How to Teach Children About Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Statue

Ancient Egypt was an interesting place and time in history. There are many stories, movies and cartoons containing ancient Egyptian aspects. It is possible for kids to have a great time while learning about the pharaohs and deities of the ancient Egyptians. All you have to do is keep an optimistic attitude and be prepared with lots of activities.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Lesson plans
• Timeline
• Books on Ancient Egypt
• Blank geography maps
• Pyramid-building materials

Instructions

1. Create a Unit that contains no more than 10 lesson plans. Each lesson plan should have a goal the children need to learn by the end of the lesson. Egypt.mrdonn.org has several good lesson plans involving all aspects of ancient Egypt. They suggest teaching a brief history, geography, the pharaohs, mummies, ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, hieroglyphics, pyramids, daily life and artifacts.

2. Teach a brief history about upper and lower Egypt. Discuss the basic timeline, highlighting important events.

3. Teach students Egyptian geography by allowing students to fill in a blank map, marking important landmarks.

4. Label ancient pharaohs in order on a timeline. Highlight the most important pharaohs and discuss their importance in Egyptian history.

5. Describe how mummification took place. Show students how it was part of their funeral rites and that mummification preserved many people.

6. Teach students about their religious beliefs. Include their gods and goddesses and the roles each played for the ancient Egyptians.

7. Allow students to try their hand at writing Egyptian hieroglyphics. Explain how the Rosetta Stone unlocked the secret to this ancient civilization's language.

8. Have students construct their own pyramids. Use scientific devices to measure and create ancient Egyptian structures.

9. Teach students about ancient Egyptians daily life by showing them how they build their houses, how they lived day-to-day and where they went to school.

10. Visit museums and find books that contain ancient Egyptian artifacts. Let each child design his own artifact and share it with the class.

Tips & Warnings

• Let parents know that you are about to start an ancient Egyptian unit. Ask for volunteers or materials and donations for the classroom project.

References

• Lesson plans on ancient Egypt