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Ancient Egypt
Understanding by Design Grade 6
Ancient Egypt
Stage 1: Desired Results
Understandings
Students will understand that…
Ancient Egypt had cities, government, class divisions, art, religion and a writing system.
Technological advances in farming, mathematics and science improved life for the ancient
peoples.
Egypt’s deserts, the Nile River and bordering seas affected where and how people lived.
The Egyptians religious beliefs influenced all aspects of ancient life.
Essential Questions
Knowledge & Skills
Knowledge:
(Students need to know…)
What made Egypt a successful civilization?
Basic geography (Nile River, borders)
How did technological advancements
influence people’s lives?
The Egyptians depended on the Nile River
to survive
How did Egypt’s geography affect where
peopled and how they lived?
Egyptian vocabulary terms
How did the Egyptians’ beliefs influence
Members of each social class
their actions?
Key facts about the Old, Middle and New
Kingdoms
How am I connected to the civilization of
Egypt?
Religious beliefs/symbols
Key facts about Egyptian daily life
Content Standard(s):
History: 8.4.6 A & B
Geography: 7.1.6B, 7.3.6B
Civics and Government: 5.1.6A
Economics: 6.4.3A, 6.4.6A&B
Skills: (Students will be able to…)
Locate and analyze the geography of Egypt
Recognize, define and use Egyptian
vocabulary in context
Compare and contrast
Support a position/judge the effectiveness
of a leader
Sequence a series of events
Express findings orally, dramatically and in
writing
Stage 2: Assessment Evidence
Performance Task Summary
Egyptian Postcard- see below
Rubric Titles
Egyptian Postcard Rubric
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Ancient Egypt
Self-Assessments
KWL
Think-Pair-Share
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Other Evidence, Summarized
Quizzes requiring knowledge of facts to
support each of the essential questions
Worksheets reviewing key terms and
concepts
Study notes
Tests assessing knowledge of facts to
support essential questions.
Stage 3: Learning Activities
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Lead students in KWL- refer back to throughout unit
Show and discuss Arizona Smith video to build background knowledge
Distribute maps and locate key geographical features
Post and discuss essential questions
Per text section:
o Introduce and discuss key vocabulary terms
o Preview text
o Read using guided reading, study notes, graphic organizers, vocabulary activities,
Most Important Sentence strategy
Components of a Civilization:
o Writing System: Analyze, decode and write hieroglyphics
o Government:
 Map study of Upper and Lower Egypt;
 Symbols representing pharaoh; compare and contrast old, middle and new
kingdoms using trifold;
 Compare and contrast Hatshepsut and Thutmose III using RAFT activity
 New Kingdom Rulers- Akhenaton and Tutankhamen “In Memory of King
Tut” reading and questions; Curse or Coincidence discussion
 Jigsaw of New Kingdom pharaohs- write and perform monologue of
pharaoh’s accomplishments to class
 Fall of Egyptian empire
o Social Classes: Complete social class pyramid- compare to Mesopotamia
o Art and Culture:
 Play Senet
 Taste hummus and pita
 Pyramid building/Architecture
 Analyze paintings
 Literature- read and discuss excerpts from Book of the Dead
o Religion:
 British Museum Website
 Perform play “Life and Death on the Nile”
 Embalming process- why, how, BBC Mummy Maker site
 Pyramids
 Introduction of monotheism with Akhenaton
United Streaming clips
Civilization Web- add details to major components
Components of a friendly letter and a postcard
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Ancient Egypt
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Egyptian numbers
Resources:
United Streaming clips
Textbook
Text based guided readings, vocabulary activities and graphic organizers
Videos: Arizona Smith, Building the Pyramid
Supplemental handouts and readings
Websites: BBC and British Museum
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Ancient Egypt
Performance Task: Egyptian Postcard
Goal
Your task is to create a postcard from ancient Egypt.
The goal is to prove that Egypt was a successful civilization.
Role
You are a tourist visiting ancient Egypt.
Audience
The audience is a family member or friend not familiar with ancient Egypt.
Situation
You have been asked to create a postcard from ancient Egypt that includes
a letter, stamp, and cover illustration. Plan your postcard so that the
information proves that Egypt was a successful civilization.
Product Performance and Purpose
You need to write a letter as if you are visiting ancient Egypt. Your letter
should include information that explains how Egypt was a successful
civilization using the six characteristics as your guide (organized
government, cities, class divisions, art and architecture, religion and a
writing system).
Your postcard should include a cover scene depicting one of the areas
discussed in your letter.
Finally, your postcard needs an original stamp that represents ancient Egypt
and an address using Egyptian hieroglyphics and numbers.
Standards and Criteria for Success:
Your Egyptian postcard needs to include (see rubric)
o At least seven sentences and four details about Egypt as a successful
civilization
o A clear understanding of the characteristics of a successful civilization
o Friendly letter format
o Neat, accurate and organized writing and illustrations
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