Writing about Egyptian Pyramids Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 6
Curriculum Focus: Ancient History
Lesson Duration: 1-2 periods
Student Objectives

Review important facts and concepts about ancient Egyptian.

Identify why the pyramids were build and how they were built.

Write a narrative essay using the Writing Prompt feature in Discovery Education
Materials
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Discovery School video on unitedstreaming: Pyramids
Search for this video by using the video title (or a portion of it) as the keyword.
Selected clips that support this lesson plan:
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
Purpose pf Egyptiam Pyramids (3:05)

The Great Pyramid (5:50)
Discovery School Encyclopedia Article on United Streaming: Pyramids
Search for this article using the article title as a keyword.
Selected article that supports this lesson


Pyramids
Online, electronic, video, and print reference materials about ancient Egypt
Procedures
1. After learning about ancient Egyptian civilization, students will complete a writing prompt at the
nComputing stations. Students will use evidence from the video segments and article to
support their claim.
2. Create classes in the “Classroom Manager” from student roster. (See directions below)
3. Click on “Builder Tools” within Discovery Education. Choose “Writing Prompt Builder.” Click
on “District Writing Prompts.” Click on “Copy/Edit” Ancient Egypt- Pyramids. Save the
prompt to your “My Content” folder.
4. You can now edit the writing prompt to meet your needs (change name, grade level, setting).
Click “Next” now you can edit the materials or actual prompt. Click “Save and Continue.”
5. Choose which classes you would like to assign the writing prompt to. Once it is assigned
students can login and complete the writing prompt.
Assessment- http://www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/Grade%206-11%20July%2029%20Rubric%20Final.pdf
Vocabulary
archaeologist
Definition: Scientists who study material remains (as fossil relics, artifacts, and monuments) of
past human life and activities.
Context: Archaeologists have dug up coins and wall inscriptions that help us understand the
physical features and characteristics of ancient rulers.
civilization
Definition: The way of life of a people; a relatively high level of cultural, social, and technological
development.
Context: After Cleopatra died, the ancient Egyptian civilization eventually faded away and the
Roman Empire became dominant.
obelisk
Definition: An upright, four-sided pillar, usually monolithic, that gradually tapers as it rises and is
topped by a pyramid.
Context: The obelisks that Cleopatra built at the Caesareum inspired similarly shaped
monuments like the Washington Monument.
Academic Standards
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
NCSS has developed national guidelines for teaching social studies. To become a member of NCSS,
or to view the standards online, go to http://www.socialstudies.org
This lesson plan addresses the following thematic standards:

Time, continuity, and change
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Power, authority, and governance
Lousiana State Grade Level Expectations
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GLE 24: Explain how geographical features influenced development of early civilizations
(e.g., domestication, cultivation, specialization) (H-1C-M2)
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GLE 27: Locate and describe the major river systems and discuss the physical settings that
supported permanent settlement and early civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and
the Indus valley (H-1C-M3)

GLE 28: Describe the major characteristics of early river valley civilizations (H-1C-M3)
Sample of Student View