Lesson Plan: Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Date: February 22, 2016

Time: 11:35 am - 12:05 pm

Subjects
Social Studies

Objectives
History
2.1 The student will explain how the contributions of ancient China and Egypt have
influenced the present world in terms of architecture, inventions, the calendar, and
written language.
SS 2.2 The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of life in ancient
Egypt.
SS 2.2.1 Describe the location and physical features of ancient Egypt.
SS 2.2.2 Describe how the people of ancient Egypt used their environment.
SS 2.2.4 Describe the contributions of the people of ancient Egypt.

Materials

Student textbook: Grade 2 Our World Near and Far

Trade books:
Ancient Egypt by Peter Der Mannuelian
Ancient Egypt by Robert Nicholson and Claire Watts
National Geographic Kids: Everything Ancient Egypt by Crispin Boyer
Make History: Ancient Egypt by Nancy Fister and Charlene Olexiewicz
Hieroglyphs from A to Z by Peter Der Mannuelian
Ancient Egypt by Ruth Heller
Ancient Egypt by Robyn Hamilton
Egypt: Primary Source Readers by Shirley J. Jordan
The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt by Helen Strudwick
Media Sources:
Introduction:
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_egyptian_hieroglyphics.php
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFpuQ62_yhY
Cartouches:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cartouche/cartouche.html
Copies of Egyptian hieroglyphs as model for student writing and drawing
Copies and directions of student My Own Glyph template
Yellow copy paper for students cartouche with initials
Technology: Promethean Screen, Printer, and Computers
Students pencils and crayons

Procedure
1) Hook: Hold up a piece of real papyrus paper and tell them this is from a
recent field trip to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk. Say that students
and families can go for free to see authentic (real) pieces of Egyptian art in
statues and see the hieroglyphs in stone.
2) Show the video and talk about what they noticed about hieroglyphics. Hold
up picture of Rosetta stone (p. 468 in The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt by
Helen Strudwick) and of hieroglyphs all over walls in Egyptian temple (p. 5859 in National Geographic Kids: Everything Ancient Egypt by Crispin Boyer) in
discussion.
3) Hold up student textbook to make reference to p. 52 where hieroglyphics are
noted in picture behind pharaoh and wife.
4) Break into four groups for various activities. Students will be grouped as
follows:
Group A: Emily, Austin, Caleb, Cora, Colleen, Daniel
Group B: Hunter, Jessica, Hailey, Virginia, Nathan, Elisha
Group C: Nilu, June, Ike, Owen, Nikki, Vaiden
Group D: Nolan, Jasmine, Gia, Ava, Madison
Activity

Own Glyph

Where

At Reading Table

Rotation
Rotation
Rotation
Rotation

1
2
3
4

A
D
C
B

Own Cartouche
Making
Computer
Station
B
A
D
C

Drawing
Hieroglyphics
At Desks
C and D
B and C
A and B
D and A

Stations:
Make Your Own Glyph: (with Mrs. McCallum) Students will come to the
reading table to make their own glyph. They will use crayons and
follow the directions on the worksheet to personalize their work.
Make Your Own Cartouche: (with Ms. Staskin) Students will come to the
computer station and type their first name into the computer
(http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cartouche/cartouche.html).
They will print their cartouche on yellow paper.
Drawing Hieroglyphics: (independent work) At their desks, students will
be given large paper to draw their own hieroglyphics. On the left of the
paper, there will be letters and the corresponding hieroglyphic that
they can use as a reference or example.
Resource Investigation: Trade books and papyrus paper will be out in the front
of the room on the rug for students to look at when they are done their work
or are waiting for their turn at stations.

Closing
Have students clean up their desks and reading table and log out of the computers.
Put all work away and be ready for PE.
Quick Review of hieroglyphics: What are they? Where did they come from? Who
wrote the hieroglyphics? How did we discover the language?