
National Council for Social Studies
II Time, Continuity, and Change
Social Studies Programs should include experience that provide for the study of the ways
human beings view themselves in and over time.
(source: http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/soc_sci/index.shtml)
LEARNING EXPECTATIONS/OBJECTIVES
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Students will use ProQuest SIRS Discoverer or eLibrary Elementary to search for information
about Ancient Egypt.
Students will organize the information and what they learned using graphic organizers.
Students will use the information and what they learned to write an alphabet book about Ancient
Egypt.
MATERIALS
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Computer with access to ProQuest and a printer
Pencil, markers, colored pencils, pens, watercolor.
Construction paper
Glue
Tape
Scissors
ACTIVITY PROCESS: DIRECTIONS TO THE TEACHER
Description of Activity
This activity takes students back in time to discover the ancient civilization of the Egyptians. The students
will work as a class to make an alphabet book on Ancient Egypt. The students will learn about Ancient
Egypt by researching it on ProQuest. They will then write an alphabet book. Each letter will represent a
facet of Egyptian life. Each letter page will have a summary of information on that facet. For example, H is
for hieroglyphics; students will include a summary of hieroglyphics and their significance. To go along with
their written texts, students will use photos from their research on ProQuest or draw their own illustrations.
The alphabet pages will be compiled in a class book.
Background Information/Scenario
This activity is a whole class activity where everyone is working to complete one product -- a class
Ancient Egyptian Alphabet Book. This alphabet book is more than just the letters and the corresponding
word, because it will be rich with information about the various facets of Ancient Egypt.
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This activity is best done when students have already started a unit on Egypt and have acquired some
knowledge on the subject. It can be done after the teacher or the whole class has brainstormed a list of all
the things the students already know about Ancient Egypt and what they want to know.
It would be helpful to gather any books from the library on Ancient Egypt to have available in your room
before this activity starts. Give time for students to peruse the books before the activity starts.
Put letters of the alphabet into a hat and let students pick a letter. This activity is great for a classroom
with various abilities and levels. Based on their current knowledge, have students make a list of just some
of the facets of Egypt that might correspond to their letter. This will focus their research on ProQuest. For
example, S could be “symbols,” “scarabs” or “sphinx.”
Outline of Procedures – Day One
1. Students will decide what information they will try to look for which corresponds to their letter. For
example, a student might look for papyrus paper for “P” or complete a time line of historical dates for “T.”
2. Students will gather as much information about their letter topic by doing searches on ProQuest.
Pathfinder: Type “Ancient Egypt” in the Search box.
You can also help access information by clicking on the following ProQuest Editor's Choice websites:
People: http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/EGYPT/people.html
Mythology: http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/EGYPT/myth.html
Daily Life: http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/EGYPT/daily.html
Death and Burial: http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/EGYPT/d&b.html
Writing: http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/EGYPT/writ.html
Life, Geography, Religion, Architecture:
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/newegypt/htm/a_index.htm
http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.html
Cleopatra: Narrated Video: http://www.artic.edu/cleo/index.html
Tour of Egypt -- Photos and Artifacts: http://www.memphis.edu/egypt/egypt.html
Mummies: http://www.cmi.k12.il.us/Urbana/projects/cybermummy/
Tour of University of Pennsylvania Museum’s Egyptian galleries:
http://www.upenn.edu/museum/Collections/egyptian.html
Hieroglyphics: http://www.snaithprimary.eril.net/hglyph4.htm or
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/interactive_fs.asp?swfpath=history/egypt/hie
roglyphs.swf
3. Students will print out as much information as they can and use My List functionality to save their links.
(Remember, before leaving the ProQuest session, students must print out or email their My List links.)
4. Teachers will provide a graphic organizer for students to use to organize their information. Use the
resources of this free website from ProQuest editors:
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/sorganiz.htm
© ProQuest LLC 2010 – May be copied for educational use only.
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Outline of Procedures: Day Two
5. Students will write their first drafts of their letter topic. Lengths of descriptions may vary depending on
the topic, as well as the amount of information. (Students must write a concise, informative description of
approximately one page.)
6. Students will pair up with a partner. The pair of students will read their descriptions to each other. For
tips on coaching students to listen to each other and provide feedback, go to the following bigchalk
Editor's Web choice: http://www.storyarts.org/classroom/retelling/coaching.html.
 Students will give feedback on each other’s descriptions.
 Students will check each other’s spelling, punctuation and help determine their paragraph
construction.
7. Students will write a final version of their letter topic with the changes.
Outline of Procedures: Day Three
8. Students will create their letter page for the class alphabet book on Ancient Egypt.
 Student will use a picture from ProQuest or they will draw a picture. Students must draw their
letter at one top corner (probably the right, depending on how you plan to bind the book together).
