A Tour thru the Sands of Time: A
Lesson on Ancient Egypt
World History
Grade Level- 8th
Unit 2: Ancient Egypt
Angela Nyberg
Authors:
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
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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 mummymakers?
– 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)
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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
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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)
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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