Students can choose to decorate their letter and letter page. Glue on the picture or illustration on
the page or draw it directly on the page.
 Students will either write their final draft on the letter page or they will type it up and glue it down.
 Students will then give the finished piece to their teacher.
 Have two students volunteer to make the cover.
Conclusion/Finished Work
Teacher compiles the letter pages into a bound class book. Teachers will laminate the book if possible to
protect the book throughout the school year. It would be great to make photocopies of the book for all
students to keep.
ASSESSMENT
Students will be evaluated based on the following:
 Did the student use ProQuest to collect information on their letter topic?
 Did the student effectively organize information?
 Did the student write a concise, informative description of their topic (one page)?
 Did the writing demonstrate a strong understanding of the topic? For example, if they wrote on
mummies, did they write about the process of mummification and the reasons behind it?
OPTIONAL EXTENDED ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
Ancient Egypt Daily Life: Have each student write his or her own story about a day in Ancient Egypt.
Their story must be at least five paragraphs long. They will write as if they were telling about their own life
in Egypt over the course of one day. They cannot be the pharaoh, a king or queen or a god. They can be
a priest, worker, soldier, merchant, slave, or visitor. They can work alone or in small groups. Source:
ProQuest Editor's Choice website: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/
Barter: Have a mock bazaar by collecting items to barter, such as pencils and stickers. The Egyptians
ranked the value of their wares according to the "deben," a standard-sized piece of copper. A goat may
have been worth one deben, and a bed 2.5 deben. A reasonable trade would be two or three goats for
one bed. Prepare for the activity by assigning each item a deben value. A cherry lollipop might be six
deben, a small lemon flavored candies one deben, etc. Have each child take inventory prior to trading to
calculate the total value of their starting worth. Let them trade. Have the kids recalculate. Source:
ProQuest Editor's Choice website: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/
© ProQuest LLC 2010 – May be copied for educational use only.
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Archeology: Use magazines or the Internet to look up places around the world where archeologists are
at work today. Make a large world map to show findings. Focus this study on Egypt and archaeological
digs in Egypt over time.
Plus:
Debate the ethics of taking artifacts from a tomb for museums.
Write a want ad for pyramid workers.
Compare the height of some of the world’s highest structures to the pyramids.
Find pieces of literature you think should be left as examples, like the Rosetta Stone.
© ProQuest LLC 2010 – May be copied for educational use only.
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Ancient Egypt Alphabet Book
A Social Studies Lesson
DURING THIS ACTIVITY YOU WILL…
 Pick a letter of the alphabet out of a hat.
 Pick a topic from Ancient Egyptian life that corresponds with this letter.
 Use ProQuest to search for information about your topic.
 Organize the information and what you learned using graphic organizers.
 Use the information and what you learned to write a concise, informative
description of that topic.
 Create a “letter page”: your letter and the summary of the letter topic.
DAY ONE
1. Decide what information you will try to look for which corresponds to your letter. For
example, you might look for papyrus paper for “P” or do a time line of historical dates for
“T.”
2. Gather as much information about your letter topic by doing searches on ProQuest.
To search ProQuest, type “Ancient Egypt” in the Search box
3. You will print out as much information as you can – pictures, articles, definitions,
maps, timelines, facts -- and use the “My List” option to save the articles you want to
use. Make sure you email yourself you’re my List options or email them to yourself to
save them before you leave ProQuest!
4. Organize your information with a graphic organizer.
DAY TWO
5. Write the first draft of your letter topic. Lengths of descriptions may vary depending
on topic, as well as amount of information. You must write an informative description
about one page long.
6. Pair up with a partner. You will read your descriptions to each other.
 Give feedback on each other’s descriptions.
 Check each others’ spelling, punctuation, and help determine their paragraph
construction.
7. You will write a final version of your letter topic with the changes.
DAY THREE
8. Create your letter page for the class alphabet book on Ancient Egypt.
 You will use a picture off of ProQuest or draw a picture. Please draw your letter
at the top corner, where your teacher shows you. You can choose to decorate
© ProQuest LLC 2010 – May be copied for educational use only.
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your letter and letter page. Glue on your picture or illustration or draw right on the
page.
Either, write your final draft on the letter page, or type it up and glue it down.
Give the finished piece to your teacher.
Think about volunteering to make the cover. If interested, tell your teacher.
Assessment
You will be evaluated based on the following:
 Did you use ProQuest to collect information on your letter topic?
 Did you organize your information well?
 Did you write a concise, informative description of your topic (about one page)?
 Based on your writing, did you indicate a strong understanding of the topic? For
example, if you wrote about mummies, did you write about the process of
mummification and the reasons behind it?
© ProQuest LLC 2010 – May be copied for educational use only.
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